REGISTER HERE Shining Stars 
July 14 – August 1, 2025 (3-weeks)

Monday – Fridays, 9 AM – 1 PM
Tuition: 3 Weeks = $625 / 2 Weeks = $417
Instructors: Gavin Knox, Melody Knox

This Shining Stars 2025 revised program offers students an opportunity to explore all areas of Musical Theater. Directors Gavin and Melody Knox have years of experience training young actors in musical theatre in addition to directing numerous productions which most recently included JR versions of Into the Woods, Mary Poppins, and Rock of Ages at LTC.

The Shining Stars workshop curriculum will offer students an opportunity to develop their skills as musical theater performers through a range of group collaboration, partner scene and song work, and individualized instruction. Students will explore a variety of characters, songs, and musicals. Whether the student is starting to explore the world of performance, or has years of musical theater experience, every student will be matched with a challenge appropriate for their skill level.

Students will receive instruction in:

Acting: Learn tips for memorizing lines, how to play different characters (heroes, villains, comedic sidekicks, etc), and proper pacing of spoken lines. Advanced topics include comedic timing, how to move in-character, and digging deep into the minds of characters through script analysis.

Stage Presence: Learn how to act, sing, and move with confidence to draw the audience in. In addition to refining these foundational skills, more experienced students will learn advanced techniques for interacting with other characters on stage to maximize comedic or dramatic effects.

Vocal Technique: Gain experience on how to sing the right notes, how to speak so the audience can understand and hear you, and the basics of reading music. Advanced skills will include singing harmonies, changing your voice to fit different characters, and how to sing while moving or dancing.

Audition readiness: Students will learn how to prepare for and execute successful auditions. We will cover how to choose the best songs and scenes, how to let your personality shine through during the audition, and healthy coping strategies for when you are nervous.

There will be 2 student showcases. These will feature group numbers, solo vocal performances, and presentations of scenes. Students are encouraged to suggest their favorite songs and scenes, and we are also happy to provide and teach new songs and scenes to students who have no preference or who are looking to diversify their knowledge base. Materials will be selected for the showcases based on a student’s area of interest and skill level.

One performance will be at the end of Week 2, July 25th, and we will have another at the end of week 3 on August 1st, which gives students lots of opportunities to perform and show off what they learned.