Judy Heneghan has been a professional actor for over 20 years with an extensive background in comedy improv, all types of theater, and an array of on-camera work. Written and performed her solo storytelling work at Theaters in Los Angeles/New York/ Dublin/Mpls. 

Her play, The Big Woop, is under option for Film. Judy co-created and originated the role of Olive in the, 70’s musical lounge act called “Martini & Olive”. Musical Theater Productions -including playing ‘Gimli’- in “Fellowship!”, the hit musical parody of “The Lord of the Rings”. At Idyllwild ����ֱ�� Arts – Judy taught/directed many programs including Page To Stage, Artist Discovery, Improvisation, and Shakespeare. Studied Theatre/Communications @ Univ. MN/Mpls and Univ. WI/LaCrosse. 

Johanna McKay has worked for ����ֱ�� ����ֱ�� Program for thirty-two years, teaching and directing everything from musicals to a Page to Stage program where students would write and perform their own plays. She adapts and directs Shakespearean plays, and her adaptation of “As You Like It” was published by Playscripts, Inc. Johanna has been the Curriculum Consultant on the Netflix show Julie’s Greenroom, which teaches children about the arts. She’s also taught theater, acting, and arts integration at UCLA, Los Angeles Community College, Otis College of Art and Design, and California State University at Northridge. Johanna works for P.S. ARTS, writing and directing plays for grades TK-5th. 

She has worked with writers and composers to create projects which she then directs. Johanna has trained with The Groundlings, earned her B.F.A. from The Theatre School, DePaul University, and her M.F.A. in Theater, Film, and Television from UCLA. Besides film and television, Johanna’s acting credits include work at Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Dallas Theatre Center, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and The Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, CA.

This is an open-admission program for all interested students, regardless of their level of experience. Instructors will work with your child at their level. Your child will improve and learn new skills, whether they are a beginner or have been acting and performing for years. They do, however, need to be willing to project their voices and act onstage.

Students will be asked to send in a video of themselves doing a 1-minute dramatic or comic monologue- or tell a joke, using vocal projection for the stage. Instructions for submitting the video will be sent closer to the start of the program.

Please note that this video will not impact your child’s admission to the program; this is an open-admission program for students of all skill levels. Rather, the video will be utilized to determine your child’s skill level and to help with planning for the production that the students will work on. Students will have casting auditions at camp after working with faculty.

• Refillable water bottle (very important) and sunscreen
• Comfortable clothes you can move in during rehearsals
• Long black leggings or pants
• Black knee-high, or short socks
• White tank top/undershirt
• Black tank top/undershirt to wear underneath as needed (and for modest quick changes)
• Black, comfortable, flat, closed-toed shoes (a jazz shoe, a mary-jane, or black sneaker) work best. No heels, no open toes, no sandals)
• Lipstick and blush (natural colors)
• Hair elastic/scrunchie to keep hair away from your face for acting

You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs prior to the program start.

Phones and other electronic devices are not allowed during class time in Children’s Center. Day students should not bring a personal device. Residential students should leave devices in their dorm room, or will turn in their device to the teacher during instructional time.

Your student will be following this basic schedule each weekday:

Day students should be dropped off at Children’s Center between 8:15am – 8:25am
(breakfast is not included for day students)
Residential Students will be walked to breakfast as a group and then to Children’s Center
8:30am: Morning Sing/Greeting
9:00am – 11:20am: Morning Classes (snack provided)
11:30am – 12:15pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall (provided for residential and day students)
12:30pm – 3:45pm: Afternoon Classes (snack provided)

Day students should be picked up from Children’s Center at 4:00pm

Residential students will be walked as a group to afternoon activities with the RAs.

Day students will be allowed to use the pool on Tuesday – Friday from 4:00pm – 5:45pm with the supervision of a parent or guardian. (Enrolled children only, please. No siblings or friends.) Lifeguards will be present.

Saturday classes/rehearsals are at the discretion of the teacher. Some programs will meet on the Saturday between the two week session. Please watch out for more information from the teacher. Sundays are off for everyone, with no mandatory classes held.

