Whether your kids love acting, musical theater or comedy, these programs will help them step confidently into the spotlight.
ACTING OUT
439 South Ave. W., Westfield
908-379-8119
418 Main St., Metuchen
732-372-7143
actingoutonline.com
This performing arts program offers acting, audition prep, vocal training, musical theater, film/TV, and piano instruction.
ACTION THEATRE CONSERVATORY
68 Union Ave., Clifton
862-243-2827
atcstudios.org
Classes at ATC Studios are designed for traditional theater actors and future TV and film stars. Areas include monologue study, scene study, character technique, playwriting and dialects.
ANNIE’S PLAYHOUSE SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS
35 U.S. Highway 202, Far Hills
6 E. Main St., Mendham
908-375-8381
anniesplayhouse.com
There are lessons or one-on-one training in dance, musical theater, voice, instruments, musical productions, improv and acting.
AXELROD PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY
Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Rd., Holmdel
axelrodacademy.com/summer
A workshop in music dance theater or kids 10+ strengthen dance technique for actors and singers who have dreams of Broadway. Modern Musicals Workshop explores musical theater through vocal training, acting and movement inspired by Broadway’s contemporary musicals, and is broken down into middle school and high school levels. Summer Dance Camps (themes are Disney Princesses, Bluey’s Dance Mode, Glinda’s Sparkle & Shine, K-Pop Demon Hunters and Glow and Groove Spa Dance Party) end with a mini showcase. There are also dance programs in ballet, pointe, musical theater dance, and Core & More.
BERGEN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
1 Depot Sq., Englewood
201-482-8194
bergenpac.org
Programs in music, dance, theater and visual arts start at 3 months old. The Showtime Musical Series helps your triple-threat artist prepare to audition.
BRIGHTEST STAR SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS
16 Ridgedale Ave., Cedar Knolls
973-829-1973
brighteststarschoolofperformingarts.com
In the Musical Theatre Workshop, kids in grades 4 to 8 spend two months learning how to act, sing and dance. There is a sleepaway camp in Beach Haven, or kids can attend musical theater day camp in Whippany.
BROADWAY PERFORMING ARTS
357 Broad St., Bloomfield
973-748-ARTS (2787)
broadwayperformingarts.net
Kids learn how to dance, play instruments, enhance their voice and develop their talents for musical theater. Broadway Summer Camps are open to kids ages 8 to 17.
BRUNDAGE PARK PLAYHOUSE
2 Bungalow Ln., Randolph
973-989-7092
brundageparkplayhouse.org
At the home of the Community Theater of Randolph, kids can sign up for dancing, musical theater, improv and acting classes, or a theater game program.
CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY
Lackland Performing Arts Center
715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown
908-979-0900
centenarystageco.org
The Young Performers Workshop is a musical theater training program for kids ages 8-18 where they are guaranteed a part in at least one production.
CONTAGIOUS DRAMA WORKSHOP
113 Washington St., Westfield
917-836-3740
sites.google.com/view/contagiousdrama
Kids can sign up for private coaching based on creative dramatics, scene study and improv, and acting techniques.
ELEFANTE MUSIC & SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
1790 Springfield Ave., New Providence
908-464-5928
413 Park Ave., Scotch Plains
908-322-7542
elefantemusic.com
Performing arts classes include Broadway styles, playwriting for actors, acting from a script, tap dance and improv comedy.
ESSEX YOUTH THEATER
Studio Playhouse, 14 Alvin Pl., Upper Montclair
973-746-3303
studioplayhouse.org/essex-youth-theater
Every budding actor will get a role in a custom-written play, and then perform in a full-scale production. Summer includes a theater day camp for students ages 6-13.
GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE
11 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick
732-246-7717
georgestreetplayhouse.org/education
Kids ages 6 to 17 work on singing, dancing and movement techniques. Summer Theater Camp includes Performance Playground for kids ages 6 to 12, or Summer Players for teens.
THE GROWING STAGE
The Historic Palace Theatre, 7 Ledgewood Ave., Netcong
973-347-4946
growingstage.com
The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey is the site of the Creative Arts Academy, where classes and camps key in on stories and songs, creative dramatics, playwriting and improv.
HOBOKEN CHILDREN’S THEATER
Hoboken Children’s Theater, 701 Clinton St., Hoboken
Hoboken Charter School, 713 Washington St., Hoboken
All Saints Church, 707 Washington St., Hoboken
646-339-8485Â
hobokenchildrenstheater.com
SummerStage 2026 will get kids ready to perform Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Kids, The Big One-Oh!, Monty Python’s Spamalot or Something Rotten! depending on their age group.
JAZZ HOUSE KIDS
347 Bloomfield Ave., Lower Level, Montclair
973-744-2273
jazzhousekids.org
Instrumental and vocal students learn through ensemble practice, master classes, instruction from Grammy Award-winning artists and jam sessions.
KELSEY THEATRE AT MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor
609-570-3333
kelsey.mccc.edu
Tomato Patch is Central Jersey’s longest-running arts program, with training in theater, dance, vocals, comedy, video and musical theater for kids ages 4 to 18.
MAYO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
100 South St., Morristown
973-539-0345Â
mayoarts.org/education
MPAC’s Performing Arts School presents classes, workshops, seminars and enrichment opportunities in musical theater, acting and voice for artists age 3 to adult.
