FST Provides Summer Camp Scholarships For Children of Front-Line Workers and More

Florida Studio Theatre (FST)  announced that it will give back to the community by offering full scholarships for its Summer Theatre Camps to children of front line workers, essential personnel, and of those who have been displaced from their jobs as a result of COVID-19. FST is running in-person three-week Summer Camps for students ages 7-17 as well as one-week online Summer Camps for students ages 4-12 beginning the week of June 1. A full list of FST’s summer camps is below. Those interested who qualify for these full scholarships should call FST’s Education Office at (941) 366-1350 for eligibility, more information, and to enroll. Scholarships are made possible thanks to the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and support from individual donors.

“We’re proud to be able to offer scholarships to students whose families have been impacted by the current pandemic,” said Josh Ford, FST’s Director of Education. “Theatre is about exploring and processing our own emotions as well as really hearing the emotions of others. So these are the times when Theatre is so essential to build on our awareness, to understand that we’re all in the same boat, and to practice empathy. Theatre is also a really fun way to blow off steam! These scholarships are just one way that we can serve those who have served our community so fearlessly.”

With FST’s summer camps, young people have the opportunity to nurture their own creativity, build self-esteem, and gain emotional awareness. Intro to Little Theatre: Online helps students ages 4-6 improve coordination and confidence, while also learning how to express themselves authentically. In Intro to Children’s Performing Arts Camp: Online, students ages 7-12 will work with professional artists to create their own original theatre pieces.

FST will offer two in-person camp experiences—Children’s Performing Arts Camp for students ages 7-12, and Teen Performing Arts Camp for students ages 13-17. Each will run multiple sessions throughout the summer. The theatre’s Children’s Performing Arts Camp has been running at FST for over 35 years. Students who attend this camp explore their own creativity through movement, improv, and acting. Professional artists collaborate with students to build honest, exciting, and expressive works of theatre.

In addition, FST’s Teen Performing Arts Camp provides an outlet for young adults to express themselves with confidence and power as they create and perform their own original short plays. Combining elements of improvisation, movement, and acting, students will make exciting theatre alongside professional theatre artists. Rigorous care will be taken to ensure students’ safety by fully complying with CDC guidelines specifically laid out for Summer Camps on May 19. FST is taking additional measures, such as reducing camp capacity and limiting rooms’ occupancy to no more than 13 people, to further protect students’ health and safety.

FST is awarding full summer camp scholarships to children of front-line workers, essential personnel, and whose families have experienced significant financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FST’s one-week online summer camp is just $100. FST’s live camp experiences range from $300-375 for each three-week session.

The recently-announced full scholarships for summer camp are being offered specifically for the children of front-line workers. If a child wants to attend camp but has financial need, full and partial scholarships are still available.

To participate in FST’s online summer theatre camp, students will need an Internet capable device with a webcam. For more information about classes, scholarships, or to enroll, call FST’s Education Office at 941.366.1350. For a full list of summer camp offerings, see below or visit floridastudiotheatre.org.

AGES 4-6

Intro to Little Theatre: Online I 9-10:30AM I $100

Session One: June 1-5

Encourage your little one to get creative with a smaller commitment! A camp experience dedicated to the exploration of ensemble games, creative play, and confidence-building activities for our youngest artists has gone virtual.

AGES 7-12

Intro to Children’s Performing Arts Camp: Online I 10AM-1PM I $100

Session One: June 1-5

A taste of camp for families seeking a smaller commitment! This one-week Zoom camp offers an introduction to FST programming through ensemble and improvisation games, playful exercises, and movement activities. Session includes acting, improvisation, and dance with a final open class for families and friends.

Children’s Performing Arts Camp I $300-$375

On FST’s downtown campus

Session One: June 8-26 I 10AM-2PM

Session Two: June 29-July 17 I 10AM-2PM

Afternoon Session: June 29-July 17 I 2-5PM

Session Three: July 20-August 7 I 10AM-2PM

FST’s original and most popular camp experience for over 35 years! Students will build acting, voice, improvisation, and dance skills in a spirited and supportive environment.

This experience focuses on nurturing the self-esteem and individual expression of each child while developing truth on stage.

AGES 13-17

Teen Performing Arts Camp I 2-5PM I $300

On FST’s downtown campus

Session One: June 8-26

Session Two: July 20-August 7

Our Teen Theatre Camp allows students to express themselves with confidence and power as they create and perform their own original short plays. The class focuses on exploration of characters and emotions, developing truth on stage, and building the self-esteem and individual expression of every participant. We will combine improvisation, movement, and acting to make new and exciting theatre together.