“Cinderella” Four-Week Musical Theater Camp

Join us for Gorton Drama Studio’s Four-Week Musical Theater Camp, a rigorous, immersive training experience designed for advanced young performers ready to take their skills to the next level. Created for highly motivated students, this program mirrors the pace, focus, and collaboration of a professional rehearsal process while working toward a fully staged, one-hour production of “Cinderella.”

Students work closely with experienced teaching artists in a supportive and challenging environment that emphasizes technique, discipline, and ensemble storytelling. Rehearsals move quickly and demand commitment, curiosity, and teamwork, giving performers the opportunity to grow rapidly while engaging deeply with the material and with one another.

Throughout the camp, students rehearse and perform “Cinderella,” Gorton Drama Studio’s joyful new take on the classic fairy tale—complete with the pumpkin, the carriage, the glass slipper, the fairy godmother, and the royal ball. Filled with comedy, magic, and heart, the production gives every camper a meaningful role and a chance to shine.

This camp is for students who love being challenged, are excited to work at a high level, and want to push themselves artistically alongside peers who share their passion for musical theater.

What Makes the Four-Week Camp Unique

• Rehearsal process modeled on real-world theater production.
• Intensive daily training in acting, singing, dancing, and ensemble performance.
• An original adaptation, allowing students to experience how new work is created.
• Every actor gets individualized attention and a meaningful role.
• Substantial stage time for all students, regardless of role size.
• Every performer is fully engaged throughout the day, both on stage and in focused workshops that build skill, confidence, and artistry.

What Campers Will Learn

• Advanced acting, singing, and movement training through daily, focused rehearsals and classes.
• How to collaborate as part of a professional-style ensemble, building discipline, communication, and trust.
• The full rehearsal process—from first read-through to fully staged performance—mirroring real-world theater production.
• Confidence, stamina, and artistic growth through sustained commitment to a challenging, fast-paced creative process.

Performances in a Professional Theater
All four final performances take place in the 309-seat John and Nancy Hughes Theater, a professional venue where performances are public events and heavily marketed to the community. Camps and organizations across Chicago’s North Shore regularly attend, giving students the rare opportunity to perform for large, enthusiastic audiences in a true theatrical setting.

Creative Team:

• Jeremy Kruse, Producer & Playwright
• Madison Kisst, Director
• Carla Garippo, Choreographer
• Matt Mueller, Song Writer – Broadway actor, returning for his second year, collaborating with Jeremy to create original music for the show.

Students receive both group and individual coaching throughout the rehearsal process to support skill progression and performance readiness.

Camp Details:
Play: “Cinderella”
Performance Length: One hour
Ages: 9–16
Price: $1350

Schedule:
Weeks 1–3 (Rehearsal & Training):

• DAYS: Monday–Friday
• DATES: July 6–10, July 13–17, July 20–24
• TIME:  9:00 am–3:00 pm 

Week 4 (Tech & Performances):

• Monday, July 27: 9:00 am–3:00 pm
• Tuesday, July 28 & Wednesday, July 29:
  • 9:00 am–1:00 pm
  • 11:00 am performance
• Thursday, July 30 & Friday, July 31:
  • 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • 6:00 pm performance

Performances:

• Four public performances in the John and Nancy Hughes Theater.

As part of camp tuition, families receive two complimentary tickets to one performance.

This is a promo video from last year’s production of Peter Pan Now.

This is a behind-the-scenes look at what we do at camp.

This four-week program is ideal for students who are serious about musical theater, excited by collaboration, and eager to grow in a challenging, creative environment. It is not just about putting on a show—it’s about training, process, and becoming a stronger, more confident performer.

Join us for a transformative summer experience where students train like professionals, perform with pride, and leave with skills, friendships, and confidence that last beyond the stage.

About Our Artistic Director:

Jeremy Kruse, Artistic Director of Gorton Drama Studio is the author of “The Young Actor’s Handbook” (Applause Acting Series, 2017).The book was published in Korean and Chinese in 2022. Jeremy is a professional actor, published playwright, award-winning screenwriter, and award-winning filmmaker. Some of the classes he taught at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York include Method Acting, Comedic Improvisation, Sketch Comedy Writing, and Acting for Film and TV. He graduated from The Strasberg Institute at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he majored in drama. Jeremy also teaches privately, one on one  www.jeremykruse.com and www.jeremykruseactingtraining.com 

Madison Kisst is a professional actor, director, and educator with extensive training in physical and classical theatre, voice and movement, and devising. Recently, she has served as the Fight/Intimacy director for Middle Tennessee State University’s production of Clue: On Stage and Nashville Repertory Theatre’s production of Sister Act. She has her BA in Theatre Arts from California State University Chico and Master of Fine Arts in Performance from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Madison is a member of the performance faculty in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Middle Tennessee State University.

Matt Mueller is an actor, musician, former pirate, and part-time wizard. Outside GDS his most recent credits include Harry Potter and Cursed Child, and he’s excited to be back with the wonderful storytellers of Gorton Drama Studio after last summer in Neverland!!

Carla Garippo, dance teacher/choreographer, received her professional dance training from Ruth Page Center for the Arts and was a principal dancer of The Ruth Page Civic Ballet Company of Chicago. She is fluent in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary, Poms, Pointe, Musical Theatre, Stretch/Conditioning and Character. Some of Carla’s credits include: The Chicago Tribune Charities production of “The Nutcracker ” at The Arie Crown Theatre, Dirty Dancing, Carnaval at The Victor Hotel, Dance Chicago, MTVs Sweet 16, as well as various music videos and concerts nationwide. Carla teaches dancers of all ages and levels and is excited to be a staff member at Gorton Drama Studio.