McCARTER THEATRE CENTER
91 University Pl., Princeton
609-258-8289
mccarter.org/classes
Youth classes teach musical theater, improv comedy and musical performances. Teen classes explore scene study, monologue development and audition techniques.
MUSIC MOUNTAIN THEATRE
1483 Rte. 179, Lambertville
609-397-3337
musicmountaintheatre.org/school
Aside from acting, music and dance instruction, kids can study costuming and sewing. MMT offers an inclusive acting class for differently-abled performers 16 and older.
NEW JERSEY BALLET
7-9 Vreeland Rd., Florham Park
973-597-9600
njballet.org
NJ Ballet School is designed for students age 4 to adult who want to be professional dancers. Year-round classes are broken down into children, student and open divisions.
NEW JERSEY FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
224 E. Broad St., Suite 6, Westfield
908-232-9400
njfestivalorchestra.org
Outreach programs focus on musicians serving underserved populations, such as education programs for kids, or music therapy programs at hospitals and nursing homes.
NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER – CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION
Arts High School, 550 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Newark
973-353-7058
njpac.org/arts-education
The Colton Institute for Training and Research in the Arts offers training in backstage production, musical theater, jazz for teens, acting, and hip-hop arts and culture.
NEW JERSEY SCHOOL OF DRAMATIC ARTS
NJSDA at St. John’s Church 55 Montclair Ave., Montclair
973-566-9700
njactors.org
Kids, tweens and teens who are serious about their stage presence are exposed to lessons in acting, improv, musical theater, TV & film, and a series of workshops.
NEWARK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
89 Lincoln Park, Newark
973-642-0133Â
facebook.com/NewarkSchooloftheArts
This family-oriented non-profit provides multi-disciplinary arts education, including music lessons and an instructional school, for performers as young as 3 months old.
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE
Brookside Dr., Millburn
973-376-4343
papermill.org/education/classes-2
Through the Theater School’s Summer Studio, artists build a musical theater foundation in singing, movement, storytelling, acting, dance and ensemble skills.
PEACHCRAFT ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS AND CREATIVE VOICE
371 Springfield Ave., Summit
908-673-1485
peachcraft.net
instagram.com/peachcraftstudios
Beginner workshops focus on learning foundational techniques. Teens move on to scene study, the basics of an audition, script analysis and on-camera techniques.
PORCHLIGHT PRODUCTIONS
555 Broad St., Glen Rock
201-857-3520
9 Sand Park Rd., Suite 6, Cedar Grove
201-793-2021
porchlightproductions.org
The performing arts are taught through academy programs, studio classes, a youth performance troupe, workshops, mini camps, the Summer Stage, and private lessons.
PRINCETON BALLET SCHOOL
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 60 Bayard St., New Brunswick
732-249-1254
Princeton Studio, 301 N. Harrison St., Princeton
609-921-7758Â
arballet.org/princeton-ballet-school
Ballerinas age 3 and up can join this division of the American Repertory Ballet, a non-profit, professional ballet company that focuses on classical and contemporary dance training.
RUTGERS SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE
Mason Gross School of the Arts
33 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick
[email protected]Â
sites.rutgers.edu/mgsa-community-arts
The Summer Arts Institute for older performers offers art and design, a collegiate-level dance conservatory, a filmmaking institute, and classes in concert band and jazz.
THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY
F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, Drew University, Madison
Thomas H. Kean Theatre Factory, Florham Park
973-845-6742
shakespearenj.org/education/summershakespeare
Through the Summer Shakespeare Academy, students ages 6 to 18 use games, scene work and Shakespearean texts to learn about movement, speech and character creation.
SHARRON MILLER’S ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
10 Erie St., Montclair
973-655-9819
smapa.org
Founder and Artistic/Executive Director Sharron Miller is a former Alvin Ailey principal dancer and a Broadway vet who offers inclusive developmental training in dance and related theater arts.
SOUTH ORANGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
1 SOPAC Way, South Orange
973-382-1035
sopacnow.org/poetry-out-loud
Poetry Out Loud teaches poetry through memorization and recitation to students in grades 9-12.
TWO RIVER THEATER
21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank
732-345-1400Â
tworivertheater.org/education
Classroom discussions, playwriting workshops, an abridged version of a Shakespeare play, The ART of Social Justice collaboration and summer intensives are the basis of lessons here.
VANGUARD THEATER
180 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair
862-205-3525
vanguardtheatercompany.org/education-a
Young Vanguardians study Broadway, Disney, musical theater and dance through classes, mentorships and internships.
VIVID STAGE
Oakes Center, 120 Morris Ave., Summit
908-514-9654
vividstage.org/vividdreamers
During a 3-week summer camp, kids start with classes in acting, improv, playwriting, singing and movement; move on to writing a play; and then present their work on stage.
WESTRICK MUSIC ACADEMY
231 Clarksville Rd., Princeton Junction
609-688-1888
westrickmusic.org/programs
Home to Princeton Boychoir, Princeton Girlchoir, Poce Voice Choir and Choir Camp, the Music Education Programs help singers strengthen their skills through workshops in musical theater, drumming and the ukulele.
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