Weekly Acting Summer Camps
Ages 5-18
“Best Summer Acting Camp” in Northern Virginia Magazine’s 2021 & 2022!
“Best Children’s Theatre/Instruction” in FAMILY Magazine’s 2018 Best for Families Reader Poll!
Overview
Exciting new weekly themes for 2023!
Our award-winning Acting for Young People summer camps are an excellent opportunity for students with any level of acting experience. In a fun, high-energy environment, we help students build self-confidence and make new friends while learning from working professionals in the theater and film industries.
Each session will have a unique theme, which will inspire the week’s activities! Multi-week and returning campers will meet new creative challenges throughout the summer. Sign up for just one session or take advantage of the multiple week discount. Students will be divided into groups based on their age. Each group has their own acting class that focuses on age-appropriate performance skills, as well as styles related to the theme.
Young actors will develop skills and an incredibly wide variety of acting styles, methods, theories, and techniques from AFYP instructors.
All of our actors will participate in the final presentation, shared for a live audience of family and friends on Friday.
Space is limited in each age group. Registering early is recommended.
More Information
Ages: 5–18 (divided into separate, age-specific groups)
Dates: June 26 – July 28 (weekly options)
Session I: June 26-30
Session II: July 3-7
Session III: July 10-14
Session IV: July 17-21
Session V: July 24-28
Times: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday
Tuition: $405 per child, per session (includes AFYP Camp T-shirt for first in-person session attended)
Sibling Discount: Take $5 off for each additional enrolled family member!
AFYP Early Bird Special: Register by May 15, 2023 and automatically receive a $10 discount!
Registration Deadline: June 1, 2023
Location: Mason Fairfax Campus, deLaski Performing Arts Building/Music Theater Building
Covid Safety Information
- Mason Community Arts Academy follows all safety protocols required by George Mason University. Visit our COVID Safety Guidelines for more information.
- Mask & PPE Requirements—Masks are optional, but strongly recommended, for students and faculty in all programming. *See University Policy on Face Coverings for full details.
- George Mason Offers Covid Vaccine Appointments
Weekly Programs
Session I
June 26 – June 30
Out of This World: Space & Sci-Fi Week
Create epic characters in stories inspired by space travel and science fiction.
Session II
July 3-7
The Laugh Factory: Comedy Week
A comedic week of light-hearted scenes & sketches.
*Shortened week –no Wednesday Workshops, special price $325
Session III
July 10-14
Lights, Camera, Action: Hollywood Week
Experience the excitement of being a star and the wonderful world behind the scenes.
Session IV
July 17-21
Silly Sidekicks & Super Stories: Superhero Week
A week filled with comedy, superheroes, and silly stories!
Session V
July 24-28
Beyond the Beanstalk: Fairy Tale Week
Have fun with beloved characters from classic stories in all new adventures.
Program Faculty
Mary Lechter
MCAA Executive Director and Faculty at Mason’s School of Theater
A graduate of University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Speech Communications, Mary has been working professionally as an actor in the metropolitan Washington-area, Los Angeles, and New York since 1985. She has worked at Washington area theaters including Theater of the First Amendment, Arena Stage, Studio Theatre, and Source Theatre. Television, radio and film credits include ABC’s All My Children, Barry Levinson’s Avalon, Diesel Films’ Dracula’s Mother, the MGM/Lionsgate thriller Hit and Run, and several spots for NPR’s Morning Edition.
Mary founded AFYP in 1997, and has seen the company grow from being its only teacher with a sporadic program schedule in rented spaces to where it is today: a year-round program with a full staff, working in conjunction with Potomac Arts Academy, for which she is Associate Director.
She is a longtime member of Mason’s School of Theater faculty in the areas of Performance and Theater Education. She was named a 2013 “Teacher of Distinction” and was a 2014 TEDxGeorgeMasonU speaker (“Magic Moments: the Transformative Power of Theater“). She previously taught at the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Her professional memberships include The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actor’s Equity Association, and the Educational Theatre Association.
Mary’s directing credits include An Experiment with an Air Pump and Shakespeare in Hollywood (George Mason University); Still Beating Hearts and A Godless Man (Theater of the First Amendment First Light Festival); Happy Holidays, Charlie Brown, 101 Dalmatians, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play; Willy Wonka, Jr.; Peter Pan, Jr.; A Seussified Christmas Carol; Alice in Wonderland, Jr. (AFYP).
Notes
- Please note that group classes are subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not reached.
- Be sure to check our policies and procedures regarding registration, withdrawals, refunds, and more for fall or spring group classes.
- All students will receive a Welcome Letter via email at least 1 week before the class starts with all necessary details.
- Online registration closes 2 business days before the first class, however space may still be available. Please contact academy@gmu.edu for more information. A $10 late registration fee may apply.
- For additional information, please contact the Academy at academy@gmu.edu.
