Creative Kids Playhouse Camps & Programs

Creative Kids Playhouse Camps & Programs offers Theater Immersion Camps where actors create a one-act musical in one week and perform it at the end for family and friends. Participants brainstorm with a Creative Kids Playhouse set designer to plan sets and props for each scene, work with a costume designer to design their costumes from items provided by CKP and items they have at home or want to make, and create sets, props, and costume pieces that CKP does not already own. During rehearsals, actors can suggest their own blocking, create their own character backstory, try out different speaking accents, and suggest dance moves as they work toward producing a one-act musical production.

• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: Theater Immersion Camps are week-long, generally offered as half-day, five-day camps in the summer; Camelot Summer Musicals run as a condensed two-week version of the annual Camelot fall musical; Excalibur summer programs have included a 2–3 week summer play

Creative Kids Playhouse Camps & Programs includes specific themed Mainstage Immersion Camps such as The Wizard of Oz from Monday, July 6, 2026, to Friday, July 10, 2026, meeting 9:00 am–12:30 pm with performances on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 6:00 pm and 7:15 pm. Disney's The Lion King Kids runs July 13–17, 2026, from 9:00 am–2:30 pm with performances on July 17, 2026, at 6:00 pm and 7:15 pm, and Cinderella runs July 27–31, 2026, from 9:00 am–12:30 pm with performances on July 31, 2026, at 6:00 pm and 7:15 pm. Camelot Summer Musicals hold auditions on Day 1, begin rehearsals on Day 2, and open the show on Friday of Week 2. Excalibur summer programs have included a summer play, Shakespeare classes, a full-scale theatre festival and competition, dance classes, musical theatre workshops, and audition workshops.

Creative Kids Playhouse Children’s Theatre of Orange County is a nonprofit organization co-founded by Artistic Director, CEO, and Co-Founder Michele Sheehy in 2011. The leadership and creative team includes Michele Sheehy; Production Manager and Mainstage Director Rachael Gafner; Excalibur Players Director and Lead Choreographer Maureen Russell; Creative Team member Deva Marie Gregory; Accompanist and Creative Team member Evan Troutt; Stage Combat Director Melissa Green; Creative Team members Rachel Anne Andres and Isabel Grad; and Social Media Manager Maryclare Ramirez. Many staff are currently working actors and musicians with extensive training, and individual staff backgrounds include over 30 years of work in musical theatre, over 12 years in theatre education, professional experience in stage, screen, and voiceover, specialization in Shakespeare and stage combat, and degrees such as a BA in Musical Theatre and a BFA in Acting.

Michele Sheehy has stated that she is passionate about delivering theatre education in a supportive and inspiring environment and has tried to stay true to Creative Kids Playhouse’s founding mission of allowing children the opportunity to be creative, experience performance, and participate in a performance acting troupe. In rehearsal, Excalibur programs prioritize a fun and educational environment to teach students how to behave in a professional theatre setting, and each Excalibur program is designed so students gain theatre education in a low-stress environment. Creative Kids Playhouse values education through practical experience and places education and equal opportunity at the forefront of its agenda.

Testimonials from parents and supporters describe pride in being part of Creative Kids Playhouse, noticing growth in children from show to show, and appreciation that staff work hard to meet the needs of each individual child and let them know their ideas and input are important to the group. Families have reported that their children have participated in multiple full productions and have enjoyed them, and they describe the environment as wonderful, loving, fun, and focused on learning, friendships, and memories. One supporter notes that Creative Kids Playhouse values education through practical experience and describes it as a place for children to begin exploring their love for the performing arts, with a core philosophy that places education and equal opportunity at the forefront.

Creative Kids Playhouse Children’s Theatre of Orange County lists sponsors and patrons including The Mecklenburg Family, The Presby Family, The Schmidt Family, Jerry and Erica Sheehy, The Diller Family, Wendy and Dave Bartels, The Kinney-Callaghan Family, Michele Sheehy-Bowren, and Elizabeth Ramirez.

Last updated March 13, 2026.