Theater Camp 2023

Joan Rubinsky, who co-founded and directs AdirondACTS, a theater-centric summer camp nestled in the beautiful Adirondacks of Upstate New York, faces a life-altering crisis. After a strobe light at a performance provokes a seizure, she slips into a coma, leaving her son Troy to take charge. As a self-proclaimed “business influencer,” Troy inherits the camp but struggles to connect with the unique personalities of the theater kids. Desperate to stabilize the camp’s finances, he turns his cabin into an Airbnb, sharing it with the guest Tim.

With the support of Joan’s dedicated staff, including best friends Amos and Rebecca-Diane, who are both former campers and long-time staff members, Troy navigates the complexities of camp life. Together, they announce an ambitious lineup of productions for the summer, which features Joan, Still, a new original musical that has yet to be written. However, during auditions, things take a turn when Caroline, a representative from the extravagant Camp Lakeside’s investment firm Barnswell Capital, approaches Troy with a distressing revelation: the camp might face foreclosure.

As the summer unfolds, Amos and Rebecca-Diane make significant strides on the musical, with Rebecca-Diane promising to compose the finale’s lyrics and music. Meanwhile, Troy and the camp’s chief technician, Glenn, devise a plan to generate funds by utilizing the kids as servers during a Rotary Club event, yielding mixed results.

Tensions rise as Amos grows increasingly concerned about Rebecca-Diane’s frequent absences—she skips classes, misses her “performance night” with the campers, and neglects rehearsals. Their relationship hits a breaking point when Rebecca-Diane confesses that her absences are due to her new role as a cruise ship performer. This news devastates Amos, who feels abandoned in their partnership. Their argument escalates when Caroline’s arrival forces Troy to disclose the dire state of the camp.

In a bid to secure funding, Troy invites the “Founding Ballers,” a group of affluent financial influencers, to attend the performance of Joan, Still. Moments of chaos ensue when the lead performer, Darla, abruptly leaves for a movie role, prompting Glenn to step in and showcase his hidden talents. The finale unfolds with the cast presenting a finished version of Rebecca-Diane’s number, culminating in heartfelt lessons learned from their time at camp.

Ultimately, the Founding Ballers are revealed to be financially unstable, yet hope arises when Tim steps up with a generous donation inspired by the show’s theme. While Rebecca-Diane enjoys success as a cruise performer, her journey takes a comedic turn when she accidentally sets the ship ablaze during a séance. Glenn departs to chase his dreams playing Elphaba in Wicked, and Amos embraces his calling as a teacher. Meanwhile, Troy takes on the mantle of raising funds for the camp, ensuring his mother’s legacy continues.

In a twist of fate, a hospital patient watching the performance via live stream praises the show—a mishap as Troy had intended to share it with his mother. Miraculously, as the curtain falls, Joan awakens from her coma, uttering a timeless warning: > “Don’t let Troy run the camp!”