Keep up with the latest from Starlight including details about Broadway shows, new programs, history, and more.
A passion for the arts. The pursuit of a dream. Family tradition. A lifetime of memories. It starts at Starlight. The 35th Annual Benefit Gala raises funds that are critical in enabling Starlight to touch the lives of 30,000 residents through community engagement programs. In addition, support helps to bring world-class Broadway productions and concerts … Continued
Last year’s Blue Star Awards celebrated more than 90 students involved in musical theatre from area high schools in our community, and local Olathe East graduate Justin Cooley took home the award for Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role. His win led him to the Jimmy Awards, presented in New York by the Broadway League … Continued
Each year, thousands of high school students across the Kansas City metro wait in anticipation for the announcement of the annual Blue Star Awards nominations. After a hiatus due to the pandemic, Starlight leadership, staff, and board members returned to in-person presentations to reveal this year’s nominations on Thursday, April 28. This year is the … Continued
Registration is now open for Starlight’s middle school performance troupe—Starlight Stars of Tomorrow! Designed to help students in grades 6-8 build a foundation of performance skills, the program’s activities take place throughout the summer, with additional fall and winter opportunities. Students attend four exploratory theatre and performance sessions led by industry professionals. Not only do … Continued
We want to hear from those who live and/or work in the Swope Park area. You can help us advance our mission to better serve our audiences and enrich our relationship with our surrounding neighbors by taking a 5 to 10-minute survey. Those who complete the survey by the deadline will be entered to win … Continued
Do you know a Kansas City-metro student who is interested in growing their singing, dancing, and acting skills? Starlight encourages area students to sign up to audition for the Starlight Stars—a performance troupe for students currently in grades 8 through 11. The Starlight Stars program develops and hones the skills of high school performers, while … Continued
Each year, the Starlight Stars performance troupe prepares company members to pursue arts careers by honing the skills of high school performers. Last month, the 2021 troupe gathered for their annual wrap party, and Starlight awarded four participants scholarships for their exceptional work throughout the year. This year, program supporters Howard and Ro Jacobson funded … Continued
Starlight is searching for the newest class of Vincent Legacy Scholars! Established in 2006, the Vincent Legacy Scholarship program provides $2,500 for performing arts training to BIPOC youth in the Kansas City community. More than $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded since the program’s inception. To qualify for application, students in grades 6, 7 or … Continued
Did you know? Starlight offers paid summer internships throughout a number of departments at our nonprofit theatre. Since 1984, the Bob Rohlf Internship program has provided college students with the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to bring live Broadway musicals, popular concerts and education programming to Kansas City audiences. … Continued
In mid-December, Vincent Legacy Scholars, their families, Starlight staff and board members gathered together in person to celebrate the holiday season for the first time in two years. The annual holiday reunion is always a favorite, as current scholars and alumni share life updates and reconnect with one another from the past year. This year’s … Continued
For the first time since March 2020, Starlight’s Just Imagine program was able to perform again in front of a live audience in November with Kids’ Safari in Independence. Comprised of a group of four professional actors, the Just Imagine troupe leads each performance, bringing with them props and specially designed costumes to take children … Continued
In 2020, with Starlight’s stage dark and a call for social justice rising across the nation, a new Starlight performance series, Raise Our Voices, was born. Season one featured ten students, each with a connection to at least one of Starlight’s community engagement programs, performing a student-selected piece. In December, season two of Raise Our … Continued
Do you know of a college student looking to gain hands-on experience in the theatre industry next summer? Look no further than Starlight! Since 1984, Starlight has provided paid summer internships in a number of departments, ranging from accounting to graphic design, landscaping/grounds, operations and more. Starlight’s interns are an integral part of the historic … Continued
Last month, Starlight leaders, supporters and staff honored the four most recent Vincent Legacy Scholarship recipients prior to the Friday evening performance of On Your Feet!. Each student earned a $2,500 scholarship to use toward their future arts training and enjoyed dinner and a reception with their families prior to the on-stage recognition. Kalen Allen, … Continued
This past August, 10 college students completed summer-long training at Starlight through the Bob Rohlf Internships Program. These students participated in full-time, paid internship opportunities focused in departments including accounting, community engagement, donor relations, information systems, marketing/sales, multimedia, operations, production management and PR/communications. The students gained hands-on, real-world experience as they learned about roles in nonprofit arts administration and contributed to Starlight’s daily success, learning alongside … Continued
