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Summer 2023
The George Daily Youth Theatre is the Auditorium’s own professionally-staffed Theatre Education program. Our year-round Youth Theatre offers after-school camps, an Elementary School Play, and eight weeks of K-12 summer camp.
 
Our program builds strong characters onstage and off. High-energy theatre games and activities build relationships and excellent performance skills. Campers practice collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, confidence, and citizenship. Theatrical performance provides the vehicle for campers to “rehearse” these skills in a fun and extremely hands-on way.
 
Campers collaborate under diverse circumstances, from playing fast-paced, physical games that prioritize strategy and cooperation to finding consensus on the story that they will devise, develop, rehearse, and perform at the week’s end.
 
Thinkers, Makers, Performers, and Leaders — this is where your journey begins!

Register and Audition for parts: Friday, January 19, 5:30-6:30 PM

Rehearse: 1 or 2 days/week, 3:30-5:30 PM

Perform: Saturday, April 27, 3 PM

We invite all students in Kindergarten – 5th grade to participate in the fifth Elementary School Play. Participation is registration-based, not audition-based. Everyone who registers will receive a great part that gives them an awesome performing experience, whether it is their first time on stage or their twentieth. 

Registration is open now under “Get Tickets,” and there are scholarships available (e-mail youth@georgedaily.org).

This is going to be a very special show because 2024 is a leap year AND the 25th anniversary of the George Daily Youth Theatre! 

We are excited to put on a Leap Day party not to be forgotten.

The Story of LEAP DAY 

(Inspired by the short story “The Days of the Week” by Hans Christian Andersen)

Every Leap Day, the Days of the Week have a day off and celebrate with a huge party at the House of Father Time.  However, this Leap Day, nothing goes as planned. The Days feel overworked, demanding an 8th day be added to the week. Tuesday and Friday’s friendship is not what it used to be. And Mother Nature makes a surprising appearance which puts everyone on edge!

This 30-minute musical is about valuing yourself for who you are.

Audition: Wednesday, January 17, 2:30-5 PM

Rehearse: Wednesdays and Thursdays after school (January 24-April 25)

Perform: Friday, April 26, 7 PM

We invite all 6th-8th graders to participate in the George Daily Youth Theatre’s second Middle School Production! This year’s production, IMAGINE A DRAGON, is a musical. All registered performers will be cast in a role. We will meet after school on Wednesday, January 17, from 2:30-5 PM, to do some ensemble-building, game-playing, and assigning of parts. 

Rehearsals begin January 24 on Wednesdays from 2:30-5 PM and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 PM. Performers must be available for ALL rehearsals (except in cases of illness and emergency). There is no rehearsal during Oskaloosa’s Spring Break (March 11-15).

The Story of IMAGINE A DRAGON

The dragon is back in town! Well… not really. That’s the story a ragtag band of innkeepers makes up, desperate to draw questing heroes to the struggling Dancing Dragon Inn. Soon the inn is full of unexpected guests, from an army of princesses out to prove their bravery to a group of overwhelmed heroes trying to hold onto their fame. But what happens if they all discover the innkeepers’ dragon story is made up? Could there be more than one way to save the day? An epic folk-rock score brings magic to this funny, heartfelt fantasy musical.

Are you ready for THE SUMMER OF INFINITE PLAY?

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Camps run Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM with new themes every week.
  • Enroll your camper in the grade level they will be entering in Fall 2023, or their “rising grade.”
  • Every week ends with a final showcase. Most Friday showcases start with a Shout Out Ceremony at 4 PM and an informal performance at 4:30 PM. Check your camp week for more details.
  • Yonder Sessions: Supervised before and after care is available every day of the week except for Friday afternoons. Morning Yonder starts at 8 A.M. and Afternoon Yonder ends at 5 P.M. A week-long Morning or Afternoon Yonder is $20 per family. The rate for both sessions is $40 per family. Single-sessions are $10 per session per family. Please schedule all Yonder Sessions with our Community Engagement and Education Director after you’ve registered for camp at allison@georgedaily.org.

Write. Create. Perform.
K-12th grade/$85/June 5-9; 9 AM to 4 PM
Part sport, part living newspaper, with a dash of poetry!

What you’ll do: The Infinite Monkey Theorem says that infinite monkeys could bang out all of Shakespeare’s works, given infinite time and typewriters. Well, this week, our theatrical troupe of Infinite Monkeys won’t recreate anything. Instead, they will each write, create, and perform an original two-minute play grounded in who they are now.

If you like: Tackling your truth in the entertaining here-and-now, a full buffet of stories, the joy of randomness

Analyze. Spar. Perform.
4th-12th grade/$45/June 5-9; 1 PM to 4 PM (Need a full day of camp? Register for Infinite Monkeys and switch over to Shakespeare in the afternoons for no charge. You only need to register for Infinite Monkeys.)

Shakespeare was never meant to be read sitting down!

