A Magical Journey Thru Stages
1.
Stages produces inclusive, high-quality theater programs for a diverse group of 800+ students in the Greater Rochester Area while engaging approximately 8,000 audience members annually.
4.
We teach professional theater for students who have a passion to perform or be involved behind-the-scenes.
7.
At Stages, students will be surrounded by talented cast-mates and crew from all over Monroe and neighboring counties.
2.
Our programs include 9 full theater productions, summer camps, improv troupes, technical training, open mic nights, and specialized workshops & classes each year.
5.
Our dedicated staff, artistic teams, and volunteers work cohesively to support students: expanding their creative talents, building self-confidence, and encouraging personal growth.
8.
Tuition assistance is available for economically disadvantaged youth.
3.
Youth also assist with the technical aspects of our shows, including stage management, light design, sound design, costume design, and stage crew.
6.
Our teams have extremely high expectations of our students and require dedication, commitment, and teamwork to make a show successful.
9.
In order to teach and model the importance of philanthropy, we collect items during every performance to benefit local youth charities.
-
How much theater experience is needed to be in a Stages show?Stages attracts students of all experience levels for all of our programs - and we love that! Our staff works hard to ensure every student is given the tools they need to feel successful at Stages.
-
When is audition info posted for each show?Audition details are posted approximately four weeks prior to each audition. Sign up early for your choice of audition date and time.
-
Does Stages make exceptions for grade level?Stages’ program guidelines are defined by grade level rather than age. Board policy is that no exceptions be made in the interest of fairness and consistency.
-
Why was my child cast in their particular role?Casting is a giant puzzle in which the artistic team takes into account the demands of each individual role, the demands of the production, and the potential or skills demonstrated by each student in a casting session (grades 1-5) or audition (grades 6-12). The artistic team also considers each students’ availability within the rehearsal schedule. Ultimately, each student is placed where the artistic team believes they will be most successful while also contributing to the success of the production as a whole.
-
How can I support my child in the casting process?Parents can help students be prepared for casting by carefully reading the audition instructions and encouraging them to be themselves and do their best. Please be assured that Stages is a supportive, safe environment, and we want all students to feel as comfortable and successful as possible. It is inevitable that, given the nature of theater, students will, at some point or another, experience disappointment in casting. Parents can help by acknowledging the disappointment, acknowledging the “giant puzzle” of casting described above, and encouraging students to keep an open mind and positive outlook. Every role is crucial to the success of each production. Stages strives to make every students’ experience memorable and meaningful.
-
How can I stay up-to-date on everything happening at Stages?Subscribe to our newsletter below, follow us on Facebook (@mjtstages) and Instagram (@mjtstages), and revisit our website for the most up-to-date information.
-
How much theater experience is needed to be in a Stages show?Stages attracts students of all experience levels for all of our programs - and we love that! Our staff works hard to ensure every student is given the tools they need to feel successful at Stages.
-
When is audition info posted for each show?Audition details are posted approximately four weeks prior to each audition. Sign up early for your choice of audition date and time.
-
Does Stages make exceptions for grade level?Stages’ program guidelines are defined by grade level rather than age. Board policy is that no exceptions be made in the interest of fairness and consistency.
-
Why was my child cast in their particular role?Casting is a giant puzzle in which the artistic team takes into account the demands of each individual role, the demands of the production, and the potential or skills demonstrated by each student in a casting session (grades 1-5) or audition (grades 6-12). The artistic team also considers each students’ availability within the rehearsal schedule. Ultimately, each student is placed where the artistic team believes they will be most successful while also contributing to the success of the production as a whole.
-
How can I support my child in the casting process?Parents can help students be prepared for casting by carefully reading the audition instructions and encouraging them to be themselves and do their best. Please be assured that Stages is a supportive, safe environment, and we want all students to feel as comfortable and successful as possible. It is inevitable that, given the nature of theater, students will, at some point or another, experience disappointment in casting. Parents can help by acknowledging the disappointment, acknowledging the “giant puzzle” of casting described above, and encouraging students to keep an open mind and positive outlook. Every role is crucial to the success of each production. Stages strives to make every students’ experience memorable and meaningful.
