Theater Camp Releases First Theatrical Trailer

After participating in the Sundance and SXSW festivals, Searchlight Pictures has everything ready for the release of the indie comedy Theater Camp, which hits theaters in July and could be one of the big surprises of the year.

Check out the trailer:

The mockumentary is back in the hands of directors Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman in this film that seeks to pay homage to the theatrical experience and what theater kids go through. The plot centers on the staff of a summer camp who have to ally with the owner’s son to try to save him after she falls into a coma.

Beyond the maneuvers that the employees will have to do to save their workplace, the film explores the experiences of the attendees and what it means for each of them to have a place where they can take their first steps towards their dream of becoming actors, far away of the spaces where they can be judged by their desire.

Theater Camp stars Caroline Aaron, Alexander Bello, Bailee Bonick, Amy Sedaris, Jimmy Tatro, Ben Platt and Molly Gordon. The script was written by Lieberman, Gordon, and Noah Galvin.

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Theater Camp Pays Homage to Theater History

Right after being shown at Sundance, the first reviews for Theater Camp came out and critics seem to be delighted by the movie and its innocent homage to theater history, even though it can be too much sometimes.

Esther Zuckerman from Vanity Fair wrote:

“The new comedy Theater Camp, which premiered at Sundance and was swiftly picked up by Searchlight Pictures, has a lot of “theater kid” energy and wears it proudly. Please don’t let that turn you off. Sure, it may be a little bit much for those who don’t thrive on references to Wicked and Throat Coat tea and Sweeney Todd, but it’s also delicately calibrated to celebrate overly dramatic weirdos while playfully ribbing them at the same time.”

Sheri and Josh Flanders from The Chicago Reader said:

“There’s plenty of inside-musical jokes that may not land if one has not spent countless hours in black-box theaters with self-obsessed gurus, as well as summers wondering if their camp will get shut down for various infractions. If so, then this is the cult classic you may watch again and again. Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman direct this hilarious indie film whose delightful and eclectic cast won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble.”

Valerie Complex from Deadline wrote:

“It was quite a risk to shoot this verite doc style, but really it was the only way to fully immerse the viewer into this unconventional world. Playing it straight wouldn’t have worked or been as engaging. The actors chew up every scene with reckless abandon, and as long as you’re laughing, that’s all that matters. There is just something about content from first time directors that is so thrilling and vibrant. If the duo carry this energy to future projects, both have bright futures as directors.”