A Note from Ms. Emma
Ms. Emma served as the first All-Starz lead and helped lead the charge in founding the All-Starz division and growing it throughout the first years.
5 years ago, All Starz was founded during our 2019-2020 season during our first ever full-length production of Newsies. The program was born from the most amazing problem; Starz Theater Company had an abundance of very young, very talented performers who needed a place to shine. Broadway shows are written for adult vocal ranges, adult dance stamina, and with laws about the amount of time young children can work professionally as performers in mind. This means that when local theaters take on full-length productions, there are very rarely an abundance of roles for very young performers. Often, only one or two young children can be appropriately cast. With Newsies, STC wanted to try something different; what if we created a space where young performers could participate in the show, be fully and truly seen on stage, and develop in their craft as performers and their character as people? That year, 18 students took on the challenge of pioneering something new by performing in the pre-show sneak-peek of Mary Poppins. That inaugural group of All Starz performers were magical on stage. From that first performance, we knew we had found something special.
All Starz quickly developed into an incredibly special program for our youngest performers. When I think back on my time leading this program, I am delighted and impressed by student's hard work on their pre-show performances and foundational training. However, I am most struck by the caliber of their grit and character. I think back to students who were terrified to sing solo in front of their peers, much less an audience; these students were championed and encouraged by their peers and took to the stage to face their fears. I think back to students who were uncertain of their place in our community and company, and I smile to think about how many of these same students have become leaders who are shaping our company culture and community. I think about the hours spent laughing together and cheering each other on; I think about the way our rehearsals have been covered in prayer. I think about students gaining quiet confidence, learning to strive for excellence and "set the bar high" for other performers, and doing it all with equal measures of humility and joy. At STC, we care that our youngest performers are excellent performers, but it matters even more to us that our company is a place where they can continue to grow into and become excellent people. I can confidently say that each class of All-Starz has done both of these things well!
To our incredible audience and community; thank you for your unwavering belief in and support of our All Starz! For many of them, you are the first paying audience they have ever performed for. Your support truly means so much to them! Thank you for always making these early experiences with live theater positive ones for our youngest performers.
To our former All-Starz students currently in Fiddler (including Tevye, Golde, Hodel, Fyedka, Avram, Nachum, Sasha, Yussel, Raisel, Anatevka sons and daughters, featured dancers, young Hodel, many of the Starz Rizing ensemble, Stage Crew and even one of our Student Assistants!); it has been a privilege to champion you and believe in your stories. We hope that you carry the foundational theater skills you learned in your time with All Starz forward with you- but, more so, we hope that you are forever marked by the character and heart you showed in your time in the All Starz program. May you always strive for excellence, champion and encourage each other well, take delight in working hard, and remember that your gifts and talents are a reflection of and gift of praise to your Heavenly Father.
To our current All Starz students; we are so proud of you! Your excitement, your determination, your enthusiasm, and your joy make our company better. Keep learning, keep growing, keep working hard, and keep shining. We can't wait to celebrate you on stage this weekend, and we can't wait to see where you go from here!
All my love,
Miss Emma
