Acting Camps Near Jacksonville, Florida

Whether for the seasoned performer or eager novice, the Jacksonville area offers a variety of acting camps. Most of the acting camps take place during the summer months -- some theater companies also provide evening classes for children and teens during the school year. Unless otherwise indicated, the grade level listed for summer camps indicates the grade the student will attend in the coming school year. The camps located in Jacksonville Beach are about a 25 minute drive from Jacksonville, down US-90/Beach Boulevard.

Alhambra Dinner Theater Camp

Alhambra Dinner Theater (alhambrajax.com), located halfway between Jacksonville proper and Jacksonville Beach hosts a summer theater camp for ages 9 to 15. Two summer sessions run for two weeks each. The camp focuses on discovering and cultivating individual talents through theater. Students study acting, voice, movement and improvisation. The camp ends with a performance showcasing skills developed through the camp. Discounts are available to Alhambra Dinner Theater members and to those who sign up early.

Spotlight Summer Talent Camp

David John Talent Machine (davidjohntalentmachine.net), a talent development and placement organization in Jacksonville Beach presents five different spotlight summer talent camps. Each camp is one week long, covering a specific performance focus including Movie Makers, Actor's Studio, Glam Slam modeling and Murder Mystery Café. The Movie Makers camp is offered in two sessions, and students experience both on-camera and behind-the-camera activities.

Players by the Sea

Players by the Sea (playersbythesea.org), in Jacksonville Beach, schedules four summer acting camp sessions, ranging from one to three weeks each. Each session culminates in a final performance. The first three sessions are open to 5th through 12th graders, while the fourth session offers opportunities for 1st through 4th graders. Session one, "Let's put on a play" teaches improvisation, theater games, scene work and professional play rehearsing. Session two, "Lets put on a musical," gives students the opportunity to perform in a musical theater production, simultaneously learning voice, acting and movement skills. Session 3, "Improv-a-thon" combines improvisation, writing, visual art, storytelling and community engagement to create an original theater piece. This camp is designed for advanced acting students. Session four, "Camp-a-go-go" brings together theater games, storytelling, pantomime, singing and dancing for elementary school participants. This camp develops theater vocabulary and non-verbal self-expression.

First Act Creative Drama for Kids Camp

Located in Jacksonville Beach, First Act Summer Camp (thefirstact.net) is for students going into grades 1 through 7. Through children's theater games students build confidence, communication, teamwork and stage presence, and also learn basic performance techniques. The camp hosts three different two week sessions, split into groups of 1st and 2nd graders and 3rd through 7th graders. Students help write and perform original plays as part of the program.

Lavilla School of the Arts Summer Camp

Hosted by the Lavilla School of the Arts in Jacksonville (duvalschools.org), most camps are for ages 7 through 14, but the age groups vary depending on the nature of the particular camp. The basic camps, which run for one week consecutively, include visual arts, dance, theater, comic illustration, storytelling and guitar. The intensive camps, running three weeks consecutively include film making, circus performance, historical reenactment -- a performance camp, musical theater and vocal.

Theatre Jacksonville Summer Camp

Theater Jacksonville, a community theater in Jacksonville (theatrejax.com), hosts two sessions of three week-long camps focused on musical theatre. Students will have the opportunity to sing, dance and perform in various 20th century Broadway plays. The camp culminates in a performance showcase.