Elmhurst Children's Theatre

Elmhurst Children's Theatre offers ECT Summer Camps and other programs with musical theatre, dance, improv, and acting activities. Its summer camp options include Musical-In-A-Week: Broadway Highlights in the Round, Popstar Performer Dance Camp, SceneLab: Listen, React, Perform, Improv Skills Camp, Musical In A Week: Christmas in July: Elf Jr and others, "Rockin' Robin": Dance Camp for Musical Theatre, Triple Threat: Musical Theatre Intensive Camp, and Beyond the Music - The Young Actors Masterclass. The fall program Newsies includes auditions, rehearsals, and performances.

Programs

• ECT Summer Camps — Kids entering grades 3-9 for the 2026-27 school year who live or attend school in Elmhurst · Variety of summer camp and performing opportunities; all camps held at ECT Headquarters, 121 W. First St.
• Musical-In-A-Week: Broadway Highlights in the Round — Grades 4-9 · Mon-Fri, 9:00 am-3:00 pm · Campers learn dialogue, musical numbers and choreography; Friday showcase performance for friends and families.
• Popstar Performer Dance Camp — Grades 2-6 · Mon-Fri, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm · High-energy dance camp focused on performance confidence and choreography.
• SceneLab: Listen, React, Perform — Grades 5-8 · Mon-Fri, 9:00 am-12:00 pm · Focused scene-work camp for incoming 5th-8th graders; concludes with a showcase performance for families.
• Improv Skills Camp — Grades 4-9 · Mon-Fri, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm · Fast-paced improvisational games and exercises to build performance and teamwork skills.
• Musical In A Week: Christmas in July: Elf Jr and others — Grades 4-9 · Mon-Fri, 9:00 am-3:00 pm · Campers learn and perform a unique show based on favorite selections from Elf Jr. the musical; Friday showcase performance.
• "Rockin' Robin": Dance Camp for Musical Theatre — Grades 5-8 · Mon-Fri, 9:00 am-12:00 pm · High-energy dance intensive focused on musical theatre styles and character-driven dance.
• Triple Threat: Musical Theatre Intensive Camp — Grades 5-8 · Mon-Fri, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm · Musical theatre intensive in acting, singing, and dancing; ends with a showcase performance on the final day.
• Beyond the Music - The Young Actors Masterclass — Grades 4-6 and Grades 7-9 · Thu, 6:00 pm-7:00 pm; Thu, 7:15 pm-8:15 pm · 6-week masterclass led by Deb O’Connor; one section for Grades 4-6 and one for Grades 7-9.
• Newsies — 5th-8th graders · M-W, 5:45 pm-9:00 pm; auditions Wed 5:00 pm-9:20 pm and Thu 6:00 pm-10:00 pm · $495 · Fall musical; auditions are open to Elmhurst 5th-8th graders who live in Elmhurst or attend Elmhurst schools.

At a glance

• Ages: 8–14 years old
• Price range: $495
• Current session: Newsies performances (Oct 23–Oct 25, 2026); Beyond the Music - The Young Actors Masterclass (Sep 3–Oct 15, 2026)
• General schedule: ECT typically offers fall, spring, and summer classes or camps; the organization usually produces a fall/winter main stage show, a spring main stage show, and a summer show or double feature each year.

About the provider

Elmhurst Children's Theatre is a 501(c)(3) not for profit children's theatre dedicated to serving the children of Elmhurst. ECT provides a unique experience in all aspects of live theatre by promoting a supportive and positive learning environment. One parent of each cast member is required to participate on a committee for mainstage productions.

Supervision for camps is provided no more than 5 minutes prior to the start of each session. For weeks with morning and afternoon sessions for the same age group, kids signed up for both sessions may stay for lunch. Classes may be cancelled/refunded up to 30 days prior to the class/camp start date. For Newsies, cast members may only miss three regular rehearsals, may not miss any tech week rehearsals or the wandelprobe, and may not miss any performances. Audition spots are limited and auditioning does not guarantee a cast spot.

Last updated August 23, 2026.