Take It From The Top 

Are you interested in musical theatre or on your way to becoming a triple threat?

Take It From The Top summer camps offer an exciting opportunity for students of all skill levels. Taught by Broadway professionals, students will work on skills in singing, acting, and dancing. 

Through small classes that allow for individual mentoring, you will advance your skills and have one-of-a-kind experiences. 

Five-Day Intensive

Explore the "triple threat" disciplines of music, dance, and acting in a safe, fun environment while receiving feedback from Broadway professionals. No prior experience is required; we welcome interested artists of all skill levels. The Intensive will culminate in a showcase of the work done during the week.

East Lansing at Wharton Center

  • Rising 5th through 12th grade
  • Monday, July 14 – Friday, July 18
    • Mon-Thurs 10am–5pm
    • Fri 12–6:30pm
    • 6:30pm showcase in Cobb Great Hall
  • $427 per participant
  • Maximum capacity: 100 participants

Sign Up

Detroit at Fisher Theatre

  • Rising 5th through 12th grade
  • Monday, August 11 – Friday, August 15
    • Mon-Thurs 10am–5pm at MSU Detroit Center
    • Fri 12–6:30pm at Fischer Theatre
    • 6:30pm showcase at Fischer Theatre
  •  $452 per participant
  • Maximum capacity: 75 participants

Sign Up

Adult Workshop

Enjoy this creative and low-stakes environment for adults in the community who wish to participate in musical theatre. The workshop traditionally consists of learning a dance combination and participating in song coaching.

  • East Lansing at Wharton Center
  • 18+
  • Wednesday, July 16, 7–10pm
  • $37 per participant

Sign Up

Creative Kids

Young artists can be creative in a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment with Creative Kids. Learn the fundamentals of singing, acting, and dancing with age-appropriate material.

  • East Lansing at Wharton Center
  • Rising 2nd through 4th grade
  • Monday, July 21 – Friday, July 25
  • Mon–Thurs 10am–3pm, Fri 12pm
    • Showcase at 6:30pm
  • $377 per participant
  • Maximum capacity: 60 participants

Sign Up

Advanced Workshop

Our advanced workshop is geared toward students with advanced skills and experience in musical theatre, who are ready for a fast-paced schedule and may further their studies post-high school. This workshop includes room, board, and meals at a Michigan State University residence hall. Participants will work on singing, acting, and dancing while receiving additional work on audition prep, personal branding, and other tools of the business. The seven-day workshop will culminate in the performance of a “junior” (60-minute long) musical, Crazy For You Youth Edition.

  • East Lansing at Wharton Center
  • Rising 8th grade through college
  • Sunday, July 20 – Saturday, July 26
    • Daily sessions from 9am–12pm, 1:30–5pm, and 6:30–9pm
    • Performance on Saturday, July 26, at 3pm on Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall stage
  • $1,102 per student
    • Off-campus option for $752 (no room, board, or meals included)
  • Maximum capacity: 40 participants

Auditions
In person auditions are at Wharton Center on Saturday March 8. Sign up or submit virtually to Kelly Stuible-Clark at stuible3@whartoncenter.com 

Sign Up

Instructors

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Paul Canaan

Broadway: Kinky Boots (dance captain / original Angel), Miss SaigonThoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage Aux Folles, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Legally Blonde

He recently partnered with director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell to launch The Original Production Inc. A dance licensing company that offers high schools and theaters the opportunity to learn and perform original Broadway choreography. 

He founded the arts organization Take It From The Top, which provides professional mentoring to aspiring young artists. Served as artistic director of The Broadway Dreams Foundation and also serves as a judge for The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The JIMMY AWARDS).

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Greg Kamp

Greg Kamp is a performer and producer whose career has spanned stage, screen, and concert venues across the country and internationally. Management and producing credits include How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway and work with National Alliance for Musical Theatre, Theatre Communications Group, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Mariah Carey’s Christmas Spectacular, Maestra, Ogunquit Playhouse, Wharton Center, 54 Below, Green Room 42, Broadway Dreams Foundation, Atlanta Workshop Players, Dallas Summer Musicals and more. He is the lead Agent for LML Music Presents, a boutique concert booking agency, representing a roster of leading Broadway and Cabaret artists and the Co-Founder and Producer of MT Shorts, an award-winning production company dedicated to producing original musical films (mtshorts.com). Greg is a graduate of University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). gregkamp.com

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Carlos L. Encinias

Carlos is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and his Broadway career spans more than two decades and includes How to Dance in Ohio, Les MiserablesMamma Mia!, Good Vibrations and Scandalous.

