Arden Drama School
Classes and Camps for ages 2 through Grade 12+
Light your child’s creative spark! We celebrate creativity, nurture passion, and foster collaboration in our exciting classes that are taught by some of the region’s leading theatre professionals. On the last day, students perform on stage for friends and family in the Arden’s Bob and Selma Horan Studio Theatre.
Arden Drama School is for EVERYONE!
Contact edavella@ardentheatre.org for more information or questions about special needs or accommodations. For financial aid and scholarships, please fill out a scholarship application.
Thanks to our Sponsor:
Arden Summer Camp 2025
Sessions thru August 29!
Get more out of summer!
Register for a summer camp session and
SAVE $50 on each summer camp session you add!
Use code SUPERSAVER
Use SUPERSAVER for siblings and/or to add sessions for a single camper!
*Does not apply to Masterclasses
View Digital KIDS Summer Camp Brochure
View Digital TEEN Summer Camp Brochure
Arden Summer Camp 2025
1st – 5th Grade
Camps are held Monday-Friday from 9:30am-4:30pm
Extended Day options from 8:00-9:30am and 4:30-6:00pm
One Week Camp: $430
Two Week Camp: $760
Drama Camps (One and Two Week Camps!)
Campers take a theatrical journey through Acting, Music, Storytelling, and Dance as they work as an ensemble to create and rehearse an original play. Camp culminates with an onstage performance for family and friends, complete with lights, singing, and dancing. Take one or all of them – each session is as unique as its students!
Superhero Task Force
July 28 – August 1 (One Week Camp)
Final Performance: Friday, August 1
Reveal your super power and team up to save the world!
After Ever After
August 4 – August 15 (Two Week Camp)
August 11- August 15 (One Week Camp)
Final Performance: Friday, August 15
Discover what happens after the fairytale ending!
Let the Games Begin
August 25 – August 29 (One Week Camp)
Final Performance: Friday, August 29
Roll the dice and level up in this games and sports themed week of camp!
Specialty Camps (One Week Camps!)
Specialty Camps stimulate young artists and build confidence as they explore a specific theatre skill in a deeper way. Each session concludes with a presentation for family and friends!
Musical Theatre Camp
July 28 – August 1 (Session 1)
Final Presentation: Friday, August 1
August 18 – 22 (Session 2)
Final Presentation: Friday, August 22
Musical Theatre professionals teach campers how to connect story to lyrics using beloved Broadway and Disney songs. Campers will learn musical numbers, complete with choreography, and perform a revue for family and friends on the last day of camp!
Dance Camp
August 4 – 8 (One Week Camp)
Final Presentation: Friday, August 8
Campers will explore the language of theatrical movement and dance, and learn numbers choreographed by professionals for a show at the end of the week for family and friends. Dancers of all experience levels are welcome!
6th – 8th Grade
Arden Summer Studio
Studios are held Monday-Friday from 10:00am-5:00pm
Extended Day Options from 8:00-10:00am and 5:00-6:00pm
One Week Studio: $430
Two Week Studio: $760
The Arden Summer Studio provides exclusive access to classes taught by Philadelphia’s top theatre artists. During Studio weeks, students will deepen their theatre skills, explore their individual creativity, and collaborate with their fellow artists in creating a compelling final showcase on the Arcadia Theatre stage for family and friends.
Musical Theatre Cabaret
July 28 – August 8 (Two Week Studio)
Final Performance: Friday, August 8
Musical Theatre professionals will teach students how to hone their singing, movement, and acting skills while learning how to harmonize, integrate choreography, and interpret a song. Students will collaborate on a cabaret style performance to present to friends and family on the last day.
Shakespeare Studio
August 18 – 22 (One Week Studio)
Explore Shakespeare’s plays and characters through voice work, movement, stage combat, monologues, and scenes. Students will gain confidence in understanding, interpreting, and performing both comedy and tragedy through the work of the Bard. The class will culminate in a showcase performance for family and friends.
9th – 12th Grade
Musical Conservatory
(RENT: School Edition)
Camps are held Monday-Friday from 10:00am-5:00pm
July 14 – August 8
Four Week Camp: $1,350
Performances: August 5, 6, and 7 on the Arcadia Stage.
Please note: There is camp on Friday, August 8.
Audition, rehearse, and perform RENT: School Edition, the iconic TONY® Award-winning musical. Work with a professional director and musical director to bring the production to life, complete with a set, lights, and costumes. Whether your interest is in performance, stage crew, or design, this camp is an all-access pass to learning about professional theatre productions! Be sure to indicate whether you want to focus on performance or backstage opportunities when you register.
Acting Conservatory
Camps are held Monday-Friday from 10:00am-5:00pm
August 11 – 15
One Week Camp: $430
Showcase: August 15
Delve into the dramatic in this camp experience built to give an in-depth look at what it takes to be a professional actor. Develop stronger creative instincts through scene work, character development, and movement exercises. The week will culminate in a final showcase on the Arden mainstage for family and friends.
Terms & Conditions
PLEASE NOTE: Included in the cost of your camp is a $100 non-refundable deposit. If you need to cancel enrollment, you must notify us in writing no later than June 1, 2025 in order to receive a refund. Requests should be emailed to boxofficer@ardentheatre.org. No refunds or exchanges can be made after June 1, 2025. The $100 deposit will be deducted from any cancellations. Changes to enrolled weeks are based on availability and must also be made on or before the June 1, 2025 deadline. By enrolling in Arden Drama School, you are hereby allowing Arden Theatre Company to use images and video footage of your child for marketing materials. You and your family’s names will be kept private. If you prefer to have your child’s image kept private, please contact Elise D’Avella, Arden Drama School Managaer, edavella@ardentheatre.org
Fall Classes for Grades K-12
Join us Beginning September 13
Arden Drama School is where kids and teens come to create and collaborate in exciting programs taught by top theatre professionals. On the last day of class, students share what they learned in a performance for friends and family!
