Harbor Springs, MI
The Young Americans Performing Arts Summer Camps bring a combination of energy, teamwork, and confidence, using performance arts as the tool. The specially-trained cast of college-aged performers provides a safe and exciting atmosphere for you to learn, create, and grow! This comprehensive arts education camp includes everything from singing, dancing, and acting to creating characters and blocking numbers. We can’t wait to make the magic happen with you!
To register your camper, click HERE
Weeks 1 (July 6th – July 10th): Signature Performing Arts Summer Camp
Weeks 2 (July 13th-17th): Signature Performing Arts Summer Camp
Our Signature Performing Arts Summer Camp offers young performers the opportunity to explore singing, dancing, and acting in a supportive and creative environment. Campers will build performance skills, develop confidence, and collaborate through engaging workshops, rehearsals, and ensemble activities. Both weeks include a final showcase where students can share what they have learned with family and friends.
Week 3 (July 20th – July 24th): Broadway Week
Step into the spotlight during our exciting Broadway Week! Campers will immerse themselves in the world of musical theatre while learning songs and choreography. This high-energy week focuses on storytelling through performance and culminates in a fun and lively showcase at the end of the week. Broadway professional, Kye Brackett, will be our Guest Director throughout this week.
Kye Brackett is a multi-faceted artist who currently splits his time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. An accomplished performer who, because his work generally reflects an unmistakable Movement In Divine Purpose, has lovingly been referred to as God’s Dancing Joy. As a singer/dancer Kye has been in Broadway, LA and West End productions of Five Guys Named Moe (for which he garnered an NAACP Image Award), Dreamgirls, and Rent, as well as the internationally acclaimed command performance for the Queen of England called, “Hey, Mr. Producer”. As a choreographer Kye has choreographed for both The Miss America Pageant and has choreographed and starred in the musical revue “Could It Be Magic”, The Barry Manilow Songbook, which played at The Mercury Theater in Chicago. Kye is also an accomplished and inspiring teacher who has been a principal teacher and clinician for Dance Excellence (Los Angeles) and Show Choir Camps of America. He is also a highly sought after judge and adjudicator for various nationwide dance and Showchoir competitions, as well as a show doctor and clinician. He has created choreographic works for productions that included Miss America (1993), Jerry Lewis Telethons and the NBC Annual Fall LineUp Convention. Kye is also an accomplished composer and lyricist who has co-written a World Premiere Urban Opera called The Family starring Loretta Divine, Jennifer Holliday and TC Carson.
The Young Americans Performing Arts Summer Camp brings an incredible combination of high-energy, team-building, confidence-boosting FUN! Our cast is specially trained to provide a safe and fun atmosphere for students to learn, explore, create, and GROW! Camps are designed to develop participants performing arts skills in singing, drama, and dance. Unlike other music performance workshops, no prior training or experience in singing, dancing, and acting is necessary. By the end of camp, participants will learn and perform a one-act variety show, comprised of campers and The Young Americans’ performances, for their family and friends.
Each of the four full days of camp is filled with enthusiasm, encouragement, and care culminating in two staged-performance – one Friday evening and a Saturday matinee. Camp registration is limited so that The Young Americans are able to reach every student through individual attention to reveal their best qualities as performers and people. Our unique teaching style provides an encouraging environment for students to realize their potential and achieve the seemingly impossible goal of producing fully-staged shows in under a week. First-time campers, going into 3rdgrade in the fall through the class of 2024, are always welcome! Campers can attend just one or multiple weeks. The registration cost is $275 per week.
Camp is open to students entering 3rd grade through 2026 graduates.
Registration will start at 9am, and camp activities will be from 9:30am-5PM.
Students should wear comfortable, school-appropriate clothing and supportive shoes throughout the camp.
Camp dress code will be that of the host school.
Please, no sandals or flip-flops. Every camper will receive a t-shirt to wear for the performances and should wear it with dark jeans, pants, or leggings. Please no shorts for the shows.
YA Does not discriminate on gender expression or identity as part of the dress code.
Dates: TBA
House Opens: TBA
Show Time: TBA
Adult Tickets: TBA
Student Tickets: TBA
Show details will be announced closer to the start of camp.
The Young Americans and Harbor Springs Public Schools are seeking host families for each week of camp for two or more of the cast members. Thousands of families across the globe have hosted The Young Americans and rave about the experience. Staying with local families is one of the many rewarding aspects of participating in the camps for the YAs and has cultivated life-long friendships over the years. It is a great way for the cast members to experience Northern Michigan and for us to share the region that we love so deeply.
The YAs travel in pairs so we ask that you host at least two. The hosting week begins on Monday evening and they move on to their new homestays the following Monday. Camp days are Tuesday through Saturday with Sunday as their day off.
As a host, we ask that you provide transportation to and from camp each day as well as all meals. If your child is riding the bus, the YA’s can hop on the bus as well. The YA’s may need to be at HSHS as soon as 8:00 and their pickup times can range from 5:30 to 6:30 depending on necessity.
Thousands of families across the globe have hosted the YAs. Staying with local families is one of the many rewarding aspects of participating in the camps for the cast members. It is a great way for them to experience Northern Michigan and for us to share the region that we love so deeply.