Yes! First-time students are welcome to try one free trial class before enrolling. If you’re interested in setting up a free-trial class, please email our studio stagelightarts@gmail.com

Our students are very busy performing in school shows, community productions, and auditioning for pre-professional and professional work. Our classes at Stagelight Performing Arts are designed with that student in mind–the one who wants quality training without the time or financial commitment competition programs require. 

Janice Kraus, the owner of Stagelight Productions, saw a need for a studio like ours that would provide a fun and engaging learning environment for children and students who are interested in sharpening their acting, dance, and singing skills. After some years of discussion and planning, Janice’s daughter Lindsey, and her friend Alyssa, built the studio to provide that very thing. Although the two businesses have many things in common, they are two separate entities. It is our desire to see children and students participate in many performance opportunities while studying at Stagelight Performing Arts, including those Stagelight Production shows at Whitter and Brea. However, attendance at Stagelight Performing Arts plays no part in the casting of roles in Stagelight Production shows. Nor does participation in Stagelight Production shows require attendance at Stagelight Performing Arts.

Both businesses desire to see young performers grow, learn, and enjoy their experiences in the performing arts. We believe in the importance of every child’s unique development and strive to provide positive experiences that meet the needs of our participants. We know the reality of the performing arts industry: not everyone “wins” all the time. Not everyone gets the lead part in shows; not everyone gets the part he or she wants every time. This is an important (and sometimes difficult) lesson for young performers to learn, but it is an important part to a child’s development, nonetheless. By encouraging positive interactions between our students, parents, peers, teachers, and show directors or choreographers at both businesses, we are demonstrating to our students the importance of working hard, “nailing the audition,” and accepting the casting director’s ultimate decision

Students are automatically enrolled in the Triple Threat Advantage Program when they are enrolled in at least three classes per week at Stagelight Performing Arts. 

A “triple threat” is a performer who is skilled at acting, singing, and dancing, so we encourage our students to take one of each of these disciplines to become a true triple threat. However, to qualify for the Program, three classes in any discipline can be taken. 

Benefits of participating in the Triple Threat Advantage Program include advanced ticket sales for showcases, a headshot on our lobby wall, and more. 

We do not discount tuition for holidays, as many months have a fifth week that keeps a monthly average for four weeks per month. However, if a scheduled class falls on a single-day holiday such as Labor Day or Memorial Day, a makeup class will be permitted within one month of the holiday. 

Makeups are not permitted for full week closures such as Spring break and Winter Break. 

There are various performance opportunities at Stagelight Performing Arts. Our showcase provides an excellent opportunity for students to get more “stage time,” participate in the creation of scene work, group work or choreography, and demonstrate what they’ve learned. 

We believe a live performance is an integral part of a child’s development in performing arts training. However, we also believe that a child’s performing arts education should not be entirely geared toward the end result of an annual “recital.” Our season allows time for students to experiment with various shorter works for a number of weeks and then work toward a longer piece of work to understand the commitment level it takes to put performances together. 

All performance opportunities will involve a certain level of commitment, and our expectations will be clearly disclosed prior to every performance commitment. Information on performances will be announced over our email newsletter, website, Facebook, and in-studio. 

Your child will never be asked to “stand to the side” in one of our classes at Stagelight Performing Arts. Although we hope you and your child see the value of participating in our showcases, performances are never mandatory. We are experts at creating an engaging atmosphere in the classroom for ALL students, whether or not they’re participating in the final showcase.