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. Camp activities include reading the script, brainstorming with a Creative Kids Playhouse set designer to plan sets and props for each scene, working with a costume designer to design costumes from items provided by Creative Kids Playhouse and items from home, and creating sets, props, and costume pieces that are not already owned by the program. Actors also suggest their own blocking onstage, create their own character backstory, try out different speaking accents, and suggest dance moves while receiving drama, voice, and dance instruction from professionals.

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

The program’s Mainstage Immersion Camps in 2026 include The Wizard of Oz from Monday, July 6, 2026 to Friday, July 10, 2026, Disney's The Lion King Kids from July 13, 2026 to July 17, 2026, and Cinderella from July 27, 2026 to July 31, 2026. The Wizard of Oz camp runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, The Lion King Kids camp runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, and the Cinderella camp runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Each of these camps ends with performances on Friday at 6:00 pm and 7:15 pm. Theater Immersion Camps are generally offered as half-day, five-day camps in the summer, and are sometimes offered at schools as spring or winter break camps. Camelot Summer Musicals are a condensed two-week version of the annual Camelot fall musical, with auditions on Day 1, casting released and rehearsals beginning on Day 2, and the show opening on Friday of Week 2.

Camelot Summer Musicals are described as a unique experience for actors in grades 7–12, with actors as young as 10 welcome to join with permission from the director. Excalibur summer programs for grades 7–12 have included a 2–3 week summer play, Shakespeare classes, a full-scale theatre festival and competition, dance classes, musical theatre workshops, and audition workshops. Excalibur programs are described as being designed so students gain theatre education in a low-stress environment and to prepare them to audition and perform in any theater.

Creative Kids Playhouse Children’s Theatre of Orange County describes itself as providing “Quality Theater Education in Orange County” and as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Michele Sheehy co-founded Creative Kids Playhouse in 2011 and serves as Artistic Director, CEO, and Co-Founder. The leadership team includes Rachael Gafner (Production Manager, Mainstage Director, CATE Co-Chair, Set Design & Prop Master), Maureen Russell (Excalibur Players Director, Lead Choreographer & Creative Team), Deva Marie Gregory (Creative Team), Evan Troutt (Accompanist & Creative Team), Melissa Green (Stage Combat Director & Creative Team), Rachel Anne Andres (Creative Team), Isabel Grad (Creative Team), and Maryclare Ramirez (Social Media Manager).

Staff experience includes Michele Sheehy’s 30-plus years working in musical theatre and Rachael Gafner’s 12 years as a theatre educator. Maureen Russell is an accomplished singer, dancer, actress, and songwriter with a BA in Musical Theatre from The University of Northern Colorado. Deva Marie has over 15 years of professional experience in stage, screen, and voiceover work. Evan Troutt has worked as a musical theatre teacher for over 10 years, began teaching at the Musical Theatre Academy of Orange County in 2012, and is a pianist and performing arts instructor at Segerstrom Center for the Arts and an elementary school director at Top Hat 8 Repertory. Melissa Green is a classically trained performer who specializes in Shakespeare and stage combat. Rachel Anne Andres graduated with a BFA in Acting from AMDA L.A. in 2019, and Maryclare Ramirez is pursuing her BFA in Theatre from Texas Christian University.

Michele Sheehy has stated that she has tried to stay true to Creative Kids Playhouse’s founding mission of allowing children the opportunity to be creative, experience the exhilaration of performance, and grow from the many benefits of participating in a performance acting troupe. The organization states that it is passionate about delivering theatre education in a supportive and inspiring environment, and that Excalibur rehearsals prioritize a fun and educational environment to teach students how to behave in a professional theatre setting, with each program intentionally designed so students gain theatre education in a low-stress environment.

Creative Kids Playhouse Children’s Theatre of Orange County thanks 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. The community within the Excalibur players and alumni is described as impressive, with alumni supporting each other for years after graduation and some Excalibur alumni returning as Creative Kids Playhouse staff.

Parent and student testimonials describe individual experiences with the program. One parent in March 2016 wrote that an eight-year-old who had been involved in Creative Kids Playhouse productions since age three considered it a favorite activity and described it as a celebration of a favorite way to play, with imagination and creativity valued and contributions to each production described as very valuable. Another audience member, Jan B, stated after seeing The Princess and the Pea, “I could have watched this performance 100 times!” A fifth grade student, as recounted by Mrs. Ramirez, said, “Mrs. Ramirez, Mrs. Ramirez, Guess what?! I did it! And it was fun! And I never have to be afraid of that again!”

Last updated June 14, 2026.