Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy
Lakewood Center For The Arts, 368 S State St, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
About
Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy offers acting, singing, dancing, and Musical Theatre training through Saturday programs during the school year, summer camps, workshops, a Travel Troupe, and an Advanced Musical Theatre program. Students take part in triple-threat training and receive tips and tricks to learn the fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Saturday programs during the school year, with a 90-minute Little Stars class and three hours of weekly Center Stage classes; additional summer camps and workshops
Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy was established in 2009 and describes itself as shining brightly since 2009. Its mission states that it was founded on the principle that theatre possesses a distinct ability to reflect the human experience and was designed to ignite the love and magic of theatre in young actors, focusing on having fun, unleashing creativity, encouraging the wild imaginations of youth, building a strong work ethic, and nurturing children rather than just teaching material. The program notes that more than 20 industry professionals collaborate with students each year, and that committed educators are skilled professionals.
The leadership team includes Conservatory Drama Teacher Voni Kengla, Conservatory Singing Teacher Lori Ann Fuller Piscioneri, Conservatory Dance Teacher Chynna Rae Shurts, Conservatory & Center Stage Dance Teacher Melody Wells, Center Stage Singing Teacher Emily Stormer, Center Stage Drama Teacher Gabrielle Bosso, and Little Stars Teacher Jared Lingle. Spotlight describes its Travel Troupe as award winning, with eight separate troupes performing across the country since 2016 and receiving Superior marks at the National Performing Arts Festival at Walt Disney World and at Universal Studios in Orlando, Showcase Awards (1st Place) in 2018 and 2023, and the Adjudicator Award (2nd Place) in 2024. The Travel Troupe performed on a Broadway stage with the cast of The Prom in 2019 as part of the Voices on Broadway tour and competed in the Musical Theatre Competitions of America online in March 2021.
The academy offers a Little Stars program for ages 4–6 with an engaging 90-minute class introducing the fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing, and a Center Stage program for ages 6–14 with three hours of weekly classes in acting, singing, and dancing as triple-threat training. The Conservatory Advanced Musical Theatre program for ages 13–18 focuses on advanced acting techniques, characterization, emotional authenticity, goal-driven actions, ensemble storytelling, and practical real-world skills. Summer camps provide a variety of unique and engaging activities designed to challenge, educate, and nurture young performers, and workshops feature local professionals from the stage and screen, including audition advice and tips and tricks for the fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing.
Spotlight states that, since 2009, its team of professional artists has played a role in supporting the Greater Portland Area by providing a training foundation and enhancing the lives of its students. The program describes a diversity policy that emphasizes a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive atmosphere where every student feels safe, valued, and respected regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity. A parent testimonial reports that the teachers at Spotlight drew one student out of her shell and that lessons at Spotlight helped her academically and socially, noting that a child who once had trouble looking others in the eye now has no trouble speaking before groups.
Last updated July 14, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Saturday programs during the school year, with a 90-minute Little Stars class and three hours of weekly Center Stage classes; additional summer camps and workshops
Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy was established in 2009 and describes itself as shining brightly since 2009. Its mission states that it was founded on the principle that theatre possesses a distinct ability to reflect the human experience and was designed to ignite the love and magic of theatre in young actors, focusing on having fun, unleashing creativity, encouraging the wild imaginations of youth, building a strong work ethic, and nurturing children rather than just teaching material. The program notes that more than 20 industry professionals collaborate with students each year, and that committed educators are skilled professionals.
The leadership team includes Conservatory Drama Teacher Voni Kengla, Conservatory Singing Teacher Lori Ann Fuller Piscioneri, Conservatory Dance Teacher Chynna Rae Shurts, Conservatory & Center Stage Dance Teacher Melody Wells, Center Stage Singing Teacher Emily Stormer, Center Stage Drama Teacher Gabrielle Bosso, and Little Stars Teacher Jared Lingle. Spotlight describes its Travel Troupe as award winning, with eight separate troupes performing across the country since 2016 and receiving Superior marks at the National Performing Arts Festival at Walt Disney World and at Universal Studios in Orlando, Showcase Awards (1st Place) in 2018 and 2023, and the Adjudicator Award (2nd Place) in 2024. The Travel Troupe performed on a Broadway stage with the cast of The Prom in 2019 as part of the Voices on Broadway tour and competed in the Musical Theatre Competitions of America online in March 2021.
The academy offers a Little Stars program for ages 4–6 with an engaging 90-minute class introducing the fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing, and a Center Stage program for ages 6–14 with three hours of weekly classes in acting, singing, and dancing as triple-threat training. The Conservatory Advanced Musical Theatre program for ages 13–18 focuses on advanced acting techniques, characterization, emotional authenticity, goal-driven actions, ensemble storytelling, and practical real-world skills. Summer camps provide a variety of unique and engaging activities designed to challenge, educate, and nurture young performers, and workshops feature local professionals from the stage and screen, including audition advice and tips and tricks for the fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing.
Spotlight states that, since 2009, its team of professional artists has played a role in supporting the Greater Portland Area by providing a training foundation and enhancing the lives of its students. The program describes a diversity policy that emphasizes a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive atmosphere where every student feels safe, valued, and respected regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity. A parent testimonial reports that the teachers at Spotlight drew one student out of her shell and that lessons at Spotlight helped her academically and socially, noting that a child who once had trouble looking others in the eye now has no trouble speaking before groups.
Last updated July 14, 2026.
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