Judy Heneghan has acted, directed, written plays, and taught both acting and improv for more than 20 years. Judy’s musical credits include being the lead singer of R&B Band, Blue in the Face, in Ireland; she also has numerous musical theater credits. Judy has taught Improvisation Story Theatre in Ireland, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles (LA). She was a teaching artist at the Aaron Copeland Music and Arts Camp in New York. At ����ֱ��, Judy has taught Page to Stage, Improvisation Comedy, and Theatre of Myth. Alongside Johanna McKay, she has taught Shakespeare’s World and “The Play’s The Thing.” Judy co-wrote/created and performs as Olive in the long-running comedy musical The Martini & Olive Show, touring theaters and comedy clubs throughout the country. Her play ‘The Big Woop’ has been optioned for film.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

Ideally students will have at least 1 year of tap dance experience. However, if you have tap shoes and are willing to try, learn, and grow, we will make it available for the student to develop over the course of the week.

There is no audition needed to be accepted to the program although we will be asking for a video before the program begins to assess experience level. Please note that this video will not impact your child’s admission to the program; this is an open-admission program for students of all skill levels.

Before the program begins, we will send a link to all enrolled students to submit a video including the following video files (approximately 60 seconds each):

• Video 1: A recorded video of you singing approximately 16 bars, or up to one minute, of a song from a published musical of your choice. If possible, you should use a backing track with no other vocals on it.
• Video 2: Tap Dance – A 1 minute video showing your level of tap dance. If you have no tap experience there are many Youtube tap dance tutorials that demonstrate simple steps you can easily learn and demonstrate.

• Water bottle (very important to stay hydrated)
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• A backpack or bag to carry your script and personal items to and from rehearsals
• TAP SHOES
• Closed-toed shoes/tennis shoes to rehearse in (no flip flops, sandals, or Crocs)
• Black/dark dress or skirt, or black/dark leggings, pants, and/or jeans
• Black dress, character, or jazz shoes, closed-toe dress shoes, or black sneakers
• Black socks
• Comfortable clothes you can move in
• Hair ties or clips for long hair
• White tank tops/undershirts/tee shirts

This is an anticipated list of items needed for this theatre workshop. You may be required to bring additional items for the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs prior to the program.

Each day, you will come together as an ensemble to do group warm-up work. We will then have various breakout sessions of tap dance, vocalization/singing, and acting development. At the end of each day, we will come together to debrief the day’s work.

Jeanette Knight is an award-winning actor, director, choreographer, playwright and producer.
As a member of SAG/AFTRA and Actors Equity Association, she has portrayed over twenty roles, ranging from Rose in The Woolgatherer at the Tony award winning Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago, to Shen Te/Shui Ta in Bertolt Brecht’s Good Person of Szechwan to Roberta in Going to a Place Where You Already Are. But her most demanding role was Louise in Always, Patsy Cline, which played to sold out audiences in 2011 and 2013.

She began her stage career as a dancer, garnering adjectives like “superb” from Variety and studying with icons like the legendary Broadway tap choreographer Henry LeTang. She has been teaching acting, directing and improvisation at the ����ֱ�� since 2006, where she has also directed several highly-lauded productions, including “Stepping Out” and “A Chorus Line.” Previously, she was the Education Program Director for the McCallum Theater, supervising a faculty of fourteen teaching artists, working as a master teaching artist, and developing the Aesthetic Education Program partnering with New York’s Lincoln Center Institute. During that same period, she served as the Executive Director for the cutting-edge Beaumont Actors Studio. Other theaters/venues she has directed for include the Indian Wells Theater, California State University San Bernardino in Palm Desert, Arthur Newman Theater, Palm Canyon Theater, Truckee Meadows Community College, Brewery Arts Center, and Coachella Valley Repertory.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Northwestern University, Jeff Bell has over 30 years of experience in musical theatre as a music director/vocal coach/arranger/accompanist/keyboardist. His career started in the Chicago Area, continued in the Pacific Northwest and now continues in beautiful Idyllwild. Jeff is thrilled to be part of the ����ֱ�� community of artists and students.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

This is an open-admission program for all interested students, regardless of their level of experience. Instructors will work with your child to teach them acting skills and techniques, whether they are a beginner or have been acting and performing for years. They do, however, need to be willing to project their voices and act onstage.

