Lights, Camera, Summer!

If your child has ever belted out a Wicked song in the car, quoted Hamilton at the dinner table, or turned the living room into a movie set with a phone tripod, you already know the type of camp they need this summer. Acting Out Studio - Charlotte's award-winning performing arts studio - is bringing back its full lineup of themed summer camps, and the schedule for both their South Charlotte and Fort Mill locations is genuinely impressive.

From June through August, kids ages 7 to 14 can dive into a week (or two!) of acting, singing, dancing, improv, or filmmaking - all built around themes they actually care about. We're talking Wicked, Hamilton, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Wizards and Wands, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, and more. Each camp wraps up with a Friday performance showcase, so families get to see exactly what their young performer has been working on all week.

What Makes Acting Out Different

A lot of summer camps keep kids busy. Acting Out Studio actually grows them. Their programs focus on performance, storytelling, teamwork, and creative growth in what they describe as a supportive, high-energy environment - and the testimonials from local families back that up. Whether your child is a confident future Broadway star or a quieter kid who's just starting to come out of their shell, the staff is known for meeting students exactly where they are.

And because each camp is built around a theme kids are genuinely excited about, the learning sneaks in naturally. They're not being told to "work on diction" - they're learning how to project their voices so they can deliver Hamilton's rapid-fire lyrics. They're not just "practicing teamwork" - they're collaborating with fellow witches and wizards to defeat dark magic. That's the magic of theme-based learning.

South Charlotte Camp Schedule

The South Charlotte studio is hosting a packed lineup of one-week camps plus a special two-week musical theater performance camp. Here's what's on the schedule:

One-Week Camps (Ages 7–12 | 9 AM–1 PM | $300 + one-time $65 registration fee)

●Wicked: Defying Gravity Camp - June 15-19 and July 20-24

●Make Your Own Movie Camp (Ages 7-14) - June 22-26

●"Just You Wait!" A Revolutionary Hamilton Camp - June 29-July 3

●Descendants: Choose Your Destiny - July 6-10

●K-Pop Demon Hunters - July 13-17

●Think Fast! LOL Improv Comedy Camp - July 27-31

●Wizards and Wands Hogwarts Camp - August 3-7

●Lights, Camera, Action! - August 10-14

●Swifties on Stage Camp - August 17-21

Two-Week Performance Camp (Ages 7-14 | 9 AM-2 PM | $450 + $65 registration)

●Pirates of Penzance - July 13-24. A full musical theater experience inspired by the comedic classic, with two weeks of rehearsal, ensemble work, and character building leading up to a final performance.

Fort Mill Camp Schedule

Fort Mill families have just as much to choose from, with eight one-week camps and a special afternoon two-week musical theater camp built for kids who want a deeper rehearsal experience.

One-Week Camps (Ages 7-12 | 9 AM-1 PM | $300 + one-time $65 registration fee)

●Descendants: Choose Your Destiny - June 1-5

●Wicked: Defying Gravity Camp - June 8-12

●Make Your Own Movie Camp (Ages 7-14) - June 15-19

●"Just You Wait!" A Revolutionary Hamilton Camp - June 22-26

●Think Fast! LOL Improv Comedy Camp -July 6-10

●Swifties on Stage Camp - July 13-17

●K-Pop Demon Hunters- July 20-24

●Lights, Camera, Action! - July 27-31

Two-Week Performance Camp (Ages 7-14 | 1-6 PM | $450 + $65 registration)

●Jungle Book Kids - June 15-26. A full kids' performance camp inspired by the classic tale of adventure, friendship, and life in the jungle, with singing, acting, and movement leading to a final showcase. Note that this is an afternoon camp, which can be a perfect pairing with a morning activity for full-day coverage.

Which Camp Is Right for Your Kid?

With so many options, here's a quick gut-check to help you pick:

●Loves singing along to musicals? Wicked, Hamilton, Pirates of Penzance, or Jungle Book Kids will be their happy place.

●More into pop culture and TikTok? Swifties on Stage, K-Pop Demon Hunters, or Descendants will speak their language.

●The funny one in the family? Think Fast! LOL Improv Comedy Camp is built for them.

●Always making videos? Make Your Own Movie Camp goes from script to screen in five days - perfect for budding filmmakers ages 7 to 14.

●Newer to performing? Lights, Camera, Action! and Wizards and Wands Hogwarts Camp are great low-pressure entry points.

●Wants to go deeper? The two-week performance camps give kids twice the rehearsal time and a more polished final show.

What You'll Want to Know Before Registering

●Pricing: $300 for one-week camps, $450 for two-week performance camps, plus a one-time $65 registration fee that applies across all camps your child takes.

●Hours: One-week camps run 9 AM to 1 PM. Two-week camps run 9 AM to 2 PM (Pirates of Penzance in South Charlotte) or 1 PM to 6 PM (Jungle Book Kids in Fort Mill).

●Showcase Friday: Each one-week camp ends with a Friday performance showcase - bring tissues and your phone for video, because it's pretty special seeing what kids put together in just five days.

●Spots fill quickly: The studio specifically warns that camps fill fast. Popular themes - anything Wicked, Hamilton, or Swifties-related - tend to go first.

Ready to Make This Summer Unforgettable?

Whether your child is dreaming of Broadway, Hollywood, or just a week of pure creative fun with kids who get them, Acting Out Studio's summer camps deliver. The team has built a real reputation around the area for being warm, professional, and genuinely good at what they do — and the Friday showcases are usually the highlight of a kid's whole summer.

Ready to claim your spot? Head over to actingoutstudio.com/summer-camps to view full camp descriptions and register online. You can also reach the studio directly at 704.246.7118 or admin@actingoutstudio.com with any questions.

Don't wait - by the time your child is begging to sign up in June, the spot they wanted may already be gone. Register today, and let this be the summer they find their spotlight.