Summer Musical Theater Programs for Kids in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Perhaps you have a budding thespian on your hands, or maybe you are simply looking for an alternative to daycare for your child for the summer. Enrolling your child or teen in one of the many musical theatre programs offered in Pittsburgh can be a fun and rewarding experience. As the mother of a budding singer and thespian, I have seen first-hand how musical theatre can enrich a child's life. Here is a look at several musical theatre programs offered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Spotlight Performing Arts Academy

My oldest son had the opportunity to be a member of the ensemble of Pittsburgh Spotlight Theatre's production of Steven Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. For those who are not theatre buffs, Sweeney Todd is considered a very difficult production, the Spotlight students tackled Sondheim's difficult masterpiece with much aplomb. It was a pleasure to watch.

Spotlight Performing Arts Academy offers a three-week summer program for elementary and high school students. Spotlight is located in West View, about ten minutes north of downtown Pittsburgh. Auditions are for casting purposes only and are being conducted in late June 2010. Students will get the opportunity to perform in a full-length musical theatre production. For more information about this incredible musical theatre program, you can click here to visit their website.

Pittsburgh Musical Theater

Pittsburgh Musical Theater offers classes for children ages four to nineteen throughout the year at their location in the West End section of Pittsburgh. The summer program consists of a four-week intensive program, which is broken down by age group. Broadway Juniors is for children ages four to seven. This year they will perform Disney's High School Musical. The pre-teen group is for students ages eight to twelve. They will perform Seussical Jr. The teen program is for students ages thirteen to nineteen. They will perform Footloose. The cost of the various programs range from $295 to $995. The summer program begins June 21 and runs through July 17^th. For more information, click here to visit Pittsburgh Musical Theater's website.

Pittsburgh CLO Academy

The Pittsburgh CLO Academy attracts budding thespians throughout Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. The theater is located in Penn Avenue Place in the heart of Pittsburgh's cultural district. Pittsburgh CLO Academy offers high-level classes in acting, voice and dance throughout the year. They also offer two-week long summer theater camps for students in grades one through twelve. During these intensive summer camps, students will have the opportunity to put on a full-length production. Pittsburgh CLO Academy also offers a "Creative Discovery Camp" for students ages five to thirteen who are on the Autism spectrum. For more information about Pittsburgh CLO Academy click here.

Musical theater classes can be an enriching experience and a confidence builder for your child. These three musical theater programs are some of the best offered in the Pittsburgh area. Whether your child is a budding thespian, an aspiring ballerina or simply curious about theater you cannot go wrong with any of these programs.