The Acorn Dramatic Arts (TADA) Program

The Acorn Dramatic Arts program exists to introduce and grow a love of musical theater to children and teens in the community who have no experience, and flourish musical theater as a passion for children and teens in the community who have already begun their exploration of musical theater.

We believe that there is something for everybody to love about theater – whether that’s the stage, set building, stage managing, backstage tech, or any other little detail that goes into a production.

Summer 2025

Roar into summer with The Acorn's beloved Dramatic Arts Camp! We're thrilled to present our third year of fostering a love for musical theater in the Harbor Country community! For four weeks, young performers ages 8-16 will dive into the wild world of The Jungle Book, culminating in a spectacular community performance on Friday, August 8th!

This adventure welcomes children and teens of all experience levels. Whether you're eager to take center stage, craft captivating sets, manage the backstage buzz, or explore the intricacies of stage tech, our camp offers a comprehensive and enriching experience.

We believe the magic of theater is for everyone! Our dedicated instructors will nurture your talents, ignite your imagination, and guide you through the exciting process of bringing The Jungle Book to life. Join us as we build confidence, create lasting memories, and celebrate the joy of performance.

Join us from July 14th to August 8th, Mondays through Thursdays, from 9am to noon ET. Best of all? Thanks to our generous underwriters, this incredible experience is absolutely FREE!

Mark your calendars for our grand finale performance on Friday, August 8th, where you'll witness the remarkable talent of our young performers.

Embark on a theatrical journey with us! All are welcome to discover the magic of The Acorn's Dramatic Arts Camp.

Register your child for Summer 2025!

The Acorn Dramatic Arts (TADA) Summer Youth Camp 2023 – The Wizard of Oz

For more information please email Michael Bond, Senior Production Manager for The Acorn and Camp Director.
 

 

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JazzReach at The Acorn

JazzReach is a nationally recognized New York City-based 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, performance, creation and teaching of jazz music. Through the presentation of innovative, widely acclaimed live multi-media educational programs for young audiences, captivating main-stage concerts for general audiences and informative clinics and master-classes for student musicians and ensembles, JazzReach is steadfastly dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation, awareness and understanding of this rich, vital, ever-evolving American art form.

Over the course of the four-day November 2024 JazzReach residency, over 500 students from River Valley Elementary and High Schools, Bridgman Elementary School and New Buffalo Elementary School participated in interactive music enrichment programs. For the elementary-aged students, we presented JazzReach’s Get Hip!, a fun, interactive introduction to jazz that illuminates the art form's cultural origins, concepts about improvisation and creative self-expression. Select River Valley High School Band students went deeper, working with JazzReach’s Metta Quintet for three days as part of the Sittin’ In and Groovin’ Out program, which culminated in a joint concert on Friday night at The Acorn.

In addition, a free community concert was held to kick off the residency on Wednesday, November 6th, and we closed out our time with JazzReach on Saturday for another free event – Stolen Moments: The First 100 Years of Jazz.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

The Acorn’s partnership with JazzReach was made possible through the generous support from program sponsors: Live Music Society, Berrien Community Foundation, and Tom and Mary Ives.

 

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