Teaching Success
through the Performing Arts
The Program
Founded in 2000, Summer Stars’ flagship program is a 9 day camp that brings together underserved students ages 12-17 with a talented staff of master teachers, performers, counselors, and guest artists.
Summer Stars features intensive workshops from acting and dance to writing rap and doing improvisation, to spoken word and music video. At the end of the week, everyone performs in a 90 minute show featuring everything they learned that week.
By meeting other kids with the same interests, by working with a caring staff that holds them to the highest standards, they learn that working hard gets them places they never thought possible. They learn what success feels like in the best way possible: by succeeding.
Daily experiences include:
Morning Stretch, which brings everyone together to start the day
Master classes with professional dancers, actors, writers, directors, producers, teachers and musicians
Morning Sing where they learn vocal exercises and songs that will be performed in the show
Open Mike, where campers ‘get the stage’ for 3 minutes
Evening Performing groups have included: Shakespeare Performers Knighthorse Theatre, Stomp, Blue Man Group, Playback Theatre, African Drumming and Dancing, Salsa Demonstrations, and more.
Special Guests
Summer Stars also brings a network of known artists to its campers as special guests. Guest artists have included Steven Tyler, 50 Cent, American Idol, Taylor Swift, rap legend DMC, renowned mural artist Jameel Parker, Rapper/ Street artist Kaves, Blue Man Group, and many more. These opportunities help the campers realize that they, too, have the power to reach for their own dreams.
The Show
On the final Saturday of the program, campers become SUMMER STARS in their own energetic, impassioned, inspiring performance–90 minutes, 19 numbers in front of a full house, plus press and special guests. Everyone performs. And everyone loves it.
90 minutes
Special Guests
Full House Audience
Everyone Performs
The Location
Summer Stars makes its home on the beautiful Northfield Mount Hermon Campus in Gill, Massachusetts. The school provides us with first-rate facilities including theaters, dance studios, housing, and a peaceful setting. Many of our campers have shared with us that in this environment, for the first time they can really focus and learn.
