Musical Theatre Camps

Community Music School
302-831-1548

Mary Margaret Wilson​
Director


Emme Whisner
Administrative Assistant

The Wizard of Oz logo

Musical Theatre Camp


“We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!” - L. Frank Baum

Follow the yellow brick road to CMS as we step back in time to the original Wizard of Oz where we’ll tell the after story of today’s most popular duo and friends! We’ll have flying monkeys, a talking lion, scarecrow, and tin man, and, of course, a couple of witches to boot! Amongst all of the fantasy are real-life lessons about finding friends in the most unexpected places, trusting yourself, and never giving up.

CMS provides a professional experience while being child-focused and welcoming to all. It’s a rarity to find a local children’s production that offers On Stage, Backstage, and Pit Orchestra experiences…spots are limited and fill up quickly! So grab your ruby slippers and don’t delay in *registering!

*Pit Orchestra Note: please do not register for camp yet! This year we are asking students to complete an interest form before an invitation is sent to register. See “Enrollment” information below.

*On Stage and Backstage Note: See below “Enrollment” information for more details on how spots are confirmed.

Did you know that…

  • No prior experience is needed!
  • Students can choose from one of three offerings: On Stage! (for those budding actors and actresses), Backstage Camp (for those who like the behind-the-scenes technical side), and Pit Orchestra (for select high school instrumentalists).
  • Students rehearse, build, and perform in Thompson Hall, a professional opera hall inside the beautiful Roselle Center for the Arts!
  • Top professionals from UD School of Music and UD Media Services operate the sound and lighting, providing campers with a professional experience!
  • A full staff is well-vetted to ensure the most qualified individuals are placed as directors, choreographer, music director, and interns!
  • The On Stage campers will learn fundamentals of being a “triple threat” with dancing, singing, and acting!
  • The Backstage Camp includes technical theatre experiences in set building, design, costumes, lighting, stage crew, and more!
  • The Pit Orchestra plays the live orchestration during the show! It’s composed of both local high school students and professional musicians. This provides the younger musicians with a side-by-side experience of playing along with, and learning from, local professionals.
  • Most importantly…we have TONS OF FUN!

Performance and Ticketing Info:

3 performances are open to the public:

Fri and Sat, 8/1 & 8/2, 7pm

Sunday, 8/3, 2pm

Tickets Costs: $10 for adults, $5 for children/students/seniors, children under 5 are free, and each camper receives 2 complimentary tickets. Online ticket sales will include a slight service fee. Online ticket sales will be available closer to the performance dates with limited tickets available for purchase at the door.

Musical Theatre - On Stage! Rising 4th grade - graduating 12th

 

Singing, and dancing, and acting, oh my! On Stage camp is for the actor and actress enthusiasts! Students will receive individual guidance as well as plenty of time working together as they produce an entire show in just 3 weeks! Campers will be guided by local professionals on acting, vocal health, stage presence, and the many intricacies of putting on a musical theatre production.

Role casting audition information will be emailed before camp starts. The email will come from communitymusicschool@udel.edu. Please ensure that your email server has our address filtered to go to your inbox as company addresses frequently get filtered to spam! Please, no absences from camp during the final week as there will be technical rehearsals every day. Absences during the first week may affect casting. Please reach out to CMS Director, Mary Margaret Wilson, mmbw@udel.edu with information about planned absences.

This is a full-length show - it is not a youth or “junior” version - and the overall success is dependent upon each camper putting forth their best effort! Students with speaking parts, lead characters in particular, will need to practice their lines at home. We uphold a high standard of behavior and safety expectations. Any students who struggle to adhere to the behavior policies may be dismissed from camp at the discretion of the CMS Director.

