Merrill Arts Center Summer Camps and Youth Theater Programs

Merrill Arts Center Summer Camps and Youth Theater Programs offers themed mini-camps with bubble-themed theater games, time to play with bubbles, and a bubble craft, as well as sparkle-themed theater games and a sparkle craft, and super hero-themed theater games and a super hero craft. The program includes theater workshops such as a Musical Theater Dance Workshop that focuses on musical theater dance and dance audition skills, an Audition Workshop with mock auditions and time to select a monologue or song, and an Acting A-Z Workshop that covers acting, character analysis, and theater games. In longer camps, participants memorize and present short plays and 10-, 15-, or 20-minute workshop-style shows, pull props and costumes from home and MAC stock, rehearse 2–3 songs with a choreographer, director, and vocal coach, and take part in auditions, rehearsals, and performances.

• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Mini camps and theater workshops meet in 2-hour sessions; non-musical theater camps meet Monday–Thursday from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm; musical theater camps meet for one week of afternoons from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
• Price: Bubble, Sparkle, and Super Hero Mini-Camps are $29 per child or $24 each when registering 2 or more kids; most 2-hour workshops are $39 per child or $34 each for 2 or more kids; 4-morning non-musical theater camps are $299 per student or $249 each for 2 or more kids; musical theater camps such as THE LITTLE MERMAID are $349 or $299 per child with multiple children registered, with additional productions ranging from $189 to $389 with multi-child discounts.

The mission of the Merrill Arts Center is to champion the arts. Each child who registers is placed in a role, and for camps and educational productions the stated focus is on the growth of each child and on challenging each child to achieve their goal and take their work to the next level as appropriate for them. Camps are not led by high school or college students, although high school seniors and college students often assist, and registration fees are used to help pay professional designers, directors, teaching artists, and assistants, as well as sound support and technical rentals for productions. For camps, no volunteer help is required of parents, and kids learn theater vocabulary, teamwork, self-reliance, and build confidence by achieving a challenging goal. Outdoor “In the Park” productions are planned for the summer of 2026 with performances in parks throughout Washington County.

Dress guidelines include comfy clothes that can handle bubble juice for Bubble Mini-Camp, sparkly clothes for Sparkle Mini-Camp, and dressing as a favorite super hero for Super Hero Training Camp, with no dance shoes required for the Musical Theater Dance Workshops.

Last updated June 27, 2026.