Our History
Summer of 2020: Backyard Theatre started when two young children (pictured on the upper left ) wanted to put on a production of Frozen Jr. with some friends in their backyard. Their mom reached out to me to direct the performance, and the rest is history!
February 2021: We hosted a virtual playwriting class in which students learned about elements of storytelling. Together, we created 4 short plays performed over Zoom.
Summer 2022: We revisited backyard camp, performing Beauty and the Beast Jr. This year, we introduced crew groups, emphasizing the importance of backstage production in addition to what happens onstage. Each actor was also placed in a backstage crew group (Set Design, Props, Choreography, Costumes, Stage Management). Each group had a "crew leader" who ensured that the team's responsibilities were completed throughout the summer.
Summer 2023: Growing more and more each year, we performed Little Mermaid Jr. This year incorporated local high school seniors/recent graduates to assist with the camp. With their help, we were able to break into smaller groups, be more efficient with our rehearsal time, and put on a larger-scale production in a shorter amount of time.
Summer 2024: Running out of already-written Disney musicals, we decided to write our own script to Disney’s Hercules. Having less examples to base our production on, we learned about adapting to our space and production needs.
Summer 2025: We performed Tangled, complete with frying pan fights, magic hair, and our very own rotating tower set! Thanks to the help of a high school set designer, we were able to build a tower to enhance our set design.
The Future of Backyard Theatre:
We aim to continue doing our annual backyard theatre camp. If you are interested in participating in future productions, check out our contact page to be added to the email list!
Every year, we continue to grow and shape how our process runs. Below are some exciting new additions to our future shows.
In 2026, we aim to start a “LIT” (Leader In Training) program for high school students to practice and showcase their leadership skills. Learn more here.
In 2027 and beyond, we hope to have former campers join us as full staff members and lead the camp themselves.
Camp Director
Hi! I’m Emma!
I am the Founder and Director of Backyard Theatre.
I’m so excited to welcome you to Backyard Theatre, whether you are a long-time camper or this is your first introduction to our organization. Welcome!
I’ll start by introducing myself a little. I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated from Pioneer High School in 2019. I then went to Chicago to get my BFA in Film and Television with a concentration in Creative Producing. Post-college, I moved back home and worked part-time at Huron High School (Huron Players) and The Encore Musical Theatre Company in Dexter, Michigan. In August 2024, I began a full-time position at The Encore as their Resident Assistant Stage Manager and Production Supervisor.
Backyard Theatre is my absolute dream come true. I look forward to this production all year long. It is truly an honor to spend the week with these kids and watch them grow over the years. I maintain the belief that every child benefits from being exposed to the arts. By creating a low-stakes, collaborative, and fun environment, children are able to explore who they are and challenge themselves in new ways, whether they actively realize it or not.
My goal when running camp is, first and foremost, to make sure the children feel safe and welcomed at camp. Everyone is respected and valued at camp, no matter their gender, orientation, race, ability, or economic background.
When children feel safe, they are able to let down their guard and have fun. That’s my second goal! Each day of rehearsal, I allot time to play a variety of games. Theatre games strengthen theatre skills such as improvisation, projection, and familiarity with theatre terminology. Group competition games build skills of trust, teamwork, and respect for one another.
If you are new to Backyard Theatre and considering joining us next Summer, we hope you join us! We love welcoming new faces to our community. It’s perfectly normal to have questions, concerns, or worries about coming to a new space for the first time. If you or your child has any questions about our camp, please do not hesitate to reach out. We want to make this the best experience for you and your child.
Best,
Emma Hutchinson (they/she)
Camp Director/Founder