As part of our mission to not only “enlighten” and “entertain”, we host an annual week-long summer camp for children who have recently completed 3rd-8th grade. GILT Jr. was established in 2015 to “educate” children about all aspects of theatre. They attend classes and workshops, get hands-on experience and finish out the week with a performance in front of a live audience. All GILT Jr. staff are certified teachers from Grand Island and the surrounding areas.
GILT Jr. is back, and we are excited to see everyone in person again this year! Throughout the week, kids will prepare to perform "Life is Like a Double Cheeseburger" while also attending classes and workshops teaching them about other aspects of theatre, such as basic theatrical makeup, audition preparation, character creation, some singing/choreography, and more.
The workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. Monday-Friday, with two performances on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Specific information about the class and workshop schedules and what your child will need to bring to the event will be released after registration is completed. The camp has a limited number of openings for participants, so please get your completed registration to the Grand Island Little Theatre office as soon as possible. Please make sure your child is available for the entire camp and both performances before signing up.
F.A.Q.
Can we watch rehearsals?
All classes and rehearsals are open to caregivers of the students enrolled in the program.
Does my child need to bring anything special?
A detailed letter will be sent to participants explaining camp requirements. Some basics include a water bottle, a lunch that does not have to be refrigerated, and close-toed shoes. We typically ask students to wear grubby clothes on their set painting days; even the most careful painters are no match for the staining powers of set paint.
Does my child need to have previous theatre experience?
A student does not need previous theatre experience. The whole purpose behind this camp is to provide a student with experience in multiple facets of theatre. In one year, a camp may be focused more on the performance aspects of theatre, while another year may be focused on the technical components.
How do I talk to my child about casting?
If a student arrives intending to be cast in the perfect role, they will probably be disappointed. Because this program serves Grand Island Little Theatre's mission to educate, we focus less on the show's production and more on the theatre experience. Both caregivers and staff members need to help a student understand that this program isn't about being cast in a show; it's about learning about the craft of theatre. Suppose a student is very interested in the acting component of theatre. In that case, we recommend auditioning for the Catherine Fosket Children's Theatre production at the Liederkranz or one of Grand Island Little Theatre's mainstage productions.
How do you register?
Registration opens yearly in March. Online registration will be available at that time.
How long is the camp?
Camp runs from Monday through Saturday.
How many students participate in GILT, Jr?
Registration is capped but does not close at 50 participants. We have a waitlist for students who register after our 50-student mark has been met. Registration officially closes on the first Monday of the camp.
We registered, but something came up, and we can no longer attend. What do we do?
Please notify us as soon as possible. Because we often have a waiting list for registration, we need to be able to contact those students promptly to extend an invitation to them. We can offer refunds through the first day of camp. We cannot provide refunds for make-up kits.
What if my child cannot be there for a weekday/the Saturday performances?
Let us know as soon as possible if a student cannot attend any camp sessions or the Saturday performances. These absences affect how we structure our classes and your student’s schedule. If a student misses a date on which they’re scheduled for rehearsal, we’ll do our best to catch them up, but that absence may result in playing a different role than when they were initially cast. If a student is gone for any part of Saturday’s performances, they will still participate in the audition sessions on Monday morning, but we will not cast them in a role. They will still participate in the classes and workshops.
What is GILT, Jr?
GILT, Jr is a week-long theatre education program for students who have completed grades 3 - 8.
