Ghostlight Theater Camp has a lasting impact on campers’ lives. Our philosophy focuses on ensemble theater-making along with the values of a traditional camp experience. We know that we are joining families in preparing our campers to be leaders and empathetic, kindhearted citizens of their communities in and outside of camp.

We are dedicated to fostering a community of young artists that will support each other year-round and throughout their lives. This mission is realized through our summer programs and by continuing to support and inspire our campers, staff, alumni, and families throughout the year.

As a community we value self-expression, inclusivity, community engagement, participation and immediacy. We are continually growing by supporting the work of our campers and staff through our Four Ghostlights: Joy, Creativity, Gratitude, and Community.

Ghostlight Theater Camp is run under the vision of Lesley Levy and Chris Murrah, who draw upon more than two decades of professional theater and summer camp experience and expertise. Lesley and Chris have made it their focus to bring the highest caliber theater training possible to campers at Ghostlight Theater Camp. They help to foster a fun, engaging summer camp experience that won’t soon be forgotten. With guidance from Lesley and Chris, the next generation of talented artists and leaders will be discovered at Ghostlight Theater Camp.

A Typical Day

Morning

8:25AM MORNING REFLECTION We start camp every morning by gathering the entire camp community for morning reflection right outside the dining pavilion. The idea is to reset for a new day by taking a deep breath and basking in the glorious view of East Pond.

8:30AM BREAKFAST Campers fill up with a delicious breakfast every morning, featuring eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, cereal, oatmeal, tea, and juice. Breakfast is presented in our dining pavilion from our friendly dining staff. Our staff would be happy to cater to each camper’s needs, including allergy concerns and vegetarian/vegan needs. Our camp is also a nut-free zone.

9:30AM CABIN INSPECTION Cabins will be inspected for cleanliness every morning and campers will be responsible for cleaning up their bunk as a group. Mornings typically feature cleaning sessions as a group with a cast recording of a popular musical like Hamilton, Mean Girls, or Oklahoma!

9:40AM WARMUPS Campers will get to try out yoga, theater games, and body and voice warmups every morning during the first few days of camp. Once they decide which warm-up activity suits them best, they remain with that group for the rest of camp.

10:00AM MORNING CLASSES Classes begin each day at 10 a.m. Each student’s class schedule will be dependent on the main focus of training they chose at the start of camp, including acting, voice, or movement. Each camper will choose a minor focus as well. Depending on what campers choose to focus on, they will be taking part in classes such as improve, a cappella, mindfulness and meditation, nature and camping skills, guitar and ukulele, cooking, arts and crafts, theater of sport, and bench building.

12:30PM LUNCH Our daily lunch menus include chicken cordon-bleu, vegetarian lasagna, grilled haddock, tomato soup and grilled cheese, tacos, and sandwiches. The full salad bar is always available.

Afternoon

DOWNTIME 1:00pm Campers will have some time to relax and unwind after lunch. Downtime is the perfect time to read, practice lines, or work on choreography. You may also gather with other campers to play basketball, soccer, frisbee, capture the flag, and other games that are unique to Ghostlight Theater Camp.

REHEARSALS 1:30PM Our campers will be working hard to practice and prepare for performances at Ghostlight Theater Camp. We spend plenty of time every afternoon rehearsing for contemporary dramas, classic comedies, and musicals. Every camper is cast in one show per session. They will prepare to perform for other campers on dress rehearsal day before the big show for family, friends, and local guests on festival day.

POOL TIME AND DOWNTIME 4:30PM Each camper needs some time to burn off some energy after an afternoon of rehearsing. You’ll find our campers at the pool for swimming, bonding, and fun. You can splash around in the pool or lie out in the sun for reading or chatter with friends.

DINNER 6:00PM Campers flock to our pavilion for their evening meal, also known as “supper” in Maine, which is always delicious and comes with dessert!

EVENING ACTIVITIES 7:30PM Our day doesn't end with classes and rehearsals. In the evening, campers participate in innovative theatrical experiences, such as a Harry Potter adventure night, So You Think You Can Dance challenge, talent show, make-your-own music video, The Horror Radio Play, and student-directed scenes. On some nights, we head into town to catch a movie and stop at world famous Gifford’s for ice cream.

