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Announcing an epic Academy summer at the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy

June 15, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy is proud to announce four weeks of EPIC theatre training experiences that will give like-minded youth a chance to learn life skills through arts education while having fun and meeting new friends. Performing and Technical Arts training is available with Broadway mentors including 2023 TONY Award-winners, J. Harrison Ghee and Gregg Barnes.

The Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy will offer a variety of exceptional training opportunities this summer, beginning with Performing Arts Summer Camps for ages 8-18, which will take place during the weeks of July 17 - 21, July 24 – 28, July 24 - August 4, and August 14-18. By studying material from age-appropriate musicals each week, performing arts students will gain fundamental training in singing, movement, improv, and scene work.

In-person faculty includes Director of Education and Associate Artistic Director, David Connolly. David is the first amputee to perform on Broadway and Director/ Choreographer of Drayton Entertainment productions of The Prom, Mamma Mia!, Newsies and many more. “The aim of our Youth Academy summer camps is to enable and encourage the emotional, intellectual and social growth of the next generation through the development of creativity and imagination. We’ve designed these weeks to not just build better theatre-makers, but more empathetic, brave and socially aware citizens… all while having a ton of fun,” says Connolly.

The camps will also feature in-person Master Classes with Broadway performers Lee Siegel (Paradise Square, Broadway) and Jodi MacFadden (Moulin Rouge, Broadway), as well as virtual Special Guest Mentor Workshops with Ali Stroker (Oklahoma, Broadway), J Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot, Broadway), Zachary Noah Piser (Dear Evan Hansen, Broadway) and Vanessa Sears (New York, New York, Broadway).

A Technical Production Summer Camp will also be offered for teens who want to learn more about making behind-the-scenes magic. Technical students will study set design, building and painting, and will participate in workshops in stage management, wardrobe, props, lighting, sound and more! The Technical Production Summer Camp will run the week of July 24-28, and includes a virtual workshop with Tony Awarding-Winning Broadway costume designer Gregg Barnes (The Drowsy Chaperone, Follies, Some Like It Hot, Broadway).

All Summer Camp experiences will run from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with complimentary early drop off available at 8:30 a.m. and late pick-up until 4:30 p.m. Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy is located at 145 Northfield Dr. in Waterloo, Ontario. Tuition is $395 per week. Family discounts and frequency discounts are available.
For more information, please visit www.draytonentertainmentyouthacademy.com.

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For more information, please contact:
Samareh Jones, Marketing & Development Associate
Phone: (519) 621-5511 ext. 256
samareh@draytonentertainment.com

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