What you’ll do: This week, meet the Bard properly — on your feet, on the stage. Rehearse and perform one of his heart-pounding fight scenes in a collaborative and encouraging environment with GDYT’s resident stage combat choreographer and Shakespeare aficionado, Jason Tipsword. Jason is the only Society of American Fight Directors-certified fight choreographer in the state of Iowa.

Experience firsthand how dramatically-motivated stage combat, performed safely, can tell the audience more than Shakespeare’s dialogue alone.

If you like: a challenge, telling a story through movement, reading between the lines

Design. Make. Celebrate.
K-12th grade/$85/June 12-16; 9 AM to 4 PM
Meow Wolf meets Glee!

What you’ll do: What happens when you bring live musicdance, and visual art together on the same stage? Some might call it a three-ring circus, but we say it’s ART Unleashed! 

Throughout the week, we’ll create interactive locations for the immersive world that campers will explore during Infinite Adventure, July 24-August 4. That could mean constructing a huge crystal cavern one day and a miniature village the next. From these visual creations, we will UNLEASH camper-led music and dance numbers for a Friday showcase that could feature an impromptu camper band, a brand-new dance craze, or something much sillier!

If you like: A perfect playlist, DIY to the extreme, diving headfirst into packing paper

Prepare. Collaborate. Experiment.
8th-12th grade/$85/Tuesdays in June, July 10-14; 1 PM to 4 PM
You already love performing, and now you’re ready to try directing!

What you’ll do: What kind of preparation does it take to work with a production team and a company of actors to put on a show? Intro to Directing will offer the chance to take three masterclasses with the four professional directors on the Youth Theatre staff. You’ll also choose a short scene to prepare and direct with the Makin’ a Scene class, July 10-14.

Master Classes: Tuesday, June 13, 20, and 27 from 1-4 PM
Hands-on Experience: 
Monday-Friday, July 10-14 from 1-4 PM

If you like: Traveling together, the movie in your mind, inspiring others

Imagine. Design. Build.
K-3rd grade/$85/June 19-23; 9 AM to 4 PM
Paleontology + puppetry =dino-MIGHT!

What you’ll do: Design and build wearable, dino-sized puppets! Then, imagine what it was like to BE a dinosaur while you explore stories from when the t-rex and triceratops roamed the earth. Stick around for a kaiju movie-inspired grand finale!

If you like: a mighty roar, Pokemon battles, Godzilla movies, building it bigger

Explore. Wonder. Perform.
4th-12th grade/$85/June 19-23; 9 AM to 4 PM
You’ve heard of the song that never ends? Well, this is nothing like that.

What you’ll do: In a faraway land of myth and tale, the only thing that matters… is to continue the play.

Performers will explore different theatrical styles and genres from across the globe and throughout history in a scripted piece they’ll perform on the final day.

If you like: Dr. Who, the Past and the Curious, Alice in Wonderland and other mixed-up, fairly odd tales

Imagine. Design. Evoke.
6th-12th grade/$85/June 19-23; 9 AM to 4 PM                   

Safety goggles, power tools, tape measure = limitless possibilities

What you’ll do: Ever wonder what it’s like to design installations for Disney or Meow Wolf? The worlds you imagine and bring to life this week will be part of the immersive Infinite Adventures camp from July 21-August 4. Evoke curiosity through set, light, and sound design, maybe even…smell design?!

If you like: World-building, puzzle-making, sound-scaping

Search. Help. Solve.
K-3rd grade/$85/June 26-30; 9 AM to 4 PM
Baby monkeys, film noir, and monkeyshines!

What you’ll do: Gumshoes, help Baby Monkey search for lost jewels, missing pizza, and a stolen spaceship!  Look for clues, talk with witnesses, and help Baby Monkey struggle to put on his pants before solving the crime. Then, share these stories with families on the final day of camp!

If you like: Silly stories, sleuthing, baby monkeys

Imagine. Rehearse. Perform.
4th-12th grade/$85/June 19-23; 9 AM to 4 PM

  1. “Find the camera with the Blue Star Sapphire.
  2. Lift the curse on my family’s legacy.
  3. Save the World. (Well, the fairy world. If it exists.)”

Alberta Midnight and the Eaters of the Lost Art – an original pulp fiction play coming to the George Daily Youth Theatre in June 2023.

What you’ll do: Ever imagine yourself on the big screen performing in a thrilling adventure like JumanjiJungle Cruise, or The MummyRehearse and perform an action-packed, Indiana Jones-inspired script that tells the story of Alberta Midnight, the great-granddaughter of the legendary treasure hunter Alleghany Kirk. When Alberta is hired to retrieve an artifact stolen by Kirk and sacred to the fae, she is flung into a fairy tale much darker than any from her childhood.

“If we shadows have offended…”

If you like: Developing characters, doing stunts, breaking ancient curses, and carrying 1000 ball bearings (just in case)

Musical Theatre

Sing. Dance. Emote.
K-3rd grade/$45/July 10-14; 9 AM to 12 PM
Wanted: Goofy characters with a song in their heart and some pep in their step!

