Category: Engage

The deadline for qualified local nonprofit organizations to apply for Starlight Theatre’s 2017 Community Ticket Program is this Friday, March 17. Charitable organizations operating in Missouri and Kansas must complete the 2017 application and provide proof of their nonprofit status. Because supplies of free community tickets are limited, applications from charities that serve underprivileged and at-risk … Continued

Hiring managers across all departments at Starlight Theatre are now accepting applications from motivated, hard-working and creative college students who want to spend this summer learning about the inner workings of a professional theatre. The deadline to apply for one of 13 summer positions offered in Starlight’s Bob Rohlf Internship Program is Friday, March 3. … Continued

A crowd of nearly 100 came together in early January to celebrate the talents, accomplishments and ambitions of a group of very special young people. The annual Vincent Legacy Scholarship holiday dinner brought together 17 Vincent Legacy Scholars, their parents, guardians, families and Starlight Theatre staff for an evening of conversation and performances. The evening … Continued

Another successful year of the Starlight STARS of Tomorrow came to a close Feb. 2 with the program’s annual wrap party for participants and families. Each year since 2006, the STARS program has welcomed approximately two dozen young artists in grades 7 through 12. They spend several months together, receiving intensive training in acting, singing … Continued

With the holidays just around the corner, the Starlight STARS of Tomorrow are ready to help Kansas Citians get into the spirit of the season. The Starlight STARS will perform a holiday song and dance medley at a variety of community events in November and December. Starlight Theatre’s musical theatre performance troupe this year showcases … Continued

Starlight Theatre has been busy lighting up the faces and stirring the imaginations of Kansas City kids and families in need. During the months of September and October, Starlight’s Just Imagine interactive theatrical program is taking its show on the road. The program’s troupe of four local professional actors are delivering their hour-long theatrical and storytelling … Continued

Two talented young ladies were presented Vincent Legacy Scholarships on the Starlight Theatre stage Monday, Aug. 18 in front of audience members gathered to see Beauty and the Beast. Recognized as 2016 scholarship recipients were Faith Andrews-ONeal of Blue Springs and Nahrya Williams of Kansas City, Mo. Faith, who completed eighth grade at St. Paul’s Episcopal … Continued

When 2016 Blue Star Award winners Alison Ann Gillespie and Lucas Lowry accepted their trophies on the Starlight Theatre stage May 19, they were just beginning an adventure that would find them in New York City performing on a Broadway stage less than six weeks later. Alison Ann and Lucas took home the honors of … Continued

Two Kansas City-area middle school students received the good news on May 23 that they’ve joined the elite group of Starlight Theatre’s Vincent Legacy Scholarship recipients. Seventh-grader Nahrya Williams (Raytown Middle School) and eighth-grader Faith Andrews-ONeal (St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School) were awarded $2,500 Vincent Legacy Scholarships to help advance their training in the performing … Continued

The red carpet was rolled out, the seats were filled, and the stage was brimming with song and dance as Starlight Theatre recognized high achievers in Kansas City high school musical theatre at the 14th annual Blue Star Awards Ceremony on May 19. Modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards®, Starlight’s Blue Star Awards celebrate the talented … Continued

On April 29, high school theatre students and instructors across metropolitan Kansas City and in neighboring communities received the good news that they had received nominations for the 14th annual Blue Star Awards from Starlight Theatre. Starlight leaders and staff personally delivered 133 nominations to 40 area high schools. On Thursday, May 19, the Blue … Continued

Starlight Theatre is accepting applications for its Vincent Legacy Scholarships through Monday, March 28. The annual scholarship opportunity provides minority middle-school students with funding to pursue professional training in the performing arts. The Vincent Legacy Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 by local community leaders Greg and Rebecca Reid to give qualified students an opportunity … Continued

The thousands of Kansas City area students who participate in Starlight Theatre’s performing arts education camps, classes and programs each year have a new place to call home when at the theatre. Starlight’s brand-new Education Pavilion, constructed on the site of its original 1950 Director’s Pavilion, provides 2,700 square feet of climate-controlled space for use … Continued

Starlight Theatre staff are taking to the road this month to recruit prospective candidates for its Bob Rohlf Internship Program in 2016. Each summer Starlight hires more than a dozen college students to work alongside its professional staff members to learn the ins and outs of live theatre production and administration. Interns quickly are immersed … Continued

The 26 members of the 2015 Starlight STARS of Tomorrow troupe wrapped up another successful year with a celebratory pizza party with Starlight Education leaders. At the January event, special recognition was given to two Starlight STARS. Anna Hastings of Olathe and Sarah Navran of Overland Park were awarded $500 scholarships in recognition of the … Continued

