Starbridge Academy (BCT Jr. & Youth Theater Programs)

Starbridge Academy (BCT Jr. & Youth Theater Programs) includes activities such as scriptwriting, puppetry, stage directing, lighting, scenic design, music, theater, dance, and scenic painting techniques. Participants may also take part in Project Genesis, which pairs young people with seniors to unlock memories through music, and in entrepreneurship activities by developing fundraising events such as Storybook Breakfast, Easter Eggstravaganza, and the Mad Hatter Tea Party. The program offers both in-person options and a Virtual Academy, which includes scriptwriting and auditioning.

• Ages: 8–16 years old
• Schedule: BCT Jr. runs June 9th–20th as a two-week summer intensive

Starbridge Academy includes an introductory class where students are divided into three small groups that rotate through music, acting, and dance, each guided by a teacher and an intern. In this introductory class, each child is cast in a short play, learns a musical number to perform as a whole, practices basic dance movements and choreography, and performs for an audience on the last day, with over 300 people attending the last day performances in the previous year. A scenic painting introductory class is also offered.

The Technical Class focuses on Scenic Design/Painting, Stage Combat, and Costuming, and these students provide individual sets, costumes, and props for the beginning groups and present a stage combat exhibition on the final day, with stage combat training that includes swords. The Intermediate Performance Group requires at least two years of involvement in the introductory class and sign-up is based on teacher recommendation. The Advanced Group composes and writes an actual script to be performed.

Across the program, participants work on voice projection, preparing a monologue, writing a character analysis, learning auditioning hints, formally auditioning for a part in a selected play, learning lines, following blocking directions, helping design the set and costumes, and composing and writing a script to be performed. Transferable skills such as self-discipline, time management, cooperation, and leadership skills are described as being enhanced through participation. BCT Jr. is described as a progressive stagecraft experience that teaches self-confidence and discipline in a fun way, and Summer 2023 was the tenth season of the BCT Jr. theater camp.

Studio Works & Theater Under the Pines is described as a summer opportunity for theater with a show performed at Lake Bemidji State Park, with Theater Under the Pines becoming an annual event. Future offerings are said to be based on the needs and interests of campers, with possibilities that include a journalism/video/radio component, additional classes in acting, and stage makeup.

Bemidji Community Theater debuted in December of 1981 and states its mission as: “To provide theater education and an acting and stagecraft support activities, in productions by and for community members.” Bemidji Community Theater pairs with Bemidji City Parks and Recreation’s summer programming to give young people ages 8 to 16 a way to experience performing arts in a very personal way, and in collaboration with Lake Bemidji State Park has re-introduced a summer theater opportunity with a show performed at the park, with additional performances at Itasca State Park depending on availability. Past collaborations have included The Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Bemidji State University, the Middle School, St. Philip’s School, and the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, and Project Genesis is specifically described as pairing young people with seniors to unlock memories through music. Mr. Whiting is noted as having won a regional theater award for his debut as a director.

Last updated February 21, 2026.