build confidence. make art.

Twenty-two years ago GREAT ran its first summer camp for 42 kids from the St. Cloud area. Last summer GREAT served over 1600 kids ages 4-18 who traveled from across the state of Minnesota and beyond (77 cities and 5 states!) to participate in our theatre camps. Together we explored many aspects of theatre, from playwriting to sewing to Broadway musicals! And this year we’re expanding our offerings to include new plays, new musicals, additional opportunities in tech, and an increased focus on the process of creating art!

be creative. meet new friends. have fun. play. be great.


2020 CAMP SCHEDULE IS POSTED!

FIND A CAMP

These camps have been a great experience to help my children open up and express themselves, connect to the community, grow as people, and find talents they didn’t know they had!

My son’s connection to GREAT Theatre has changed his life and opened him up to new friendships and experiences that he could never get anywhere else.

“This was an exceptional way for my son to spend a week of his summer vacation. It has given him increased confidence!”

“Another GREAT Theatre camp! My son can’t wait until next summer. He was so sad when it was all over!”

“Your programs generosity with scholarships means the world to our family!”

GREAT EDUCATION: Play for All Stages

2020 CAMP SCHEDULE IS POSTED!

FIND A CAMP

Camp ages are determined by grades students are ENTERING in the fall. For example, if a student just finished 1st grade, they are considered a rising 2nd grader and may sign up for camps that say “2nd grade.”

All Stars – Pre K-2nd Grade

Story Play: Pre-K/K
Explore theatre through songs, dance, and games inspired by your favorite storybook characters!
Skills focus: imagination, teamwork, social skills, listening skills
Themes:
• Llama Llama Loves the Drama
• Twirling Trolls
• My Big Feelings

Page to Stage: 1st & 2nd
Bring storybooks to life through songs, games, and a short script!
Skills focus: imagination, teamwork, social skills, confidence, speaking/projection
Themes:
• Rosie Revere & Friends
• Superhero Adventures
• Dragon Drama

Mini Players – 3rd-5th Grade

Originals
Take the stage and create your own original play inspired by characters from popular series!
Skills focus: working as an ensemble, storytelling, creativity, collaboration, speaking skills
Themes:
• Adventures on the Magic School Bus
• Carmen Sandiego Strikes Again
• Descendants Take the Stage
• Mythological Quests & Creatures

Musicals
Sing, dance, and act in the first ever musical camp focused specifically on 3rd-5th grades!
Skills focus: singing, dancing, storytelling, speaking skills, working as an ensemble
Themes:
• Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS

Young Performers – 3rd-8th Grade

Musicals
Sing, dance, and act in hit musicals inspired by popular movies!
Skills focus: characterization, collaboration, confidence, vocal, dance
Themes:
• Madagascar JR.
• Disney’s Frozen KIDS

Plays
Take the stage and develop your acting skills in a fully scripted play!
Skills focus: characterization, collaboration, storytelling, confidence, projection, diction
Themes:
• The Hobbit

GREAT/SCSU Language Camp
Students with social, language, or communication difficulties (including social anxiety, Asperger’s Syndrome, language or learning disability) will create their own Under the Sea adventure. Students will learn acting techniques, develop narrative language skills, and practice social skills. There will be a show for family and friends on Friday. Produced in partnership with St. Cloud State University we will have licensed and experienced professionals with backgrounds in theatre, autism, and speech/language who facilitate activities. Please contact us with any questions about whether camp is appropriate for your child.

Junior Company – 6th-8th Grade

Intensives
Dive into a variety of aspects of theatre through skill-building intensives! Whether interested in backstage technical skills or onstage performance, intensives allow students to hone in on specific theatrical interests.
Themes:
• Hamilton Musical Theatre Intensive Jr.
• Comedy & Improv Jr.
• Sewing Camp
• Potterverse Playwriting
• Technical Theatre

Play
Bring your acting and storytelling skills to a new level in this ensemble play designed specifically for a 6th-8th grade company!
Skills focus: characterization, ensemble building, storytelling, confidence, projection, diction
Themes:
• Marvel’s Squirrel Girl

Musical
Take your musical theatre skills to the next level in collaboration with Senior Company. Focus on singing, dancing, and acting to put on a fully staged musical selected specifically for middle and high school students.
Skills focus: vocal, dance, characterization, ensemble building, projection, diction
Themes:
• Freaky Friday One-Act Edition

Senior Company Intensives – 9th-12th grade

Intensives
Push yourself by honing in on specific theatrical skills in a week-long intensive that culminates in a final showcases!
Themes:
• You Will Be Found Musical Theatre Intensive Sr.
• Comedy & Improv Sr.
• Radio Theatre & Podcast