  • Cost: $915 tuition
  • A non-refundable deposit of $200 must be made at time of registration to reserve a spot. The spot is not reserved until the deposit is received. 
  • Remaining balance must be paid in full by July 1, 2025. If not, your spot may be forfeited and given to the next camper on the waitlist. Please reach out to communitymusicschool@udel.edu if you would like to discuss a payment plan.
  • Registration is limited to 40 students and then a waitlist will be formed. Spots may be capped by age, pending casting needs.
  • Full refunds will be available if the program does not run, but otherwise, all payments are non-refundable. 
  • No CMS discounts apply for this program; however, needs-based financial aid is available. Please review financial aid info found here. Reach out to CMS Director, Mary Margaret Wilson, mmbw@udel.edu with questions.
  • Please see below for Before Care and After Care costs.
  • Rising 4th graders - graduating 12th graders
  • Enrollment for each age may be capped, pending casting needs
  • 7/14 - 7/18, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • 7/21 -7/25, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • 7/28 - 8/1, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • SEE BELOW FOR PERFORMANCE DETAILS
  • Drop-off and pick-up at the South Entrance of the Roselle Center for the Arts
  • Campers may be dropped off and picked up within 15 minutes of their camp start/end times. Any camper who is dropped off earlier/later than the 15-minute window will be charged the After Care hourly rate.
  • 8/1, 5:30pm call time, 7pm show (campers may opt to stay on site for a pizza dinner in between the end of camp and their call time)
  • 8/2, 5:30pm call time, 7 pm show
  • 8/3, 12:30 pm call time, 2pm show

Daily Camp Attire:

  • sneakers that securely fit and provide support for dancing; for safety, no open-toed shoes/sandals, no crocs, flip-flops, etc.
  • comfortable clothing for dance/movement
  • shirts should fully cover chest/torso
  • shorts should be of a discrete length so the backside is fully covered

Performance Attire:

  • Sneakers or shoes that securely fit and align with the casted character
  • CMS provides many costume pieces (all items are the property of CMS and are to be returned at the conclusion of the camp)
  • After casting is done, communication will be sent to families with an outline of any specific needs.
  • If obtaining the required attire causes a financial burden, please reach out to CMS Director, Mary Margaret Wilson, mmbw@udel.edu, for assistance.

Musical Theatre - Backstage Camp: grades rising 6th - graduating 12th!

There might be a wizard behind the curtain, but the Backstage crew are the ones who will make the magic happen in the wonderful world of Oz! We welcome campers into our studio to quite literally get a behind-the-scenes look at the technical side of musical theatre. During camp, students will build and/or paint sets, design and make props, manage costumes and make-up, run stage crew while being hands-on in a multitude of needs. Local professionals will run clinics on topics such as stage lighting, audio engineering, and costume design. Students may also take off-campus trips to shop for set materials and/or costumes. We uphold a high standard of behavior and safety expectations. Any students who struggle to adhere to the behavior policies may be dismissed from camp at the discretion of the CMS Director.

  • Cost: $815 tuition
  • Please see below for Before Care and After Care costs.
  • Registration is limited to 40 students and then a waitlist will be formed.
  • A non-refundable deposit of $200 must be made at time of registration to reserve a spot. The spot is not reserved until the deposit is received. 
  • Remaining balance must be paid in full by July 1, 2025. If not, your spot may be forfeited and given to the next camper on the waitlist.
  • Full refunds will be available if the program does not run, but otherwise, all payments are non-refundable. 
  • No CMS discounts (UD, siblings, etc.) are available for this program; however, needs-based financial aid is available. Please review financial aid info found here. Reach out to CMS Director, Mary Margaret Wilson, mmbw@udel.edu with questions.
  • Rising 6th graders - graduating 12th graders
  • 7/14 - 7/18, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • 7/21 -7/25, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • 7/28 - 8/1, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • SEE BELOW FOR PERFORMANCE DETAILS
  • Drop-off and pick-up at the South Entrance of the Roselle Center for the Arts
  • Campers may be dropped off and picked up within 15 minutes of their camp start/end times. Any camper who is dropped off earlier/later than the 15-minute window will be charged the After Care hourly rate.
  • 8/1, 5:30pm call time, 7pm show (campers may opt to stay on site for a pizza dinner in between the end of camp and their call time)
  • 8/2, 5:30pm call time, 7 pm show
  • 8/3, 12:30 pm call time, 2pm show

Daily Camp Attire:

  • Closed-toed sneakers are a must! For safety, no open-toed shoes/sandals, no crocs, flip-flops, etc.
  • comfortable clothing that can get messy; students will be working with paints, glue, etc.
  • shirts should fully cover chest/torso
  • shorts should be of a discrete length so the backside is fully covered

Performance Attire:

  • All solid-black clothing (campers do stage crew for the shows)
  • Black sneakers are preferred
  • If obtaining the required attire causes a financial burden, please reach out to CMS Director, Mary Margaret Wilson, mmbw@udel.edu, for assistance.

