Education Onstage Summer Camps FAQ's

Where will Education Onstage take place?

• TADA! Youth Theater, 15 West 28th Street, New York, NY 10001 – 2nd Floor (off-Broadway Theater)

What is the camper-to-staff ratio?

• Education Onstage will be led by two professional Teaching Artists—a Director/Choreographer and a Music Director. Additionally, two Stage Managers/Teaching Assistants will be on hand to support all aspects of the production and camp, including check-in, check-out, snack/lunch supervision, and assisting the Teaching Artists. Both Stage Managers/Teaching Assistants are CPR and First Aid certified.

What is included in the Education Onstage Summer Camp?

• Students will spend four weeks immersed in the world of Seussical Jr. or Shrek The Musical Jr., where they’ll be cast in a role, gain invaluable musical theater training, build confidence and stage presence, and create unforgettable memories—all while having tons of fun!  Additionally, participants will receive:
  • A minimum of two free tickets for each performance (1 PM & 6:30 PM)
  • Their own Actor’s Book (script) to take home as a keepsake
  • A show T-shirt
  • A professionally recorded video of the performance
  • Their character’s costume to take home after the final show

How does auditioning and casting take place for Education Onstage? 

• At TADA!, we welcome students of all experience levels—whether they’re brand-new to theater, seasoned performers, or simply have a love for Broadway musicals. Our inclusive environment is built on creating a safe and brave space where community, inclusivity, and celebrating differences are at the heart of everything we do.
• For this reason, we don’t hold formal auditions. Instead, the first two days of camp are dedicated to building community, exploring the worlds of Seussical Jr. and Shrek The Musical Jr., and assessing students in singing, dancing, and acting. This process includes learning a short song cut, a dance combination, and reading scenes in small groups. Since everyone learns and performs differently, we aim to provide various access points and opportunities for students to share their talents and love of musical theater.
• Additionally, students will complete a form to share their comfort levels with different aspects of musical theater. Some students may be excited about taking on a lead role, which includes learning dialogue and singing solos, while others might prefer being part of the ensemble, where they can create their own characters and participate in high-energy dance numbers.
• Our team, including the Director of Education, will thoughtfully consider all these elements over the first two days to make casting decisions that bring our story to life. We appreciate your trust in us and are committed to ensuring each child has multiple moments to shine in a way that suits them best.
• We chose Shrek Jr. and Seussical Jr. because they feature large casts with an ensemble feel, ensuring plenty of stage time for everyone. Our thoughtfully designed schedule will make sure all students, regardless of their role, are engaged with meaningful activities throughout the day. Of course, there will also be moments of downtime, during which students will participate in fun activities related to building the world of Seussical and Shrek or enjoy playing theater games with their peers.

What is the production value?

• For our Education Onstage productions, we’ll bring the worlds of Seussical Jr. and Shrek The Musical Jr. to life using Music Theatre International’s professional projections, along with basic lighting to help tell the story and set the mood for each scene. To complement this, we’ll craft small props and stage enhancements to create an immersive experience, while keeping the stage open and uncluttered to give students plenty of room to shine.
• Each child will receive a custom costume, and depending on the production details, we may ask families to provide specific shoes—we’ll confirm this during the parent meeting prior to camp. To fully bring their characters to life, we’ll also enhance each student’s look with stage makeup, hair styling, hats, and accessories.
• Please note, we will not use microphones, as our intimate theater seats 100 people, allowing for natural projection and connection between the performers and the audience.

What can my child expect during lunch and snack times?

• Each day, students will have scheduled snack and lunch times listed on their daily schedule.
• Picnic blankets or tables/chairs will be set up in the lobby of the theater, which will be cleaned before and after each meal break. During setup, students will wash their hands and use the restroom.
• For safety, all food will be checked for nuts. Any items containing nuts will be removed, and caregivers will be contacted. If unreachable, a replacement snack or lunch will be provided. Sharing food is not permitted.

What is the daily schedule like?

