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Graphic with 'Giving Tuesday' text, where the 'V' in 'Giving' is represented by a purple heart made of heart icons.

make DREAMS come true

what is summerstock?

Vanguard Theater’s DREAM Summerstock VTC Intensive is a three-week, transformative theater program for students ages 12-19. Combining top-tier theater training with social and emotional growth, our program nurtures young artists from all backgrounds and provides a supportive community for emerging talent.

Empower Young Artists to Dream Big—Your Support Makes it Possible

  • Exceptional Theater Training

    From vocal training to acting techniques and dance, students receive high-caliber instruction led by master artists. Workshops like musical theater dance, character analysis, and vocal mastery help campers refine their craft while expressing their unique voices.

  • Building Community & Confidence

    Beyond the stage, students build social and emotional skills through group activities, outdoor adventures, and community-building experiences. Swimming, archery, campfires, and more help foster friendships and resilience, creating a supportive environment where students can truly thrive.

  • Mentorship & Professionalism

    In just three weeks, campers work with professionals to put on near-professional productions, experiencing the fast-paced environment of theater. With guidance from working actors, directors, and coaches, students gain invaluable insights into the demands of the industry while building confidence.

“I miss rehearsing together, eating together, campfire songs and cook-outs, and living and breathing every moment together. I have never been around so many amazing talents and kind people. I miss everyone and everything.”

A group of diverse women looking down at the camera from beneath a red jungle gym at a park, smiling and holding the bars of the playground equipment.
Two girls are hugging in the center of a group of smiling children at a social gathering or party. The girl in black is embracing the girl in yellow, who has her back to the camera. The background shows a decorated room with hanging ornaments and an exit sign.
Donate to the dream

"One of my favorite things about camp was how everyone got along. In my school, everyone sits for lunch with people who look like them and do the same things as them. At camp, everyone loved everyone and it didn’t matter what you looked like or what town you came from."

Guided by Vanguard’s commitment to DREAM values—Diversity, Reciprocity, Education, Activism, and Mentorship—Summerstock is more than a theater camp. It’s a powerful experience where students learn to lead, grow, and inspire, both on stage and off. Our mission is to challenge social and cultural narratives through professional theater and to give each student the tools they need to be a change-maker in the world.