Enrollment Now Open for Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR.
Junior Summer Camp & On Stage Production (Ages 7–12)

SOLD OUT! – JOIN OUR WAITING LIST BELOW.

Music by ALAN MENKEN
Lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN and GLENN SLATER
Book by DOUG WRIGHT
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film
Music Adapted and Arranged by David Weinstein

June 1 – August 2, 2026

Dive “under the sea” this summer as young performers bring Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. to life in our Junior Summer Camp Younger Student Show! Enrollment is now open for this magical, immersive theatrical experience designed especially for students ages 7–12.

Adapted from Disney’s Broadway production and the beloved animated film, The Little Mermaid JR. features unforgettable, Academy Award®–winning music and a heartwarming story about courage, love, and finding your voice.
Set in a magical underwater kingdom, the story follows Ariel, a curious young mermaid who dreams of life beyond the sea. Along the way, campers will explore character development, storytelling, and creative movement while working together to create a fully staged musical production.

Written to flow seamlessly between land and sea, this show offers endless opportunities for imaginative staging, playful choreography, and ensemble storytelling—making it a perfect experience for both first-time performers and returning students.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR.
is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.mtishows.com

RCSA Junior Summer Camp Details

Auditions: June 1-5, 2026
Auditions will include singing, acting, a dance audition, and callbacks.
Every student enrolled IS cast in the show. Auditions will determine what role they will receive. Understudies for certain roles may be cast. Understudies (if cast) will be guaranteed performances, which will be determined during casting. When not performing as the understudied role, those students will be ensemble members.

Camp Dates: June 8 – August 2 (Monday–Thursday)
Enrolled Students should have NO MORE than 2 total conflicts during the camp duration. Please note that beginning the week of July 13 – run of the show, conflicts will not be accepted.

Tech Begins: Sunday, July 19 – Thursday, July 23 | This schedule will be provided prior to that week, but tech typically occurs during normal camp hours at the Raue Center.

Daily Schedule:
8:45 – 9:00 AM | Drop-Off
9:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Camp
2:15–2:30 PM | Pick-Up

Location: Camp takes place at our RCSA Studios at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church | 210 McHenry Ave, Crystal Lake
Performances will take place at Raue Center For The Arts | 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake

Performance Dates (2 Weekends):
July 24 @ 7 PM
July 25 @ 1 PM & 7 PM
July 26 @ 1 PM – Sensory-Friendly Performance
July 30 @ 10 AM (Morning Performance)
July 31 @ 7 PM
August 1 @ 1 PM & 7 PM
August 2 @ 1 PM

Tuition: $900 Standard | $675 (RCSA Now Member)
Includes a show t-shirt and 2 complimentary tickets per enrollment.

Enrollment is now open and space is limited. Give your child a summer filled with creativity, confidence-building, and Disney magic—ending with a live performance they’ll never forget.
Register today and be part of the world!

🐚✨WAIT LIST ✨🐚

Enrollment for Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. is officially FULL! Thank you to everyone who signed up — we can’t wait to dive “under the sea” with you this summer! 🌊

If you’d like to be added to the waiting list, please email rcsaeducation@rauecenter.org with the following information:

• Student Name
• Student Age
• Parent/Guardian Name
• Parent/Guardian Phone
• Parent/Guardian Email
• Parent/Guardian Address

Please note: Joining the waiting list is not a guarantee of enrollment. If spots become available, families will be contacted in the order requests are received.

💙 Thank you for your incredible support — we’re thrilled to see such excitement for our summer programs!

