Next Steps - Summer Musical Theatre Intensive

June 22nd to June 27th, 2026

(Check-In: June 21st, 2026)

Scholarships AvailableThe School of Theatre and Dance at James Madison University is proud to present, Next Steps - Summer Musical Theatre Intensive. This intensive offers students one week of exciting, informative, and rigorous musical theatre training.

Designed specifically for committed and curious students entering grades 10-12, each student attending Next Steps will study with nationally and internationally recognized artists and experts in the field and can expect daily work in all aspects of musical theatre training and education. Our faculty meets the students where they currently are in their training and experience and presents them with insightful questions, new techniques, and appropriate repertoire that they can work on at Next Steps and well into the future.  

Space is limited for participants (approximately 30 students) and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. There is no audition for the intensive. 

• Daily Musical Theatre studio classes working hands-on with each participant's material, including the fundamentals of 'Acting the Song'  

• Daily Musical Theatre dance class. 

• Professional development seminars including audition preparation. 

• College audition question and answer sessions. 

• Filming of coached material 

• Headshot photography session. 

• Final Performance Showcase. 

1. Scholarship Deadline: May 8th, 2026
2. a. Award emails will be sent out on or before May 15th, 2026. All schoalrship applicants will be notified either way.
3. Registration withdraw deadline for a 100% refund: May 22nd, 2026

Next Steps participants have the option to stay in JMU dorms while in the program. This exciting opportunity allows the students to get the full JMU student experience. Participants are supervised in the dorms by JMU School of Theatre and Dance student counselors. 

• Double Dorm rooms are available. The price above is for double rooms 
• Double rooms will be assigned randomly unless there is a specific request sent by both roommates.
• Linen service is included in every room:
  • Linens include: 2 sheets, 1 pillowcase, 2 towels, and 1 washcloth.
  • Double towels will be provided
  • Linens are provided folded in each room (beds are not pre-made).
  • Pillows are provided (free of charge) for each bed; blankets for air-conditioned dorms. 

• For participants who are staying in campus housing, you will receive 3 meals per day in JMU’s award-winning dining halls.  If you are staying in the dorm, the meal plan is required. 
• For those participants who are not staying in the dorm, lunch and dinner in the campus dining hall is included in your tuition cost.

Next Steps participants who are not local, can utilize campus housing/food but are also welcome to stay in hotels in the Harrisonburg area. If you choose to stay at a hotel, evening supervision is not provided. Please reach out to Kate Arecchi (arecchkm@jmu.edu) with any specific questions.

For more information on Harrisonburg, please visit the Visit Harrisonburg VA website.

Here are some local hotels that are near the beautiful Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, which will be the base of all Next Steps Summer programs:

1. Hotel Madison - on campus, across the street from the Forbes Center
2. Hyatt Place Harrisonburg - 2.4 miles away
3. Joshua Wilton House - 0.8 miles away (link to embed --https://www.joshuawilton.com/)
4. Spark by Hilton Harrisonburg University Area — 1.3 miles away (link to embed --https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/shdhppe-spark-harrisonburg-university-area/)
5. Friendly City Inn — 1.6 miles away (link to embed --https://friendlycityinn.com/)
6. Double Tree by Hilton Harrisonburg - 2.4 miles away
7. Clarion Pointe Harrisonburg - 2.4 miles away
8. Courtyard by Marriot Harrisonburg - 2.4 miles away (link to embed --Courtyard Harrisonburg - Hotel Near JMU & Massanutten Resort)

Next Steps will offer a limited number of needs-based scholarships for the 2026 Summer Intensive. Scholarships are awarded by filling out the Next Steps Scholarship Form before the deadline of May 8th, 2026. You must register for the intensive first and pay in-full before your scholarship application can be processed. The award notifications will be sent out via email on or before May 15th, 2026, and the award recipients will receive a refund for their awarded amount via reimbursement in the payment mode in which you paid. All payments are 100% refundable up until May 22nd, 2026.