Spotlight Performance Academy
Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430
About
Spotlight Performance Academy offers specific classes such as 3 Minutes In The Spotlight vocal class, Improv for Kids and Teens (including Kidprov for grades 3–6 and Teenprov for grades 7–12), Musical Theater Dance for teens and adults, and drama programs like Let’s Shine: Fairytales and Fables and Let’s Act: Alice in Wonderland/Happy Birthday, Beatrix Potter. The program also includes Miss Angie’s Music Makers for ages 1–5, Parent/Tot music classes, musical theater opportunities for both children and adults, improv comedy classes, and choir options including Community Choir, Bel Canto Community Choir, Bel Canto Children’s Choir Program, Children’s Choir, Youth Choir, Concert Choir, and a 2nd Annual Cabaret Night.
• Ages: 1–18 years old
• Schedule: Winter 2026 classes run in multi-week sessions from late January through late April, with options on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, plus special performances and events.
• Price: Tuition ranges from $90–$215 per session, depending on the specific class or choir.
Registration for the Winter 2026 session opens January 1, 2026, with a registration deadline of Sunday, January 25 for Winter 2026 classes. Session lengths vary, including 3 Minutes In The Spotlight from January 28 to February 25, Kidprov and Teenprov sessions running January 28 to March 4 and March 11 to April 22, Musical Theater Dance sessions from January 27 to March 10 and March 17 to May 5, and 9-week drama programs Let’s Shine and Let’s Act from January 26 to March 16. Miss Angie’s Music Makers runs in two sessions from January 29 to March 5 and March 12 to April 23, Community Choir runs January 28 to April 22 or January 29 to April 23, and the Children’s Choir runs January 29 to April 23.
Performances are scheduled throughout the session, including a 3 Minutes In The Spotlight performance on February 27 at 7:00 p.m., Kidprov and Teenprov performances on March 7 and April 25, drama performances for Let’s Shine and Let’s Act on March 23, and a Community Choir and Children’s Choir concert on April 26 at 3 p.m. The 2nd Annual Cabaret Night is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 7 p.m.
The Spotlight Performance Academy states that it is dedicated to providing high quality performing arts education to children and adults in the south suburbs of Chicago and seeks to strengthen community through the arts for people of all ability levels, confident in the power of music and performance to help people recognize shared humanity. Bel Canto is described as the largest children’s community choir in the south suburbs of Chicago, and the motto of the Bel Canto Choir program is “Create Through Character.” Tuition assistance and payment plans are available for students in the Bel Canto Children’s Choir Program.
The program’s history notes that it began in 2015 when Carrie Bonanotte started the Bel Canto Children’s Choir, and in fall 2016 the choir moved from the Bonanotte living room into Flossmoor Community Church. In 2022, Carrie Bonanotte started the Bel Canto Community Choir, which grew from 11 adults to over 70 people with various experience levels, from professionals to first-time choir participants. The 2nd Annual Cabaret Night on February 28, 2026, includes live music, silent auctions, an open bar, and heavy hors d’oeuvres, with proceeds helping the community.
Leadership and instruction are provided by named staff, including Carrie Bonanotte as Director for Bel Canto Community Choir, Angie Pope as Instructor for Miss Angie’s Music Makers and Director for Children’s Choir, Jeff Hamrick for 3 Minutes In The Spotlight, Simon Collier and Kate Wiersema for Kidprov and Teenprov sessions, Jennifer O’Keefe for Musical Theater Dance, and Christine Rechsteiner for Let’s Shine and Let’s Act. Community involvement includes Bel Canto students participating in multiple community service projects that have benefitted local non-profit organizations, and each student in the Bel Canto Children’s Choir Program has the opportunity to perform at community events and celebrations as well as end-of-session concerts.
Class-specific details include that 3 Minutes In The Spotlight is a relaxed, performance-focused vocal class where participants choose a favorite song and work one-on-one with a vocal coach. Improv classes are described as emphasizing activation of language and creativity centers in the brain, boosting creativity and confidence, and reduction of social anxiety, stress, and uncertainty intolerance. Musical Theater Dance includes jazz, modern, hip hop, and ballet styles, with choreography that is partly original to the show and partly created by the teacher, and dancers can wear socks, jazz or ballet shoes, athletic shoes, or go barefoot, in comfortable clothing with layers recommended, and are asked to bring water and be ready to sweat. Miss Angie’s Music Makers is for ages 1–5, is designed for child and adult to participate together, and includes singing, chanting, moving, dancing, listening, and playing simple percussion instruments. Community Choir requires no musical experience, has no audition, participants are never asked to sing alone, and there is an online option to sing from home.
