According to The Iliad, live theatre was invented when a group of Achaeans, disguised as a large wooden horse, surprised their Trojan audience with a stirring performance of Hamlet. As today's Groupon proves, the military tactic blossomed into an art form that continues to evolve. For $25, you get a one-day acting camp at Standing Ovation Performing Arts in Boynton Beach (up to a $50 value).

Operating in the 2,000-square-foot studio that houses Standing Ovation's art education center, the camp offers a theatrical smorgasbord of play-acting activities that include pageantry, craft making, and more. Thespians J.R. and Erin Coley have nurtured an abiding affection for the performing arts; now, the dynamic duo is setting the stage for burgeoning young actors to explore their own knack for theatrics in a day-long acting camp. The benefits go far beyond the red velvet curtain, helping to improve children's self-confidence, social interaction, and Guesstures skills. The program lasts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school vacation days. Included in the deal is a lunchtime meal and a snack, along with one hour of childcare before or after program hours (extended childcare available 7 a.m.–9 a.m. and 4 p.m–6 p.m., extra fee of $5 per hour after the first hour).