Registration for 2025 Summer Camps is now OPEN!
SUMMER 2025 – YOUR TIME TO SHINE!
Rooted in bravery and belonging, the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy offers a profoundly positive approach to arts education that’s dedicated to cultivating talent, confidence, and creativity in every student.
Our EPIC Summer Camps give like-minded youth a chance to have fun, make lasting friendships, and build life-skills while learning about the exciting world of live theatre in a fun, safe and welcoming environment. Our experienced faculty is comprised of passionate Canadian industry professionals who are also accomplished educators dedicated to providing relevant knowledge and personalized guidance to help students take risks to reach their full potential.
Musical Theatre Summer Camps
By studying material from age-appropriate musicals, performing arts participants gain fundamental training in singing, movement, improv, and scene work. They’ll become familiar with reading sheet music, creating character and learn how to enhance their sense of focus and stage presence. Participants will attend specialty workshops such as on-camera acting technique, stage combat, puppetry, and audition skills plus virtual mentor Q&A’s.
Information
Roll out the red carpet and experience the magic of movie-inspired musicals in this star-studded week! Participants will step into the world of blockbuster hits, exploring unforgettable songs and scenes from Newsies, Wicked, Legally Blonde, and Mary Poppins Returns. Join us for an unforgettable week of singing, dancing, and acting inspired by the big screen!
Dates: Monday, July 14 to Friday, July 18
Ages: 8 – 16
Location: Huron Country Playhouse (70689 B Line, Grand Bend)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $395 plus tax
A typical day:
9:00am-10:15am First Class
10:15am-10:30am Break
10:30am-12:00pm Second Class
12:00pm-12:45pm Lunch
12:45pm-2:15pm Third Class
2:15pm-2:30pm Break
2:30pm-4:00pm Fourth Class
Summer Camps are $395 + HST.
Family Discount: 10% discount for each additional member of the immediate family from the same household.
Multi Class Discount: 10% discount for each additional summer camp attended by the youth/teen.
Indigenous youth under 18 will receive free tuition for Youth Academy training programs. Read More
We strive to ensure that all young people, regardless of financial circumstances, are able to participate. Inquire about our flexible payment plans and financial assistance programs.
Complimentary supervised drop off available at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up until 4:30 p.m.
Please plan to bring water and a packed lunch.
Meet Your Camp Leader
Melissa Morris
Melissa Morris is a composer, director, actor, singer, musician, musical director, playwright, and educator. She is a double graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, with a Bachelor’s in Music and Drama, and a Master’s in Cultural Studies where she researched verbatim musical theatre. Melissa’s career as a performer has taken her across North America and the Caribbean, where she has had the pleasure of working at Chemainus Theatre, Drayton Festival, Theatre Orangeville, Port Hope Festival, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Stirling Theatre, Upper Canada Playhouse, Orillia Opera House, Gravenhurst Opera House, Theatre Collingwood, Theatre Kingston, and on a cruise ship. She was Resident Musical Director/Composer at St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival for 10 seasons and has musical directed at different companies in Canada. Directing opera is one of her passions, and has directed Don Giovanni and Susannah for Toronto City Opera. She played Annie Kenney in the Watershed Music Theatre Festival’s world premiere of Leslie Arden’s new musical, Lancashire Lass, and has performed the one-woman musical Sweetheart by Dean Burry. Melissa composed music for the Off-Broadway hit Evil Dead the Musical, which has had productions all over the globe. She is a proud faculty member at both Queen’s University and Sheridan College where she teaches voice, acting, musical theatre courses and music theory. Melissa runs her own private vocal studio in Toronto, where she teaches and coaches singers and actors of all ages.
Meet Your Guest Workshop Leaders
Kae Kae Lee
Malyssa Kae Lee (better known as “Kae Kae” Lee) discovered her passion for dance at just 7 years old, eventually joining Performing Dance Arts in Vaughan, training extensively in Jazz, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Acrobatics, Contemporary, Tap and Hip Hop.
Kae Kae’s talents began to take her across the world, taking on unique roles in various shows, such as Royal Caribbean’s Aqua production “The Fine Line”, Emmy award-winning Debra Brown’s “Brace Yourself” and Family channel’s “Big Ticket Summer Tour”. She has worked alongside artists such as Emeli Sande, Aloe Blacc, Natalie Imbruglia, Dave Stewart, and James Blunt, whilst touring with “Art on Ice” Switzerland, a show choreographed by Sean Cheesman.
Some of Kae Kae’s TV and film roles include Disney’s “Zombies 3” and “Spin”. Fox’s “What We Do In The Shadows”, Lifetime’s “A Christmas Dance”, CBC’s “Frankie Drake Mysteries”, and Family Channel’s “The Next Step”, as well as the music videos for artists including Rupaul’s Drag Race star, Priyanka, Liz Lokre, and Jade Eagleson. Kae Kae branched out into musical theatre appearing in Rock of ages as Dance Captain at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre, and various roles for Drayton Entertainment.
Luke Opdahl
Drayton Entertainment: Crazy For You, Elf, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin: The Panto, Anne of Green Gables. Other theatre: A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Step by Step: Evolution of the Greatest Boy-bands, 9 to 5, Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Stage West); Elf (Theatre Aquarius); The Jazz Singer (Harold Green Jewish Theatre); Beauty and the Beast (Capitol Theatre); Anatomy of a Dancer (Next Stage Festival); and Mary Poppins (Theatre St. Johns). Luke is a proud graduate of The Randolph College. Thank you to my agents at daCosta Talent, my loving family and my sweet Tomas for your support!
Simon Zenker
Simon is very excited to become part of Drayton Entertainment’s Youth Academy. As a performer who specializes in juggling and stunt shows for families and children, encouraging youth through the arts is something he takes great pride in. Simon recently graduated from Humber College with a Bachelor of Digital Communications. If you see Simon around, be sure to say hello and he may even show you a trick or two.
Stacy Smith
Stacy Smith(she/her) is a Genie nominated performer, educator and coach. She has been a professional actor for over 25 years, working in theatres throughout the country and has worked extensively in television and film, with recurring roles on TV in “Rookie Blue” as Zoe Shaw and Sex & Violence starring Olympia Dukakis. Other select film/tv credits include: Law & Order Criminal Intent(Toronto), Monica’s News, Accused, Frankie Drake Mysteries, The Handmaids Tale, Designated Survivor, Murdoch Mysteries, The Detail, Sebastian, Flight of The Butterflies, Blackbird, Jessie Stone, Robson Arms, Relative Chaos, Blessed Stranger, Single Mom, Marion Bridge, Secrets Of Autumn, Wake, Running Into Edna, October 1970, Call Me Fitz, A Town Without Christmas, Heart of A Stranger and The Daily Blade. Theatre experience includes shows with Drayton Entertainment, Theatre Aquarius, Neptune Theatre, Here For Now, Ships Company, Theatre New Brunswick, Atlantic Theatre Festival, Luna Sea, Off The Leash and Mermaid Theatre. Presently faculty includes Fanshaw College, Acting For Screen and Stage and Theatre Aquarius Theatre School. Other teaching experience includes St. Claire College, The Stratford Festival, Neptune Theatre School, Mohawk College, The Ivey Business School, Dalhousie University, The Foundation for Education, Huron Waves Festival as well as Stacy Smith Coaching which offers online on camera classes and personalized coaching. Stacy is a member of the association of acting coaches and educators.