Last updated January 11, 2026.
• Ages: 1–18 years old
• Schedule: Winter 2026 classes run in multi-week sessions from late January through late April, with options on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, plus special performances and events.
• Price: Tuition ranges from $90–$215 per session, depending on the specific class or choir.
Registration for the Winter 2026 session opens January 1, 2026, with a registration deadline of Sunday, January 25 for Winter 2026 classes. Session lengths vary, including 3 Minutes In The Spotlight from January 28 to February 25, Kidprov and Teenprov sessions running January 28 to March 4 and March 11 to April 22, Musical Theater Dance sessions from January 27 to March 10 and March 17 to May 5, and 9-week drama programs Let’s Shine and Let’s Act from January 26 to March 16. Miss Angie’s Music Makers runs in two sessions from January 29 to March 5 and March 12 to April 23, Community Choir runs January 28 to April 22 or January 29 to April 23, and the Children’s Choir runs January 29 to April 23.
Performances are scheduled throughout the session, including a 3 Minutes In The Spotlight performance on February 27 at 7:00 p.m., Kidprov and Teenprov performances on March 7 and April 25, drama performances for Let’s Shine and Let’s Act on March 23, and a Community Choir and Children’s Choir concert on April 26 at 3 p.m. The 2nd Annual Cabaret Night is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 7 p.m.
The Spotlight Performance Academy states that it is dedicated to providing high quality performing arts education to children and adults in the south suburbs of Chicago and seeks to strengthen community through the arts for people of all ability levels, confident in the power of music and performance to help people recognize shared humanity. Bel Canto is described as the largest children’s community choir in the south suburbs of Chicago, and the motto of the Bel Canto Choir program is “Create Through Character.” Tuition assistance and payment plans are available for students in the Bel Canto Children’s Choir Program.
The program’s history notes that it began in 2015 when Carrie Bonanotte started the Bel Canto Children’s Choir, and in fall 2016 the choir moved from the Bonanotte living room into Flossmoor Community Church. In 2022, Carrie Bonanotte started the Bel Canto Community Choir, which grew from 11 adults to over 70 people with various experience levels, from professionals to first-time choir participants. The 2nd Annual Cabaret Night on February 28, 2026, includes live music, silent auctions, an open bar, and heavy hors d’oeuvres, with proceeds helping the community.
Leadership and instruction are provided by named staff, including Carrie Bonanotte as Director for Bel Canto Community Choir, Angie Pope as Instructor for Miss Angie’s Music Makers and Director for Children’s Choir, Jeff Hamrick for 3 Minutes In The Spotlight, Simon Collier and Kate Wiersema for Kidprov and Teenprov sessions, Jennifer O’Keefe for Musical Theater Dance, and Christine Rechsteiner for Let’s Shine and Let’s Act. Community involvement includes Bel Canto students participating in multiple community service projects that have benefitted local non-profit organizations, and each student in the Bel Canto Children’s Choir Program has the opportunity to perform at community events and celebrations as well as end-of-session concerts.
Class-specific details include that 3 Minutes In The Spotlight is a relaxed, performance-focused vocal class where participants choose a favorite song and work one-on-one with a vocal coach. Improv classes are described as emphasizing activation of language and creativity centers in the brain, boosting creativity and confidence, and reduction of social anxiety, stress, and uncertainty intolerance. Musical Theater Dance includes jazz, modern, hip hop, and ballet styles, with choreography that is partly original to the show and partly created by the teacher, and dancers can wear socks, jazz or ballet shoes, athletic shoes, or go barefoot, in comfortable clothing with layers recommended, and are asked to bring water and be ready to sweat. Miss Angie’s Music Makers is for ages 1–5, is designed for child and adult to participate together, and includes singing, chanting, moving, dancing, listening, and playing simple percussion instruments. Community Choir requires no musical experience, has no audition, participants are never asked to sing alone, and there is an online option to sing from home.
Last updated January 11, 2026.
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