Porchlight Music Theatre

Porchlight Music Theatre offers comprehensive music theatre summer camp programs for children ages 4-17 in Chicago. The organization provides age-specific foundation classes including Mini Musicals for ages 4-6, Broadway Basics for ages 7-10, and Intermediate Ensemble for ages 11-13, all designed to introduce music theater skills in a fun and welcoming atmosphere.

Campers experience a full day of singing, dancing, and creating original musical performances. The program progresses from exploring environments in Mini Musicals to creating characters through play and improvisation in Broadway Basics, to more challenging technique and group work in Intermediate Ensemble. Each camp concludes with a final performance for families.

For ages 7-13, Porchlight Youth Presents offers an extended three-week camp where students rehearse and perform a full licensed musical production. The summer 2026 production is Willy Wonka Jr., featuring songs from the 1971 film plus new original numbers.

PMTeens is an elite program for 16 actors ages 14-17, providing professional theatre training, exclusive masterclasses, and preparation for music theatre auditions. This intensive two-week program helps students develop polished audition materials including monologues, songs, and dance audition skills.

All camps run from 9 AM to 3 PM with optional aftercare available from 3:30-5:30 PM. Before care is available starting at 7:30 AM through a partner program. The camp takes place at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Lincoln Park, easily accessible by CTA Red, Brown, and Purple lines at the Fullerton stop.

Porchlight offers scholarships and financial aid to ensure no child is turned away for inability to pay, and payment plans are always available. Masks are encouraged for all campers and teaching artists. The program features experienced professional theatre instructors who have appeared on stages throughout Chicagoland.