Musical Theatre - Pit Orchestra: grades rising 9th - graduating 12th!

No pre-recorded accompaniment tracks found here! One of the best parts of the CMS Musical Theatre production is the live pit orchestra! CMS is happy to offer the pit orchestra experience TUITION FREE to selected high school applicants with strong instrumental skills. Students will be expected to practice their music independently at home, outside of camp hours. This includes professional-level repertoire, and although no one is seeking “perfection”, the expectation is that students will be able to successfully play their part within a 2-week camp. We anticipate that campers will also get the opportunity to learn from, and play alongside, UD Music Majors and/or local professional musicians! Registration does not guarantee acceptance into the camp. Please see below “Enrollment” information.

Needed Instrumentation:

  • 2   Flutes
  • 1   Oboe
  • 1   Clarinet
  • 1   Alto Saxophone (tenor and bari parts may also be played)
  • 2   French Horns
  • 2   Trumpet
  • 1   Trombone
  • 1   Harp
  • 1   Keyboard
  • 2   Percussion
  • 6   Violins
  • 2   Viola
  • 2   Cello
  • 1   Bass
  • Tuition free, with a $15 t-shirt charge
  • Do not register for camp yet! First, please complete this interest form
  • Completing the form does not guarantee acceptance - you will be notified by email of your acceptance. The email will come from communitymusicschool@udel.edu. Please ensure that your email server has our address filtered to go to your inbox as company addresses frequently get filtered to spam!
  • If you are accepted into camp, you will receive instructions on how to register.
  • Rising 9th - graduating 12th graders, by invitation only
  • 7/21 -7/25, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • 7/28 - 8/1, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • SEE BELOW FOR PERFORMANCE DETAILS
  • Drop-off and pick-up at the South Entrance of the Roselle Center for the Arts
  • Campers may be dropped off and picked up within 15 minutes of their camp start/end times. Any camper who is dropped off earlier/later than the 15-minute window will be charged the After Care hourly rate.
 
  • 8/1, 5:30pm call time, 7pm show (campers may opt to stay on site for a pizza dinner in between the end of camp and their call time)
  • 8/2, 5:30pm call time, 7 pm show
  • 8/3, 12:30 pm call time, 2pm show

 

Daily Camp Attire:

  • Comfortable clothing! It gets chilly in the rehearsal room - bring a sweatshirt!

 

Performance Attire:

  • Solid black clothing (no colorful patterns or graphics) and black socks/shoes are required. 
  • If obtaining the required attire causes a financial burden, please reach out to CMS Director, Mary Margaret Wilson, mmbw@udel.edu, for assistance.

Additional information

Before Care & After Care

​Do you need child care beyond camp hours? We’ve got you covered! Before Care and After Care are available in the Roselle Center for the Arts. Bring your breakfast and an afternoon snack and we’ll provide the smiles, crafts, and games!

Hours:

Before Care: 8 a.m. until start of camp

After Care: end of camp until 6 p.m.

Cost:

  • Before Care: $60 for the week, if registered prior to the start of camp
  • After Care: billed at the end of camp week at a rate of $15/hour or part of an hour

Drop-In: We know that sometimes schedules are unpredictable and every now and then you may find yourself unexpectedly needing Before and/or After Care. No problem! Families are welcome to “drop-in” as needed and will be charged the After Care rate. The After Care rate will be applied to all drop-ins, both morning and afternoon.​

Half-Day Camp Note: There is no Before Care for the afternoon-only camps and there is no After Care for the morning-only camps. Campers enrolled in both a morning camp and an afternoon camp may utilize both Before and After Care!

