Hope Musical Theatre

My daughter attended HMT for the first time this summer and absolutely loved it. She was the youngest child in camp (5) and was welcomed with open arms.

I felt like I got to watch my daughter grow each day--she learned stage presence, vocal technique, and discipline as she rigorously memorized and practiced each of her songs and her (2) lines. Expect homework, because great shows require some extra practice.

I was beyond impressed with how much all the kids achieved in just one week. Their final performance was truly remarkable. Talented and well-practiced performers, thoughtful camp leaders, student-designed program and decor, amazing costumes, and lots of learning.

HMT isn't cheap, but it is incredible--one of the most memorable things my daughter did all summer. She finished the camp gleeful and confident, and 3 weeks later she keeps singing all the show songs at home regularly.

We have been sending our kids to HMT for the last 6 years. First our daughter went, then when our son was old enough, he started going also. They've both had consistently positive experiences there, whether they had a small part or a bigger role in the play.

Where I really notice their positive experiences is when the shows end. After each performance, all the young actors come out to a grassy area beside the theater to great their families. That's when I see my kids going up to various kids and staff members to get pictures taken and say a final goodbye. And that's where I see all the bonds that the kids have formed from this intense 2 week experience of putting a show together.

To me, that's what it's all about. My son loves HMT so much that he asked to do an extra session instead of having a bigger birthday party for his 9th birthday. The kids really form nice bonds with the other kids and the staff through this shared experience. In my case, my kids have gone on to perform in musical theatre throughout the school year. And musical theatre has really enriched their lives. It all started at HMT.

My 10 year old kid went to Hope Musical Theatre camp for two weeks this summer at Palo Alto High School. Below is her review in her words:

No one should ever go to Hope Musical Theatre Camp. There was this "Sparkle Shop" with lots of weird merch that all had the name "Hope" on it, and I thought it was really weird wearing someone else's name on your hat. It's just super weird.

And when I went in, the teacher, Sarah Hope, was not nice at all. Also they say that they give out prizes every day. And that day, they gave out prizes to all the boys, just for being the minority.

And then during auditions, they had us go up on the stage and sing a song that we literally just learned. And we had to do all the moves and everything, and we'd just learned it 5 minutes ago. And we were expected to do it perfectly. And if you didn't do it perfectly, you got a minor role in the show, and it had like two lines.

And, the show was very, very gender-biased. Whenever a boy entered the stage, and their role was "Boy", all the girls would be like, swooning:

"COURT LADIES: Thank you Harry! Ahhhhhhhh! (sighs as they exit - giggling)"

They gave us homework on the first day -- three assignments! And, there's a rule: NO YAWNING. Can you believe that? There's also three stars at the end -- people that the counselors think did really good, and I think that's really unfair because I think we all did pretty good and I don't think it's right to congratulate some people for it. And if your kid is kindergarten to 2nd grade, they'll be a "junior". Juniors basically all have the same part, and they only get two easy little lines. So it's not really a theater camp for them.

p.s. All the other counselors were pretty nice, though, except Sarah Hope. They were really nice and their smiles were real.

My 9 year old is excited to attend Hope Musical Theatre for the third year this summer, and my 6 year old will be a junior camper for her second year. (My 4 year old CANNOT WAIT until it is his turn!) This is the ONE camp that my children attend all summer and it is incredible. They get the chance to have fun, make new friends, and challenge and stretch themselves, all while putting on a fantastic, high-quality, entertaining, talent-filled Broadway show. The staff are awesome and kind and Sarah Hope is an inspiring leader. I highly recommend this camp experience!

HMT is an incredible summer theatre camp! The kids audition, get casted, and learn that every part is an important one. Kids are encouraged to be creative, sparkle & be the best they can be.
My middle daughter has returned for her 4th summer and youngest for her 2nd summer. It is their favorite part of the summer and they look forward to it the whole year.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who was dismayed at how inefficient this program is run. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to get flagged or get a nasty message from anyone, but I will say that there are far better performance-based programs for kids along the peninsula and in Santa Clara County.

One of the most awful aspects about this program is that older kids who want to be junior counselors/helpers actually have to PAY to do it!!! The theater charges a fee to sign up for their camp or workshops for young kids, which makes sense. But what's awful is that older kids (I think like 13+?) who want to be assistants not only don't get paid or receive any benefits/stipend, but they actually have to PAY to assist camp. That's ridiculous! The assistants do everything that a camp director should: take role, lead warm-ups, pass out snacks. They do all the mundane, meaningless tasks that a director should do, and young kids pay for this privilege. If anything, THEY should be paid.