What you’ll do: Enjoy creative movement and music with friends in a playful atmosphere.   

If you like: Show tunes and dance grooves

Showcase: Friday, July 14th at 4:30 with Shout Out Ceremony at 4 PM

Combine with Into the Unknown for a full-day experience ($85).

Into the Unknown

Discover. Wonder. Journey On!
K-3rd grade/$45/July 10-14; 1 PM to 4 PM
You never know where the journey may lead you!

What you’ll do: One day, you might look at the world from a bug’s point of view. The next? You’re exploring the solar system. 

If you like: The Magic School Bus, making new discoveries, imaginative journeys

Musical Theatre

Jazz Square. Sing Out. Speak Up.
4th-6th grade/$45/July 10-14; 9 AM to 12 PM
Wanted: 
Aspiring triple threats who love to sing, dance, and act.

What you’ll do: Explore the main food groups of musical theatre and prepare to perform on the final day!

If you like: Getting show tunes stuck in your head, being one of a kind, thinking on your feet

Showcase: Friday, July 14th at 4:30 with Shout Out Ceremony at 4 PM

Combine with Makin’ a Scene for a full-day experience ($85).

Makin’ a Scene

Cheat out. Concentrate. Collaborate. 
4th-6th grade/$45/July 10-14; 1 PM to 4 PM
Practice the athletics of the heart.

What you’ll do: Explore the art of acting through short scenes from favorite children’s plays like The Hobbit and Charlotte’s Web. Beginning actors will get to try learning lines and blocking, while more experienced performers can focus on creating characters with an inner life and using the entire space. Work with our professional directors and Intro to Directing students to perform scenes in small and large groups on the final day!

If you like: Classic stories, working together, making a scene

Musical Theatre

Sing. Dance. Emote.
7th-12th grade/$45/July 10-14; 9 AM to 12 PM
Wanted: Performers who weave songs into stories with passion and flair. 

What you’ll do: Sharpen your skills and learn to communicate the joy of performing while preparing a revue for Friday’s showcase.

If you like: The spectacle of the human heart, that feeling just before the curtain rises, being a part of the larger whole

Showcase: Friday, July 14th at 4:30 with Shout Out Ceremony at 4 PM

Combine with Makin’ a Scene for a full-day experience ($85).

Makin’ a Scene

Cheat out. Concentrate. Collaborate. 
7th-12th grade/$45/July 10-14; 1 PM to 4 PM
Practice the athletics of the heart.

What you’ll do: Explore the art of acting through short scenes from plays chosen by high school Intro to Directing students. Beginning actors will get to try learning lines and blocking, while more experienced performers can focus on creating characters with an inner life and using the entire space. Work with our professional directors and Intro to Directing students to perform scenes in small and large groups on the final day!

If you like: Funny stories, working together, making a scene

 

Grow. Create. Play!
K-12th grade/$85/July 17-21; 9 AM to 4 PM
Welcome to Infinity Falls, the premier training facility for Infinite Players in the 12-loop region!

What you’ll do: Here, players will grow their abilities and skills in game creation, cross-loop communication, Cypher processing, and infinite/finite game-playing mastery. Grab your best equipment, dial in your time cycles, and prepare for infinite fun!

If you like: Playing games, sci-fi, mysterious technology, enigmas

Build. Battle. Create.
K-12th grade/$170/July 24-Aug. 4; 9 AM to 4 PM
Join a select group of adventurers as you venture outside the isolated community of Aarke for the first time in living memory.

What you’ll do: Build your own arms and armor, battle ruffians and monsters, and create a hundred stories through your deeds! This immersive experience is called live-action adventure gaming, and camp will combine live-action role-playing with many other types of games and quests of endurance and skill.

If you like: Adventure stories, role-playing, fantasy worlds, thinking on your feet

Are you a thinker, a maker, a performer, a leader, or a little bit of everything? At the George Daily Youth Theatre, be who you need to be. Show it with your very own official GDYT-shirt!

$15 per shirt, with all proceeds going to our Youth Theatre Education Drive.

19% of our 2021 summer campers attended with the help of a theatre scholarship. The funds raised in our Education Drive make it possible for students with demonstrated need to attend camp for just $10.

Summer through the years!

Check out all of our online and in-person adventures on our YouTube Channel, George Daily Community Television. Catch the latest episode of our children’s television show, Journey On!, or watch our spinoff miniseries, Journey On in the Dark.

Scholarships and Discounts:

We are committed to keeping our programs accessible to anyone who would like to participate. We encourage families to make use of the discounts and financial aid available. 

Registration fees should never be a barrier to attending camp, and options should always be discussed on a case-by-case basis with the Education Director. Use the form below to contact Andy McGuire with questions or to request scholarship funds for your student.

Contact our staff to make a tax-deductible donation to support Youth Theatre scholarships!

Get the most up to date information by subscribing to our newsletter and constant contacts!

1800 North 3rd St
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
Auditorium Office: 641-672-0799
Oskaloosa School District Central Office: 641-673-8345