About
Center Stage Kids offers musical theater classes where students take part in acting, dancing, and singing. The program focuses on these performing arts activities in a structured class and rehearsal setting.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: SPRING 2026 SCHEDULE
Center Stage Kids was launched in 2006 as the area's first children's musical theater studio. In 2014, the program saw a transition when founder and owner Dawn Peterson moved out of Modesto, and in 2017 it moved to a new location in Modesto. Students are organized into classes based on ages ranging from 5 to 18, and many of the students are going or have gone on to study musical theater in college. The program has 7 regular, part-time, contracted staff members and many volunteer staff, especially for the shows that are produced. Teachers at Center Stage Kids are described as highly skilled and experienced in the performing arts.
The leadership team includes Modesto native, singing talent, and voice teacher Dawn Peterson as founder and owner, along with Amy DeMoura (formerly Amy Underwood) and long-time Center Stage Kids choreographer Heather Vargas. The mission of Center Stage Kids is to nurture the artistic soul in young performers by teaching the art and craft of musical theater to encourage self-confidence, develop discipline, and discover creativity in each student, with each class, rehearsal, and production described as an opportunity to celebrate skill and delight in their growth as young artists. Center Stage Kids is described as a lively, living, and life-giving place with unique learning opportunities available to the community. The program also offers a Center Stage Kids Merchandise Shop.
Last updated March 2, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: SPRING 2026 SCHEDULE
Center Stage Kids was launched in 2006 as the area's first children's musical theater studio. In 2014, the program saw a transition when founder and owner Dawn Peterson moved out of Modesto, and in 2017 it moved to a new location in Modesto. Students are organized into classes based on ages ranging from 5 to 18, and many of the students are going or have gone on to study musical theater in college. The program has 7 regular, part-time, contracted staff members and many volunteer staff, especially for the shows that are produced. Teachers at Center Stage Kids are described as highly skilled and experienced in the performing arts.
The leadership team includes Modesto native, singing talent, and voice teacher Dawn Peterson as founder and owner, along with Amy DeMoura (formerly Amy Underwood) and long-time Center Stage Kids choreographer Heather Vargas. The mission of Center Stage Kids is to nurture the artistic soul in young performers by teaching the art and craft of musical theater to encourage self-confidence, develop discipline, and discover creativity in each student, with each class, rehearsal, and production described as an opportunity to celebrate skill and delight in their growth as young artists. Center Stage Kids is described as a lively, living, and life-giving place with unique learning opportunities available to the community. The program also offers a Center Stage Kids Merchandise Shop.
Last updated March 2, 2026.
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