Students will be asked to send in a video of themselves doing a 1-minute Shakespeare monologue using vocal projection for the stage. Instructions for submitting the video will be sent closer to the start of the program.  

Please note that this video will not impact your child’s admission to the program; this is an open-admission program for students of all skill levels. Rather, the video will be utilized to determine your child’s skill level and to help with planning for the production that the students will work on.

Please also note that although this is an open admission program (no formal audition is required upon entry), students will have casting auditions at camp after working with faculty.

-Refillable water bottle (very important)

For the field trip:

–A low beach chair or blanket to sit on at the theater (it will be OUTDOOR theater – so bring a sweater or a jacket),

-Money for snacks/ice cream (a “sack lunch” will be provided for a picnic before the show)

For rehearsals and costumes:

-Footwear:  tennis shoes, boots (black or brown), closed-toed dress, ballet flats,  jazz shoes, or character shoes (if you have them, in black, brown, or beige) No sandals, crocs, or flip-flops, please.

-Comfortable clothes you can move in

-Dark legwear (black leggings, black pants and/or long jeans)

-White blouses or shirts (short or long-sleeved)

-Tank tops/undershirts to wear underneath as needed (and for modest quick changes)

-Any Renaissance Fair-type costumes you may have (flowing skirts, cloaks, corset vests, blouses, pants, hats, small purses, bags, etc.)

You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs prior to the program.

Phones and other electronic devices are not allowed during class time in Children’s Center. Day students should not bring a personal device. Residential students should leave devices in their dorm room, or will turn in their device to the teacher during instructional time.

A typical day will involve a group warm up, learning vocal exercises and acting techniques, studying the life and times of William Shakespeare, reading aloud, playing acting games, and watching a video of the play we’ll be doing. 

Students will audition for parts, then the days will be spent developing characters and rehearsing our play scene by scene. If the play calls for it, there will also be rehearsals for stage combat, singing, or choreography. We will have costume fittings, and one or two evening rehearsals during the second week. Students need to be able to memorize lines and be willing to perform.

We expect to use one day to take a field trip to see a live Shakespearean performance and will stop for ice cream, have a picnic, and meet the actors after the show.

Your student will be following this basic schedule each weekday:

Day students should be dropped off at Children’s Center between 8:15am – 8:25am
(breakfast is not included for day students)
Residential Students will be walked to breakfast as a group and then to Children’s Center
8:30am: Morning Sing/Greeting
9:00am – 11:20am: Morning Classes (snack provided)
11:30am – 12:15pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall (provided for residential and day students)
12:30pm – 3:45pm: Afternoon Classes (snack provided)

Day students should be picked up from Children’s Center at 4:00 pm

Residential students will be walked as a group to afternoon activities with the RAs.

Day students will be allowed to use the pool on Tuesday – Friday from 4:00pm – 5:45pm with the supervision of a parent or guardian. (Enrolled children only, please. No siblings or friends.) Lifeguards will be present.

Saturday rehearsals are at the discretion of the teacher. Shakespeare’s World will be meeting on Saturday, July 17 from 9:00am – 11:30am. One or two evening rehearsals will likely also be called during the second week.

Johanna McKay, has worked extensively with writers and composers to create original plays and musicals which she then directs, and has adapted and directed eleven of Shakespeare’s plays. Her adaptation of “As You Like It” was published by Playscripts, Inc. Johanna is the Curriculum Consultant on the Netflix show “Julie’s Greenroom” which teaches children about the arts. Johanna also teaches theater at Los Angeles City College and directs and teaches for P.S. Arts, a non-profit group that integrates the arts into underfunded public schools in the Los Angeles area. She spends her summers at Idyllwild Fine Arts Camp directing musicals, Shakespearean adaptations, and original plays generated by the students. She has also taught acting and improvisation at UCLA. Johanna has trained with The Groundlings, earned her B.F.A from The Theatre School, DePaul University, and her M.F.A. in theater, film and television from UCLA. Besides film and television, Johanna’s acting credits include work at Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Dallas Theatre Center, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and The Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

This is an open-admission program for all interested students, regardless of their level of experience. Instructors will work with your child at their level. Your child will improve and learn new skills, whether they are a beginner or have been acting and performing for years. They do, however, need to be willing to project their voices and act onstage..

