Camp

Camp is about a performance arts camp in New York State. It's an indie film so production values aren't super high and there are no real stars. It is written and directed by Todd Graff, himself a student at the camp this movie fictionalizes (and is filmed on location there). He also wrote and directed the new movie Joyful Noise.

The film focuses on one summer, and specifically on three teens: Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat), the plain jane "fag hag" (straight girl who hangs out with gay boys, usually because she can't get her own boyfriend); Michael (Robin de Jesus), a gay boy whose parents practically disown him when he wears a dress to the prom; Vlad (Daniel Letterle), the new straight boy who wants to be an actor, whom everyone lusts after (gay boys and straight girls).  Also included is the camp's guest director, Bert (Don Dixon), who only had one hit show and is pretty bitter he didn't find more success.  Vlad manages to help Ellen, Michael and Bert work through their problems.

All the young actors in this movie can sing and dance and some are pretty talented (Sasha Allen, Tiffany Taylor).  Throughout the movie are standalone performances from hit shows such as those by Stephen Sondheim (who also has a cameo as himself).  The musical segments usually choose the best singers for solo performances, and there are some group productions where the lesser talented actors can perform together. The actors are not glamourized Hollywood types and look and act like real teens.  There are several other supporting teen characters who have their own stories, such as a little kid who gets over his shyness, a mean girl and her groupie who comes into her own, a curvaceous girl whose parents wire her jaw shut. 

I'm assuming many of these teen actors went on to Broadway/stage careers as I only recognize one (Anna Kendrick) since then in the movies (although others have had film roles, I just haven't seen them).  Daniel Letterle as Vlad was especially good but does not look like he has an arts career. 

I wished there was less of the gay boy/showtune lover kind of stereotype, and that parents were painted in a more supporting light, as overall they are not very supportive of their children's life choices.  But there are a mix of characters and issues that teens can relate to.