September 22 – 26

7 pm Nightly
Rated PG — 1 hr 33 min
Comedy

A true passion project, Theater Camp is a comedic gem, an endearing ode to creativity, and a reminder of the importance of artistic community. There is a lot of bad acting, in a good way, in Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s deeply charming and very funny mockumentary, set at a theatre camp in upstate New York. Gordon and Ben Platt play two teachers who met at the camp years ago and became best friends.

Tony Award winner Ben Platt and Molly Gordon star as lifelong best friends and drama instructors at a rundown camp in upstate New York. When clueless tech-bro Troy (Jimmy Tatro) arrives to run the property (into the ground), Amos, Rebecca-Diane and production manager Glenn (Noah Galvin) band together with the staff and students to stage a masterpiece, and keep their beloved summer camp afloat. The film is an endearing look at creativity as well as a surprisingly poignant reminder that most artists succeed not through individual genius, but by being part of a community.

The mockumentary is by, for, and about hardcore theater nerds, but there’s enough infectious, let’s-put-on-a-show energy to entertain casual fans. It’s shamelessly infatuated with the great American musical, but it also enjoys poking affectionate fun at the kids’ creative tunnel vision. For anyone who’s ever had a demanding theater teacher, it rings as clear as a bell, as does every other aspect of Theater Camp, a fine-cut comedic gem engineered with a distinct sensibility and the chops to become a beloved camp classic. Having laughed all the way through, you’ll leave the cinema feeling moved.