Christina Giorgi (Director) is a Chicago-based director and actress who earned her BFA in Acting and Film from Illinois Wesleyan University. This summer marks her third season and fifth production with the Raue Center School For The Arts. Passionate about arts education, Christina has worked as a teaching artist and director for young performers here at the Raue, New London Barn Playhouse and Wagon Wheel Conservatory for the Arts. Her recent directing credits include RCSA’s Dancing Through Life Spring Break Intensive, Disney’s RCSA’s summer production of Frozen Jr., Pure Imagination: A Musical Revue, Huntley High School’s production of Little Women, and RCSA’s summer production of Moana Jr. A Crystal Lake native, Christina is thrilled to have the opportunity to create an environment where students can grow their confidence and creativity, just as she did at their age.

Gavin Kempf–Kutemeier (Music Director) is thrilled to be returning for his second summer working for Raue Center School For The Arts Summer Program & Production after having music directed last year’s Frozen Jr.. Gavin is a highly motivated musician currently getting a degree in Bassoon Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance where he studies with Dr. Jeffrey Lyman, and has worked with some of the best conductors and educators in the world. He has years of experience playing in Orchestras, Bands, Chamber ensembles, Operas, Choirs, and as a Soloist. Some of his favorite musical memories are touring Europe, South Africa, and then Carnegie Hall in New York with his Orchestra, and participating in multiple professional recordings and productions at the University of Michigan including premiers of Nkieru Okoye’s When the Caged Bird Sings, and a new Opera production of The House on Mango Street. Some of his educational experiences includes multiple private students, an educational tour of the Chicago Public Schools where he played for and worked with many classes to teach them about orchestra with his quartet, and pedagogy, piano, and conducting classes at his university. Gavin is very excited to be the Music Director for this production, where he can share his experience and perspective to the students of The Little Mermaid Jr. and give them a meaningful and lasting musical experience.

Mary Einhorn (Choreographer) graduated in May of 2025 from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University with her BFA in Acting and has been living in Chicago and loving it for almost five years. This past year, Mary worked as the general manager at a dance studio in the city, and she’s thrilled to step out from behind the desk and get her creative juices flowing again. Last summer, she choreographed The SpongeBob Musical for Schaumburg Park District, and assistant-choreographed Newsies Jr. and Beetlejuice Jr. for Citadel Education Theatre. Mary is incredibly passionate about passing on the love of dance to future generations and very excited to become part of the RCSA community!

Katie Witt (Production Stage Manager) is so excited to be back at RCSA as the Stage Manager for The Little Mermaid Jr! This is Katie’s third summer at RCSA, but her first time Stage Managing a show here! Katie has multiple years of experience both on stage and behind the scenes, including taking classes at RCSA as a kid! Some of her most recent credits include Stage Managing Wednesday Night Live! (twice!), sound operating The Freedom of the City, and Assistant Stage Managing RCSA’s Frozen Jr. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Emily Stipetic (Assistant Stage Manager) is a Chicago-based Stage Manager from Crystal Lake, Illinois and a senior at Columbia College Chicago. Some recent credits around the city include Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors! (Lazy Susan Theater Co.) and A New Brain (Pride Arts Theater Co.) Some past Columbia credits include Small Mouth Sounds (SM, Dir. Zoe Cheever), We Make Monsters (PM, Dir. Brian Shaw), Grease! (ASM, Dir. Daryl Brooks) and One Act Play Festival 25’ (SM). Her thanks go to her community, for making it all possible.

Madeline Jadwiga Abel (Teacher Assistant) is a locally based Director who has worked in the Chicagoland area as well as London. She received her BA in Opera Performance and Theatre from Valparaiso University and her MFA in Theatre Directing from East 15 Acting School. Her most recent work was Embrace by Kian Berry and Evan Reynolds in London. It received critical acclaim by both Broadway World UK and Stage Door Joe. She just recently moved back to the States and is excited to continue her career.

Kristen Brinati (Costume Designer) Kristen Brinati (Costume Designer) – is thrilled to be back working on The Little Mermaid Jr. with Raue Center School For The Arts after having recently been the Costume Designer for their production of A Cripple Creek Christmas Carol, Costume Assistant on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, along with being the Costume Designer for last summer’s Camp Production of Frozen Jr. Kristen is a Costume Designer local to Chicagoland. She is the Wardrobe Lead at Music Theater Works working on her 18th consecutive show with them. Recent Costume Design credits include Legally Blonde and the 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee.

