Foote Summer Theater

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Reimagine the possibilities for celebrating student voices through the Performing Arts!

Fresh off its 40th year, Foote Summer Theater will bring the Tony-award-winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to the stage!

Our program welcomes students from middle and high schools in southern Connecticut. Students entering grades 7–12 have the opportunity to be part of a five-week camp experience that culminates in the production of a major hit musical production in our black box theater, and learn valuable skills from professional teaching artists in performing and technical theater. Students can select from two tracks: performer or crew. Special guest Julia Proctor will join the Foote Summer Theater faculty for two days this summer, leading in-person comedy workshops for students. See below for more details.

Foote Summer Theater is the only program around that offers both rigorous work and serious play to young students of acting. The things I learned there about being an actor and a human being quite literally changed my life.

Former Summer Theater student

Details for Summer Theater 2023

This Summer's Show: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Dates: June 26-July 30 (no program on Tuesday, July 4)

Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday

Location: Robert Sandine Theater, Foote School, 50 Loomis Place, New Haven, CT

Performance Dates: July 28, 7:00 p.m.,; July 29, 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.; July 30, 2:00 p.m.

Cost: $2500 ($500 deposit required)

Musical Theater Performer

Musical Theater Performer: Students focus on learning the techniques for character development, voice training and movement. Professional educators will offer voice coaching lessons, improv, and movement classes in the mornings. Afternoons will be spent in rehearsals to prepare for the production. Each day, there will be outdoor social time for lunch, games and physical exploration of our beautiful campus.

Technical Theater Crew

Technical Theater Crew: Students learn the skills for set and costume design, stage construction, sound and lights, hair and makeup, and backstage positions. Professional artists will offer guidance in costume construction, building, prop making, and technology training of theatrical light and sound equipment. Each day, the students will have time for outdoor social games, lunch, and physical exploration of our beautiful campus.

Click here to sign up!

Learn More about Foote Summer Theater

Summer Theater Director Katie De Vries

Katie joined Foote as Drama Chair and Summer Theater director in 2021. She developed a love of performing arts as a young ballerina with The Grand Rapids Ballet Company in Michigan. She earned a B.A. in communications and theater from Calvin University and an M.A. in performing arts from American University. Katie began her career as a freelance director and choreographer at universities and regional theaters on the East Coast. She has been an educator for over 20 years, most recently at St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's School in New York City, where she was Director of Children's Theater. She has also served as Artistic and Stage Director of Hartford's Summer Vocal Institute: Musical Theater Intensive, and led four productions with St. Michael's Youth Choirs in New York City, including the fully staged and costumed performances of Noye's Fludde, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Prince and The Magic Flute. Katie is deeply committed to creating educational theater opportunities for under-resourced communities and believes in the power of mentors to be positive role models for the next generation of performers.

About Julia Proctor

Julia is a performer, educator, and community-builder. She is the founder and director of Clown Gym, NYC's home for clown and physical comedy training. She devises and performs her own material, and loves collaborating with artists on smart, funny, and innovative theatre. Her training includes a B.A. from Middlebury College, MFA from the Academy for Classical Acting, The PIT, Ecole Philippe Gaulier, and a pedagogical apprenticeship with Christopher Bayes. Julia currently teaches Physical Acting at NYU’s New Studio on Broadway and was Beanie Feldstein’s personal Clown Coach for the Broadway revival of Funny Girl.

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