Registration is now open for Arizona Broadway Theatre’s 2024 Summer Academy for Young Performers, which has sessions June through August.

Valley kids, pre-teens and teens can dive into a world of creativity and discover the magic of live theater in interactive and educational one- and two-week-long sessions.

Participants in Arizona Broadway Theatre’s summer programs will learn the ins and outs of everything it takes to put on a musical, both in front of and behind the curtain. All classes focus on acting as well as music, auditioning, staging, choreography, set design and performance. Classes are taught by industry professionals and are not only great for beginners but are also effective for those with theater experience.

“Theatre is a place for everyone,” said Stephen Hohendorf, education director at Arizona Broadway Theatre. “Performance helps kids get out of their shells and build confidence, hone public speaking and communication skills and work in groups with others. There are a lot of benefits to being involved in the theater that lasts throughout a child’s life too, including working towards a common goal and cultivating a wonderful imagination.”

Each of the four summer sessions at Arizona Broadway Theatre runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for either one or two weeks, depending on the show.

Students also get behind-the-scenes experience as they learn about costume, set and prop design for each musical. All participants will perform on Arizona Broadway Theatre’s main stage in front of friends and family members on the Saturday following the last day of class.

“At Arizona Broadway Theatre, we feel a tremendous responsibility to provide a supportive and educational environment for the next generation of performers,” Hohendorf added. “These kids are our future actors, singers, dancers, costume makers and scenic designers, not to mention theater-going patrons. We want to cultivate a love of theater and it starts here.”

This year’s summer programming includes four unique sessions:

FINDING NEMO KIDS (one week)
• Ages 9-12
• Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Dates: June 3-June 7, 2024
• Performance Date: June 8 at 11a.m.
• Cost: $350
• Show Description: Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters like optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. The show features memorable songs “Just Keep Swimming,” “Fish Are Friends Not Food,” and “Go with the Flow.” Finding Nemo Kids brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship and adventure.

LITTLE MERMAID JR. (two weeks)
• Ages 7-12
• Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

SPONGEBOB (two weeks)
• Ages 13-16
• Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Dates: July 8-July 19, 2024
• Performance Date: July 20 at 9 a.m.
• Cost: $450
• Show Description: Plunge into this stunning singing, dancing and dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!

JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH JR. (two weeks)
• Ages 7-12
• Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Dates: July 22-August 2, 2024
• Performance Date: August 3 at 9 a.m.
• Cost: $450
• Show Description: When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that grows a tremendous peach. The pitted treat rolls into the ocean and launches a journey of enormous proportions. James befriends a collection of singing insects that ride the giant piece of fruit across the ocean, facing hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements along the way.

For more information about how to register for the summer camps, visit www.azbroadway.org or contact the box office at 623-776-8400.