Nick Eversman (Teacher Assistant) is quite excited about returning to RCSA in a teaching capacity. Recently, he just finished up a 6-week class run of the sold out Acting On Camera class with co-teacher, David Bradburn. He is an American actor known for his dynamic and diverse roles on both television and film. Hailing from Crystal Lake, the veteran actor has graced both the stage and screen for over three decades. After honing his craft at Chicago’s renowned Second City, he relocated to Los Angeles. Eversman is known for his work in acclaimed and award-winning projects such as The Good Lord Bird, The DUFF, and Pretty Boy, as well as memorable guest star appearances on hit shows like House, Once Upon a Time and Agents of Shield. Most recently, he took the stage as Thomas Crockett in RCSA’s production of A Cripple Creek Christmas Carol. This marks Nick’s second time teaching for RCSA, having previously taught private acting lessons in Los Angeles.

Brooke Ulen (Teacher Assistant) is so excited to work with the Raue Center School For The Arts on The Little Mermaid Jr. She acted with the Raue as a kid and is thrilled to be returning to teach. Her passion is in theatre, and she cannot wait to share that passion with the next generation of theatre. In the fall, she will be heading to New York as a freshman at Marymount Manhattan College pursuing a BFA in Theater production and tech. The Little Mermaid holds a special place in Brooke’s heart, and she hopes you love it as much as she does.

Lisa Giebler (Set Designer & Technical Director) – has worked in the Chicagoland area for over 15 years as a carpenter, painter, and mixed-material artist. She has worked in mostly educational theatre but is happy to join the Raue team as the Technical Director for WSRep and RCSA.

Chris Tumblin (Director of Production/Audio Engineer and Board Op) is excited to be back at Raue Center since his tenure from 2002-2012. After gaining additional experience at other venues, he returned in October 2022. Chris brings with him over 20 years of experience.

Ryan Meadow (Production Manager/Lighting Designer/Projections & Board Op) has over ten years of experience in the theater and corporate audio-visual industries with a background in Production Lighting and video. Ryan enjoys planning and executing different projects and helping to bring someone’s dream and imagination to life. He also enjoys working in the performing arts on all levels from people with a newfound interest in the arts all the way to experienced acts keeping their passion alive and helping to inspire the next generation of performers.

Rob Scharlow (RCSA’s Director of Education) is an award-winning director with 35+ years in the performing arts, working nationwide as a director, actor, and educator. For 17 years, he helped shape the legendary Stagedoor Manor in New York—home to the Broadway Theatre Museum’s Award for Excellence in Arts Education—rising from director/teacher to Director of Education and later Associate Artistic Director. He also led Dramafest, mentoring young playwrights in partnership with Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights. Before stepping into leadership at RCSA, Rob cut his teeth at the Raue as a marketing intern, performed in productions like Sweeney Todd (BroadwayWorld Best Actor Nominee) and Hands on a Hardbody, and directed Search for Signs of Intelligent Life. Now celebrating his third year at the helm of RCSA’s education program, he continues guiding its growth into a dynamic pre-professional training experience for students of all ages. With 150+ directing and acting credits, Rob’s portfolio ranges from developing the first high school edition of Ride the Cyclone to helping craft the High School Edition of Evil Dead: The Musical. Other favorite credits include BKLYN, Evita, Spring Awakening, In the Heights, The Toxic Avenger, Rock of Ages, and You Can’t Take It With You. For RCSA, he directed Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical (also appearing in the cast) and the summer workshop of Static: Noise of a New Musical. This holiday season, he returns to the Raue stage as both educator and performer in A Cripple Creek Christmas Carol, appearing alongside RCSA’s talented students.