Our Favorite Drama Summer Camps in DC
Whether your child is a natural performer who lights up every room or someone who needs gentle encouragement to come out of their shell, drama camp can be transformative. For the shy child, stepping into character provides a safe space to experiment and find their voice. For the energetic extrovert, theater channels that enthusiasm into focused creative work while teaching collaboration and listening skills.
Beyond building confidence, drama camps develop crucial life skills: public speaking, creative problem-solving, empathy, and teamwork. The friendships formed in theater are often especially strong, built on the trust and vulnerability that comes from creating art together.
Here are our favorite drama summer camps in the DC area:
Arena Stage
Location: Georgetown
A cornerstone of DC's theater community, Arena Stage brings professional excellence to young performers ages 8-15. The intensive 2-3 week sessions run 8:45am-6:00pm in Georgetown and cost either $1,000 (for 2 weeks) and $1,400 (for 3 weeks). This is ideal for both beginners discovering theater for the first time and serious young actors who want to experience professional theater training.
Camp Shakespeare
Locations: NW DC, SE DC
Run by the Shakespeare Theatre Company, this program serves ages 6-18 at locations in Northwest and Southeast DC. the 2-3 week sessions run 10:00am-4:00pm or 5:00pm for $922 (for 2 weeks) and $1,389 (for 3 week intensive sessions), introducing students to classical theater in an engaging, age-appropriate way. Kids don't just read Shakespeare—they embody it.
Learn more at shakespearetheatre.org
Imagination Stage
Locations: American University (DC), Bethesda
With locations at American University and Bethesda, Imagination Stage serves ages 4-18 with programs starting at $475 per week. They offer financial aid to ensure accessibility, and provide age-appropriate theater education that meets kids at their developmental level—from preschoolers discovering imaginative play to teenagers honing their craft.
Learn more at imaginationstage.org
The Theatre Lab
Location: Downtown DC
Located downtown, The Theatre Lab serves ages 6-14 from 9:00am-3:00pm, starting at $865 per 2-week session. The program focuses on building skills through improvisation, scene study, movement, and voice work, helping every child grow as a performer while developing collaboration and communication abilities.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW)
Location: Capitol Hill
Serving ages 4-12 from 9:00am-5:00pm ($275-$600 per week), CHAW takes an arts-integrated approach on Capitol Hill. They often incorporate music, visual arts, and drama into their summer programming—perfect for creative kids who want to explore multiple art forms alongside theater training.
Finding the Right Fit
From professional training at Arena Stage to the classical focus of Camp Shakespeare, DC's drama camps offer nurturing environments where all kids can shine. Whether your young performer is just discovering their voice or ready to tackle the Bard, there's a perfect program waiting this summer.