This handbook will help you prepare for the session ahead. It includes the latest policies, daily procedures, and camp expectations. Please take time to review it - and go over the key guidelines with your student. Policies may be updated throughout the summer based on recommendations from the University of Utah and the State of Utah.
BEFORE CAMP STARTS
Each session kicks off with a mini-orientation on the first day — just for students.
Parents do not need to attend orientation.
Students will be grouped into their Companies based on:
- Grade
- Program track: Creative Drama, Musical Theatre, or Acting
On Day 1, students will:
- Receive a name tag
- Join a fun warm-up activity
- Tour the facilities with their group
- Begin regular camp activities
- Receive a detailed schedule (updated as needed during the first 3 days)
Company & Elective Classes
Every student is assigned to a Company, which serves as their “home base” for check-in, end-of-day wrap-ups, and creative work with the same core group and teacher.
Throughout the day, students attend elective classes in a variety of subjects. These are held across campus, and students always travel with staff or teen aides between buildings.
We do our best to help students learn the layout quickly — the first few days include lots of guidance and group transitions.
🎒 What to Bring to Camp
To make the most of their day, students should bring the following every day:
- Youth Theatre at the U T-Shirt* (see below)
- Lunch and snacks
- Refillable, re-sealable water bottle
– Water fountains are limited, but most have bottle-filling stations. - Their script (once distributed)
- Sunglasses or a hat for outdoor time
- Sunscreen – we move between buildings and often spend time outside
- Cell phone (optional) — for communication with parents/caregivers only
👕 What to Wear
- Official Youth Theatre at the U T-Shirt is required daily
– Students receive two shirts on the first day of camp.
– Shirts from previous Youth Theatre sessions or productions are also okay. - Closed-toe shoes only.
– No flip-flops or platform shoes, please — safety first! - Comfortable, movement-friendly clothing
– Please avoid clothing that exposes undergarments.
We move a lot, perform, and often eat or rehearse outside — so dressing for activity and the weather is key!
Our main office is located on the second floor of the Price Theatre Arts Building (PTAB) — Rooms 240 and 241.
If you need to:
– Meet with a staff member
– Drop off items
– Pick up a sick student during the day
Please come to PTAB and check in with our office.
Parking: Free 30-minute street parking is available on the north-facing side of the building.
DURING CAMP
| 1st–3rd Grade Daily Schedule | 4th - 8th Grade Daily Schedule | Senior Ensemble Daily Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
9:00 – 9:15 AM 9:20 – 10:00 AM 10:00 – 10:15 AM 10:15 – 10:45 AM 10:50 – 11:50 AM 12:00 – 12:45 PM 12:55 – 1:25 PM 1:30 – 1:40 PM 1:40 – 2:25 PM 2:30 – 3:30 PM |
9:00 – 9:15 AM 9:20 – 10:45 AM 10:50 – 11:50 AM 12:00 – 12:45 PM 12:55 – 1:55 PM 2:00 – 3:30 PM |
9:00 – 9:15 AM 9:20 – 10:45 AM 10:50 – 11:50 AM 12:00 – 12:45 PM 12:55 – 1:55 PM 2:00 – 3:30 PM |
Electives allow students to explore specific theatre skills alongside their Company rehearsals. These classes give students the opportunity to try new areas of theatre, build additional skills, and work with a variety of teaching artists during the session.
Electives vary by age group and program structure.
Grades 1–3
Younger students rotate through a series of creative theatre classes designed to support imagination, movement, music, and storytelling. These classes introduce foundational theatre skills through games, guided play, and creative exploration. Electives at this level are designed by the teaching team and students do not select them in advance.
Grades 4–8
Students in the 4th–8th grade program rotate through 2 elective classes daily. These electives allow students to explore different areas of theatre training while continuing to rehearse with their Company.
When registering, students will be asked to rank their elective preferences. Electives are organized into broad skill areas such as acting, improvisation, musical theatre voice, musical theatre movement, and stagecraft or design.