• A detailed schedule will be provided to families one week prior to the start of each Education Onstage Summer Camp. Below is a general outline of what to expect each week:
  • Week 1: Introductions, show read-through, community building, assessments/casting, and rehearsals focusing on vocals and choreography for full-cast numbers.
  • Week 2: Rehearsals focusing on vocals, choreography, and blocking key scenes.
  • Week 3: Continued rehearsals with a focus on vocals, choreography, and blocking, aiming for a stumble-through run with cleaning by Thursday and Friday.
  • Week 4: Final preparations, including cleaning transitions, tech and dress rehearsals, photo call, and performances.

What if my child misses a few days of camp?

• In an ideal world, we’d love for students to attend every day of camp, as putting on a production requires time and commitment. However, we understand that life happens, and your child may need to miss a day or two for a prior engagement, such as a long weekend vacation, illness, or a doctor’s appointment.
• At the parent meeting before camp begins, we’ll ask families to complete a conflict calendar to document any known absences, which will be taken into consideration during casting.
• If recurring, undocumented absences occur, we may need to adjust your child’s role by reassigning it to another student or removing them from specific scenes or musical numbers. These decisions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, with the goal of doing what’s best for the entire cast and production.

What should my child bring and wear?

• Reusable Water Bottle: Please label it with your student’s name.
• Nut-Free Snack and Lunch: Pack a non-refrigerated, nut-free snack(s) and lunch. Ensure there is enough food for both lunch and an afternoon snack. TADA! is a nut-free facility, so no items containing nuts or nut butters are allowed. Please label nut-free alternatives (like sunflower butter) to avoid them being mistakenly confiscated.
• Clothing and Footwear: 
  • Students should wear comfortable clothes they can move in. Skirts and dresses are fine, but please pair them with leggings or shorts underneath.
  • Shoes should be appropriate for movement and dancing (sneakers, dance shoes, or closed-toed shoes). Please avoid sandals, flip-flops, or Crocs.
  • We recommend layering with a jacket or sweater, as some days will involve a lot of dancing, while others may focus more on music. Everyone feels temperatures differently, so layers can help keep your child comfortable.
• Personal Items: Please leave toys, electronics, art supplies, or other personal items at home.

What is the performance schedule? Will the show be recorded? How many tickets does each child receive, and how much are they?

• Performance Schedule:
  • Each camp/show will perform twice on the final Friday of camp at 1PM and 6:30PM. After the first performance, you will be required to take your child home, as other performances will be happening in the theater that day. Please return your child to TADA! by 5PM, in full costume, makeup, and hair (with minimal touch-ups needed).
• Performance Dates/Times:
  • Seussical Jr.: Friday, August 1, 2025, at 1 PM & 6:30 PM
  • Shrek The Musical Jr.: Friday, August 29, 2025, at 1 PM & 6:30 PM
• Video Recording:
  • Music Theatre International strictly prohibits any video or audio recording of either production. Audience members are not allowed to record the performance. If we notice recording during the show, we will ask you to stop immediately.
    • However, Music Theatre International allows TADA! to create one archival recording of the show. We are permitted to share this recording with cast members, so your child will receive a copy as part of their experience.
• Tickets:
  • Each registration includes a minimum of 2 tickets per performance.
  • Depending on the number of students in the cast (which we won’t know until Day 1 of camp), we may be able to increase the ticket allocation. We will update you as soon as we have this information.
  • Additional tickets will not be available for purchase due to space limitations.
• Seating Capacity:
  • The TADA! 2nd floor off-Broadway theater has a maximum capacity of 100 people.

What do I need to do BEFORE camp?

• Complete the Student Information Form: This form is sent immediately after registration with the title “Please fill out this medical form.” Note: We do not require medical forms from your child’s physician.
• Attend the Parent Meeting: The meeting date is TBD, and our Director of Education will cover everything you need to know about camp and answer any questions you may have.

What if my child has medical needs or medication? 

• Please include all pertinent information about your child’s medical needs in the Student Information Form.  
• TADA! will not administer any kind of medication or inhaler with the exception of an Epi-Pen.
• If your child has a food allergy or medical condition that may require an Epi-pen please bring it with you on the first day of camp.  Please tell a TADA! Staff member the following at check-in:
  • Where the Epi-Pen is located and clear instructions for administration
  • A note detailing the type of allergy, severity of allergy (food-borne, air-borne, etc.), caregiver emergency contact information, and pediatrician contact information

What can we expect for daily check-in and check-out?

