Chicago Children’s Theatre Announces a Fun New Summer Camp Experience of Epic Proportions at its New Location, the National Hellenic Museum, July 14-25, 2014

CHICAGO, IL – Calling all Sirens, Argonauts, Nymphs, Furies, Dragons, Minotaurs and Cyclopes! Enrollment is now open for Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Summer Camp – an amazing opportunity for children to unleash their creativity and bring their imaginations to life.

This year, Chicago Children’s Theatre is excited to announce it will hold its annual Summer Camp in a beautiful, convenient and exciting new location, the National Hellenic Museum, 333 S. Halsted St. in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.

Chicago Children’s Theatre campers can look forward to a mythic summer of epic proportions filled with art, imagination, performance and adventure. Kids will work together and with professional theatre artists to write, design, compose, build, rehearse and ultimately perform a world premiere play with music inspired by ancient Greek history and culture.

Summer Camp dates are July 14-25, 2014, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chicago Children’s Theater welcomes kids ages 4 to 12 years, with separate sessions for 4 to 5 year olds, 6 to 8 year olds, and 9 to 12 year olds. Summer Camp will culminate with a live performance on Friday, July 25 at noon, followed by a potluck lunch.

Price is $650 plus a $25 registration fee, which is waived if tuition is paid in full when registering. Sign up a sibling and receive a 20% discount on the second registration. Some scholarships and financial aid are available. To register or for more information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/summercamp or call David Amaral, Education Manager, (773) 227-0180 x 15.

More about Chicago Children’s Theatre Summer Camp

Youth education programs at Chicago Children’s Theatre help kids build confidence, boost creativity and ultimately gain a competitive edge by teaching them important life skills like how to think fast on their feet, solve problems, and be better team players. Plus, they’re a ton of fun.

Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Summer Camp, presented in association with the National Hellenic Museum, promises children amazing opportunities to unleash their creativity and bring their imagination to life.  Over the course of two weeks, campers are guided along the process of creating their very own, entirely original theatrical production.

Each day, all campers will let their creativity shine while moving between workshops in acting, storytelling, music and arts/design. When it comes to collaboration, campers will work together as a team to create the story and ultimately bring their play to life. As they do so, they’ll develop friendships and skills that will last long beyond Summer Camp.

Summer Camp also creates a supportive environment in which each child gains confidence by performing in front of a group and working as part of a team. Each camper also experiences the pride of seeing their imagination brought to life on stage and shared with family and friends. Finally, there’s a reason why it’s called a play. Campers should come ready for large quantities of fun and hilarity.

Under the guidance of Chicago Children’s Theatre Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and CCT’s Camp Staff, Summer Camp is designed and run by artists with extensive experience in the Chicago theatre industry and as arts educators throughout the city. Russell launched the first summer camps at The Old Town School of Folk Music, and created Lookingglass Theatre’s Summer Camps. She also consulted on the creation of Summer Camps at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

Jacqueline Russell also oversees CCT’s annual Camp Red Kite, a three-week summer camp experience exclusively for children on the autism spectrum. Camp Red Kite is led by a team of artists, administrators, and special education teachers dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment for children affected by autism. The aim is to foster a shared arts experience that encourages self-expression, social engagement, creative exploration, and above all, FUN!

Camp Red Kite will run June 23-July 11 at Cleveland Elementary School, 3121 W. Byron St., Chicago. To sign-up, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/red-kite-project/camp-red-kite/ or call David Amaral, Education Manager, (773) 227-0180 x 15.

About Chicago Children’s Theatre

Chicago Children’s Theatre aspires to enrich our community through diverse and significant theatrical and educational programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us. In addition to Summer Camp and its year-round roster of theater classes for kids, Chicago Children’s Theatre is internationally known for the creation and production of first-rate professional children’s theatre with top writing, performing and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise.

Since the company was launched in 2005, Chicago Children’s Theatre has presented the world premieres of The Selfish Giant, The Hundred Dresses, Jackie and Me, Dot and Ziggy, The Houdini Box, The Elephant and The Whale (in association with Redmoon) and Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money. To enhance the impact of any given production’s themes, CCT offers educational materials and programs for families and educators.

Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Board Chair Todd Leland, the company is supported by a committed Artistic Council of Chicago-based actors, directors, musicians and designers and a dynamic Board of Directors comprised of dedicated individuals from the fields of entertainment, philanthropy and business. Officers include David Saltiel, President; Jacqueline Tilton, Vice Chair; Lynn Lockwood Murphy, Vice Chair and Secretary; and David Chung, Treasurer.

Chicago Children’s Theatre is sponsored in part by ComEd, Goldman Sachs Gives, JPMorgan Chase and Target.

For more information about Chicago Children’s Theatre visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org, call CCT’s dedicated box office line, (872) 222-9555, or the administrative office, (773) 227-0180.