WordPlayers Summer Camps 2026
We're offering 3 camps for kids ages 8 - 16. Camps fill up quickly; register today!
WordPlayers “Young Artists” Summer Camps: Ages 8-12 had waiting lists last year. Registration is OPEN. Don’t be left out!
TALES FROM THE JUNGLE BOOK
Ages: 8 – 12
Dates: Choose either:
Camp 1: June 1 – 5
Camp 2: June 15 – 19
Time: 9am – 2pm
Showcase: 2pm on the last day
Meet Rudyard Kipling’s lovable characters Mowgli, Baloo, Baghira, and the evil tiger Shere Khan. Elephants, wolves, and monkeys round out the jungle celebration in this musical-theatre camp featuring acting basics, vocal training, fun costumes, set creation, dance, and great parts for all. The week ends with a performance for friends and family. This camp is offered twice and will fill up fast.
Location: Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Rd, Knoxville
Tuition: $250; $200 for 2nd child same family, and $175 for 3rd child same family.
(materials included, students provide their own lunches)
The last day to sign up is May 18th. No refunds after this date.
If you are Registering more than one student you will need to fill out a form for each child.
TO REGISTER and PAY FORTales from the Jungle Book Camp, click these buttons.
Lead Instructor: Dr. Dana Spears has directed over 25 plays and musicals for schools and community theatres and has developed numerous camps to introduce children and youth to theatrical production.She has written original children’s plays and adapted scripts from the writings of William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, and Oscar Wilde. She holds a Ph.D. in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia. This is her fourth summer with The WordPlayers.
For any questions, please contact our Programming Coordinator, Caleb Leach, through programming@wordplayers.org
JOHNNY APPLESEED
Ages: 8 – 12
Dates: June 8 – 12
Time: 9am – 2pm
Showcase: 2pm on the last day.
Learn the true story of an American hero who planted trees across the frontier to feed pioneers as he shared the Gospel along the trail. Johnny and his friends and family sing and dance their way into history in this musical-theatre camp featuring acting basics, vocal training, pioneer costumes, set creation, dance, and great parts for all. The week ends with a performance for friends and family. This camp is offered only once so reserve your spot today.
Location: Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Rd, Knoxville
Tuition: $250; $200 for 2nd child same family, and $175 for 3rd child same family.
(materials included, students provide their own lunches)
The last day to sign up is May 18th. No refunds after this date.
If you are Registering more than one student you will need to fill out a form for each child.
TO REGISTER and PAY FOR the Johny Appleseed Camp, click these buttons.
Lead Instructor: Dr. Dana Spears has directed over 25 plays and musicals for schools and community theatres and has developed numerous camps to introduce children and youth to theatrical production.She has written original children’s plays and adapted scripts from the writings of William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, and Oscar Wilde. She holds a Ph.D. in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia. This is her fourth summer with The WordPlayers.
For any questions, please contact our Programming Coordinator, Caleb Leach, through programming@wordplayers.org
SCENES FROM SHAKESPEARE
WordPlayers “Rising Artists” Summer Camp: Ages 12-16.
Ages: 12 – 16
Dates: June 22-26
Time: 9am – 3pm
Showcase: 3pm on the last day
Do you know the works of Shakespeare? Great! Completely unfamiliar? Doesn’t matter! Embark on a journey into the words of arguably the greatest playwright ever known. This camp will feature scenes tailored to fit the experience level of our participants. Students will develop skills in acting with heightened language, character development, text analysis, stage combat, and dance. The week concludes with a performance for friends and family of selected scenes.
Location: Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Rd, Knoxville
Tuition: $300
(materials included, students provide their own lunches)
The last day to sign up is May 18th. No refunds after this date.
Following registration, there will be auditions for parts on May 28th from 10am-12pm and May 29th 2am-4pm.
TO REGISTER and PAY FOR the Scenes from Shakespeare Camp, click these buttons.
Instructors
Terry Weber is a Prof. Emeritus of Theatre, retired from UTK after 31 years. He taught Shakespeare to both undergraduate and graduate students. Terry’s acting career has taken him to theatres in New York, Seattle, Milwaukee, Louisville, Chicago, Kansas City, Montgomery, Knoxville, Toronto, Orlando, Charleston, Asheville, Cincinnati, and Avignon (France). He has served as a text coach at various Shakespeare festivals around the country, including Utah, Alabama, Illinois, and Great River.
Caleb Leach has a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Memphis. He has worked as a professional actor throughout the country, both on stage and in film. In his professional career he worked as a Dialect Coach and Stage Combatant for multiple theatre companies. Caleb spent significant time as a teacher at CAK, where he helped as a Set Designer, Technical Director, Fight Choreographer, and Acting Coach on 10 different shows.
For any questions, please contact our Programming Coordinator, Caleb Leach, through programming@wordplayers.org