Screened as part of NZIFF 2023

Theater Camp 2023

Directed by Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman Spotlight

This rollicking mockumentary set at a scrappy theatre camp in upstate New York is an affectionate look at a ragtag troupe of eccentric misfits who just want to sing and dance.

Aug 25

The Pastorius-Waller Theatre at the Suter Art Gallery

Aug 28

The Pastorius-Waller Theatre at the Suter Art Gallery

USA In English
94 minutes Colour / DCP

Producers

Erik Feig
,
Samie Kim Falvey
,
Julia Hammer
,
Ryan Heller
,
Maria Zuckerman
,
Jessica Elbaum
,
Will Ferrell
,
Noah Galvin
,
Molly Gordon
,
Nick Lieberman
,
Ben Platt

Screenplay

Noah Galvin
,
Molly Gordon
,
Nick Lieberman
,
Ben Platt

Cinematography

Nate Hurtsellers

Editor

Jon Philpot

Production Designers

Charlotte Royer
,
Jordan Janota

Costume Designer

Michelle Li

Music

James McAlister
,
Mark Sonnenblick

Cast

Noah Galvin
,
Molly Gordon
,
Ben Platt
,
Jimmy Tatro
,
Patti Harrison
,
Nathan Lee Graham
,
Ayo Edebiri
,
Owen Thiele
,
Caroline Aaron
,
Amy Sedaris

Festivals

Sundance
,
SXSW 2023

Elsewhere

“‘Theater kid’ can be a pejorative in Hollywood. Being a ‘theater kid’ means you're too enthusiastic, too showboaty—in other words, not cool… Theater Camp has a lot of ‘theater kid’ energy and wears it proudly… This gem of a mockumentary comes from a group of dedicated grown-up theater kids. Molly Gordon directs alongside Nick Lieberman, and they co-wrote the script with their pals Noah Galvin and Ben Platt…

The plot kicks off at a middle school production of Bye Bye Birdie attended by Joan (Amy Sedaris), the beloved founder of the AdirondACTS summer camp. The unfortunate use of strobe lights gives Joan a stroke and puts her in a coma, forcing her bro-y, selfie-stick wielding son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) to take over camp operations.

Troy loves Post Malone and doesn’t get what it means when campers call him a ‘music man,’ meaning he is not the right person to lead these divas-in-training… The instructors are equally stressed out by Troy's presence, particularly Amos (Platt) and Rebecca-Diane (Gordon), two former campers who are attached at the hip and write and direct an original musical each year…

Tatro… has the bro act down pat, while Gordon and Platt are endearingly obnoxious as these overly serious thespians who have decided to pour all of their creative passion into teaching because the larger entertainment industry has failed them. Galvin, meanwhile, is both the movie and the camp’s secret weapon as the do-it-all techie with a song in his heart…

With the adult actors playing zany characters, the kids’ genuine passion and skills ground the movie. Their performances make you believe in the mission of the camp, and may even have you wiping away tears.” — Esther Zuckerman, Vanity Fair