Fall 2025 Classes
Preschool, Ages 2-5
Bookworms
September 20 – October 25 (6 sessions)
Each week we’ll read a different book together and use theatre games, music, and creative movement to bring the story to life!
Saturdays, 10:00-10:45am
For Ages 2-5 and their Caregivers
Registration begins in August!
Grades K-2
Eight-Week Classes
Musical Theatre: Sing Disney!
September 13 – November 1, 2025
This fun-filled class invites young performers to explore the joy of singing with their favorite Disney tunes! Through engaging vocal warm-ups, fun games, and group singing, students will develop their voices and learn the basics of musical performance.
Saturdays, 10am – 11:30am
Grades: K – 2
Registration Begins in August!
Acting: Voice, Body, Imagination!
September 13 – November 1, 2025
This play-based class explores the actor’s tools of voice, imagination, and body to create characters and portray emotions. As students imagine together, they will grow skills in sharing, empathy, and confidence!
Saturdays, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Grades: K – 2
Registration Begins in August!
Grades 3-5
Eight-Week Classes
Actor’s Toolbox: Taking the Stage
September 13 – November 1, 2025
In this energetic class, students will build confidence as performers by learning how to use their actor’s tools—body, voice, and imagination—to take the stage with purpose! Through theatre games, movement, and short scenes, students will explore stage presence, physical expression, and vocal projection.
Saturdays, 10am – 12pm
Grades: 3-5
Registration begins in August!
Musical Theatre: Lift Your Voice!
September 13 – November 1, 2025
This voice-focused class helps students build confidence in singing while learning how to use their voice expressively on stage. Through vocal exercises and ensemble singing, students will explore how to tell a story through music with power and clarity.
Saturdays, 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Grades: 3-5
Registration begins in August!
Grades 6-8
Eight-Week Classes
Musical Theatre: Song Styles!
September 13 – November 1, 2025
In this class, students explore different styles of musical theatre, from classical Broadway to contemporary hits, and even Disney and pop musicals. As they work on different performance techniques specific to each style, they’ll learn how to adapt their voices and acting to match.
Saturdays, 12pm – 2pm
Grades: 6-8
Registration begins in August!
Actor’s Workshop: Character Analysis
September 13 – November 1, 2025
In this thoughtful and engaging class, students dive into the process of creating characters from the inside out. They learn to break down text to uncover a character’s motivations, emotions, and relationships—all while discovering how to bring their own truth and individuality to the role.
Saturdays, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Grades: 6-8
Registration begins in August!
Grades 9-12
Eight-Week Classes
Performance Lab: One Act Festival
September 13 – November 1, 2025
Under the direction of Master Teacher Francine Odri, students will explore the power of partnership, deep listening, and emotional truth. This lab, centered on the art of partner
work, is inspired by our upcoming production of The Mountaintop—a gripping two-person play reimagining the final night of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life (students receive a complimentary ticket to the production’s Teen Night performance).
Saturdays, 12pm – 3pm
Grades: 9-12
Registration begins in August!
Musical Theatre: Vocal Technique
September 13 – November 1, 2025
This training-intensive class explores advanced elements of vocal performance, including resonance, dynamic control, and stylistic versatility across genres. Students work on solo repertoire that challenges their technique and interpretation, while receiving individual feedback and coaching in a supportive masterclass environment.
Saturdays, 3pm – 5pm
Grades: 9-12
Registration begins in August!
NEW! Fall Mini-Semester
Join us for this exciting offering that is a perfect complement to our fall semester. Led by theatre professionals, these three-week programs are designed to give your student a taste of something different. Perfect for students looking to dip their toes into classes for the first time, or those looking for something new to explore!
Grades K-2
Acting: Antsy Pants
November 8 – 22, 2025 (3 Saturdays)
Antsy Pants invites students to wiggle, jump, stretch, and spin their way through storytelling and character creation. Using movement-based games and imaginative play, students will explore how their bodies can be powerful storytelling tools. Whether they’re pretending to be animals, weather, or wild inventions, students will build foundational theatre skills while developing coordination, focus, and confidence!
Saturdays, 10am – 11:30am
Grades: K-2
Registration begins in August!
Grades 3-5
Actor’s Toolbox: World Makers
November 8 – 22, 2025 (3 Saturdays)
In this imaginative design-focused class, students will become the architects of theatrical worlds. Through hands-on projects and creative exploration, they’ll learn the fundamentals of scenic, costume, prop, and lighting design. Students will discover how design choices support storytelling and create mood, place, and time on stage. By the end of the class, they’ll have created an original world inspired by a story or play.
Saturdays, 11:30am – 1:30pm
Grades: 3-5
Registration begins in August!
Grades 6-8
Design Sampler
November 8 – 22, 2025 (3 Saturdays)
In this hands-on class, students explore the world of theatrical design, focusing on set, costume, prop, and lighting design. Through practical exercises and creative projects, they will learn how design elements contribute to storytelling on stage and discover the basics of the technical side of theatre.
Saturdays, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Grades: 6-8
Registration begins in August!
Grades 9-12
Audition Clinic
November 8 – 22, 2025 (3 Saturdays)
Get audition-ready with confidence and polish in this focused Audition Clinic designed for high school students preparing for school productions, theatre intensives, or college auditions. Whether you’re new to auditioning or ready to refine your material, this clinic offers practical tools, individual coaching, and real-world audition practice.
Saturdays, 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Grades: 9-12
Registration begins in August!