YAP- Kids Summer Theater Camp Finding Nemo Jr. - 2026

Young Artists Playground Summer Theater Camp

June 15 - August 1, 2026

About Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center’s Young Artists (YAP) Playground Summer Theater Camp 2026

The Young Artists Playground (YAP) Summer Theater Camp invites children to dive into a world of imagination, creativity, and collaboration. Over the course of our dynamic 7-week program, young performers will build confidence, develop artistic skills, set meaningful goals, and experience the joy of bringing a story to life together.

This summer, campers will take center stage in the Disney/Pixar musical FINDING NEMO JR., culminating in three performances of a fully staged Main Stage production at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. From auditions to final curtain call, students will experience every step of the theatrical journey in a professional theater environment taught by professionals in the entertainment industry.

Beyond rehearsals and performance training, campers will experience first hand the many creative roles that transform imagination into live theater magic.

At YAP, young artists don’t just perform, they discover their voice, build lifelong friendships, and shine on stage.

About YAP: Interactive arts workshops and camps for youth ages 6-14 years old. YAP is dedicated to enriching the lives of local youth through quality arts education and performance based programs. To register your camper, please complete the form and payment process below.  At YAP, young artists don’t just perform, they discover their voice, build lifelong friendships, and shine on stage.

Partial scholarships may be available through SVCAC's Share the Arts Program. If you believe you qualify based on income level, please contact the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center at 805-583-7908 for more information. 

Performances of FINDING NEMO JR. will take place on July 31 and August 1 at 2 pm and August 2 at 7:30 pm. All seats for FINDING NEMO JR. are $15 and will be on sale beginning in March.

AGES 6-14, For more information please call YAP Program Director Stephanie Lesh at 818-601-0582 or email her at svcacyap@gmail.com

* Please note that when registering your young artist/s, you must put the participating child's/children's first and last name in required field in the registration form.

• Week One: What is theater? Through theater games and activities with an emphasis on improvisation, this week is all about letting your creativity shine! Special Guest Artist in sound and lighting design will be joining us to show everyone around the space and talk about what happens backstage to put on a production.
• Week Two: Story telling. Games and activities geared toward telling and retelling stories in different forms, campers will learn about the various ways we tell stories. Campers will start the exciting process of writing an original play. Special Guest Artist in costume design will be joining us to show campers all about costuming.
• Week Three: Music and movement. This week campers will spend much of the time on music, movement and dance. Learning how music and movement can play a huge part in bringing a show to life. Special Guest Artist in music and voice will be joining us to share tips and techniques of the trade.
• Week Four: Character development. All great theater involves great characters. This week campers will be creating using the process of characterization. Creating characters of our own and using them in various forms of theatrical play. Special Guest Artist in make-up design will be joining us to show campers the special techniques used in creating a character for the stage.
• Week Five: Setting the stage. This week is all about bringing stories to life. Campers will be learning about props and putting together set pieces for theater. Special Guest Artist in visual arts will show campers how visual art plays a huge role in theater from building scale models to painting life size set pieces.
• Week Six and Seven: Putting it all together. Rehearsals for our original play, which will take place on the main stage at SVCAC at the end of the week, will be our main focus. We will be in final tech and dress rehearsals. In order to participate on stage in the Final Show, campers must be signed up for at least five weeks of camp including the final two weeks.

Scholarships may be available through SVCAC's Share the Arts Program. If you believe you qualify based on income level, please contact the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center at 805-583-7908 for more information.

For Ages 6–14 | 7 Weeks of Creativity, Collaboration & Performance | Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM | Tuition:  Early Bird Registration (Mar - April) $1,125 | After April 2nd $1,200 - Partial Payment available for non Early Bird pricing (2 Payments of $600)

For more information please call Stephanie Lesh at 818-601-0582 or email her at svcacyap@gmail.com