Porchlight Summer Camp
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, 615 W. Kemper Pl., Chicago, IL 60614
About
Porchlight Summer Camp offers singing, dancing and skill-based classes that stretch creative muscles and support music theatre goals in acting, dancing and singing. Campers take part in drama games, learn music and acting technique, work on prop and individual final show rehearsal, and create an original musical performance to share on the last day. Depending on the camp, activities can include writing a story with music together, helping to choreograph a song, making big character choices with bodies and voices, exploring environments, remembering basic choreography, and rehearsing and performing a full licensed script in an extended camp through Porchlight Youth Presents, as well as professional theatre training and exclusive masterclasses in the PMTeens program.
• Ages: 4–17 years old
• Schedule: Camp options include Mini Musicals (1 week, 9 AM–3 PM), Broadway Basics (2 weeks, 9 AM–3 PM), and Intermediate Ensemble (2 weeks, 9 AM–3 PM), with a sample camp day running 9 AM–3 PM and aftercare offered each camp day from 3:30–5:30 PM; before care is offered through Jen’s Camp starting at 7:30 AM until July 31 (no before care the week of Aug 3–7).
• Price: Mini Musicals sessions range from $300–$370, Broadway Basics sessions cost $750, and before care through Jen’s Camp costs $160 per week.
During a sample camp day, campers spend 9–10 AM on welcome and warm-ups for voice, body and ensemble, 10–11 AM learning group songs and choreography for the final show, 11 AM–12 PM in drama games and whole cast work, 12 PM at lunch and free time at Oz Park, 1–2 PM on prop and individual final show work and rehearsal, and 2–3 PM in drama games, review and sign out. Mini Musicals camps include songs, games and exploring a theme through music, exploring environments, remembering basic choreography and performing on the last day of camp. Broadway Basics includes creating characters who interact in a musical story, learning to warm up actor tools, writing a story with music together, helping to choreograph a song and making big character choices with bodies and voices. PMTeens is described as a one of a kind opportunity for the next generation of Chicago music theatre talent and consists of an elite group of 16 actors aged 14–17, with professional theatre training and exclusive masterclasses.
Porchlight Music Theatre states that all classes are taught by theatre professionals who have appeared on stages throughout Chicagoland. Porchlight Music Theatre is now in its 31st season and is described as the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago, with honors that include 178 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and between 45 and 50 Jeff Awards, as well as 33 Black Theatre Alliance nominations and 12 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards and received eight nominations and three awards in that tier, including Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, and the company notes five consecutive Best Production wins for The Scottsboro Boys (2017), Dreamgirls (2016), Sondheim on Sondheim (2015), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014) and A Class Act (2013). Porchlight states that arts education is essential for all students and that no child will be turned away for inability to pay, with scholarships and financial aid awarded on a need and interest basis, additional supports such as travel and meal support that may be available, and payment plans always available for youth programming.
Porchlight’s education and outreach programs serve schools, youth of all ages and skill levels and community organizations, and include an ongoing collaboration with Chicago Youth Centers. Porchlight also donates gift certificates for tickets to a Porchlight production for arts, community, education and social service agency fundraisers as one way it supports the Chicagoland community. Porchlight Music Theatre states that summer camp guidelines and recommendations were created following advice from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois Department of Health and Chicago Public Schools, and that classes and camps are mask encouraged for all campers and Teaching Artists. Porchlight Music Theatre notes that it has the right to cancel a class up to one week prior to the start date and will process refunds if a class or camp is canceled. Families are welcome to pick up anytime between 3:30–5:30 PM during aftercare, and before care is offered on site through Jen’s Camp with special pricing using code porchlightmornings.
Last updated July 29, 2026.
• Ages: 4–17 years old
• Schedule: Camp options include Mini Musicals (1 week, 9 AM–3 PM), Broadway Basics (2 weeks, 9 AM–3 PM), and Intermediate Ensemble (2 weeks, 9 AM–3 PM), with a sample camp day running 9 AM–3 PM and aftercare offered each camp day from 3:30–5:30 PM; before care is offered through Jen’s Camp starting at 7:30 AM until July 31 (no before care the week of Aug 3–7).
• Price: Mini Musicals sessions range from $300–$370, Broadway Basics sessions cost $750, and before care through Jen’s Camp costs $160 per week.
During a sample camp day, campers spend 9–10 AM on welcome and warm-ups for voice, body and ensemble, 10–11 AM learning group songs and choreography for the final show, 11 AM–12 PM in drama games and whole cast work, 12 PM at lunch and free time at Oz Park, 1–2 PM on prop and individual final show work and rehearsal, and 2–3 PM in drama games, review and sign out. Mini Musicals camps include songs, games and exploring a theme through music, exploring environments, remembering basic choreography and performing on the last day of camp. Broadway Basics includes creating characters who interact in a musical story, learning to warm up actor tools, writing a story with music together, helping to choreograph a song and making big character choices with bodies and voices. PMTeens is described as a one of a kind opportunity for the next generation of Chicago music theatre talent and consists of an elite group of 16 actors aged 14–17, with professional theatre training and exclusive masterclasses.
Porchlight Music Theatre states that all classes are taught by theatre professionals who have appeared on stages throughout Chicagoland. Porchlight Music Theatre is now in its 31st season and is described as the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago, with honors that include 178 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and between 45 and 50 Jeff Awards, as well as 33 Black Theatre Alliance nominations and 12 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards and received eight nominations and three awards in that tier, including Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, and the company notes five consecutive Best Production wins for The Scottsboro Boys (2017), Dreamgirls (2016), Sondheim on Sondheim (2015), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014) and A Class Act (2013). Porchlight states that arts education is essential for all students and that no child will be turned away for inability to pay, with scholarships and financial aid awarded on a need and interest basis, additional supports such as travel and meal support that may be available, and payment plans always available for youth programming.
Porchlight’s education and outreach programs serve schools, youth of all ages and skill levels and community organizations, and include an ongoing collaboration with Chicago Youth Centers. Porchlight also donates gift certificates for tickets to a Porchlight production for arts, community, education and social service agency fundraisers as one way it supports the Chicagoland community. Porchlight Music Theatre states that summer camp guidelines and recommendations were created following advice from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois Department of Health and Chicago Public Schools, and that classes and camps are mask encouraged for all campers and Teaching Artists. Porchlight Music Theatre notes that it has the right to cancel a class up to one week prior to the start date and will process refunds if a class or camp is canceled. Families are welcome to pick up anytime between 3:30–5:30 PM during aftercare, and before care is offered on site through Jen’s Camp with special pricing using code porchlightmornings.
Last updated July 29, 2026.
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