-
How can I stay up-to-date on everything happening at Stages?Subscribe to our newsletter below, follow us on Facebook (@mjtstages) and Instagram (@mjtstages), and revisit our website for the most up-to-date information.
Past Shows
SUMMER CAMPS
Seussical JR. (2024)
Legally Blonde JR. (2024)
Disney's Alice in Wonderland JR. (2024)
Sweeney Todd School Edition (2024)
Mean Girls JR. (2023)
Finding Nemo JR. (2023)
RENT School Edition (2023)
Newsies JR. (2022)
The Addams Family (Young@Part) (2022)
Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn (2022)
Urinetown the Musical (2022)
Disney's Camp Rock the Musical (2021)
Disney's Freaky Friday (2021)
Disney's Frozen JR. (2021)
Oliver! JR. (2021)
Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS (2021)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. (2021)
The Addams Family (Young@Part) (2020)
Spamalot (Young@Part) (2020)
Moana JR. (2020)
Disney's High School Musical 2 JR. (2019)
Legally Blonde JR. (2019)
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark (2019)
Disney's Alice in Wonderland JR. (2019)
Mary Poppins JR. (2018)
Getting to Know...Oklahoma! (2018)
Disney's The Aristocats KIDS (2018)
Hairspray JR. (2018)
Singin' in the Rain JR. (2017)
James and the Giant Peach JR. (2017)
Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon KIDS (2017)
Shrek JR. (2017)
Disney's High School Musical JR. (2016)
Xanadu JR. (2016)
Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS (2016)
The Pirates of Penzance JR. (2016)
Legally Blonde JR. (2015)
Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS (2015)
Peter Pan JR. (2015)
Hairspray JR. (2014)
Disney's The Aristocats KIDS (2014)
Disney's Alice in Wonderland JR. (2014)
The Wizard of Oz - Young Performers' Edition (2013)
Disney's Aladdin KIDS (2013)
Disney's The Little Mermaid JR. (2013)
Disney's 101 Dalmatians KIDS (2013)
Fame JR. (2012)
Cinderella KIDS (2012)
The Pirates of Penzance JR. (2012)
Godspell JR. (2011)
Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS (2011)
Seussical JR. (2011)
Thoroughly Modern Millie JR. (2010)
Disney's Alice in Wonderland JR. (2010)
Disney's Sleeping Beauty KIDS (2010)
Disney's 101 Dalmatians KIDS (2009)
Disney's The Aristocats KIDS (2008)
Mulan JR. (2008)
Places Please: Summer Showcase (2007)
Seussical the Musical (2006)
Into the Woods JR. (2005)
Zombie Prom (2005)
Journeys Musical Revue (2004)
Smokey Joe's Cafe (2004)
Our Donors
VIP PRODUCERS ($25,000+)
Robert & Vicki Shearer
MEDIA SPONSOR
KidsOutAndAbout.com
GRANT SUPPORTERS
A Magical Journey Thru Stages programs
are made possible by the New York
State Council on the Arts with the support of
the Office of the Governor and the
New York State Legislature.
Farash Foundation
Rochester Area Community Foundation
Arts & Culture RACF
Brendan Christopher Ryan Fund for
Music and Performing Arts (RACF)
JM McDonald Foundation
Monroe County - Mid Sized Arts
New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)
Guido and Ellen Palma Foundation
Spencer Foundation
Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame
Vitality Grants (RACF)
PRODUCER DONORS ($1,000 - $2,499)
Masline Electronics, Inc.
Safety Statement
We are grateful to be back on stage where our talented, focused, and committed youth performers can bring theater magic and joy to an audience!
