Under the belief that every young person should have a chance to be in the spotlight and shine, the Spotlight Kidz group will launch its third season this summer and plans to travel abroad in 2017.
Lucy Murray and Taylor Brigade, Pottsville Area High School seniors, and Lauren Tidmore, a Blue Mountain senior, said the performance group has provided a wealth of opportunities.
“I just can’t see myself doing anything else but singing, moving people in the audience and telling a story,” Tidmore, 17, of Orwigsburg, said.
Spotlight Kidz is part of the Pottsville Gymnastics & Theatrical Center Inc., according to Sandy Kost-Sterner, Kidz director. They have performances and practices at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St., located directly across the street from Pottsville GTC.
This summer they will be updating their song lists for upcoming performances. Members of the Spotlight Kidz will have the opportunity to perform in New York City again and each summer there’s a Broadway guest performer. Those guests have included Pottsville’s own Bradley Dean, who is a veteran of nine Broadway shows, and Marissa Perry, who played Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray.” This year’s special guest is Ali Ewoldt, who is currently on Broadway in “The King and I” and also played the role of Cosette in the first revival of “Les Miserables” on Broadway.
Spotlight Kidz is offered unique performance opportunities, Kost-Sterner said, such as singing in the Big Apple on a New York City stage, attending workshops run by Broadway stars, preparing them for auditions for possible professional careers.
Other scheduled performances — in addition to local events — include the Fightin’ Phillies, Hershey Park and Knoebels. Plans are also in the works to get the group into a recording studio to work on a CD, Kost-Sterner said.
Murray has been in the program for two years. She started as a choreographer for the younger pupils, and then last year was her first year as a performer. She said she met one of her best friends through Spotlight Kidz.
“It’s a highlight of your week,” Murray, 17, of Pottsville, said about the practices slated for Monday evenings. “You’re in a comfortable environment and we’re grateful to Sandy for doing this.”
“It’s a great way to get involved in theater that’s not too time consuming that it drags you down. Not many people get to say they’ve performed on Broadway and shared their interests and talents,”she said.
Murray, a Pottsville Area High School senior, plans to attend Tulane University this fall, majoring in political science and international relations with a minor in Spanish. She said she’d also like to participate in plays at Tulane, and is looking forward to New Orleans’ “up-and-coming theater scene.”
Fellow Pottsville senior Taylor Brigade, 17, said he learned so much about musical theater by joining the performance group, and was looking for experience and fun.
“It opened my eyes to all different types of music,” he said.
Brigade, Pottsville, plans to major in pre-physical therapy and minor in theater at Bloomsburg University.
Brigade sang “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” from “Les Miserables” on Broadway during his first visit to NYC with Spotlight Kidz.
“We got to meet Bradley Dean and it was so cool. It made me feel I was bigger than I really was and it was a great experience,” he said.
Since November, Tidmore has been auditioning at 11 colleges and universities. She’d like to major in musical theater, but has not yet selected where she’ll attend. Tidmore just completed the lead role as “Maria” in “The Sound of Music” at her high school. She said Kost-Sterner has been supportive of her efforts in musical theater, and directed her to a vocal coach. She’s thankful for her time spent with Spotlight Kidz.
“Going to New York City was an incredible experience,” Tidmore said. “We did our sound checks and learned more about the professionalism of putting on a show.”
Kost-Sterner said, “Spotlight Kidz have been winners at the Majestic Awards, Junior Idol and Winter Carnival. The confidence and stage presence these youngsters have is amazing. Also, while others might do a high school musical with their school once a year, or someone might be in a local play, the Spotlight Kidz are honing their skills year round. This is something that is very much to their advantage and the reason they excel.”
Next summer the group of students will go to Europe to study theater. They will spend the majority of their time in London going to workshops and shows. The group will also go to Paris and the Netherlands. This trip will be open to high school and college students from throughout the area.
Spotlight Kidz is by invitation or audition only and is a year-round program. There were approximately 30 members representing six different school districts involved in the program this past season. There are three age groups: children, junior and senior. Auditions will be held throughout May for this year’s program. Youngsters should have some background in singing as well as dancing or acting experience, according to Kost-Sterner. Most performers are selected from shows that Pottsville GTC hosts.
“We have had several students already audition for and get callbacks for Broadway shows and national tours. We also have students who model in New York City. Spotlight Kidz is all about opportunities and helping these youngsters reach their dreams,” Kost-Sterner said.
There are four cabaret-type shows at the Majestic Theater during the year: “Lil’ Bits of Broadway,” “Magical Memories: A Tribute to the Magic of Disney,” “A Broadway Christmas” and “Movie Magic.” For next season, they are looking to change some of the shows to introduce the groups to other types of music. “Lil’ Bits of Broadway” will stay as that was Pottsville GTC’s very first show.
In addition to the Spotlight Kidz program, Pottsville GTC offers workshops and camps for students of all ages. This summer they will be doing a camp called “The Lion King Experience.” It is a two-week camp and will conclude with a performance from “The Lion King.” This camp will take place at the Majestic Theater and will run weekdays from June 13 to 24.
For more information, email schmusicevent@comcast.net or call Pottsville GTC at 570-628-4966.
The costs vary depending on the program. There are some mandatory events and then there are events that the members can participate in such as workshops, other shows and competitions.
Eight seniors will be graduating from the Spotlight Kidz program this season.
“I am continually impressed by their drive and passion for the performing arts. Several of them will pursue musical theatre in college with some getting scholarships,” Kost-Sterner said.