For forty years, Youth Theatre has helped young people learn to communicate, collaborate, create and celebrate by experiencing, hands-on, the theatre arts. In the classroom, in rehearsal, and in performance, students learn valuable principles, techniques, and skills that help them grow as people and as artists.

Mission

Youth Theatre is dedicated to empowering youth to skillfully participate in the performing arts as a vehicle to explore their creativity, engage in their community, and think critically about the world.

Our Philosophy

• Embracing Individuality: We celebrate and honor the individuality of every student. Regardless of their age, experience, background, or identity, every student belongs in our program. We recognize and value the perspectives, abilities, and backgrounds that each student brings.
• Process-Oriented Learning: We prioritize the process over the final product. Our focus is on creating a supportive and nurturing environment where every student feels heard, celebrated, and uplifted. We embrace the idea of "productive struggle" and view challenges as opportunities for growth and understanding. We believe that practice leads to progress and that failure is a valuable step towards learning.
• Collaborative Spirit: We emphasize the power of collaboration and ensemble work. We believe that no singular person is more important than another and that we rise and fall together. We encourage students to actively listen, respect each other's ideas and point of views, and work together to create shared artistic experiences. Collaboration fosters mutual support, trust, and a strong sense of community.
• Theatre for Social Change: We believe in the transformative power of theatre to inspire social change. We recognize that the skills learned through theatre, such as empathy, communication, and critical thinking, contribute to building a more just and kind world. We strive to instill these values in our students and empower them to use their voices for positive impact.
• Lifelong Learning: We are committed to ongoing learning, growth, and adaptation. We actively seek new knowledge, listen to feedback, and respond to the evolving needs of our students and the community. Through our dedication to continuous improvement, we strive to provide the best possible theatrical education for all.

• All Youth Theatre Lead Teachers have degrees in theatre performance or theatre education. Many are middle school and high school teachers in local school districts.
• Our Teaching Assistants are students in the Department of Theatre who are studying theatre teaching, stage management, and/or performance.
• All Youth Theatre staff and faculty members have background checks that are renewed every three years.
• All Youth Theatre staff and faculty members have a Youth Protection training to make sure they understand the Safety of Minors policy.
• Our program goes above the minimum requirements to make sure we provide a safe environment for all youth participating in our program.

The University of Utah is committed to providing for the safety and protection of all youth that participate in University programs or programs operating on University premises. This commitment lead to the creation of University Policy 1-015 Safety of Minors and the establishment of Youth Protection and Program Support, whose primary goal is providing for the safety and protection of youth participating in University programs. YPPS supports the policy by providing guidance and training to all staff, faculty, students, and volunteers working with youth.

We have four simple rules: Be kind. Be respectful. Be responsible. Be brave.

At Youth Theatre, we strive to create a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for all students. To support this, we use positive behavior guidance techniques, including:

• Stating expectations clearly and positively
• Offering choices when possible
• Redirecting attention
• Providing breaks when needed

Behavior Expectations

Students may be removed from class or activities if:

• They are physically hurting themselves or others
• They are disrupting the group and need a break
• Their behavior negatively affects the safety, learning, or enjoyment of others

If your child is having difficulty meeting behavior expectations, we’ll contact you to talk about next steps. In rare cases where the behavior continues and cannot be resolved, the student may be dismissed from the program. Any refunds are at the discretion of Youth Theatre.

Zero Tolerance Policy

The following items are strictly prohibited on the University of Utah campus:

• Alcohol
• Cigarettes, vapes, or other smoking devices
• Drugs
• Weapons of any kind

If a student is found in possession of these items — or comes to class under the influence — their parent or guardian will be contacted immediately. The student will be dismissed from the program without exception.

Our main office is located on the second floor of the Price Theatre Arts Building (PTAB) — Rooms 240 and 241.

If you need to:
– Meet with a staff member
– Drop off items
– Pick up a sick student during the day
Please come to PTAB and check in with our office.

Parking: Free 30-minute street parking is available on the north-facing side of the building.

Each session kicks off with a mini-orientation on the first day — just for students.
Parents do not need to attend orientation.

