About
Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy offers acting, singing, and dancing with skill-based Musical Theatre training that includes summer camps, workshops, and an award-winning Travel Troupe. Students take part in activities such as Triple Threat Training and can learn tips and tricks that cover the essential fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing, as well as audition advice.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Engaging 90-minute classes for Little Stars and three hours of weekly classes for Center Stage
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 has a distinct ability to reflect the human experience, with a focus on igniting a love of theatre in young actors, having fun, unleashing creativity, encouraging the imaginations of youth, building a strong work ethic, and nurturing children rather than just teaching material. The program offers skill-based Musical Theatre training for youth through Little Stars (ages 4–6), Center Stage (ages 6–14), and Conservatory (ages 13–18), with Little Stars as a 90-minute class introducing fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing, Center Stage providing three hours of weekly Triple Threat Training in acting, singing, and dancing, and Conservatory described as an advanced program that focuses on advanced acting techniques, characterization, emotional authenticity, goal-driven actions, ensemble storytelling, and practical, real-world skills.
Spotlight brings together more than 20 industry professionals each year to collaborate with students, and educators are described as 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 and Center Stage Dance Teacher Melody Wells, Center Stage Singing Teacher Emily Stormer, Center Stage Drama Teacher Gabrielle Bosso, and Little Stars Teacher Livvy Noonchester. Workshops bring local professionals from the stage and screen, and summer camps are described as offering a variety of unique and engaging activities designed to challenge, educate, and nurture young performers.
Spotlight’s Travel Troupe is described as award winning, with eight separate Travel Troupes performing across the country since 2016. The Travel Troupe has competed six times at the National Performing Arts Festival at Walt Disney World and at Universal Studios in Orlando, receiving Superior marks at each competition, and has been awarded the Showcase Award (1st Place) at the 2018 and 2023 Festivals and the Adjudicator Award (2nd Place) in 2024. In 2019, the Travel Troupe traveled to New York City to perform on a Broadway stage with the cast of The Prom as part of the Voices on Broadway tour, and it also competed in the Musical Theatre Competitions of America online in March 2021.
The program states core values of Community, Camaraderie, Collaboration, and Diversity, and it includes 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, along with a stated belief that there is a place for everyone on stage. Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy and its team of professional artists describe their role since 2009 as supporting the Greater Portland Area by providing a solid training foundation and enhancing the lives of all its students. One parent testimonial notes that the teachers at Spotlight have drawn a student named Emily out of her shell, and that lessons learned at Spotlight have helped her academically and socially, including being able to speak before groups after previously having trouble looking others in the eye.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Engaging 90-minute classes for Little Stars and three hours of weekly classes for Center Stage
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 has a distinct ability to reflect the human experience, with a focus on igniting a love of theatre in young actors, having fun, unleashing creativity, encouraging the imaginations of youth, building a strong work ethic, and nurturing children rather than just teaching material. The program offers skill-based Musical Theatre training for youth through Little Stars (ages 4–6), Center Stage (ages 6–14), and Conservatory (ages 13–18), with Little Stars as a 90-minute class introducing fundamentals of acting, singing, and dancing, Center Stage providing three hours of weekly Triple Threat Training in acting, singing, and dancing, and Conservatory described as an advanced program that focuses on advanced acting techniques, characterization, emotional authenticity, goal-driven actions, ensemble storytelling, and practical, real-world skills.
Spotlight brings together more than 20 industry professionals each year to collaborate with students, and educators are described as 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 and Center Stage Dance Teacher Melody Wells, Center Stage Singing Teacher Emily Stormer, Center Stage Drama Teacher Gabrielle Bosso, and Little Stars Teacher Livvy Noonchester. Workshops bring local professionals from the stage and screen, and summer camps are described as offering a variety of unique and engaging activities designed to challenge, educate, and nurture young performers.
Spotlight’s Travel Troupe is described as award winning, with eight separate Travel Troupes performing across the country since 2016. The Travel Troupe has competed six times at the National Performing Arts Festival at Walt Disney World and at Universal Studios in Orlando, receiving Superior marks at each competition, and has been awarded the Showcase Award (1st Place) at the 2018 and 2023 Festivals and the Adjudicator Award (2nd Place) in 2024. In 2019, the Travel Troupe traveled to New York City to perform on a Broadway stage with the cast of The Prom as part of the Voices on Broadway tour, and it also competed in the Musical Theatre Competitions of America online in March 2021.
The program states core values of Community, Camaraderie, Collaboration, and Diversity, and it includes 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, along with a stated belief that there is a place for everyone on stage. Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy and its team of professional artists describe their role since 2009 as supporting the Greater Portland Area by providing a solid training foundation and enhancing the lives of all its students. One parent testimonial notes that the teachers at Spotlight have drawn a student named Emily out of her shell, and that lessons learned at Spotlight have helped her academically and socially, including being able to speak before groups after previously having trouble looking others in the eye.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
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