Dunes Theatre Summer Youth Camp Students Explore Musical Theatre Arts 

MICHIGAN CITY, IN – Students are honing their dancing, singing and acting skills this summer at the Dunes Theatre Summer Youth Camp.  

The three-week Second Session starts July 11 and runs through July 28. Students ages 8-12 meet Monday and Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. (Central) and will perform “Seussical.” Students ages l3-18 meet Tuesday and Thursday from 1-3 p.m. and will perform “The Addams Family.”   

The first session wrapped July 1, with performances of “Matilda” and “Newsies” on the DST outdoor stage. The young actors were applauded by an appreciative audience of family members, friends and Michiana day camp students. 

Professional music theatre actors Emily and Travis Franks are Dunes Summer Theatre artists-in-residence and instructors for this year’s youth theatre program. Emily Franks said, “We brought together elements of singing, acting and dancing in musicals full of heart and laughter. Each camper is challenged to bring their best talents and energy to the shows. Many of them are experiencing theatre for the very first time.” 

The children’s theatre program has a long history at the Dunes Summer Theatre campus. Nora Tully MacAlvay created the program in the 1950s to, as she said, “give children the joy of seeing good stories come alive on a stage.” This tradition is being revived after a brief pandemic shutdown.  

Steve Scott, DST artistic director, said, “It’s exciting to see new generations of young actors come alive on our stage. Some of them will catch the acting bug, and others will become enthusiastic theatre goers as adults. Either way, we are building a solid foundation for future theatre productions.” 

Openings are still available for the July 11-28 Second Session. For information about how to enroll or apply for a scholarship please call 219-879-7509 or go online and register at www.dunesARTS.org and search for ‘youth theatre’. 

For more information or questions please contact Managing Director, Elise Kermani 

Contact@dunesARTS.org