Summer Camps & Conservatories

Great Theatre in the Great Outdoors

For over 20 years, Traveling Players has been creating theatre, friendships, and memories — with the best people: theatrical teens and pre-teens! Our summer theatre camps and performing arts programs are small by design, allowing us to have a coveted 1:4 faculty-to-student ratio.

Traveling Players presents a full continuum of summer theater camps tailored to kids and teens - from beginner to advanced. Our offerings range from enriching day camps to immersive sleepaway camps, and even our prestigious theatre conservatory, Shakespeare Troupe. Students have the unique opportunity to receive guidance from seasoned theater professionals while showcasing their talents in captivating outdoor settings.
We are awarded for excellence, having been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as one of 25 model “Summer Schools in the Arts.” In 2021, we were honored to receive ArtsFairfax's Arts Education Award. As an institution, we focus solely on education, meaning our students are at the center of everything we do.

Summer Programs: Acting Camps & Theatre Conservatories

A Day in the Life of a Traveling Player

Our summer programs provide intensive, classical theatre training to small troupes of actors and theatre technicians who are carefully guided by professional theatre artists to perform in outdoor amphitheaters.

Every young performer has plenty of opportunities to delve into acting technique, explore their creativity, build lasting friendships with peers, and enjoy a range of joyful extracurricular activities. For more details on our summer theater program schedule, continue reading below.

"Good Morning, Traveling Players!"

8:00 am
Wake up and get ready for the day in your cozy lodge (with electricity, AC, and bathrooms – flush toilets & showers!)
Tell me more about Lodging!
  • Our campus features 3 Lodges around a central quad. Campers live with near-age peers, expanding their friendships to other ensembles.  
  • Each Lodge includes two sleeping bays of 8-12 beds (4-6 bunk beds).  
  • Each Lodge is unique, but all include common areas — inside with big comfy couches for relaxing, memorizing lines and hanging out with your friends; outside with large porches or pavilions offering even more hangout space for each Lodge. 
  • Staff live in private rooms within the Lodges so that they are nearby, attentive, and available, while still allowing campers an appropriate level of privacy.
  • Artistic Director Jeanne Harrison lives next door to the Lodges in a cottage – always available.
Shakespeare Troupe, Director
MA, MFA, Founder, and Producing Artistic Director

Breakfast

8:30 am
Fuel up for a busy day of theatre and adventure!
Sample Menus
  • Bacon, Sausages (Meat or Veggie), Scrambled Eggs & Toast
"Acting created a place for me to express myself and to feel like people are listening — and being at Traveling Players made me feel as if I was worth listening to.  It’s a wonderful feeling."
- Camper

Morning Rehearsal

9:45 am
Jump into the rehearsal day with your trio of directors - don't forget your script!
Small by Design...
  • Our immersive, 1:4 faculty-to-student ratio ensures each student receives personalized training and attention. In practice that looks like: one director blocking the movement of a scene with a group of actors on stage, another working on character analysis, and the third director running a fight scene (safely!).
  • Our students see tremendous growth in their skills as performers because they spend their full rehearsal day engaged directly with our talented teaching artists – not just waiting for their entrance in the wings.
Pick your Ensemble
Tour in Hamlet
grades 9-12
Greek Mythology, Shakespeare, and more!
grades 4 - 12
professional theater artists teaching acting class

Lunch

12:00 pm
Take a break from rehearsal, catch up with friends from other ensembles, and refuel.
Sample Menus
  • Make-Your-Own Sandwich, Salad, & Granola Bars
"I would like to let you know how grateful we are to have Traveling Players!  [Our teen] has absolutely blossomed under the tutelage of your programs.  She is gaining confidence, not only as an actor, but as a person.  And for that, the Traveling Players crew have our deepest thanks; for everything you do and offer!"
- Parent

Class

1:00 pm
Your training expands beyond your play with daily classes. Classes dive deeper into one specific skill that will make you a stronger performer and artist.
Example Class Rotations
Improv
One of the most important tools in your actor’s toolbox – and the best part is you’re only doing it right if you’re having fun!
Stage Combat
Learn how to take down your foes on stage! Students receive training in armed and/or unarmed combat, with an emphasis on safety & trust.

