Summer Camp Jobs FAQ

mainstages is a children's theater company that provides summer camps with a fully developed and customizable theater program including a "theater in a box" with costumes, sets, and scripts. mainstages places teaching artists and tehater directors to serve as camp employees and provides them with a curriculum guide, training, and ongoing support to ensure success. mainstages believes in creating top notch theatrical experiences designed to grow confidence, increase creativity, strengthen community, build character, and have fun at camp!

Teaching artists and theater directors are expected to run daily acting classes on a rotating schedule, supervise campers in an outdoor setting, and direct one to two shows over the course of the summer. They are also required to communicate with mainstages and actively participate in training and curriculum development.

A Teaching Artist is looking to gain experience in teaching and directing children in a school or summer camp setting. At sleepaway camps they generally live in-bunk with campers and take on counseling duties along with overseeing the theater program. A Theater Director has ample experience in directing, teaching, producing and administrative supervision of other staff. A Theater Director at camp will supervise an entire theater program including overseeing multiple staff and multiple sessions of theatrical activities. You can learn more by visiting our jobs page.

There are two core units to mainstages curriculum, a performance track for children who audition and participate in the shows, and an activities track for campers who arrive as part of a rotating schedule. The activities track is steeped in movement games, focus exercises, character and improvisation, while the performance track emphasizes ensemble, sensory work, and stage vocabulary. For each track, you are provided with a daily breakdown of suggested programs and lesson plans.   

Dates are a little different for each camp but typically range from early June-mid August.   Sleep-away camps may require you to arrive at camp up to a week early for orientation.  You will be asked to attend pre-camp orientations with mainstages including participation in an online prep course, webinars, phone calls, and in-person. Camp days typically start at 7am and will end around 5/6pm (day camp) or 9/10pm (sleep-away), with staff free-time  during the day and after.

Teaching artists and theater directors will receive a salary paid directly from camp based on education, applicable work, and previous camp experience.  Salary scale will be determined prior to offer of contract.  Sleep-away camp contracts include room and board for the duration of the summer and travel to camp from the nearest city.  Many camps also allow for gratuities from families on visiting days. Specific camp salaries are detailed on our  jobs page. 

mainstages consults and collaborates with day and sleep-away camps across the United States.  Partner camps are typically traditional camps that offer a wide variety of programs and partner with mainstages for theater and fine arts support.  Our partner camps are accredited by the American Camping Association and are considered premier in the camping movement.   

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Sleepaway camp teaching artists are required to spend the duration of their contract living at their placement camp, typically in a large bunk area with 3-5 other staff and anywhere from 8-16 campers. Accommodations may vary and some private sleeping arrangements are available. Teaching artists receive one day off a week and periods off daily.  Theater Directors at sleepaway camps generally will have private or semi-private housing accommodations. Day camp staff placed outside of their local areas are provided short term housing or placed with a host family. 

Kids range in age from 6-16 at sleep-away camp though most kids auditioning for the play tend to be between 8 and 14.  Day camp starts at three years old. Curriculum target ages start at 4.  You may be placed with a specific age group for lodging and counseling. That age group will be determined by the camp in collaboration with mainstages, based on your previous experience and personality.  

mainstages offers college credits at many theater schools and conservatories. Credits range from 2-6 for the summer, depending on educational institution attending, and may be applied as elective or educational credits. Schools require communication with a guidance counselor or advisor to determine parameters and measures of judgment. mainstages serves as intern sponsor and works with camp staff to make sure internship goals are reached.  

Camp is proven to have tremendous impact on independence and fostering maturity amongst children. Children look up to their staff and idolize them. A child who learns the love of theater at camp with be hooked forever. Camps also offer a myriad of activities from archery to zipline and everything in between. As staff, you will be encouraged to go on the motorboat, swim in the pool, go to amusement parks, and enjoy life! Camps also hire staff from all over the world, leaving you a tremendous opportunity to work on accents and gain cultural sophistication!

Absolutely! mainstages teaching artists and theater directors become members of the mainstages network and receive free theater tickets, cheap rehearsal/meeting space, and the opportunity for ongoing performance and teaching opportunities throughout the year. You can also see more perks HERE!

STEPS is equal parts interview, educational workshop, and networking event. At our STEPS event you will get to meet mainstages administration to hear more about the logistics, participate in hands-on group activities, meet in-person with a member of the mainstages team to discuss your preferences and availability as well as learn new games and theater teaching techniques. If you live in or are planning to visit the NYC area, we invite you to RSVP for our upcoming STEPS event. Click here to find more information, dates and to RSVP.