2014 Vincent Legacy Scholar Zachery Garner recently had the opportunity to attend a prestigious puppetry training initiative with the Jim Henson Company in Los Angeles, California. The Jim Henson Company is best known for creating the Muppets franchise, making this “a lifetime opportunity” for Zachery, who is a puppeteer and actor from the Kansas City area. Starlight is proud of this Vincent Legacy Scholar for shining in a very unique performance art. To … Continued
Each summer, Starlight selects a new group of Starlight Stars and Starlight Stars of Tomorrow, representing some of the most ambitious and talented high school and middle school performers in the Kansas City region. These young stars participate in exciting educational workshops and have performance opportunities throughout the year. “We know how eager community students … Continued
The 12th annual JIMMY AWARDS® was presented by the Broadway League Foundation virtually on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Competing in this national awards ceremony recognizing the best of high school musical talent were Justin Cooley and Ava Wolesky, Starlight’s Blue Star Awards winners for Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role and Outstanding Actress in a … Continued
It’s time for the 2021 Jimmy Awards! This year, two winners from Starlight’s Blue Star Awards will represent the Kansas City region and compete nationally in the 12th annual Jimmy Awards. These exceptional performers are Justin Cooley from Olathe East High School, Starlight’s Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role, and Ava Wolesky from Liberty North … Continued
As a Corporate Charitable Partner, CommunityAmerica Credit Union has generously supported Starlight’s Blue Star Awards Program for the past two years, and countless other charitable organizations. We recently sat down with Kathryn Harvel, Executive Director of the CommunityAmerica Foundation, to discuss their philanthropic approach. How would you describe the values that guide CommunityAmerica Credit … Continued
For our first public, in-person event in over a year, Starlight hosted the 19th Annual Blue Star Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 20th - and what a comeback it was! During the free event, which was made possible through the generous support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and CommunityAmerica Credit Union, … Continued
Calling all middle school students who love performing arts! It’s not too late to apply for Starlight’s Vincent Legacy Scholarship. Each $2,500 scholarship will provide a qualified and deserving student from metropolitan Kansas City or the surrounding area with the opportunity to pursue professional training in the performing arts. To qualify, a student in grades … Continued
Starlight recently welcomed area high school students back into the theatre for the first time since 2019 for the 19th annual Blue Star Awards Ceremony. The much anticipated event was a year of many firsts. Starlight granted more than $10,000 in scholarships - the most ever awarded in the program - and introduced a new … Continued
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact schools and students alike, young theatre artists throughout Kansas City prove their adaptability and creativity on and off the stage. On Thursday, April 22, Starlight was proud to reveal the much-anticipated nominations for the 19th annual Blue Star Awards, honoring the hard work of area high school students. … Continued
Starlight is excited to announce a new partnership with Disney this spring for a virtual field trip and screening of NEWSIES: The Broadway Musical. “Starlight has been actively pursuing new pathways to arts experiences throughout the pandemic, and though nothing can replace the experience of young people sitting next to each other at a live … Continued
Starlight is thrilled to welcome its new Vice President of Community Engagement to the team. With nearly 20 years of experience in the field, Jones brings his expertise of arts education and community engagement all the way from California. Learn more about Starlight’s newest team member and what he’s looking forward to most about this … Continued
Each year, Starlight invites Vincent Legacy Scholars and their families to the theatre for a holiday celebration dinner. The evening introduces the newest scholars, provides an opportunity for current scholars and alumni to share performing and life updates, and connects students and their families to Starlight staff and program donors, Greg and Rebecca Reid. This … Continued
A wrap party via Zoom on Monday, December 21, concluded the 2020 season for the Starlight Stars and Starlight Stars of Tomorrow performance troupes. Along with reflecting on the season and sharing favorite memories, a portion of the evening included awarding two $500 scholarships from Starlight and the programs’ donors. Katy Sheehan, a sophomore at … Continued
Starlight’s Bob Rohlf Internship program is back for the summer of 2021! Applications are now available online for college students seeking a paid internship experience filled with hands-on opportunities. Starlight interns contribute to the success of the theatre’s Broadway shows, concerts and community engagement programs. Bob Rohlf Interns have the opportunity to work closely with … Continued
Starlight’s family of Vincent Legacy Scholarship recipients grew by five in mid-November when the students who participated in our 2020 series of performance workshops received a pleasant surprise – $500 scholarships to pursue additional training in the performing arts! Each of the students – now in grades 7 through 9 – originally applied in early … Continued