Students will be grouped into their Companies based on:

• Grade
• Program track: Creative Drama, Musical Theatre, or Acting

On Day 1, students will:

• Receive a name tag
• Join a fun warm-up activity
• Tour the facilities with their group
• Begin regular camp activities
• Receive a detailed schedule (updated as needed during the first 3 days)

Company & Elective Classes

Every student is assigned to a Company, which serves as their “home base” for check-in, end-of-day wrap-ups, and creative work with the same core group and teacher.

Throughout the day, students attend elective classes in a variety of subjects. These are held across campus, and students always travel with staff or teen aides between buildings.

We do our best to help students learn the layout quickly — the first few days include lots of guidance and group transitions.

This summer, our camp takes place across many buildings:

• Fine Arts West (PAB)
• Price Theatre Arts Building (PTAB)
• Pioneer Memorial Theatre (PMT)
• Student Union (Lunch Location)

To help things run smoothly across all locations, we ask that all families follow these essential guidelines:

Drop-Off Location

All students must be dropped off at the Pioneer Memorial Theatre (PMT) Parking Lot.
Staff will greet you and check your student in for the day. Please do not drop students off at any other building, as this creates confusion and delays.

Drop-Off Time: 8:45–9:00 AM
Classes begin promptly at 9:00 AM.

If you arrive late, please walk your student to the PMT lot and call the office at 801-581-6098.
We will arrange for a staff member to escort your child when available. Do not walk your child to a classroom.

Pick-Up Location & Sign-Out

All students must be picked up from the PMT Parking Lot.

• 1st–3rd grade students must be signed out by a grown-up.
• 4th grade and up may sign themselves out unless otherwise arranged.

If you prefer to personally sign out your older student, just let us know — we’re happy to accommodate! They’ll stay with a Company Leader until a grown-up arrives.

Early Pick-Up Policy

Because our program spans five buildings — and students may be in rehearsal, electives, or lunch across campus — early pickups require advance planning.

1. Call the office if your child needs to leave early:
   801-581-6098

2. All early pickups must be coordinated through the office.
   – All students must be picked off at our Main Office on the 2nd Floor of the Price Theatre Arts Building. There is 30 minute street parking directly in front of the building facing North for your convenience. 
   – Please do not pick students up directly from classrooms — faculty members are not authorized to release students without admin approval.

3. Important:
   Depending on the time of day, we may need you to meet your child at an alternate location — like the Union Building during lunch, which is a 10-minute walk from our main classrooms.
   We’ll let you know the pickup spot is different and make sure your child is signed out properly.

Unplanned or last-minute early pickups can delay class and cause confusion across buildings, so we appreciate your advanced notice and flexibility.

Late Pick-Up Policy

Pick-up ends at 3:30 PM.
– First 5 minutes: Grace Period
– After that: $5 per child every 5 minutes

Please be on time — our staff often have rehearsals, classes, or other jobs right after camp.

Electives allow students to explore specific theatre skills alongside their Company rehearsals. These classes give students the opportunity to try new areas of theatre, build additional skills, and work with a variety of teaching artists during the session.

Electives vary by age group and program structure.

Grades 1–3

Younger students rotate through a series of creative theatre classes designed to support imagination, movement, music, and storytelling. These classes introduce foundational theatre skills through games, guided play, and creative exploration. Electives at this level are designed by the teaching team and students do not select them in advance.

Grades 4–8

Students in the 4th–8th grade program rotate through 2 elective classes daily. These electives allow students to explore different areas of theatre training while continuing to rehearse with their Company.

When registering, students will be asked to rank their elective preferences. Electives are organized into broad skill areas such as acting, improvisation, musical theatre voice, musical theatre movement, and stagecraft or design.

Specific class topics may vary from session to session depending on instructor expertise and availability. We do our best to place students in electives based on their preferences while maintaining balanced class sizes and schedules.

During the first few days of the session, students may request to switch electives if space is available.

High School Programs

High school students participate in masterclasses connected to the production they are creating during the session. These classes may focus on areas such as advanced acting techniques, vocal work, choreography, dramaturgy, stage combat, design, or other specialized topics.

Masterclasses are often led by guest artists, university faculty, or members of the production team. Because these classes are tied to the needs of the production and the expertise of visiting artists, topics may vary from session to session.

