As we embark on our seventh season at Stagelight Performing Arts, we have found such joy in looking back over the years to see how our Stagelighters have grown.

We’re starting a new tradition this year: Throwback Thursdays! And we’ll be featuring Stagelighters who have been with us for three or more years. We hope you enjoy seeing how these performers have grown!

First up, Gia A.! Gia has been a Stagelighter since 2014 and is currently a junior in High School. She is pictured here in Summer Showcase 2015 (our very first one!) and Summer Showcase 2019. Her dream role is Millie Dillmount from “Thoroughly Modern Millie” because of the music, tapping, and how fun the energy of the show is, or Zoe Murphy from “Dear Evan Hansen” because she loves serious characters. She wants to pursue acting and hopes to be fortunate enough to make a career out of it. Her favorite hobbies are acting, singing, dancing, and dirt bike riding.

Check back next week for our next featured Throwback Thursday!

There are great things happening in our classes at Stagelight Performing Arts for all our Mini Stagelighters (ages 2-6)! See this month’s newsletter for vocabulary, skills, birthdays, and more!

I recently sat down with Malvina and Mila Borgelt (ages 7 and 5, respectively) to ask them all about their YouTube channels: Malvina Reviews and Milania Reviews. The sisters have been attending Stagelight Performing Arts since 2014! During this interview, I learned that Mila’s full name was Milania (how cute), and I was so impressed by both girls’ demeanor and thoughtful responses to my questions. Check out their channels and subscribe after you read this super sweet interview:

Stagelight Performing Arts (SPA): Malvina and Milania, tell me a little about your YouTube channels.

Malvina: We basically call our channels “Malvina Reviews” and “Milania Reviews.” The first time I wanted to do a YouTube was when I wanted to review a Shopkins.

SPA: Shopkins was your first review? How did you already know about reviews or what they were?

Malvina: When I was little, I used to watch channels of kids reviewing [toys]. So my dad got an idea. He said, “Let’s create a new channel.” Later on, my sister wanted to create her own channel since I had a channel.

Mila: My first one was a big park review. It was a blue park, and it was really tall.

Malvina: It’s basically a space ship park.

SPA: So, does Malvina only review toys and Mila only review parks?

Malvina: Not all the time. We both review parks and toys.

SPA: Who comes up with the ideas? Who decides what you’re going to review?

Mila: Both of us. Sometimes I come up with stuff, and sometimes Malvi comes up with stuff.

Malvina: Like, whenever we get a toy for Christmas, we won’t open it up. We want to put it on YouTube and review it.

SPA: That’s a lot of self-control! That’s amazing. What is your favorite part about having a YouTube channel?

Malvina: Well, my favorite part about having a YouTube channel is sharing the things I do on it and telling about it. It’s just great that I can actually express myself to everybosy on YouTube that would watch.

Mila: Because you just get to review stuff you like, review toys and go to parks to review.

Malvina: It’s pretty much just a fun thing, because if we go to a park and review it, it’s fun because we get to enjoy the fun after it.

SPA: How do you feel about yourself after you’re all done filming and you see yourself in your episode?

Malvina: I feel proud that I have been speaking the whole time, and messed up just a few times.

Mila: I feel like I did a great job, and I just want to do it again.

SPA: What episode has been your favorite ever to do?

Malvina: I don’t have a favorite episode, but there is an episode that we may do… it’s a chocolate egg surprise, and I think it’ll be my number one favorite that I’ve reviewed in my life.

SPA: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Malvina: I want to be a veterinarian because I want to visit animals and see the cats.

Mila: A veterinarian.

Thank you, Malvina and Mila, for sitting down and chatting with me about your YouTube channel! I can’t wait to watch your continued success and growth as Stagelighters. #weliveonstage