Spotlight on Disney

One-week session 
June 17-21 (No camp June 19)  
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Rising 1st through rising 2nd graders 
$250 per session

What to Bring: Water bottle, snack, sunscreen (Labeled with name), clothing and shoes that are easy to move in. Costumes are welcome, but weapons are not allowed. If your camper wears a dress or skirt, please be sure they wear shorts or tights underneath. 

Does your child spend all day fighting Captain Hook or singing “Let it Go?” In this session, campers will explore Disney favorites like Moana, Peter Pan, and Frozen, along with acting out their personal favorite characters in a completely original Disney mash-up performance. We will learn basic theater skills like embodying a character's voice and physicality, facing the audience, and speaking loudly. We will also explore song, movement, and art. Through play, campers will be exposed to literacy skills like identifying the characters, setting, problem and solution. They will learn drama skills like pantomiming, creating characters and theatrical design. Finally, they will learn life skills like creative problem solving, spatial awareness and teamwork. 

We’ll move quickly to keep active minds and bodies engaged. We’ll begin each day with theater games to warm up the campers’ ability to use their bodies and voices in imaginative ways. Next, we’ll read the story of the day and begin exploring it with activities like freezing as different characters or becoming the setting with our bodies. Then there will be a snack break and free play outside. After they get some wiggles out, campers can dig in and act out the story in guided dramatic activities like making up a pirate name and character, learning to sail like Moana, or learning to dance to “In Summer: Campers will next be exposed to set, costume, and prop design through daily art projects. On the final day of camp, families will be invited to witness an original Disney mashup the campers will create together. Skip the lines at Disney World and make your child’s favorite Disney dreams come true! 

Meet our Staff:

Maria O'Connor has a vast array of early childhood and theatrical experiences. She has taught theater to children ages 1-21 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda for seven years, including preschool theater residencies. She also taught preschool gym, art, dance, and exploration classes at the Kidville in Bethesda for eight years. She directs plays, acts, and light designs professionally. Maria received her degree in theater from Northwestern University in Chicago and grew up right here in Bethesda. She is dedicated to praising the strengths and nurturing growth potential in each child, cultivating creativity, and doing her part to foster a future generation of compassionate, collaborative innovators.  

Fun fact: Maria has played Ultimate Frisbee for twelve years, including on a nationally ranked college club team.