Pennsylvania Theatre Institute

Pennsylvania Theatre Institute is the summer performing arts camp run by the Department of Theatre and Dance. Founded by faculty member Charlie DelMarcelle, our staff is composed of theatre professors and arts professionals with years of experience teaching, coaching, and mentoring young artists.

Our camps value ensemble and community, and place emphasis on using theatre as a medium to shape empathetic, curious, and kind human beings. We believe that joyful fun and engaged learning go hand-in-hand, and strive to create classroom and rehearsal spaces where students feel free to take risks, ask questions, and explore.

Space in our programs is extremely limited. All registrations are first-come, first-serve.

YOUNG COMPANY - AGES 8-14 (July + August 2025)

The Young Company is a two-week summer day camp program for students ages 8-14 who are interested in theatre arts. Whether you’re a class clown, a drama club all-star, or need a confidence boost to get you out of the wings, our instructors will have you playing games, laughing, singing, dancing, acting, designing, and making friends in no time.

Sample Day
Camp begins at 9 am and ends at 4pm, Monday – Friday. During the mornings, students will take classes taught by faculty members and working professionals in acting, voice, dance, improvisation, and design. During the afternoons, students will create and rehearse an original showcase performance that will highlight their work in each course area. All classes will be held on the campus of West Chester University at the E.O. Bull Center.

Tuition + Schedule

Cost: $715

Session One: July 7 – July 18, 2025
Session Two: July 21 – August 1, 2025

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PRE-COLLEGE INTENSIVE (JUNE 2025)

The Pre-College Intensive is a summer training program for motivated high school students with an interest in the study of theatre arts. In this immersive experience on the beautiful campus of West Chester University, students take classes with professional artists, rehearse in our world-class facilities, and further explore their art form alongside theatre professors in a college-level environment.

This ten-day "theatre boot camp" will focus specifically on audition prep, acting technique, and the college application process. Students will work with our trained roster of theatre professors and professional working actors and teachers to craft a repertoire of contemporary and classical monologues and musical theatre songs. In addition to daily college-level courses in acting, voice and movement, improvisation for the performer, and classical text, each student will receive individual coaching, and exit the intensive with a professional headshot.

This intensive is a residential, on-campus experience. Participants will live in dorms, eat in the dining halls, and train alongside like-minded peers as they experience a taste of campus life.

There is no audition required to participate. All spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Space is extremely limited.