Shakespeare Troupe: Fight Choreography by Casey Kaleba, MA, PhD, SAFD Certified
kids at overnight summer camps

Afternoon Rehearsal

2:00 pm
Jump back into rehearsal, you only have a few short weeks to perfect your final performance!

...Awarded for Excellence.

  • 1 of 25 model "Summer Schools in the Arts" by the NEA
  • Arts Education Award, 2021, ArtsFairfax
  • #1 Arts Camp in the Nation, CampEasy
  • Catalogue for Philanthropy: “featuring the area’s best, vetted, community-based charities for high-impact local giving,” 2015-2024

Free Period

4:00 pm
Go on a hike, make arts & crafts, relax by the lake, or memorize your lines!
"A transformative experience!  My son and daughter have attended Traveling Players programs for many years.  It is the most important activity in both of their lives.  The instruction in classical theatre is incomparable.  The outdoor skills and experiences are phenomenal.  And the friendships and close, supportive community of kids are priceless.  Go!"
- Parent
Meet the Lodge Leaders
Marian Woodington, Virginia
Wilderness Lodge
B.M. in Music Education. Loves cats & D&D!
Rodrigo Fernandez, Argentina
Wilderness Lodge
P.E. Teacher & Ocean Lifeguard. Loves fun & games!

Dinner

6:00 pm
Have a delicious meal with friends! On Friday nights, we’ll do a campfire meal – complete with the camp dessert staple, s’mores!
Sample Menu
  • Taco Bar: Build your own! Chicken, ground beef, beans, cheese, sour cream,  fresh veggies, and guacamole

Weekly Campouts

Theatre began around a campfire -  where people told stories in the dark.  Their stories chronicled their identity – origin myths, histories, trials and triumphs.  We continue that trend at Traveling Players, keeping theatre wild, singing around a campfire, telling our own stories and connecting with nature.  Time spent out of rehearsal allows campers to bond, forming friendships that last a lifetime.  The trust that is built during campouts translates to the stage with compelling performances.

Evening Activity

7:30 pm
After chores, enjoy either nighttime rehearsal or a camp-wide activity! Activities include: Skits, Open-Mic Nights, Scavenger Hunts, Capture the Flag, Movies Under the Stars, & more!

Appropriate Challenges

At Traveling Players we craft age-appropriate programs designed to incrementally challenge our students. From creating characters to pitching tents to setting up the sound system, our students know that the successes they have off stage allow them greater successes on stage.   The result: pride in their accomplishments, trust in their abilities, and confidence to tackle more in the future.

Evening Down Time

9:30 pm
Hang out with friends and unwind from the day while getting ready for bed.

Unplugged, yet Deeply Connected

With no cell phones or social media around, students get the chance to unplug and meaningfully connect with peers.

But don’t worry, they can still reach home through our camp mail & email system which is delivered daily!

"Good Night, Traveling Players!"

10:30 pm
Snuggle into your bunk and get lots of sleep for tomorrow’s theatrical adventures!

Saturdays & Sundays

Weekends at camp are little bit different than a typical day. They are more relaxed with more time for hanging out with friends!
  • Sleep-in til 11 am!
    • Early riser? Staff will be up with you so you can start your day.
  • Field Trips! Ziplining, River Hikes & more!
  • Camp-wide activities such as Camp Prom, D&D Campaigns, & Color Wars.

Contact Us

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Name
Mailing

P.O. Box 1315
Great Falls, VA 22066

Studio

Traveling Players Studio
Tysons Corner Center – DL01
1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons, VA 22102

Traveling Players Ensemble is funded in part by ArtsFairfax and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
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