Musical
Take your musical theatre skills to the next level in collaboration with Junior Company. Focus on singing, dancing, and acting to put on a fully staged musical selected specifically for middle and high school students.
Skills focus: vocal, dance, characterization, ensemble building, projection, diction
Themes:
• Freaky Friday One-Act Edition

Pay-what-you-can scholarships

GREAT is proud to offer a pay-what-you-can scholarship program to make sure that every student has access to the transformative power of theater camp. Individual donors fund our Judi Newstrom Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Scholarship registration will be begin on Thursday, March 19th at 9am and must be done over the phone or in person. Scholarships are offered on a first come first served basis and available while supplies last. Recipients make some payment towards the class, but the amount is up to the individual family. Scholarships are not applicable to camps that are already registered and paid for.

GREAT Theatre
710 Sundial Drive, Waite Park
320-258-2787

Thanks to our scholarship donors and the Judi Newstrom Memorial Scholarship fund for making camp accessible for all. 

Cancellation, Refund, & Transfer Policy

  • There is a 20% administrative fee for cancellations; must give 2 weeks advance notice.
  • There are no refunds for cancellations made within 2 weeks of the start of camp.
  • There is a $10 fee to switch camps.

No Tree Nuts / No Peanuts
To ensure the safety of all of our campers, we have a strict no-nut policy for both peanuts and tree-nuts (including hazelnut products such as Nutella).

Electronic Device Policy
To encourage our value of ensemble and relationship building, cellphones and other electronic devices are not to be used during camp (including breaks). If brought to camp, they should be kept on silent and in a bag. GREAT is not responsible for lost, broken, or stolen belongings. Parents are welcome to call GREAT Theatre at 320.258.2787 if they need to contact their student(s).

Pick-Up & Drop-Off
In consideration of our staff members and to ensure safety of all campers, GREAT asks that campers be dropped-off for class no earlier than 15 minutes before camp start time. Campers must be picked-up for class no later than 5 minutes after camp end time. GREAT reserves the right to charge families a fee of $1 per minute for late pick-ups.

Observation
For the safety of all campers – parents, caregivers, family members (including siblings), and friends are not able to observe/sit-in on camp. Our camps and intensives are designed for student participation, and we find that students focus better and participate more fully when family members are not in the room. If your child is nervous about class, you are welcome to stay on site outside of the classroom/auditorium. Family members and friends are welcomed and encouraged to attend the sharing/performance/showcase on the final day of camp!

GREAT Child Safety Policy
It is the policy of the GREAT to ensure all youth are safeguarded from physical, sexual and emotional harm while taking part. GREAT requires that all staff, instructor, volunteer, production staff and other paid or voluntary helpers working with young people follow the following policy set out below.

GREAT Theatre is committed to valuing each young person, irrespective of sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, abilities, or background. We are a safe space for all.

Please read our complete Child Safety Policy here. 

Camp Locations and Directions

With 14 locations spanning every neighborhood in central Minnesota, GREAT Theatre is around every corner.

Special thanks to each of our 2020 summer camp partners:

Albany High School
Blattner Energy Arts Theatre (BEAT)
30 Forest Ave
Driving Directions
Enter at the BEAT main entrance. Door 36

Annandale High School
855 Hemlock Street
Annandale, MN 55302
Driving Directions 

Becker High School – Small Theatre
12000 Hancock St SE
Becker, MN 55308
Driving Directions

Cathedral High School – Holy Angels Theater
312 7th Ave N
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Driving Directions
Enter door #6 -main entrance. Free parking in school lot.

College of Saint Benedict – Gorecki Theatre
CSB Benedicta Arts Center
St. Joseph, MN 56374
Driving Directions
Enter in door west side of building near parking lot 6

Helgeson Learning Lab Theatre
GREAT World Headquarters
710 Sundial Drive
Waite Park, MN 56387
Driving Directions
Next to Crafts Direct – enter through Helgeson Learning Lab Theatre door on south side of building

Melrose High School
546 North 5th Ave E
Melrose, MN 56352
Driving Directions
Enter through Door #13

GREAT Studios // Paramount Theatre
Monday-Thursday // rehearsal at GREAT Studios. 919 W St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 3rd floor.
Friday // rehearsal and performance at the Paramount Theatre, 913 W St. Germain St., St. Cloud
Driving Directions

Sartell High School Black Box Theatre
748 7 St N
Sartell, MN 56377
Driving Directions
Enter main door by flagpole. Free parking in school lot

Sartell Middle School/Pine Meadow Elementary
627 3rd Ave N
Sartell, MN 56377
Driving Directions 
Enter South Door and meet in room 830

*Pine Meadow Elementary Monday-Thursday, new Sartell Middle School Friday

Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School
901 1 St S
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
Driving Directions
Enter door #4 (left side of Community Arts Center). Free parking in school lot. 

