Encore! Theatre Arts Camp
Registration Now Closed
Scroll to the bottom of this page for 2023 Instructor Spotlights and teacher bios!
Encore’s annual theater arts camp with classes in acting, singing, and dancing.
​
Dates: Summer, 2024
Time: 9 AM – 3:50 PM each day
Place: Living Hope Church, 3030 Schoolhouse Rd, Middletown, PA 17057
For students entering grades 4–12 in the 2024-25 school year.
​
Class groups will be grades 4-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12. Each group will be limited to 15 students.
No experience necessary! All are welcome to come and learn!
​
Encore will take measures to keep campers safe while attending camp, but parents must sign a waiver to assume all risks.
​
​
Registration: $150/cast member, $175/non-cast member
​
How to Register for Camp
There are three steps in registering for camp.
Registration is not complete until steps 1 and 2 have been successfully done.
Participation in camp will require step 3.
​
-
Apply, link is above
-
Pay for camp registration once you have been accepted
-
Fill out the three forms listed below by clicking on the link to the document. You must complete one medical release for each student and one liability and media release per family.
Sample Schedule for Drama Camp 2024
What to Bring
Each student will need to bring jazz shoes and tap shoes for dance. You can often find them used online.
For acting classes, wear covered-toe shoes, no flip flops.
Wear comfortable, modest clothes that you can easily move in. Please dress modestly, no short shorts or midriff shirts.
Please do not wear skirts or dresses unless you have shorts or leggings underneath.
Please bring a lunch and water bottle.​
*4th-6th graders join 7th-8th graders for music and dance
*9th-10th graders join 11th-12th graders for music and dance
Korri Slamans (Acting) is a ‘23 grad of Lancaster Bible College with a BFA in Musical Theatre, and she is a proud Encore! Homeschool Productions alum (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, NEWSIES). She is so thankful for the opportunity to teach acting in its many forms to the kids at Encore! She most recently performed in PARABLES OF JESUS with Piercing Word and a staged reading of a new musical IN DAYS OF OLD. She has also recently appeared in a PSA for the Pennsylvania Liquor Board and is currently filming a safety video with PennSSI. By the time camp rolls around she will have finished her debut at the Fulton in RAGTIME, and she will be gearing up for CLYBOURNE PARK at Ephrata Performing Arts Center. Last year she was seen performing in Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s production of THE COLOR PURPLE, LBC’s production of INTO THE WOODS, Servant Stage’s production of NEWSIES, and PARABLES OF JESUS. She has also modeled for Los Angeles-based brand Tboy Chiq, and the North Carolina-based brand, Opportunities Co. To God be the Glory. James 3:17-18
Debra Macut (Acting) is a professional actress with over 20 years of acting experience. Debra received her M.F.A. in Acting from Catholic University and joined the Actors Equity Association during her time there. Debra has been teaching acting to students of all ages for over 20 years. She is currently the Director of Acting at the Popovsky Performing Arts Studio in Lancaster as well as a staff teacher for the Theatre Academy at the Hershey Area Playhouse. Debra has worked with Encore! for several years, facilitating workshops and helping to cast productions.
Dena McKell (Dance) is from the Harrisburg region and has been a teacher, choreographer, and director of musicals for over 27 years. She began teaching dance instruction at the Harrisburg Dance Conservatory under the guidance of Forrest Gehret. Along with teaching at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, Ms. McKell is also the Director and Choreographer for Encore! Homeschool Productions. Her choreographic works include SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE MUSIC MAN, PETER PAN, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST to name a few. In May 2016, her choreography in Peter Pan received an Apollo Award for Outstanding Dance Number in a Musical. Ms. McKell has also received an Apollo Award for her choreography in May 2017 (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), May 2018 (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), and most recently in May 2022 for her choreography in THE LITTLE MERMAID. Ms. McKell also directed and received the Apollo Award for Outstanding Musical in May 2022 for her direction of THE LITTLE MERMAID. Ms. McKell also serves as the choreographer for East Pennsboro High School Panther Productions for which she has choreographed GREASE, NEWSIES, SISTER ACT, and MATILDA. Ms. McKell also works with local community theaters such as Keystone Theatrics, Creative Pursuits Academy, and Oyster Mill Playhouse.
Melissa Moad (Acting) has a degree in Theater Performance from Temple University and has been working in theater for over 20 years. Melissa began her career as an actress in and around Philadelphia, but for the past 15 years, Melissa has focused on directing and teaching in schools and local community theaters. She loves the chance to help students develop a love and appreciation for acting. She is excited to continue that passion with Encore! for their summer drama camp!
.jpg)
Coleen Steindel (Music) has been music teacher for Encore’s 4 drama camps, and she is looking forward to serving kids again this summer. She has also enjoyed her position as music director for the past 8 Encore! musicals. Her education includes a B.S. in music education from West Chester University with piano as her major instrument. In addition to teaching general/choral music in the schools for 7 years (prior to having children), she has directed her church’s adult Christmas choir 19 years. She is the happy wife of John Steindel (this summer marks 25 years!) and grateful mama of 5 kids, all of whom have participated in Encore! over the years. She loves to use her talents to encourage kids to sing and harmonize, and to enjoy God’s glorious gift of music!
.png)
Jill Panyard (Acting) has been involved with Encore! for 19 years! Her two sons, Tim and Jack, were actors and stage crew through their high school years and now Jill has had the privilege of watching a generation of students join and graduate from Encore! She directs plays and musicals and teaches workshops. Jill is also the director for the Theatre Academy at the Hershey Area Playhouse. She loves working with young people and helping them find their talents and confidence through acting. Outside of teaching and directing, Jill, and her husband Jim, are empty-nesters along with their weird dog, Bailey. She works for Penn State Health part-time and enjoys working from home. She loves spending time with her sons, daughters-in-law, and family in other states, traveling and experiencing good theatre!