Carlos is a passionate educator and teaches at the Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan and the Dreamyard Project. 

As a director, he’s worked at Pittsburgh CLO, North Carolina Theatre, The Gateway and Adirondack Theatre Festival.  

For more information, visit carlosLencinias.com

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Kyle Pleasant

Kyle is the resident choreographer at Rosie’s Theater Kids, Rosie O’Donnell’s school for the arts. He is on faculty at Marymount Manhattan College, The Professional Performing Arts School and previously the Assistant Program Director to Chet Walker at the Jacobs Pillow Jazz Dance Program on faculty at The Boston Ballet School. Select directorial and choreographic work includes Chicago, Cabaret, Hair at Peregrine Theatre, Spring Awakening at The Roxy, the world premier of Regarding the Disappearance of Amy at Playwrights Horizons, Pippin at Marymount Manhattan College, Caroline or Change, Ragtime, West Side Story, A Chorus Line and Sweet Charity at Professional Performing Arts. Pleasant has set work for The Young Peoples Chorus of New York, The Boston Conservatory, Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, Career Transitions for Dancers Gala, and the Only Make Believe Organization. His work has been seen at New York City Center, MoMA, and The Vineyard Arts Project, the OWN Network, ABC’s The View and at The White House for First Lady Michelle Obama. He is a Broadway World Boston and National Youth Theater Award Winner for Direction and Choreography. Most recently, Kyle was recognized with an Honorable Mention for the Excellence in Theater Education Tony Award. 

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Josh Daniel

Broadway & National Tour: The Book of Mormon. Off-Broadway: u/s Seymour/Orin et al. in Little Shop of Horrors, Hunter in [title of show]. Select regional: St. Louis MUNY, Weston Playhouse, Music Theatre Wichita. TV: "The Other Two". BFA: CCM MT. Gratefully represented by CGF Talent. More life!

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Natalie Malotke

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Broadway & Tour), Bygone Love for China Broadway Entertainment, Candide at Carnegie Hall, I Married an Angel at City Center, and Joy: The Musical all alongside Joshua Bergasse. Mystic Pizza at La Mirada Theatre with Casey Hushion, Little Dancer at Lincoln Center with Susan Stroman, and Really Rosie at City Center with Leigh Silverman. Resident director and choreographer for Nickelodeon Experience Design and Creative Director for the CoComelon Party Time National Tour. Industrial and corporate events for Bloomberg Philanthropies, Hermès, Target, and The Robin Hood Foundation. TV: Choreography: SNL; PBS, A Capitol Fourth. Faculty at Penn State University and Broadway Dance Center @nataliemalotke

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Sidney DuPont

Sidney DuPont is a 2022 Tony Award nominee, originating the role of Washington Henry in Paradise Square at the Barrymore Theater. He made his Broadway debut in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in 2015 and continued with the 1st National Tour and Australian Company. Other National Tours include Memphis: the Musical and A Chorus Line. Regional Productions: The world premiere of “Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical” (A.C.T) Paradise Square at Berkeley Repertory Theatre (TBA nomination), Man of La Mancha (The Shakespeare Theater), In the Heights (The Geva Theater), and Gypsy (North Carolina Theater). Television/Commercial: FBI: Most Wanted (CBS) & Cartier.

Financial assistance is available through Wharton Center's Arts Within Reach program. You may request support on your registration form.

“I wanted to let you know that my son went to the Wharton Center’s Take It From The Top Camp in July and he LOVED it! I wanted to PERSONALLY thank you and especially thank those who were responsible for making this fantastic event happen. I am quite certain that this camp has CHANGED HIS LIFE. He has fallen in love with the theatre and your camp has done even more to solidify that love. Although he did a school play last year (his first ever) and very much enjoyed it … after doing the camp at the Wharton, he is now a STAGE KID! You and your staff were able to pull not only confidence but also a drive to improve.  It is very easy to support your children, but it is very hard when your kid doesn’t know what they LOVE … thanks to TIFTT, he has found a home and has found his people.”    

Julie Dombroski & the Dombroski Family 


For questions, or accessibility and accommodation requests, please connect with Kelly Stuible-Clark at stuible3@whartoncenter.com or (517) 884-3166.

Sponsored by Karyn's Dance Company, Inc. with additional support from Linda Arens; and Bonnie Knutson.

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