Summer Musical Theatre Program

For 4th through 2025 High School graduates

Develop your skills in acting, singing, and dancing in a supportive environment of highly skilled, award-winning professionals and college faculty.

EMU Theater will host two musical theatre intensives, which will each culminate in multiple public performances of a major musical production. The junior program will perform a musical revue, and the senior program will perform a musical.

Junior Program

(Rising 4th Graders-Rising 8th Graders)

Explore musical theatre in this two-week program culminating in multiple performances of a musical revue. No audition is required.

Schedule

June 30 - July 12 (two weeks)*

The program will run Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. with final shows on Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12 at 7 p.m.

*we will hold a full day of camp on July 4

Cost

$900 includes two weeks of instruction and rehearsal and two public performances.

Senior Program

(Rising 9th Graders-Recent High School Graduates)

Explore a performance track or a technical theatre track for three weeks culminating in the presentation of a major musical production on the main stage.

Performance Track - You will engage in all morning classes and rehearsals and will perform on stage.

Technical Theatre Track - You will engage in all morning classes. In the afternoon you will work with the costume designer, technical director, stage management team, and others to support the production in all technical areas.

Audition Dates

Auditions
Audition Dates: Saturday, May 17th 9 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Callback Dates: May 18th 1-5 p.m.

Required Sing Through Date: Monday, May 19th 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Program Schedule

July 14 - August 3 (three weeks)

The program will run Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Show dates: August 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. and August 2 and 3 at 2 p.m.

Cost

$1250 (includes full days of instruction and rehearsal as well as four public performances + one invited dress rehearsal)

Scholarships

Junior Program Scholarship Application

Senior Program Scholarship Application

There are need-based scholarships available for a limited number of students in the senior and junior programs. We will make decisions regarding scholarships by May 1st. Once we have determined financial aid, we will be in contact with recipients and send information on how to move forward with program registration. Senior Program participants will need to audition in order to be considered for a scholarship. Junior program participants do not need to audition to be eligible for a scholarship.

There are two available Junior Counselor positions. Those who hold this position will help out for the entire two-weeks of the Junior Program in exchange for full tutition to the Senior Program. We ask that you apply for this role only if you have participated in EMU Summer Musical Theatre at least one year already and only if you have a true interest in working with younger children. Also, if you have financial need you should still complete the general scholarship form above so that we can consider this information in our selection process.

Junior Counselor Application

Questions?

Email summermusical@emu.edu with any questions.

About Us

Justin Poole, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Theatre and Theatre Program Director

EMU Summer Musical Theatre Co-Director and Theatre Director

Justin holds an MA in Theatre from Villanova University and a Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Maryland. Justin, along with his wife, Amanda, led a semester-long cross-cultural program to Europe, where Justin has spent significant time studying experimental performance and art. At EMU, he has directed The Spitfire Grill, The 39 Steps, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Shrek:The Musical. Justin co-created and directed an original rock musical using Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and the music of U2. He also adapted and directed Distant Witness: Social Media, the Arab Spring, and A Journalism Revolution. Justin co-created and performed Bonhoeffer: Cell 92, The Gospel Project, and Firebrand: The Life of Paul. As an actor, Justin has also appeared on national television shows and commercials. He is Artist-in-Residence at Asbury United Methodist Church, an oil painter, and a certified yoga teacher. He is a proud father to Vienna, Felicity, and London.

Ellie de Waal

EMU Theatre Resident Choreographer

EMU Summer Musical Theatre Co-Director and Choreographer

Ellie is a multifaceted dancer and choreographer of theater, jazz, modern, and ballet. Her choreography resume includes musicals, operas, plays and special events. Her works have been adjudicated by the Kennedy Center and selected for several festivals including the Richmond Dance Festival, Versatility Dance Festival, unKempt Dance Festival, garet&co. Film Festival, and Emerging Choreographers Showcase NYC. Her musical theatre repertoire includes Off-Broadway's Savage Force and productions of 42nd Street, Mamma Mia!, Shrek! The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, and Oliver Twist. Her skill set as a choreographer has been sought out by universities for both concert dance and musical productions. She has choreographed several operas including Noye's Fludde and a new opera song cycle Still More/More Still performed in Brooklyn, NY. She was a choreographer for concorDance Contemporary for two seasons and has presented choreography for many years with the Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative. She recently performed as a featured dancer and hot box girl swing in Guys and Dolls with the Charlottesville Opera and looks forward to debuting new works with her company EdW and Dancers at several festivals in showcases in NYC in 2024.

Adam Shenk
Music Director

Adam Shenk is a pianist, singer, and music director. Originally from Harrisonburg, VA, Adam earned his Bachelor’s in Music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Since then, he has lived and worked in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. He returned to Harrisonburg in 2020 and is now a music director for the musical theater program at JMU, as well as a collaborative pianist for the School of Music. At JMU, he has music directed Rent, Chicago, Sunday in the Park with George, The SpongeBob Musical, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, and Big Fish. Adam is also a singer in the wedding and event band Highline, based in NYC but regularly booked across the country. To learn more, visit www.elanartists.com/highline.