Specific class topics may vary from session to session depending on instructor expertise and availability. We do our best to place students in electives based on their preferences while maintaining balanced class sizes and schedules.
During the first few days of the session, students may request to switch electives if space is available.
High School Programs
High school students participate in masterclasses connected to the production they are creating during the session. These classes may focus on areas such as advanced acting techniques, vocal work, choreography, dramaturgy, stage combat, design, or other specialized topics.
Masterclasses are often led by guest artists, university faculty, or members of the production team. Because these classes are tied to the needs of the production and the expertise of visiting artists, topics may vary from session to session.
These workshops are designed to deepen the students’ understanding of the rehearsal process while introducing them to professional theatre practices and artists working in the field.
All students eat lunch together at the University of Utah Student Union.
Lunch Options
Students may:
• Bring a sack lunch.
• Purchase food from one of the Student Union dining locations.
• Have a parent or guardian order lunch through the Grubhub app for campus pickup.
Current dining locations include:
• Einstein Bros. Bagels
• Burger 801
• Panda Express
• Shake Smart
• Hive Express
• Cilantree
Please note that restaurant offerings may change throughout the year.
The Student Union is CASHLESS. All dining locations accept credit/debit cards and mobile payment.
Ordering with Grubhub
Parents and guardians may order food remotely through the Grubhub app using the University of Utah Campus Dining system. When placing an order:
• Select University of Utah Campus Dining as a guest.
• Enter your student's first name and last initial in the Order Instructions field (Example: Penny C.).
• Share the order number and estimated pickup time with your student.
Students are responsible for picking up their own orders from the restaurant when they are notified that the order is ready.
A step-by-step Grubhub ordering guide is included in this handbook.
Need Help?
If you experience a problem with a Grubhub order, University Dining provides a dedicated text support line:
980-819-2162
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Open in new tab Sack Lunch Guidelines
• No refrigeration is available.
• Please pack lunches that do not require refrigeration.
• Microwaves are available in the Student Union for student use.
• Staff members cannot prepare or heat food for students.
Off-Campus Policy
Students may not leave campus during lunch unless a parent or guardian has officially checked them out through the Youth Theatre office.
If your student will be late or absent, please call the office at:
📱 801-581-6098
We take attendance between 9:45 and 10:00 AM each day. If your child hasn’t checked in by then, you’ll receive a phone call or email.
🎭 Why Attendance Matters
Each student is part of a Company, which rehearses a performance to share at the end of the session. These rehearsals take place during the first hour and last hour of each day.
Because these sessions build day by day, attendance during Company time is especially important.
– Extended absences or frequent late arrivals can impact not only your child’s experience, but the entire group’s ability to rehearse and perform successfully.
– Please avoid scheduling vacations, appointments, or other time away during camp hours whenever possible.
Repeated or extended absences may require us to reassign roles or adjust performance participation.
Thank you for supporting your student’s full experience and helping us honor everyone’s work!
This summer, our camp takes place across many buildings:
- Fine Arts West (PAB)
- Price Theatre Arts Building (PTAB)
- Pioneer Memorial Theatre (PMT)
- Student Union (Lunch Location)
To help things run smoothly across all locations, we ask that all families follow these essential guidelines:
Drop-Off Location
All students must be dropped off at the Pioneer Memorial Theatre (PMT) Parking Lot.
Staff will greet you and check your student in for the day. Please do not drop students off at any other building, as this creates confusion and delays.
Drop-Off Time: 8:45–9:00 AM
Classes begin promptly at 9:00 AM.
If you arrive late, please walk your student to the PMT lot and call the office at 801-581-6098.
We will arrange for a staff member to escort your child when available. Do not walk your child to a classroom.
Pick-Up Location & Sign-Out
All students must be picked up from the PMT Parking Lot.
- 1st–3rd grade students must be signed out by a grown-up.
- 4th grade and up may sign themselves out unless otherwise arranged.
If you prefer to personally sign out your older student, just let us know — we’re happy to accommodate! They’ll stay with a Company Leader until a grown-up arrives.
