The Community House is offering a range of exciting summer camps this year. Students will have the option to take a musical theater class this year at The Community House.
By: Mary Genson | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published April 3, 2024
BIRMINGHAM — After a year hiatus, The Community House’s summer camps are back for another season of engaging and exciting experiences for kids. They are holding over 20 camps this year for ages 5-16.
The Community House is running internal summer camps as well as camps through external vendors. They are partnering with Amazing Athletes, Mad Science, Project Runway, Snapology and Tumblebunnies to host a range of summer camps for kids.
“All children have their own passion, and we try to reach out and cover different areas of interest,” Jeanine Katona, the executive vice president of The Community House, said.
All of the camps are half days, except for Project Runway Fashion Camp. During this camp, Aug. 5-9, kids ages 10-16 will design and create garments. On the last day, they get to show off their hard work during a photoshoot and fashion runway show, which parents and caregivers are invited to attend.
“We look at all of our camps as being educational,” Katona said. “They are fun, but the kids are learning educational things along the way, which is always important to us.”
This year, The Community House is introducing Musical Theatre Camp: Putting on a Performance, instructed by Community House Foundation Assistant Director of Development Lindsey Brenz. There will be two sessions of this camp, June 24-28 for ages 6-10 and July 22-26 for ages 11-15.
During Musical Theatre Camp: Putting on a Performance, students will learn about each step in the process of putting on a production.
Students will have the opportunity to learn from an instructor who is active in the world of musical theater. Brenz, an experienced musical theater performer, is starring as Maria von Trapp in the upcoming production of “Sound of Music” at St. Dunstan’s Theatre of Cranbrook. More information on this production can be found at stdunstanstheatre.com.
Instructing musical theater at The Community House is a full-circle moment for Brenz, who got her start in musical theater by going to musical theater camp every summer as a kid.
“I was able to learn and grow so much as a kid here at the Community House through camps, and now I’m really excited to give back and to be able to do the same for the next generation,” Brenz said.
The Community House’s musical theater camp can help students gain confidence in themselves, learn values in teamwork and make new friends, organizers said.
“Even if kids have never stepped foot on a stage before, there’s so many life lessons that you can learn from theater,” Brenz said.
No experience is necessary for musical theater camp. Brenz said both beginner and advanced students are invited to participate.
Students do not have to reside in Birmingham in order to register. More information on The Community House’s summer camps can be found at communityhouse.com.