SCSU KVSC radio studios
720 4th Ave S, St Cloud, MN 56301
Driving Directions

Tech High School
4200 33rd St S, St Cloud, MN 56301
Driving Directions

The Waters Church
1227 Pinecone Road N
Sartell, MN 56377
Driving Directions

Frequently Asked Questions

Camps are designed for specific grade and developmental levels, and we encourage you to register your student accordingly. Registration is determined by the grade your student will be entering in the fall of 2020. Please reach out if you have questions about which camp is best for your student. 

For the safety of all campers – parents, caregivers, family members (including siblings), and friends are not able to observe/sit-in on camp. Our camps and intensives are designed for student participation, and we find that students focus better and participate more fully when family members are not in the room. If your child is nervous about class, you are welcome to stay on site outside of the classroom/auditorium. Family members and friends are welcomed and encouraged to attend the sharing/performance/showcase on the final day of camp.

GREAT Theatre summer camps are process-focused camps as growth happens most in the rehearsal room. With this in mind, most camps culminate with a sharing, showcase, or performance for families and friends. Please see camp-specific details on our Registration and Schedule pages to see if and what kind of performance your camp has. 

GREAT performs at a variety of locations from blackbox theatres to school performing arts centers to churches, all of which have stages of varying types. While some camps rehearse in classrooms, all camp sharings/showcases/performances will take place on a stage. 

Parents may record a video of the performance for personal use, but per production licenses GREAT is not permitted to record or distribute video of performances. 

We encourage campers to dress in comfortable clothing that they can move in. Please have your student wear rubber-soled, closed-toed shoes. 

For costumed camps’ performance days, students will need a base layer: shorts/leggings and t-shirt/tank-top to wear underneath their costume. More detailed information will follow. 

For non-costumed camps’ performance days, we encourage students to wear their GREAT Theatre Summer Camp t-shirt, unless otherwise specified. 

Because GREAT camps are focused on the process of learning and building theatre skills, not all camps are costumed. This may mean your student will be creating a costume craft, using pieces from a costume trunk, wearing a full costume, or showcasing their GREAT Theatre Summer Camp shirt. Please see camp-specific details on our Registration and Schedule pages.

Because GREAT serves over 1,600 students at 14 locations in one summer, not all of our camps have microphones. All of the Musical Productions (Mini Player Musical, Young Performer Musicals, Junior/Senior Company Musical) utilize mics. 

If your top choice camp is full you can add your name to the waitlist. In the meantime we encourage you to register for a camp that does have openings. If a spot becomes available, and you’re next on the list for that camp, you will be contacted via email.  We can always switch you at that time! You’ll have 24 hours to respond and pay for the registration before the system automatically releases the hold and offers the spot to the next camper on the list.

Yes! Pay-What-You-Can scholarships are available beginning March 19, 2020. Please stop by or call GREAT at 320.258.2787. Learn more by clicking on the scholarship tab to the left. 

We want to ensure that everyone has a healthy and fun week! Here are some reminders:

NOTES: Other details and instructions will be sent home with your camper on Mondays and Thursdays. Please make sure your camper gives these to you.

SLEEP: Campers need a good night’s rest to provide them with the energy they’ll need for each day of camp.

WHAT TO WEAR: Campers should wear rubber-soled shoes and comfortable clothing that they can move in. NO FLIP FLOPS.

HYDRATE: Campers are encouraged to bring a water bottle to camp each day.

EAT: Campers should eat before coming to camp and bring snack/lunch based on the camp they are attending:
All Stars – snack
Mini Players Originals – snack
Mini Players Musical – snack & lunch
Young Performers – snack & lunch
Junior & Senior Company half day – snack
Junior & Senior Company all day – snack & lunch

CHECKING IN: Each day, our camp staff will check each camper in and out at the door to the auditorium or classroom. Please make sure your child checks in and out with a staff person each day.

ATTITUDE: Campers should be prepared for an awesome week. They should come ready to learn and have fun! NO, CELL PHONES PLEASE. Instructors have phones if emergencies happen or calls need to be made.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: If your child will be absent, or in case of emergency during your week of camp, please call our office at 320.258.2787 so we may contact your child’s instructor.