Early Pick-Up Policy
Because our program spans five buildings — and students may be in rehearsal, electives, or lunch across campus — early pickups require advance planning.
-
Call the office if your child needs to leave early:
801-581-6098 -
All early pickups must be coordinated through the office.
– All students must be picked off at our Main Office on the 2nd Floor of the Price Theatre Arts Building. There is 30 minute street parking directly in front of the building facing North for your convenience.
– Please do not pick students up directly from classrooms — faculty members are not authorized to release students without admin approval. -
Important:
Depending on the time of day, we may need you to meet your child at an alternate location — like the Union Building during lunch, which is a 10-minute walk from our main classrooms.
We’ll let you know the pickup spot is different and make sure your child is signed out properly.
Unplanned or last-minute early pickups can delay class and cause confusion across buildings, so we appreciate your advanced notice and flexibility.
Late Pick-Up Policy
Pick-up ends at 3:30 PM.
– First 5 minutes: Grace Period
– After that: $5 per child every 5 minutes
Please be on time — our staff often have rehearsals, classes, or other jobs right after camp.
Youth Theatre at the U follows the University of Utah’s observed holidays. There is no camp on the following days:
-
Juneteenth (Observed) – Monday, June 15
-
Pioneer Day – Friday, July 24
Please plan accordingly, as there will be no classes, rehearsals, or supervision on these dates. We do not offer makeup sessions or refunds for these scheduled closures.
Even with these breaks, each Company will still rehearse and perform their final piece at the end of the session — so it’s important students attend consistently on all other camp days.
If you have questions about the session calendar, feel free to contact the office.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We have four simple rules: Be kind. Be respectful. Be responsible. Be brave.
At Youth Theatre, we strive to create a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for all students. To support this, we use positive behavior guidance techniques, including:
- Stating expectations clearly and positively
- Offering choices when possible
- Redirecting attention
- Providing breaks when needed
Behavior Expectations
Students may be removed from class or activities if:
- They are physically hurting themselves or others
- They are disrupting the group and need a break
- Their behavior negatively affects the safety, learning, or enjoyment of others
If your child is having difficulty meeting behavior expectations, we’ll contact you to talk about next steps. In rare cases where the behavior continues and cannot be resolved, the student may be dismissed from the program. Any refunds are at the discretion of Youth Theatre.
Zero Tolerance Policy
The following items are strictly prohibited on the University of Utah campus:
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes, vapes, or other smoking devices
- Drugs
- Weapons of any kind
If a student is found in possession of these items — or comes to class under the influence — their parent or guardian will be contacted immediately. The student will be dismissed from the program without exception.
While some staff members are certified in First Aid and CPR, we do not have a medical professional on staff.
Medications
- Students may carry their own medications.
- Staff cannot administer any medication — including prescription meds, over-the-counter drugs, or topical ointments.
- If your child has a medical condition that may require urgent care (such as diabetes, asthma, or allergies), please notify us so we can be prepared to respond quickly and appropriately.
Injuries & First Aid
If a student is injured during class:
– Staff will provide basic first aid and complete an accident report.
– Parents/guardians will be contacted.
If a student requires professional medical attention:
- We will contact you immediately.
- In a medical emergency, if we cannot reach you or if time is critical, we will call 911.
- All medical expenses are the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
Emergency Procedures
In the event of a building evacuation:
- All classes will follow our Emergency Assembly Plan.
- Students will gather at the Pioneer Theatre Parking Lot, our designated Emergency Assembly Point (EAP).
- We will practice the evacuation plan on the first day of each session.
If an emergency occurs, we will make every effort to contact parents or guardians via phone or email as quickly as possible.
See You This Summer!
Thank you for choosing Youth Theatre at the U. We’re honored to be part of your child’s creative journey and excited to spend the summer learning, growing, and making theatre together.
We’re here to support your student every step of the way — whether they’re taking the stage for the first time or returning for another round. We can’t wait to see what this summer brings and to celebrate the imagination, courage, and joy each young artist brings to our program.
Let’s make it a great summer!