These workshops are designed to deepen the students’ understanding of the rehearsal process while introducing them to professional theatre practices and artists working in the field.

Youth Theatre at the U follows the University of Utah’s observed holidays. There is no camp on the following days:

• Juneteenth (Observed) – Monday, June 15

• Pioneer Day – Friday, July 24

Please plan accordingly, as there will be no classes, rehearsals, or supervision on these dates. We do not offer makeup sessions or refunds for these scheduled closures.

Even with these breaks, each Company will still rehearse and perform their final piece at the end of the session — so it’s important students attend consistently on all other camp days.

If you have questions about the session calendar, feel free to contact the office.

If your student will be late or absent, please call the office at:
📱 801-581-6098

We take attendance between 9:45 and 10:00 AM each day. If your child hasn’t checked in by then, you’ll receive a phone call or email.

🎭 Why Attendance Matters

Each student is part of a Company, which rehearses a performance to share at the end of the session. These rehearsals take place during the first hour and last hour of each day.

Because these sessions build day by day, attendance during Company time is especially important.
– Extended absences or frequent late arrivals can impact not only your child’s experience, but the entire group’s ability to rehearse and perform successfully.
– Please avoid scheduling vacations, appointments, or other time away during camp hours whenever possible.

Repeated or extended absences may require us to reassign roles or adjust performance participation.

Thank you for supporting your student’s full experience and helping us honor everyone’s work!

All students eat lunch together at the University of Utah Student Union.

Lunch Options:

– Bring a sack lunch
– Purchase lunch from the Union Food Court

The food court includes:
Pizza | Subs | Salads | Burgers | Panda Express
Note: Many vendors accept card or mobile payment only.

You can also use the Boost app to order lunch ahead and have it ready when your student arrives.

Sack Lunch Guidelines:

– No refrigeration is available.
– Please pack lunches that don’t require cold storage.
– Students may use Union microwaves to heat food, but staff cannot assist with food prep or heating.

Off-Campus Policy:

Students may not leave campus during lunch unless a parent or guardian has officially checked them out through the office.

🎒 What to Bring to Camp

To make the most of their day, students should bring the following every day:

• Youth Theatre at the U T-Shirt* (see below)
• Lunch and snacks
• Refillable, re-sealable water bottle
  – Water fountains are limited, but most have bottle-filling stations.
• Their script (once distributed)
• Sunglasses or a hat for outdoor time
• Sunscreen – we move between buildings and often spend time outside
• Cell phone (optional) — for communication with parents/caregivers only

👕 What to Wear

• Official Youth Theatre at the U T-Shirt is required daily
  – Students receive two shirts on the first day of camp.
  – Shirts from previous Youth Theatre sessions or productions are also okay.
• Closed-toe shoes only.
  – No flip-flops or platform shoes, please — safety first!
• Comfortable, movement-friendly clothing
  – Please avoid clothing that exposes undergarments.

We move a lot, perform, and often eat or rehearse outside — so dressing for activity and the weather is key!

Students enrolled in Senior Ensemble will complete a short supplemental form in the registration system.
The form includes a brief video (monologue or song) and a few short questions about interests and goals.

This is not an audition.
It simply helps our teaching team get to know students before the session begins so we can plan the work and support everyone’s strengths.

The form will appear in your registration account and is due 30 days before the session begins.

Video Submission

Students will submit one of the following:

• A 30–60 second monologue
• A 30–60 second song
• Or both if they would like

Students may perform something from a play or musical or create something of their own. A simple phone recording is completely fine. Videos may be shared as a link.

Questions on the Form

Students will also answer a few short questions:

• What part of theatre excites you the most right now?
• What is something you hope to learn or get better at this summer?
• Tell us one thing about yourself that helps us understand you as a collaborator.

Optional Leadership Opportunities

Senior Ensemble students may also indicate interest in assisting with elements of the project such as warm-ups, choreography support, staging, writing, design ideas, or rehearsal organization.

• Would you like to be considered for a student assistant or leadership role?
• If yes or maybe, what type of role interests you? (acting leadership, choreography, music, directing, design, stage management, etc.)
• Is there anything else you would like the directors to know about your interests or skills?