While in NYC, Adam performed original music at iconic venues like The Bitter End and held a monthly residency at Pianos. After moving to LA, he collaborated with writers and producers, working on studio recordings and pitching songs to labels. A song he co-wrote, Top of the World, was recorded by Nigerian artist D’Banj and featured in promos and live performances for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. During this time, he was also a singer/pianist at Don’t Tell Mama LA, a piano bar showcasing pop and musical theater performers.

In Chicago, Adam became a music director for Second City, the legendary comedy institution known for launching SNL alumni. He worked with a touring company to perform and create original music, sound design, and sketches for both improvised and scripted productions. Adam also enjoyed many years of traveling onboard cruise ships. On Holland America Line, he played piano in the showband and became a trusted bandleader, working with musicians and guest entertainers from all over the world. Since returning to the Shenandoah Valley in 2020, Adam has been proud to reconnect with the local community, working alongside passionate colleagues and inspiring young artists.

Amanda Poole

Executive Director

Amanda Poole is a mission-driven leader and advocate for the arts with over 20 years of professional experience. She holds a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and has spent more than 15 years working in the nonprofit sector, with particular emphasis on education, event planning, and communications. As a travel and arts enthusiast and logistics aficionado, Amanda co-led three semester-long programs to Europe and North Africa at EMU alongside her husband, Justin. One of her paramount aspirations is to encourage and empower individuals to achieve their full potential, recognizing the arts as a significant catalyst for learning. In her free time, Amanda enjoys traveling with her family, curling up with a great book, and hiking and biking in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

Shannon Dove

EMU Theatre Technical Director and Resident Designer

Shannon is a local grad of JMU and Broadway High School. He has been a scenic artist, master electrician, master carpenter, master painter, technical director, and overall crew chief at EMU since 2002. He has worked to produce theatre for various organizations at the college, community, and professional levels. In addition, he is currently scenic artist, co-technical director, and adjunct professor of theatre at Bridgewater College. Shannon is also an avid musician.

Robert Weaver

Tech Track Director and Lighting Designer

Robert is a recent EMU grad from Baltimore, MD. He majored in photography and minored in theater and business administration. Robert is a freelance theater artist in D.C. and Baltimore. Robert is currently a stagehand and lighting designer at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University. He recently enjoyed working with Step Afrika! as an assistant master electrician for their touring production of The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence. Robert has most recently been the lighting designer for Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812, The Crucible, Noye’s Fludde, U2 Romeo & Juliet, Shrek: the Musical, Pride and Prejudice, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Measure for Measure (Eastern Mennonite University), and assistant lighting designer for The Spitfire Grill.

Rachel E. Herrick
EMU Theatre Resident Costume Designer

Rachel is a JMU grad with a B.A. in theater and dance. While at EMU, Rachel designs costumes, manages the build of costumes, and does much of the costume construction. Her EMU design credits include Measure for Measure, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Pride and Prejudice. Rachel spends her summers working with Charlottesville Opera, where she was wardrobe supervisor for The Tragedy of Carmen, and assistant wig supervisor for Camelot during the 2019 season. More information about Rachel’s credits can be found at www.racheleherrick.com.

Jacob Nissley

Student Director

Jacob has just completed his fourth year at EMU, yet he is a junior in his new major, music education. He loves to sing and aspires to become a choir director in the future. His collegiate theatre journey includes playing half of the male cast in Almost Maine, as well as appearing in Natasha Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Prince Bolkonsky and Andrey). He also has extensive experience working with elementary students at the Lighthouse summer day camp in Canton, Ohio. Jacob is excited for his continued stay at EMU, as long as it is over after two years.

Vision

At EMU Summer Musical Theatre, we are dedicated to fostering growth and individual creativity in theatre, music, and dance. We aim to provide all students, including low-income and under-represented students, with professional training, techniques, and resources, and guide students’ love and passion for the arts into culminating productions that are shared with the community, showcasing the participants’ growth, talents, and hard work.

We believe that the transformative power of the arts develops skills and confidence not just in performance, but also in social and life skills that are unique to theatre and collaborative settings. EMU SMTP encourages students to challenge themselves and their understanding of performance as an art form. Through collaborative storytelling and the development of improv scenes, we offer participants unique opportunities for creative expression that are woven into the story and presented in the final show framework.

At its core, the SMTP is built on a commitment to nurturing individuals’ as their whole selves, empowering them to take risks in a supportive setting and build community with others. We strive to create a safe, inclusive environment where all students can thrive, connect, and find their voices through the shared love of the performing arts – join us in supporting the EMU Summer Musical Theatre Program, and help us inspire the next generation of artists and storytellers!