Students will be asked to send in a video of themselves doing a 1-minute Shakespeare monologue using vocal projection for the stage. Instructions for submitting the video will be sent closer to the start of the program.

Please note that this video will not impact your child’s admission to the program; this is an open-admission program for students of all skill levels. Rather, the video will be utilized to determine your child’s skill level and to help with casting decisions for the production the students will put on during the intensive.

Please also note that although this is an open admission program (no formal audition is required upon entry), students will have casting auditions at camp after working with faculty.

For the field trip:

• A low beach chair or blanket to sit on at the theater (it will be OUTDOOR theater – so bring a sweater or a jacket),
• Money for snacks/ice cream (a “sack lunch” will be provided for a picnic before the show)

For rehearsals and costumes:

• Footwear: tennis shoes, boots (black or brown), closed-toed dress, ballet flats, jazz shoes, or character shoes (if you have them, in black, brown, or beige) No sandals, crocs, or flip-flops, please.
• Comfortable clothes you can move in
• Dark legwear (black leggings, black pants and/or long jeans)
• White blouses or shirts (short or long-sleeved)
• Tank tops/undershirts to wear underneath as needed (and for modest quick changes)
• Any Renaissance Fair-type costumes you may have (flowing skirts, cloaks, corset vests, blouses, pants, hats, small purses, bags, etc.)

You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs prior to the program.

The first two days involve actor games and warm ups, introduction to vocal techniques, and reading through the play. If we are doing a piece by Shakespeare, we’ll study his life and times and watch a filmed version of a performance of the play to gain understanding. By the third day, we audition for parts, and after that, a typical day will include a group warm up, followed by rehearsals. We’ll work with whomever is in each scene, first reading the scene for understanding, then blocking it on its feet. We also have rehearsals for any stage combat, singing, or choreography in the show. Actors need to be motivated to learn lines and work as an ensemble. It’s intense – but fun!

We expect to have a field trip where we travel to see a live performance, stop for ice cream, have a picnic, and meet the actors.

Johanna McKay has worked extensively with writers and composers to create original plays and musicals which she then directs, and has adapted and directed eleven of Shakespeare’s plays. Her adaptation of “As You Like It” was published by Playscripts, Inc. Johanna is the Curriculum Consultant on the Netflix show “Julie’s Greenroom” which teaches children about the arts. Johanna also teaches theater at Los Angeles City College and directs and teaches for P.S. Arts, a non-profit group that integrates the arts into underfunded public schools in the Los Angeles area. She spends her summers at Idyllwild Fine Arts Camp directing musicals, Shakespearean adaptations, and original plays generated by the students. She has also taught acting and improvisation at UCLA. Johanna has trained with The Groundlings, earned her B.F.A from The Theatre School, DePaul University, and her M.F.A. in theater, film and television from UCLA. Besides film and television, Johanna’s acting credits include work at Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Dallas Theatre Center, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and The Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

Students who attended Music Theatre Intensive in 2026 will be automatically accepted and will be contacted to confirm your attendance through CampInTouch after you complete your application. However, we do still want you to submit a video to help us plan and prepare for the upcoming summer. Follow the same instructions as the audition requirements below.

All applicants should submit an audition following these guidelines:

Video files (approximately 60 seconds each):

Video 1: A recorded video of you singing approximately 16 bars, or up to one minute, of a song from a published musical of your choice. You should use a backing track with no other vocals on it.

Video 2: A recorded video of a one minute monologue from a musical or comedy that best shows off your talents.