Registration/Enrollment

Registration and Payment is a 2-part process. Please refer to the Registration page for details. A student is not enrolled until registration is submitted, full tuition has been paid, and you have received a confirmation of enrollment email.​

​Classes and camps for which enrollment is limited will be filled in the order payments are completed.​

The UDCMS reserves the right to modify or cancel any class, lesson, or camp due to insufficient enrollment or extenuating circumstances.

We do not prorate tuition for group classes and summer camps. Full tuition is due for the scheduled number of classes/dates.​

 

Closures

If the University of Delaware closes, for inclement weather or other reasons, all UDCMS classes, lessons, and/or camps are canceled. In the case of inclement weather, private study students will be contacted by their individual teacher to reschedule lessons. Group classes and camps will be contacted via email.

Discounts

Sibling Discount: A five percent (5%) discount may be taken when two or more siblings are registered in separate classes, camps, or lessons per session.

Multiple Class Discount: A five percent (5%) may be taken if a student registers for more than one class or series of lessons per session.

UD Faculty/Staff/Student Discount: A five percent (5%) discount may be taken for current UD faculty, staff, their children, and UD students. The UD ID number must be entered on the registration form.

Senior Citizen Discount: A five percent (5%) discount may be taken by senior citizens aged 65 or older enrolled in classes or lessons.

Summer Camp Early Bird Discount: A ten percent (10%) discount may be taken if registered and paid by April 15. Musical Theatre Camps are not eligible for discounts.

NOTE: Only one discount per student can be applied. Discounts cannot be combined with any other discount, coupon, or special rate. Discounts are not applied to Musical Theatre Camps.​​

Financial Aid

UDCMS will provide sliding-scale scholarships if financial need is present. Scholarships will only be provided for no more than one activity per child.

Aid funds are limited, so please be sure to apply early. For more information, visit the Financial Aid page.

Withdrawals and Refunds

Full refunds will be made if the UDCMS cancels any class/camp/lesson due to insufficient enrollment or teacher illness (for private study).

Any request to withdraw from classes or lessons must be made in writing to the UD Community Music School office via communitymusicschool@udel.edu. Nonattendance or verbal withdrawal to a CMS faculty or staff member does not constitute an official withdrawal. The date of withdrawal will be considered to be the date when written notice is received in the UDCMS office. Upon withdrawal, a full refund will be made only if written notification is received at least one week prior to the start of the first class or lesson, and four weeks prior to the start of summer camps. Note: Due to the cost of running the camps, refunds are not given​ for the Musical Theatre Camps.​

Once a CMS session has begun, refunds will only be made at the discretion of the CMS Director in extreme cases involving serious illness, death, or relocation.

A ten dollar ($10) processing fee will be charged for all refunds.

Missed Classes and Lessons

Student Absence:

Summer Camps: No refund is granted for missed days.

 

Safety

All UDCMS programs will take place on the University of Delaware campus typically in the Amy E. du Pont Music Building and the Roselle Center for the Arts. UDCMS may withdraw or refuse a student’s enrollment if they do not abide by safety or behavior expectations.

To ensure your child’s safety, please be sure to pick them up promptly after class/lesson time. All minors must be dropped off and picked up directly to CMS Staff.

UDCMS faculty and staff do not supervise children waiting in hallways before and/or after classes/lessons. Children are under supervision during their instruction time only. Neither instructors nor administrators are responsible for supervising children outside of teaching time.

To continue to ensure your child’s safety, our policy is not to have teachers alone with students; however, in private study lessons, one teacher will be alone with one student in a music practice room. We ask parents to be involved in keeping their children safe in these situations. All practice rooms have windows in the doors, and parents are encouraged to peek in on lessons at random intervals and monitor your child’s behavior and comfort level with their teacher.

All CMS employees have completed the University's Protection of Minors compliances including a Criminal Background Check, Child Protection Registry clearance, and best-practice training.
 

Non-Discrimination Policy

UDCMS complies with all laws prohibiting discrimination in the conduct of its operations and programs. UDCMS admits students of any religion, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs or other school administered programs.
 

Receipts for Child Care Tax Credit

It is the responsibility of the participating family to maintain documentation for end-of-year tax records. UDCMS does not provide yearly itemized accounts of payments received. The University of Delaware Federal Tax ID is # 51-6000297.

Delaware Division of the Arts logo

​This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.​