Another Yelper made a comment about HMT nickel and diming the kids--this is true, because they have so much merchandise for sale (hats, sweatshirts), all of which promote the theater. I'm sure that many kids do have fun and learn, but with double casting and parents having to pay for everything, this youth theater really focuses too much on trying to be profitable rather than putting the best interest of the kids first.

This is my kids' favorite camp every summer and the first one we book when registration opens in January!! Hope and team do a fantastic job making it fun and building the kids' singing, dancing and performing skills.

HMT summer camp has, without a doubt, changed our lives. I started with 7 and 8 year old girls in Peter Pan, and every year since then they look forward to Hope's camp all year. Really, they talk about it ALL YEAR. They can't wait until it starts. Now they are 13 and 12 and my 10 year-old son has joined in. So collectively, our family has been to this camp 16 times.

Camp runs for 2 weeks for 1/2 days, with a tryout and a performance day leaving only 8 half-days of practice, yet the shows are wonderful. And I am a very hard theater critic. In fact, we 'researched' all of the local camps- from ones that were all day for 5 weeks to ones that practiced every evening until 9pm and Hope's shows were by far the best. Why? Creative, visually interesting, good props, great costumes... but best of all, a live band that moderates its speed and volume to allow the kids to shine, and substantial stage-time for all cast members that does not feel forced or wasteful. (Another major camp had taped music from speakers IN FRONT of the stage so you couldn't hear a single word the kids were singing.)

Hope is an amazing woman, a former performer in Beach Blanket Babylon with a huge personality and energy to match. I do not know How she organizes 30 kids in such short order to produce such an amazing show...

Casting is based purely on stage ability and voice and not at all on age or looks, which is refreshing for kids who notice a "type" being cast on most stages and screens and magazines. Her leads work hard, learn lots of lines and are expected to be prepared. This can be daunting for some. In fact my son, after being a lead one year, asked the next year if he could be "the wallpaper," and she cast him in the part of a mute! (But don't ask for parts for your kids- that is highly frowned upon). The larger parts are more stressful and the smaller parts are more free so one should not look at the part size as a determinant at all, because all of the kids end up having fun and feeling valued. And for all the work they put into it the kids love it. They help make the sets and design the brochure and eat outside and they play some theater games and learn to respect each other.

In fact, the joy we all experience with the 2 weeks of kids singing around the house and in the car, and the fabulous shows, have drawn both sets of grandparents to fly in from the east coast for that last week of camp for several years now.

So how has it changed their lives? Hope make the stage a safe place to be You. To "sparkle" and "shine". A place where a heavy girl or a tiny boy can have a leading role, or a solo, or be a magician or a Mayor. A place where they've made friends they will likely have for a lifetime, where they've learned responsibility and most of all that they can get up in front of an audience and be applauded. Don't we all wish we had learned that?

Sarah Hope your camp is a gem. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with our children.

We had a very different experience than the other two reviewers of Hope Musical Theater. Perhaps I don't see it as my choice in selecting the musical to perform or exactly which role my son will fill. If I did, I'd be producing a show (which I have NO interest in doing), not Ms. Hope.

The experience for my son at this summer camp was exceptional in every way. It was very well organized and well rehearsed. It was professionally produced and gave my son the flavor of what it is to participate in a 'real' musical, albeit one put together in two short weeks. I was really blown away at how she got these kids together in a coordinated effort and I loved the show - not just seeing my son up there, but all the kids up there giving there best and helping each other out, when needed. I just asked him to rate his experience on a scale of 1 - 10 (highest). He said it was a 9. I would HIGHLY recommend any Hope Musical Theater camp.

I completely disagree with the negative reviews of Hope Musical Theater camp. I was a camper at HMT summer camp four times and never got a lead role. Many people complain about having smaller roles, but that didn't matter to me. People who complain about not getting a lead role are just cheating themselves. I learned that you need to be in the right frame of mind in order to really see the good in your part. Sarah Hope goes out of her way to make sure everyone has a chance to make their part funny or memorable; the only problem is that some kids are too closed-minded to give it a try. Another thing I have realized about this camp is that whether you have 2 lines or 20, you will still learn the same skills. You need to enunciate your words, project your voice, look out at the audience while speaking, and react to what's happening on stage. You also learn key things about theatre that you must know if you want to continue in it, like stage directions (stage right, stage left, upstage, downstage, etc), writing down your blocking, memorizing lines, songs, and dances, how to make sure you don't miss your entrances, and how to deal with props. I loved every minute of this camp, and I can wholeheartedly say that it helped me with theatre outside of HMT. I have gone on to get lead roles in my school's productions because of the skills I learned at Hope Musial Theater. I would recommend it to any kid wishing to have a great time at a summer camp or learn the skills of theatre.