This is a CampSite Camp Spotlight: an opportunity to highlight the amazing work happening across our CampSite community. This edition features Childsplay, a professional theatre company in Phoenix, Arizona, known across the country for its work with kids, and its Academy of year-round theatre classes for young people ages 4 to 18.
While not a camp in the classic sense, Childsplay is a vital part of the summer program ecosystem. We’re so grateful to work with amazing programs like Childsplay that are evolving the industry and creating truly extraordinary opportunities for young people.
It all started with a 1964 Chevy Impala
Childsplay’s story begins in 1977 with a bold idea and a very full car. While earning his MFA, founder David Saar saw firsthand how much kids could get out of experiences with professional theatre. So after graduation, he got together with a few classmates, packed some basic sets, and a handful of costumes into a 1964 Chevy Impala and started performing in local classrooms.
This love for theater and sharing it with younger generations grew into a company admired both nationally and around the world. Childsplay shows burst with creativity, inspiring kids to dream without limits and uncover the potential within them.
Nearly five decades later, that idea reached millions of young lives:
- About 250,000 students, teachers, and families served each year.
- 3 annual touring productions that visit hundreds of schools across Arizona.
- An estimated 1 in 5 Arizona K-6 students catch a Childsplay performance without ever leaving their school, and over half of those students come from families at or below the poverty line.
- 9 months of in-house productions a year on the stage at The Herberger Theater Center, for students and families alike.
These numbers tell a powerful story about access. By bringing professional theatre straight into schools, Childsplay reaches kids who might never set foot in a theatre otherwise. For a child growing up with limited resources, watching a story come to life in their own school gym can open a door they didn’t know was there.
Every show, workshop, and class is designed to get kids dreaming, caring about one another, and feeling connected to the people around them. The team at Childsplay sees theatre as a way to raise the next generation of creative thinkers and change makers, and after nearly 50 years, it’s so clear to see the difference they’ve made.
Inside the Childsplay Academy, where kids take the stage all year long
Childsplay runs their youth programs through their Academy of theatre classes. These classes give young people ages 4 to 18 the chance to learn, create, and perform, all year round.
The Academy’s goal is refreshingly simple: make sure every one who walks through the door leaves loving their time on stage. Those great experiences are where the real growth happens. They learn to speak up, work as a team, take creative risks, and bounce back when a line doesn’t land. There’s a way in for just about everyone, whether they’re a first-timer or a seasoned performer. Families can choose from:
- Drop-in dance classes for those who want to move, groove, and try something new without a big commitment.
- Weekend improv classes that build quick thinking, confidence, and a whole lot of laughter.
- Three-week summer productions where young performers rehearse together and bring a full show to life.
In their own words: a note from Brianna Fallon, Academy Manager at Childsplay
We could tell you all about Childsplay, but nobody knows it better than the people who make it happen every day. So we reached out to Brianna Fallon, Academy Manager at Childsplay, to learn more about her experiences and what makes Childsplay so special.
Q: How did you get started in the camp world?
Brianna: My first ever job was assisting at a summer arts camp teaching drama to kids. Now I manage a program that not only serves hundreds of students each summer, but hundreds more in a year-round afterschool setting as well.
Q: What do you think sets your camp apart and makes it special?
Brianna: We offer a ton of different types of programming that are constantly overlapping. There are only two weeks out of the entire year that we have no programming happening! The wide array of offerings present an interesting challenge as they all need different types and levels of attention to manage. The Academy is also just a small part of a bigger organization that offers so many different types of programs.
Q: Do you have a favorite camp tradition or memory and if so, can you tell us a little bit about it and why it stands out to you?
Brianna: Every class we offer always starts with a starting circle where the group works together to create a Community Agreements. This is for all ages, even our littles class starting at age 4. We collaborate with the students to set classroom rules, reminders, and agreements to keep in mind during the duration of the class. Many times, students will sign it like a contract! They enjoy the ownership they have and the ability to contribute in a meaningful way. Also! We always make sure “KAHFOOTY” is always included in our agreement. It’s an acronym that means “keep all hands, feet and other objects to yourself”.
Q: What lasting impact do you hope your camp leaves on campers?
Brianna: The stage and theatre can sometimes be a scary space. Maybe even a little traumatizing if not handled with care. My hope is that every kiddo can have a positive experience with theatre. All humans can benefit from dramatic play, storytelling, and confidence building. We love when students go on to pursue the craft, but more than anything, we want them to discover that community and joy here at Childsplay.
Q. How has working at a camp shaped you as a person?
Brianna: Over my years, I’ve interacted with literally tens of thousands of young people. I’ve learned that every human needs an extra dose of kindness and patience. I’ve discovered way more “ah-ha” moments when I was being playful and understanding than when I’ve been harsh and frustrated. Every adult was once a kid and they deserve to have fun and be a little silly while they’re young.
Changing young lives, one story at a time
Hearing from Brianna, it’s easy to see why Childsplay matters so much to so many. Their impact shows up in a student seeing live theatre for the first time, a child discovering they’re braver than they thought, and a group of young performers learning to trust each other on stage.
Those wins don’t just stay on stage. They bring that newfound confidence with them to school, to the playground, and everywhere in between. Over nearly five decades, Childsplay has created those moments for millions across Arizona, and their Academy keeps that spark going all year long.
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