STAR Arts Education
Oak Tree Garden Stage, 695 Rucker Ave, Gilroy, CA 95020
About
STAR Arts Education offers theatre arts, video arts, acting, dancing, singing, film, podcasting, and video activities. The program includes onstage musical productions, outdoor performances, and artistic workshops.
• Ages: 7–17 years old
STAR Arts Education was founded in 1985 by Marilyn Abad-Cardinalli, Professor Emeritus of Theatre and Television Arts at Gavilan College. For 41 years, the STAR Program has been one of the best summer programs available for youth interested in theatre and video arts education since it was founded in 1985. It was formerly known as the Gavilan STAR Program and is now a non-profit organization that focuses on performing, visual, and video arts. STAR Arts Education is a kids theatre arts organization based in Gilroy, California, and provides a creative and inclusive space for kids ages 7–17. The organization states that it creates a safe place for youth to express themselves, boost confidence and poise, encourage creative spirits, and teach collaboration, teamwork, and mutual respect. Content created in the program is distributed on the web and in productions performed to live audiences of all ages.
The mission of STAR Arts Education is to provide excellent arts programs and learning experience to young people and for all audiences that are fun, engaging, and educational. Its core values are Love, Trust, Unity, Community, Imagination, and Excellence. The STAR Way focuses on connecting and engaging with the STAR kids by understanding and demonstrating these core values, and is described as caring, knowing, supporting, and making good decisions. Many STAR kids return to the program to become STAR leaders, and it has become a summer tradition for many families, with summer vacations often planned around the programs. STAR Arts Education shares the saying, “Once you're a STAR Kid, you're always a STAR Kid!”
STAR Arts Education is very excited to forge new collaborations with several local arts organizations, businesses, and venues in the community. It celebrates diverse communities and exposes young people and the community to participating, collaborating, sharing, and experiencing the results of the creative process. The organization strives to connect and engage all children and their families in its communities with opportunities to experience, be engaged, and enjoy the performing arts on stage and on screen virtually or face to face. It aspires to reach out to all members of the community through summer musical theatre, video arts camps with onstage musical productions, outdoor performances, artistic workshops, and educational partnerships with schools. STAR Arts Education is committed to an inclusive approach and to offering equal opportunity for participation and engagement in all its programs, and it includes a land acknowledgement recognizing the Ohlone people, specifically the Popeloutchom (Amah Mutsun) Tribe.
STAR Arts Education is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
• Ages: 7–17 years old
STAR Arts Education was founded in 1985 by Marilyn Abad-Cardinalli, Professor Emeritus of Theatre and Television Arts at Gavilan College. For 41 years, the STAR Program has been one of the best summer programs available for youth interested in theatre and video arts education since it was founded in 1985. It was formerly known as the Gavilan STAR Program and is now a non-profit organization that focuses on performing, visual, and video arts. STAR Arts Education is a kids theatre arts organization based in Gilroy, California, and provides a creative and inclusive space for kids ages 7–17. The organization states that it creates a safe place for youth to express themselves, boost confidence and poise, encourage creative spirits, and teach collaboration, teamwork, and mutual respect. Content created in the program is distributed on the web and in productions performed to live audiences of all ages.
The mission of STAR Arts Education is to provide excellent arts programs and learning experience to young people and for all audiences that are fun, engaging, and educational. Its core values are Love, Trust, Unity, Community, Imagination, and Excellence. The STAR Way focuses on connecting and engaging with the STAR kids by understanding and demonstrating these core values, and is described as caring, knowing, supporting, and making good decisions. Many STAR kids return to the program to become STAR leaders, and it has become a summer tradition for many families, with summer vacations often planned around the programs. STAR Arts Education shares the saying, “Once you're a STAR Kid, you're always a STAR Kid!”
STAR Arts Education is very excited to forge new collaborations with several local arts organizations, businesses, and venues in the community. It celebrates diverse communities and exposes young people and the community to participating, collaborating, sharing, and experiencing the results of the creative process. The organization strives to connect and engage all children and their families in its communities with opportunities to experience, be engaged, and enjoy the performing arts on stage and on screen virtually or face to face. It aspires to reach out to all members of the community through summer musical theatre, video arts camps with onstage musical productions, outdoor performances, artistic workshops, and educational partnerships with schools. STAR Arts Education is committed to an inclusive approach and to offering equal opportunity for participation and engagement in all its programs, and it includes a land acknowledgement recognizing the Ohlone people, specifically the Popeloutchom (Amah Mutsun) Tribe.
STAR Arts Education is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
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