Take It From The Top

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

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

Through small classes and personal mentoring, you’ll grow faster than you thought possible while making memories! 

Registration will begin February 2 at 10am. 

Take It From The Top: Four young people holding microphones on a lit stage.

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: 

  • Rising 5th through 12th grade 
  • Monday, July 13-Friday, July 17 (M-Th 10am-5pm, F 12pm - 6:30 pm showcase in Cobb Hall) 
  • $450 per participant 
  • Cap of 100 participants 

Detroit 

  • Rising 5th through 12th grade 
  • Monday, August 10 – Friday, August 14 (M-Th 10am-5pm at MSU Detroit Center, Friday 12pm – 6:30pm showcase at Fisher Theatre) 
  • $475 per participant 
  • Cap of 85 participants 
Take It From The Top: People rehearsing a dance routine on a wooden stage.

Adult Workshop

A creative and low-stakes place for adults in the community to participate in musical theatre. The workshop traditionally consists of learning a dance combination and participating in song coaching. 

  • 18+ 
  • Wednesday, July 15, 7-10pm 
  • $40 
Take It From The Top: Group of people rehearsing a choreographed routine on a stage.

Creative Kids

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

  • Rising 2nd through 4th grade 
  • Monday, July 20-Friday, July 24 (M-Th 10am-3pm, Friday 12pm – showcase at 6:30 pm) 
  • $400 per participant 
  • Cap of 60 participants 
Take It From The Top: A group of performers energetically posing on stage, with one wearing a cape in the center.

Advanced Workshop

Our advanced workshop is geared toward students with advanced skills and experience in musical theatre, who are ready for a faster-paced working schedule and may be considering furthering their studies after 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, title TBD. 

  • Rising 8th grade through college 
  • Sunday, July 19-Saturday, July 25 (daily sessions from 9am-9pm with breaks for lunch and dinner – Performance on Saturday, July 25 at 3:00pm in Cobb Great Hall) 
  • $1,125 per student; off-campus option (no room, board, or meals included) for $775 
  • Cap of 40 participants 
  • Audition-based—in person auditions at Wharton Center on Saturday, March 7, or submitted virtually.

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

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 MisérablesMamma 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.

“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.