LIGHTS OUT 10:00PM To ensure our campers get a full night’s rest to recharge for the next day of classes and rehearsing, we have everyone in bed by 10:30. Lights out comes earlier for our youngest campers at 10 p.m.

Lodging
Up to 10 campers live in cabins with 2 counselors. Each cabin, built in 2008, has a private bathroom with showers and is spacious to allow for cabin bonding and activities.

Food
Acting Manitou works with our head chef and kitchen staff to provide excellent meals three times a day. Breakfast includes a healthy main dish as well as a cereal and oatmeal bar. Lunch and Dinner always include a healthy salad bar as well as protein and nutrient-rich entree options. The dietary needs of all our campers are taken into consideration as we plan our menu for each session.

Health
Our health center is staffed by two full-time nurses who administer all medications and see to the health needs of our entire community. We also have a consulting physician on call and are within ten minutes of two hospitals.

Other
Perhaps the true highlight of each session is our festival of shows. Family and friends are invited to come and enjoy an afternoon of theater, barbecue, swimming and celebrating the creative and joyful work their campers have put in over the session. 

Classes

Ghostlights teaching staff includes directors, choreographers, designers, vocal coaches, actors, and teachers from Broadway, Regional and International Theater Companies as well as some of the finest education programs from around the world. 

Ghsotlight teachers focus on the skill development of every individual camper. Our teachers blend compassion for our campers, passion for their craft, and an understanding of the value of hard work and dedication. 

MASTER CLASSES (PERFORMANCE CAMPERS)

Master Classes are taught by the directors of our shows. Each director chooses to focus a one lesson class on a topic of their choosing, usually stemming from a theme or content of their show. Every performance camper will have the chance to take each of these Master Classes which in the past have included Commedia, Musical Theater, Devising Ensemble Works, Scene Study, Physical Improvisation and Acting Shakespeare! 

INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN (TECH CAMPERS)

During the five periods of this class, tech campers will spend one session studying the fundamentals of the following collaborative elements of production design: Set, Lights, Costume, Sound and Stage Management. 

ELECTIVES

All campers take two different electives during a three-week session at Ghostlight. These classes are taught by various staff members including Directors, Choreographers, Teaching Artists and even our Senior Administrative Staff. Past electives have included Choreography, Music Theatre Dance Repertoire, Vocal Tecnhique, A Capella Chorale, Folk Songs, Meditation and Mindfulness, and Strawberry and Blueberry Extravaganza (Cooking with Maine's Best Harvests). The best thing about Ghostlight's Elective classes are that the possibilities are endless! We can't wait to see what 2018's Staff can dream up!

PRODUCTION

A hands-on  activity, focusing on one aspect of backstage theater production: Sets, Lights, Costumes, Props, Hair & Make-Up, Sound, and Publicity. Campers study with one of our skilled production teachers, while helping to build and create pieces and elements for our shows.

Activities

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES

In between lunch and rehearsals (12:30pm-1:30pm), campers take advantage of downtime by playing basketball, soccer, Frisbee, or capture the flag. Campers participate in many camp-specific daytime activities, such as a camp-wide ping-pong tournament and The Gotcha! challenge. This period is also our scheduled call hours, during which campers may receive check-in calls from home. As in all our periods throughout the day, campers are supervised by their bunk counselors.

EVENING ACTIVITIES

After dinner, campers participate in our exciting and innovative Evening Activity program. These activities are theatrical, often team-based activities meant to encourage fun, creativity and bonding. They include Harry Potter adventure night, So You Think You Can Dance challenge, Talent Show, Make Your Own Music Video, The Horror Radio Play, a Scavenger Hunt and Student-Directed Scenes. On some nights, we head into town for the movies or a stop at world famous Gifford’s ice cream.

TRIP DAY

Mid-way through each session, Ghostlight takes a break from rehearsal and heads off-camp for a day exploring the most beautiful areas in Maine. Recent Trip Days have included hikes and visits to Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, Portland, Belfast, and Boothbay. Highlights from past years include The Colby College Museum of Art, performances at Maine State Music Theatre and Timber Tina's Great Maine Lumberjack Show, and live music on the mall in Brunswick!

A deposit of $1000 ($500 for Emerging Artists) is due on enrollment and is non-refundable. After March 1st, all tuition paid is non-refundable.