Summer School Program

Step onto the stage and bring Shakespeare to life! In this engaging middle school course, students explore Julius Caesar through the lens of theatre, learning the fundamentals of acting while uncovering the drama, tension, and excitement of the story. Rather than simply reading the play, students will experience it – using their voices, bodies, and imaginations to make Shakespeare’s words clear, powerful, and alive.

Through interactive rehearsals, theatre games, and scene work, students will build essential acting skills such as projection, articulation, expression, and stage presence. They will learn how to interpret character motivations, work collaboratively with scene partners, and use movement and blocking to tell a compelling story. As they grow more comfortable with Shakespeare’s language, students will gain confidence in speaking it naturally and with purpose.

While the course emphasizes performance, it remains rooted in the classical tradition by engaging students with the play’s themes of ambition, loyalty, and leadership. Students will explore how actors communicate these ideas to an audience, discovering that great theatre is both intellectually rich and emotionally engaging.

Culminating Showcase:

On the final day, students will present Julius Caesar adapted by Kelso. This showcase will highlight their development as performers, featuring memorized lines, thoughtful character choices, and dynamic stage work. Family and friends are invited to attend and celebrate the students’ creativity, collaboration, and growing confidence on stage.

Course Objectives:

• Develop foundational acting skills including voice, movement, and stage presence
• Build confidence in performing Shakespearean language
• Understand character, motivation, and storytelling through performance
• Collaborate effectively in rehearsals and ensemble work
• Prepare and present a theatrical performance for a live audience

Perfect for students ready to move, speak, and shine as they discover Shakespeare from the inside out.

Bring your own lunch — chill & relax (and doodle) together before the Afternoon Courses.

Students enter the world of strategy through the time-honored game of chess alongside other classic games of logic, planning, and skill. Rooted in the principles of Classical Education, this course cultivates disciplined thinking, patience, and the art of wise decision-making.

Students will learn foundational and advanced chess techniques—openings, tactics, and endgames—while also exploring a variety of strategic games that sharpen reasoning and foresight. Through guided instruction, friendly competition, and reflective discussion, campers will develop the ability to anticipate consequences, adapt to changing circumstances, and think several steps ahead.

This course emphasizes the Classical ideals of intellectual virtue and character formation. Students practice perseverance in the face of challenge, humility in both victory and defeat, and respect for worthy opponents. By engaging with games that have endured across centuries, students participate in a rich tradition that values logic, order, and the pursuit of excellence.

Whether a beginner or an experienced player, each student will be challenged to grow in confidence, strategic thinking, and a love for the art of the mind.

NOTE: The content of this course will be different for each week. This means students may take both classes of “Drama, Dialogue, and Discovery” because content will be different, but skills will be the same.

In this engaging middle school theatre course, students will strengthen ensemble work and physical expression while expanding their use of voice, body, and imagination through purposeful theatre games and collaborative scene work. Rooted in the values of a classical education, the course emphasizes not only creativity and performance, but also the formation of clear thinkers, articulate speakers, and confident participants in a shared community.

Each day, students will participate in structured activities that build foundational acting skills—projection, articulation, posture, movement, and stage presence—while also cultivating attentiveness, discipline, and cooperation. Through repetition and playful practice, students develop control of their voices and bodies, learning how to communicate ideas with clarity and intention. Theatre games serve as a dynamic entry point into these skills, reinforcing habits of focus, responsiveness, and joyful learning that are central to the classical tradition.

Special emphasis is placed on ensemble-building, as students learn to listen carefully, respond thoughtfully, and support one another in performance. This collaborative environment reflects the classical goal of preparing students not just as individuals, but as members of a community—capable of working together toward a common purpose with humility and confidence.

As students grow in skill, they will engage their imaginations to create characters, explore movement, and bring stories to life. In doing so, they develop both expressive freedom and disciplined control, forming the habits of mind and body that undergird effective communication and strong character.

Culminating Showcase:
The course will conclude with a Theatre Showcase for parents during the final half hour of the last day. This informal performance will highlight the students’ growth in ensemble work, physical expression, and confident communication, offering a joyful and meaningful presentation of their work.