About Us

Camp History

Originally created by Portland Parks and Recreation (PP&R), this four-week summer musical theatre camp program is now in its 9th year. New Moon Productions stepped in to continue this unique program in 2004 when large funding cuts threatened to end the program. With New Moon’s vast experience (see below) - with Youth Theatre, Children’s Theatre Classes, and Summer Camps - the partnership has continued to be a huge success!

This creative and life enhancing summer camp runs for a period of four weeks. Dates and full information for this year’s camp can be found here. Students are trained five days a week in all aspects of musical theatre while rehearsing the play. This includes work on text comprehension and interpretation, ensemble building, improvisation, stage movement, character development, voice and diction, singing, stage movement, and dance. What makes this summer musical theatre camp so special is its mentorship program. All of the summer camp instructors and interns rehearse an adult cast version of the play. This allows all the adult participants to have an in depth knowledge of the performance piece, giving them more tools in guiding young performers during the summer camp. The payoff at the end of the camp is even more spectacular – Outdoor Performances at Washington Park Amphitheatre to large crowds!

Every summer camp student performs the musical twice at the Amphitheatre with all the bells and whistles – beautiful set, stunning costumes, and clever props. The adult cast performances run every night at the Washington Park Amphitheatre as well. Each year over 5000-6000 audience members enjoy a free musical theatre production in the park. What could be more fun?! Dates and times for this year’s performances can be found here. Previous shows include “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”, “Big River”, “Into The Woods”, and “Cinderella”.

New Moon Productions (NMP) first year’s involvement with the program featured the hilarious “Dear Edwina” – a musical populated by youth characters who put on a weekly advice shows from Edwina’s garage! In 2005, NMP became the official co-producer of the summer musical theatre camp and chose the fun “Schoolhouse Rock, Live!”, featuring all the hilarious and informative songs from the 1970s television shows. In 2006, NMP went back to classic literature to present “Alice In Wonderland”. This delightful and whimsical musical theatre production had all the crazy characters from the Lewis Carroll novel. 2007 brought with it one of the greatest musicals of all time: “Wizard of Oz”. The musical was based on the beloved 1939 movie with all the wonderful music we have all come to know and love. For information on this year’s show, please click here.

We look forward to many more years of providing free musical theatre performances at Washington Park! This summer camp has become a tradition for many families, students, and audience members, and we are proud to help this program to grow and prosper. Come enjoy the energy of thousands of people enjoying these outdoor performances! Better yet, click here to sign up your Young Performer to be a part of our Summer Musical Theatre Camp!

History of New Moon Productions Theatre Company

In May 1994, New Moon Productions was incorporated in Texas with the goals of producing quality children’s theatre that gives new and positive insights into the human condition and making a tangible difference in our community by a hands-on approach to community service. By the end of 2002, New Moon had produced 37 full-scale productions and had over 7,000 youth participate in either our theatrical productions, drama classes, or summer camps. In 2003, the co-founders of NMP – Michael Wehrli and Pamela Stringer – moved to Portland, Oregon. Since their arrival, New Moon has offered drama classes at Grout Elementary and Lewis Elementary (as part of their literacy program) and performance classes at several other locations all over Portland (see below). In December 2003, New Moon produced “A Kristmus Karel” with a youth cast at the Interstate Firehouse Theatre and an adult cast at the Multnomah Arts Center. In 2004 New Moon began co-producing the summer musical theatre camp with Portland Parks and Recreation (see above).

* - Indicates World Premiere

Incorporated in Texas as non-profit corporation May 1994 (EIN 75-2553200)
Obtained 501(c)(3) non-profit status October 1994
Produced in OREGON 2003 – 2006
Children's Theatre Classes Taught in OREGON 2003 - Present
Children's Theatre Classes Taught in Texas 1996 - 2002
Children's Theatre Productions at the Corner Theatre in DeSoto, Texas 1996 - 2002
Adult Theatre Productions at the Corner Theatre in DeSoto, Texas 1997 - 2002
Produced 8 plays in Dallas, Texas 1994 - 1996
NMP Companions 1994 – 2001 (Actors & Crew volunteered with these organizations)
Annual Tour of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 1994 - 1998

Over 10,000 children have participated.
Over 450 teachers & theatre professionals have been employed.