‘Theater Camp’ Sundance Film Festival Review: The Adirondacks Gets Its Due In Musical Comedy

Theater Camp is a hilarious film by first time directors Molly Gordon (Booksmart), and Nick Lieberman. This was a collaborative effort between friends as it’s written by Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Nick Lieberman, and Noah Galvin which was a labor of love because while it’s kooky, it’s full of vulnerability and earnestness. 

The movie opens at AdirondACTS (located in the Adirondacks in upstate NY), a rundown theater camp founded by Joan (Amy Sedaris). While they’re readying for the summer session of kids to arrive, the staff is shocked to learn Joan has fallen ill. However, its too late to mitigate circumstances as the diverse group of kids show up before the camp can cancel the session. These kids are the awkward outsiders who are unsure of their talents, and without Joan, they aren’t sure how to move forward.
The AdirondACT crew is composed of a peculiar bunch including Amos (Ben Platt) and Rebecca-Diane (Molly Gordon) who are the theater directors who teaches acting and singing; Glenn (Noah Galvin) is the in-house stage manager; Clive (Nathan Lee Graham) is the dance teacher who can’t stop talking about Studio 54; Gigi (Owen Thiele) is in charge of costume design; Janet (Ayo Edebiri) doesn’t know what she’s doing; and Joan’s son Troy (Jimmy Tatro), a clout chasing himbo who inherited the camp from his mom. 

The kids go through a skills gauntlet as the staff test each one to examine their strengths and weaknesses to gauge where their talents are best suited. The staff decide that this year’s production will be titled Joan Still, a biographical musical about the camp’s former owner. While everyone gets fired up about the show, Troy has learned that AdironACTS is set for foreclosure since they are behind on taxes. Since he’s not the theater type, and has no money to pay off the debts, Troy contemplates whether the camp is worth selling to rivals who want the property, or does he keep the camp open and keep his mother’s legacy alive. 

Theater Camp is like an episode of the office but in the Adirondacks. The film jumps back and forth between staffers and campers, while documenting their experiences. The staff are like hippies who each teach in their own eccentric way, and the students buy into it. This camp isn’t for those in high society, it’s for the misfits, and the nerds who want to sing, dance, design, work in lighting, and be in charge of their own show.

Unfortunately, adults have problems that sometimes spill over. Troy has lost control of the camp and the property. Diane wants to build a career beyond the camp, and Amos wants her to stay. Glenn is the stage manager holding on to Troy’s secret about the camp. These characters have full arcs, while Janet, Clive and Gigi, the only staff members of color, don’t have much to do, even though the performances are good. Maybe that’s a reflection of the theater camp experience?

It was risky to shoot this the film in 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 have allowed the actors to chew up every scene with reckless abandon. The riskiness lends to the first directors experience as there is something about the content from first timers that is so vibrant. If the duo carry this energy to future projects, Gordon and Lieberman have promising futures as directors.

Theater Camp is at its best when the children are the focus. They are so quick witted, snappy, and honest. Props to the casting directors Kristian Charbonier and Bernard Telsey for finding an inclusive group of young people that bring the viewer into their circle of trust as these kids get to be their full authentic selves on screen.

The theater community is an interesting bunch that often goes misunderstood. While I didn’t go to theater camp, I was involved in community theater and can guarantee that the film’s portrayal of this experience is accurate. Like anyone else that loves what they do, theater folks love to let the world know. It’s a community that is all about embracing who you are as a person being comfortable in your skin, and that’s what Theater Camp is all about. The