Next Steps - Summer Theatre Intensive

June 22nd to June 27th, 2026

(Check-In: June 21st, 2026)

6-Day Intensive

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

We invite you to participate in Next Steps Summer Theatre Intensive for high school students entering grades 10-12. Participants will spend one week studying with guest artists Amelia Workman and Shannon Tyo and JMU theatre faculty. Students may choose to stay on campus in JMU dorms or commute during the week. All of these experiences combined will allow Next Steps Participants to get the full JMU ARTS experience!

• Daily studio classes working hands-on with each participant's material, including the fundamentals of acting.
• Training with professional guest artists and JMU Theatre faculty.

• Professional development seminars including audition preparation. 

• College audition question and answer sessions. 

• Filming of coached material 

• Headshot photography session. 

• Final Performance Showcase. 

2026 Summer Intensive Schedule Coming Soon!

Cost breakdown with on-campus housing and food:

* Tuition cost, double room in the dorm, and 3 meals a day in the dining hall. 

** Tuition cost, lunch and dinner in the dining hall. 

ACTIVITIES: All prices include group activities on and off campus. 

*** All payments are 100% refundable up until May 22nd, 2026. ***

Important Deadlines: 

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

On Campus Housing and Food:

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. 

Dorm Information:

• 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. 

Campus Dining Information:

• 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.

Hotel and Harrisonburg Information:

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 Ingrid De Sanctis (desancie@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

4. Spark by Hilton Harrisonburg University Area — 1.3 miles away

5. Friendly City Inn — 1.6 miles away

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

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.