• Daily Check-In: Check-in begins 20 minutes before camp starts. No one will be permitted in the building until 20 minutes before your scheduled camp
  • When you enter the 2nd floor, you will be greeted by a TADA! staff member who will do the following:
    • Check student in and request/communicate any other info needed at this time 
    • Ask students to wash their hands/visit the restroom prior to entering the theater 
      • Caregivers are asked to accompany their student to the restroom before they drop their student off in the theater 
    • At the curtain to the theater, students will be greeted by their Teaching Artists.
    • Caregivers are not permitted in the theater. We kindly ask that you say goodbye to your student at the door and leave the building.

There is no lobby or waiting room available for caregivers. Please plan accordingly.

• Daily Check Out: The check-out process will begin 20 minutes before the end of camp.  No one will be permitted in the building until 20 minutes before camp ends.
  • When you enter the 2nd floor, you will be greeted by TADA! Staff who will do the following:
    • ID check – The adult’s ID is checked every time your child is picked up. We understand that after a few days, our staff may know you, however, we require that you show your ID every time for your child’s safety.
    • Students will only be released to the adult on the approved for pick-up list included in their Student Information form. If you would like to add or change this list you will need to inform the education office in writing by emailing [email protected]
    • Once your student has been checked out, we kindly ask that you promptly leave our facility. 
    • If the designated pick-up person is running late or will not be on time, please call the office immediately at (212) 252-1619 ext.4.

Please note: although the check-out process will start 20 minutes prior to the end of camp.  Students will not be released until the end of camp. 

What are the TADA! Expectations and Community Agreement? 

• At TADA!, we expect respect, kindness, and honesty from our students and staff at all times.
• During the first day of camp, Teaching Artist’s will review the community agreement that will include expectations as well as other rules and guidelines that the camp will adhere to.  If they see any inappropriate behavior or focusing issues throughout the week, they will do one or all of the following: address them verbally, redirect, speak with them privately, and/or call home. 
• You will be notified by the Teaching Artists or a member of the education staff after camp, by phone, or in an email if there is a behavioral incident or situation with your student. If we see any recurring patterns with behavior from camp to camp, we may inform the caregiver that they are not invited to participate in the remaining camps.

What happens if a student or staff member experiences cold, flu-like, or COVID symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19?

Please do not come to TADA! if you have a fever or are ill. This would include but are not limited to: fever over 100°, vomiting, diarrhea, eye discharge, excessive cough and/or nasal discharge, etc.

• If a student or staff member experiences any cold, flu-like, or COVID symptoms while in camp at TADA!, they will be immediately removed and sent home. We encourage you to assess whether or not your child needs to be COVID tested, and we ask that you communicate the results with us so we can proceed accordingly. 
• If a student or staff member tests positive, they must complete a 5-day isolation period (starting from the date they test positive) before returning to camp. After 5 days, they can come back wearing a mask. After 10 days from the date of the positive test, no mask is required. We will assess the situation based on the timing and number of positive cases and will inform families as soon as possible.

What is the Refund Policy?

• Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for all programs. To secure your spot in one of our Education Onstage Summer Camps, you have two payment options:
  • Full Payment: $3,500 due immediately upon registration.
  • Split Payment: $1,750 due immediately to hold your spot, with the remaining balance due no later than May 15, 2025.
• Students withdrawing at least one month prior to the start date of a program will receive a full refund and an administrative fee of $100.00 will be charged. Withdrawal requests received after that date will be ineligible for any refund.  However, we are happy to apply a credit on your account to be used for a future TADA! program. 
• In order to withdraw, you must email an official request to [email protected]. The date your email is sent will be considered the official withdrawal date in determining refund eligibility.  
• TADA! reserves the right to cancel any program that does not meet enrollment requirements and will inform you no later than one month before that start date of the program.
• We will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 and its variants. We will follow CDC and Department of Education guidelines. If we have to close TADA! for any reason, we will continue TADA! programs online via Zoom. No refunds, partial refunds, or credits will be given.