Once again circumstances surrounding the pandemic are changing. Stages must navigate the ever-evolving COVID-19 protocols for masking as New York State lifts the mask requirement for schools effective March 2, 2022. Our primary concern is to offer a safe environment for kids to escape into the magical world of theater. To accomplish this we rely on the current CDC, New York State, and Monroe County COVID-19 statements.
To best serve the youth in our community, Stages theater is mask-optional. This will allow parents to decide whether their children should wear a mask when participating in our programs.
For summer camp participation and for audience members vaccination is highly recommended.
This pandemic journey has brought questions without definitive answers, opinions across a broad spectrum, and different positions on health issues that have caused divisions in our community. Stages decisions are welcomed by some and condemned by others. Our current protocol allows each person and parent to make their own health decisions; and we encourage everyone to respect the positions of others on masking and vaccination.
We appreciate your patience, compassion and understanding. We look forward to seeing talented young performers on our stage.
These protocols are subject to change, effective immediately, as necessary based on changing circumstances.
Annual
Reports
2023-2024
Grease: School Version
Disney's My Son Pinocchio JR.
Jekyll & Hyde
Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical
Rehearsal for Murder
Disney's The Little Mermaid JR.
Anastasia: The Musical
2022-2023
Disney's Descendants: The Musical
Disney's Aladdin JR.
Heathers the Musical: Teen Edition
Peter and the Starcatcher
Disney's The Lion King JR
Les Miserables: School Edition
2021-2022
The SpongeBob Musical
Moana JR.
The 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee
13 the Musical
Shrek JR.
Something Rotten!
2020-2021
Working
2019-2020
Roald Dahl's Matilda
Seussical KIDS
Seussical JR.
Pippin
Tarzan
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Frozen JR.
Mamma Mia!
2018-2019 Season
Newsies
Annie KIDS
Annie JR
Little Shop of Horrors
Disney's The Little Mermaid
The Matchmaker
Disney's Peter Pan JR.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast
2017-2018 Season
Once on this Island
Disney's The Lion King KIDS
Disney's The Lion King JR.
RENT School Edition
Gotta Dance!
Witness for the Prosecution
Flat Stanley JR.
Heathers The Musical (H.S. Edition)
2016-2017 Season
The Addams Family
Disney's Aladdin KIDS
Disney's Aladdin JR.
Rock of Ages (H.S. Edition)
Footloose
Twisted Tales of Terrors
Dear Edwina JR.
Side Show
2015-2016 Season
13
Annie JR.
Urinetown
Once Upon a Mattress
Dickens' David Copperfield
Disney's Mulan JR.
Aida: School Edition
2014-2015 Season
Zombie Prom
Disney's Sleeping Beauty KIDS
Little Women the Musical
Tarzan
Beverly Hillbillies - The Play
Seussical JR.
Jekyll & Hyde
Rehearsal for Murder
2013-2014 Season
Doctor Dolittle
It's a Wonderful Life
Into the Woods
Sherlock Holmes
A Year with Frog and Toad KIDS
Shrek the Musical
2012-2013 Season
Back to the 80's
The Elves and the Shoemaker
The Rented Christmas
Bugsy Malone
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Legally Blonde
2011-2012 Season
Working
Miracle on 34th Street
The Wiz
Tom Sawyer
West Side Story
2010-2011 Season
Guys and Dolls
It's a Wonderful Life
Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat
Heidi
Hairspray
2009-2010 Season
Pippin
Schoolhouse Rock Live JR.
13
2008-2009 Season
Fiddler on the Roof
Madeline's Christmas
Once Upon a Mattress
2007-2008 Season
Grease
Pippi Longstocking
Some Enchanted Evening -
The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein
2006-2007 Season
Disney's High School Musical (Regional Premiere)
Times Square A Musical Revue
2005-2006 Season
A Christmas Carol
A Broadway Musical Revue
2004-2005 Season
A Broadway Musical Revue
2003-2004 Season
And The Beat Goes On
2000-2003 Seasons
And That's New York Revue