Complete an online Camper application through CampInTouch.

Once you have completed the Camper Application, your application will be reviewed within 5 days by a member of the Enrollment team. At this time, you will be charged the $50 application fee and receive an email with a link to the Submittable audition application for you to submit your audition.

Complete the Submittable audition application and provide an email address for your teacher recommendation form within Submittable.

We use the platform Submittable to receive all auditions for the ����ֱ�� Program (a universal platform utilized for exhibitions, contests and even university and job applications). It is very easy to use. You will be prompted to set up a free Submittable account with your email. This account can be used for any future open calls you apply to at ����ֱ�� and beyond!

Priority Audition Deadline: February 15, 2027
First round evaluation will take place shortly after this date. You will be notified of acceptance as soon as evaluations are complete. Auditions will be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 15. Please allow up to two weeks for a response to allow time for faculty evaluation. Auditions will continue to be accepted after this date until the program is full.

• Water bottle
• Black/dark dress or skirt, or black/dark leggings, pants and/or jeans
• Black dress, character, or jazz shoes, closed-toe dress shoes, or black sneakers
• Black socks
• White blouse or camisole
• White button-up long-sleeved shirt
• Comfortable clothes you can move in
• Athletic or tennis shoes
• Rehearsal blacks (pants and shirt)
• Hair ties or clips for long hair
• Combat/winter boots (optional)
• White blouses/shirts
• White, short-sleeved button-down shirt
• Tank tops/undershirts
• Stage makeup kit (basic version, such as Ben Nye makeup kit)

This is an anticipated list of items needed for this theatre workshop. You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs about 6 weeks prior to the program

On a typical day in our Musical Theatre Intensive, we will begin by collectively warming up both our bodies and our voices preparing us for the work ahead. We will explore collaborative creation of a Devised Theatre Performance by working together in deep and thoughtful guided conversations. With this process we will ultimately create a final performance together around a central theme. Everyday we use the techniques of the masters of our craft to hone our skills in singing, dance & acting. Faculty work with every student where they are in all of those areas of skill and look to develop the whole young artist. A normal day is from 9am to 4pm with some additional evening rehearsals added as we get closer to performance.

Denis McCourt Stryjewski is dedicated to acting, writing, and directing for the stage. Denis began studying theater at the University of South Florida, and, in 2003 he graduated with a BA in Theater, with an emphasis on Performance. Then, in 2008, he received his MFA from the University of Florida, in Gainesville. Thirteen years later, Denis is now a member of the Theater faculty at ����ֱ��! His professional creative ventures since leaving Florida have included teaching for ten years at the New York Film Academy’s Hollywood campus, directing for Coachella Valley Repertory, an hour from Idyllwild, and “convincing Long Beach Shakespeare Company to do contemporary works.” He is exhilarated by the chance to work with aspiring performers from many different countries.

Jonathan Sharp was trained at National Academy of the Arts and the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. While on full scholarship at SAB, he was trained by master teachers Stanley Williams, Peter Martins, Andrea Kramarevsky, Suzanne Farrell, Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer, and Sean Lavery. He danced professionally with the Boston Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the touring Stars of American Ballet, headlined by Robert LaFosse and Darci Kistler. He has appeared on Broadway in the original casts of “The Red Shoes,” “Carousel (1994 Tony winner for Best Revival),” “The Rocky Horror Show Live,” “The Dance of the Vampires,” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” He has also appeared on television as a contract player on Another World, and he has guest-starred on “Law and Order” and “Gilmore Girls.” He has taught at ����ֱ�� for thirteen years, and he also teaches and directs internationally. He is currently Associate Director of Inland Pacific Ballet and a principal guest teacher with Pacific Festival Ballet.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Northwestern University, Jeff Bell has over 30 years of experience in musical theatre as a music director/vocal coach/arranger/accompanist/keyboardist. His career started in the Chicago Area, continued in the Pacific Northwest and now continues in beautiful Idyllwild. Jeff is thrilled to be part of the ����ֱ�� community of artists and students.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs