Our recommendations for programs that provide training and performance opportunities for area teenagers

It started with a straightforward question from my boss: Can you recommend an enjoyable summer theater-camp experience for a 15-year-old boy in the Denver metro area?

The thing about summer camps is that there are enough of them out there to fill a special section. But this question seemed specific enough that maybe I could dial it down by age group and discipline into something manageable.

Then, naturally, I turned to Facebook and asked those who know.

If you have the same summer question as my boss, this column will not be a definitive list of all your options. But it will summarize what those local theater professionals (who responded) suggest.

Still, it’s a rabbit hole. What I learned most of all? News flash: Apparently raising kids is more expensive than, say – raising a cat.

The most fun-sounding option I found for a teenager who’s into singing and theater is to enroll them in what is called a “pay-to-play” youth theater production. You pay an exorbitant tuition (though “scholarships” are often available) that guarantees the kid a role in a designated play or musical. Yours doesn’t have to be next-stop Broadway. No experience necessary, in fact. The whole point, like a summer football camp, is to help develop the kid’s budding skills and confidence through reps, training and opportunity. This is process-based learning from area professionals that culminates in professional-style productions.

First, you enroll. Then there are “auditions” – though, unlike the real world, no one is cut. These auditions will determine whether your kid will play a lead or an ensemble role. Most of these programs then put the class through two weeks of all-day rehearsals (with training in singing, acting, and dancing), followed by fully costumed and staged performances on a real theater stage.

It reminds me a bit of when I went to Coach Guy Gibbs’ summer basketball camps for teens at Regis College. You came out of it with more confidence, improved skills and friends for life.

Anyway, here are some “pay-to-play” options that I know of heading into the summer:

• The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is offering grades 9-12 the opportunity to perform in “Shakespeare’s The Tempest: Rock & Roll Thunderstorm!” from July 20-31 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Tuition is $900. (More on the DCPA below.) info at denvercenter.org.

• Kent Denver School’s summer-camp production is “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” June 15-26 at 4000 E. Quincy Ave. in Englewood. Ages roughly 13-18. Taught by Neil Truglio and Brandon Joseph. But hurry: Auditions to determine roles are Saturday (May 30). Tuition and materials: $1,025. Info: kentdenver.org.

• The Wolf Theatre Academy at the JCC Denver is offering two Intensives for grades 8-12, both directed by local-theater bigshots. Annie Dwyer is teaching “Once Upon a Mattress” (June 8-28), and Jenna Moll Reyes is teaching “Beetlejuice Jr.” (July 6-26). Tuition is $1,245, with a $400 discount for those who sign up for both. For those students more interested in the invisible arts, there is a simultaneous, $950 apprenticeship in technical theater available for both projects. (That’s for students interested in learning more about stage management, the design arts and technical stuff.)

For grades 4-7, there is a $950 program with three show options: The play “No Body to Murder” (June 8-19) and the musicals “Alice in Wonderland” (July 6-17) and “Shrek Jr.” (July 20-31). The older kids will perform in the Wolf Theatre (mainstage), and the younger kids will perform in the Pluss (studio) Theatre. Info at jccdenver.org.

• The longest-lasting creative opportunity will be the Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center’s “The Little Mermaid.” That will be an afternoon activity (1-5 p.m.) for ages 12-18 from June 15-July 25, culminating with six public performances. Tuition: $600. Director: Charla Mason Kelly. Info at townhallartscenter.org.

• The Aurora Fox is offering “She Kills Monsters” for grades 7-12 through its rebranded Foxlight Theatre Lab (known for decades as The Little Foxes). Taught by Littleton High School theater teacher Talia Liccardello. This one runs three weeks (July 6-25). Tuition: $599. Info: aurorafoxartscenter.org.

• Miners Alley Playhouse is offering a week-long “devised-theater camp” (July 6-10) which involves creating a show from scratch as a team, without a pre-existing script. Through a variety of creative exercises and prompts, the students (grades 6-12) will develop, write and then perform their own original pieces at 1101 Miners Alley in Golden. Taught by Clove Love. Tuition: $225. Miners is also offering classes in acting for the camera, technical theater, improv comedy and more. Info at minersalley.com.

• Northglenn Youth Theatre, like Foxlight, is a city-backed youth program. It’s offering a summer camp called “Creating Big Characters” (mornings June 15-19, for ages 9-15). Taught by local actor and scenic designer Brian Watson. Other camp topics for kids will include playwriting and puppetry. The company’s next fully staged pay-to-play show (a world premiere called “Beauty is the Beast,” performing from July 31-Aug. 2), is already cast. After that will be “Elf the Musical” (ages 12-18). Auditions Aug. 18-20; performances Nov. 12-22. Unlike the others mentioned, this one is a competitive audition process, so, not everyone will be cast in the show. Info at northglennarts.org.

• CenterStage, a youth theater company in Louisville, is offering “Grease” for grades 6-12 from July 20-Aug. 1. Tuition $830. Info at centerstagetheatrecompany.org.

• Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids is doing all sorts of playing-to-pay in Boulder and Englewood this summer, but only two casts are not yet full: “Beetlejuice Jr.” (ages 10-16, June 22-July 10, 3425 S. Broadway, Englewood). Taught by David Ortolano. Tuition $1,595. In Boulder (Arapahoe and 55th Street), there’s “Anastasia” (ages 8-18, also June 22-July 17). Taught by Jenn Bartos. Tuition $1,995. Info at theaterforkids.net.

• StageDoor Theatre in Conifer offers a year-round, tuition-based theater education program that divides students into three companies. High schoolers are called the Senior Company, which can be confusing because StageDoor also maintains an adult acting company. The youth programs culminate in professional-style productions with tuition ranging from $600-$750. Casting is complete for the next production, “High School Musical 2,” which will be performed from July 31-Aug. 8 with actors ages 12-19. Info at stagedoortheatre.org.

• Smoky Hill High School is offering “The Lightning Thief,” taught by Eaglecrest High School theater teacher Eric Eidson, from July 6-18, grades 9-12. Tuition: $450. Info at steamctp.com.

• Stagebugz Theatre is offering “Grease” for grades 6-12 from June 1-5 at the Three Leaches Theatre in Lakewood. And, for grades 3-9: “Beauty and the Beast” at Columbine United Church in Littleton (June 8-12). Info: stagebugztheatre.com.

About Arvada and the DCPA

For those who might be wondering, the Arvada Center offers a popular Broadway teen intensive each summer. (This year, it’s the “Addams Family.”) But registration was in February, and placement auditions already have taken place. (Maybe next year?)

Meanwhile, both the Arvada Center and Denver Center have entire education departments that offer a huge catalog of year-round classes, workshops and other offerings across ages and disciplines.

Coming up at the Denver Center for high schoolers are crash courses in improv (June 15-19 or June 22-26, $450); audition techniques (July 20-24, $450), and musical theater (June 15-26, $900) – among others. (Plus lots of offerings for other ages.) Go to denvercenter.org/education.

Youth academies

There are also several year-round standalone youth performing-arts academies, among them the Arts Hub, which is offering “The SpongeBob Musical” for ages 11-16 (June 8-18, $468). It’s at 420 Courtney Way in Lafayette. Info at artshub.org.

• The Pickering Academy in Centennial is offering “High School Musical 2” (June 1-14, grades 6-12); “The Wizard of Oz” (June 15-28, grades K-12); and a teen take on “Rock of Ages” (July 20-Aug. 2, ages 13 and up). Tuition $675 each. Info at pickeringacademy.com.

• Mile High Youth Theatre already has cast its next teen production (“The Girl Laughs,” July 24-Aug. 2). The next chance for high schoolers to join in will be “Lord of the Flies.” Auditions are Aug. 18-20, with performances Oct. 15-30 at 940 Fillmore St. Tuition: $500. Info at mhyt.org.

• The Parker Performing Arts Academy serves grades K-8 in Douglas County. It also makes a home for the Front Range Theatre Company, which will be offering “Young Frankenstein” for teens from June 1-13. But that’s already cast. Info at frontrangetheatre.org.

Just to reiterate: Most of the organizations listed above offer classes and performance opportunities for young people of every age. This list endeavored to focus on high schoolers.

John Moore is the Denver Gazette’s Senior Arts Journalist. Email him at [email protected].