As Starlight has grown its portfolio of education programs to 11 and expanded its reach to more than 5,000 students each year, one thing hasn’t grown – the physical space needed to accommodate all those classes, camps and kids. Until now, that is! In 2016, Starlight will introduce its new 2,700-square-foot Education Pavilion, built on … Continued

As the holiday season approaches, the Starlight STARS of Tomorrow are once again ready to stage several festive performances for Kansas City audiences. Starlight Theatre’s musical theatre performance troupe showcases the talents of two dozen students from middle and high schools across the metro. After entertaining Broadway audiences all summer long from Starlight’s Spotlight Stage, … Continued

With its staging of Hairspray on Halloween weekend, Shawnee Mission South High School officially launched the 14th year of the Blue Star Awards at Starlight Theatre. The school is one of 52 Kansas City area high schools participating during the 2015-16 school year. Modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards®, Starlight’s Blue Star Awards annually recognize outstanding achievement and … Continued

Starlight Theatre staff rolled up their sleeves for a great cause this week. Participating in the United Way’s Care4KC campaign, we made and served dinner to families staying at the local Ronald McDonald House. Mashed potato bowls and warm apple crisp were on the menu on a cool fall night. We chopped, peeled, sliced, diced, … Continued

It has been a milestone year for Starlight’s Vincent Legacy Scholarship program. The scholarship program for ethnically diverse middle-school youth, established by benefactors Greg and Rebecca Reid, marked its 10th anniversary and awarded a record five scholarships in 2015. Since the program began in 2006, a total of 27 Vincent Legacy Scholarships have been provided … Continued

The Starlight STARS of Tomorrow are taking their show on the road. Starlight’s youth performance troupe will entertain audiences this Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Kansas City Ballet’s Fifth Annual KC Dance Day. The STARS take the stage at 10:10 a.m. to perform their 2015 Broadway season medley, including numbers from Cinderella, Pippin, Mary Poppins and more. … Continued

As part of the 2015 Fairy Tale Festival, Starlight Theatre took the opportunity to help a fellow not-for-profit organization that makes a big impact in the greater Kansas City Area. Guests attending Cinderella at Starlight were invited – and encouraged – to bring a pair of children’s shoes to the show to donate to Operation Breakthrough. Committed … Continued

At the pre-show Fairy Tale Festival before each performance of Cinderella, Starlight Theatre is partnering with Operation Breakthrough to collect shoes for Kansas City children. Everyone knows the glass slipper is pivotal to the plot of Cinderella, so Starlight picked up on the shoe theme with its “If the Shoe Doesn’t Fit, Bring It!” campaign. Guests attending … Continued

Two area high school students, honored by Starlight Theatre’s Blue Star Awards for their theatrical achievements, are in New York City through Tuesday to compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA). Maggie Marx and Austin Dalgleish are graduates of Shawnee Mission Northwest and Shawnee Mission East, respectively. They were recognized at the … Continued

Congratulations to all of the 2015 Blue Star Award recipients, nominees and participating high schools! …and the winners are… Outstanding Overall Production ———————————-Winner———————————– Raymore-Peculiar – Man of La Mancha Lee’s Summit North – Disney’s Tarzan Liberty – Shrek the Musical Olathe East – Catch Me If You Can Shawnee Mission Northwest – Little Shop of Horrors Shawnee Mission West – A … Continued

Today, high school theatre students and instructors across metropolitan Kansas City and in neighboring communities received the good news that they had received nominations for the 13th annual Blue Star Awards from Starlight Theatre. Starlight leaders and staff personally delivered 129 nominations to 35 area high schools. On Thursday, May 21, the Blue Star Award … Continued

The application period is under way for the 2015 Bob Rohlf Internship Program at Starlight. College students interested in spending a summer learning the inner workings of theatre administration and production are encouraged to download an application at kcstarlight.com/education and apply by March 2. Selected applicants will be invited to interview in the spring. Each year the … Continued

You don’t have to wait until summer to enjoy a performance by the Starlight STARS of Tomorrow. The troupe is performing at several holiday events in the next few weeks. The festivities kick off at Santa’s Wonderland at Gillham Park on Friday, December 12 followed by back-to-back-to-back performances at the Candy Cane Course at Starlight … Continued

When WaterFire KC ignites the Country Club Plaza’s night on Oct. 10-11, the Starlight STARS of Tomorrow will be among the local performers kicking off the celebration in high style. They will take the festival stage at 8:30 p.m. on Friday to perform their 2014 Broadway show medley, featuring show tunes from The Sound of Music, … Continued

The air is crisp, leaves are falling and high schools are gearing up to showcase their students’ theatrical talents. ‘Tis the season for high school fall musicals, and adjudicators from Starlight’s Blue Star Awards will soon fan out across Kansas City to see and critique the productions, doing so again in the spring. “As we … Continued