June Performances

Wednesday, June 24

Thursday, June 25

July Performances 

Tuesday, July 21

Wednesday, July 22

We understand that plans sometimes change. Youth Theatre at the U offers a limited number of spots in each session, so our cancellation policy helps us plan staffing and class placements while remaining fair to families.

Because our sessions often fill quickly, we encourage families to cancel as soon as plans change so we can offer the spot to another student.

Refund Schedule

Within 48 hours of registration
Registrations cancelled within 48 hours of purchase will receive a full refund to the original payment method.

Up to 30 days before the session start date
Cancellations made at least 30 days before the start of the session will receive a full refund minus a $30.00 administrative fee.

Between 30 days and 7 days before the session start date
Cancellations made between 30 days and 7 days before the start of the session will receive a 50% refund.

Within 7 days of the session start date or after the program begins
Refunds are not available once the program is within 7 days of the start date or after the session has begun.

Requests related to serious illness or emergency may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

How to Cancel Your Registration

Parents may cancel their registration directly through their online account.

1. Log in to your Online Account using the email and password used during registration.
2. Under Current & Upcoming, locate your child’s registration.
3. Click Cancel next to the registration.
4. Review the refund details and confirm the cancellation.

If the Cancel link is not available or you need assistance, please contact Youth Theatre at the U.

Additional Notes

• If there is any remaining unpaid balance on a registration, it will be deducted from the refund total.
• Some registrations created internally by Youth Theatre staff may not be eligible for self-cancellation online.
• Enrollment secures a place in the program, but elective placements may change based on enrollment and staffing.

Because sessions often fill quickly, we recommend transferring as early as possible if your plans change.

Families may transfer their registration to another session within the same season if space is available. Transfers can be completed directly through your online account.

Transfer Fees and Deadlines

Transfers are free if completed within 48 hours of registration.

After 48 hours, transfers are subject to a $10 transfer fee.

Transfers are allowed until 14 days before the start of the original session. After that time, schedules and class placements are finalized and transfers are no longer available.

Sessions must have available space in order to accept a transfer.

How to Transfer Your Session

1. Log into your Online Account using the email and password used during registration.
2. Under Current & Upcoming, locate the registration you want to change.
3. Click Edit, then select Transfer.
4. Browse available sessions and select the session you would like to move into.
5. Select any options or merchandise if applicable.
6. Review the registration details and sign any required waivers.
7. Confirm the transfer and complete payment if any balance or transfer fee applies.

Important Notes

If the transfer results in a price difference, the system will automatically calculate the balance due or refund.

If a refund is due, families may choose to receive the refund to the original payment method or as a credit on their account.

If the transfer option does not appear, it may be because:

• the session is within 14 days of the start date
• the session is full
• the registration is on a waitlist
• the registration was not purchased through an online payment method

If you need assistance with a transfer, please contact Youth Theatre at the U.

Transfers may affect elective placements and schedules.

Some sessions may fill quickly. When a session reaches capacity, families may choose to join the waitlist.

If a space becomes available, our registration system will automatically send an invitation to the next participant on the waitlist. This invitation allows you to complete registration and claim the open spot.

Waitlist invitations expire 36 hours after the email is sent. If the spot is not claimed within that time, it will automatically be offered to the next student on the waitlist.

Waitlist invitations are sent from:
Youth Theatre at the U (University of Utah) – support@active.com

Please check your email carefully, including spam or junk folders, if your child is on a waitlist.

Important Notes

• Joining the waitlist does not guarantee a spot in the program.
• Waitlist invitations are sent automatically when a space becomes available and are offered in order of the waitlist.
• If you receive a waitlist invitation, you must complete the registration process before the expiration time in order to claim the space.
• Waitlist invitations expire quickly. If your child is on a waitlist, please watch your email closely.
• Families who no longer wish to remain on the waitlist should remove themselves from the waitlist through their online account.
• If you need assistance with a waitlist or registration, please contact Youth Theatre at the U.

High school students can apply to serve as Teen Aides during our summer sessions. Teen Aides assist instructors, help younger campers, and support the daily flow of camp activities. These positions provide leadership experience and may be completed as volunteer hours or as tuition credit toward Youth Theatre Conservatory programs.

Teen Aide positions are limited and applications are reviewed by the Youth Theatre staff.

Apply to be a Teen Aide