StagelightUNIVERSITY’s session takes place at SALT in West Chester and is designed for students Grades 6-12 who have experience in performing and are on a track of either pursuing it professionally or are desiring to grow in their skills and abilities in a challenging and uplifting setting. This will be a special experience whereby a max of 35 students will journey together for a semester through advanced-level training while also putting together a full-scale production. This program is designed for those who have taken at least 4 semesters of StagelightPLUS, or have several years of outside training in singing, acting, and dance under their belts.
FALL 2026
INTO THE WOODS JR for grades 6-12
This session is now fully sold out!
Please see below for our upcoming Winter & Spring sessions!
WINTER 2027
Tick, tick…boom! (J-TERM SHOW) for grades 6-12
West Chester Location | FREE
An autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, is the story of a composer and the sacrifices that he made to achieve his big break in theatre. Containing fourteen songs, ten characters, three actors, and a rock band, Tick, Tick... Boom! takes you on the playwright/composer's journey that led to a Broadway blockbuster. His girlfriend wants to get married and move out of the city, his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue and, yet, Jon is still waiting on tables and trying to write the great American musical. Set in 1990, this compelling story of personal discovery is presented as a rock musical filled with instantly appealing melodies and a unique blend of musical theatre styles.
This session is for the more experienced performer who wants intensive training in singing, dancing, & acting while also putting together a full-scale musical production. Our J-Term production is a new, awesome, audition-only experience for our most seasoned teen performers. They do not have to pay any registration fee to participate - it is a free experience for those who are cast. Those cast will have a THREE-WEEK intensive rehearsal process whereby they will come in almost entirely off-book, much like a professional show, and then get to perform one full weekend of shows.
Auditions will be by appointment on Wednesday, December 9th between 6-10PM, with Callbacks (by invitation only) on Thursday, December 10th from 6-10PM at our WEST CHESTER location (19 Hagerty Blvd). You can sign up for an audition slot HERE. Please prepare two song selections in the style of the show and/or from the show. 32 measures each (max). Please have your sheet music in a binder with cuts clearly marked for our live accompanist. If you are unable to make the audition day in person, you can submit a video audition to cbarnett@saltpa.com by Monday, December 7th. However, in-person attdendance at callbacks is required in order to be cast.
Rehearsal Training Sessions will then take place Monday through Friday evenings from 6-10PM beginning January 4th and going through January 15th. Tech Week will begin with a 10AM-10PM rehearsal on Sunday, January 17th, then Monday-Wednesday, January 18-20th from 5:00-10:00PM. Performances are January 21st at 7PM, January 22nd at 7PM, and January 23rd at 2PM & 7PM. Due to the intensive nature of this process (and since we are only casting 3-6 TOTAL performers), attendance at ALL rehearsals and performances is MANDATORY and no conflicts will be accepted for any of the above dates and times. Tickets for the performances will be sold separately.
You can email Chelsea Barnett, Stagelight’s Operations Manager, with any questions at cbarnett@saltpa.com.
SPRING 2027
NEWSIES Jr for Grades 6-12
West Chester Location | $750.00
Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right! Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.
This session is for the experienced performer who wants intensive training in singing, dancing, & acting while also putting together a full-scale musical production. This session will begin with weekly masterclasses in singing and dance, and will then segue into rehearsals for Newsies Jr which will be performed at our WEST CHESTER venue. Auditions will be on Sunday, January 10th from 1-4PM at our WEST CHESTER location (19 Hagerty Blvd). Sessions will then take place on Sundays ONLY from 1-4PM starting January 24th and going through May 2nd (Please note: we will take off for Easter on March 28th). There will be a few additional sessions once we get closer to tech week, including April 28 (6-10PM), May 1 (12-8PM), May 5 (6-10PM), and May 8 (12-8PM).
Tech Week is Sunday-Wednesday, May 9-12th from 5-10PM. Performances are May 13th at 7PM, May 14th at 7PM, May 15th at 2PM & 7PM, and May 16th at 2PM. Attendance at all tech rehearsals and performances is MANDATORY! Tickets for the performances will be sold separately.
COST of the session is $750. Space is limited to 35 students per session. Discount Code when registering siblings receives 10% off entire order: siblings. You will receive an email confirmation once your registration has processed. Another email with session details and audition info will be sent one week prior to the start date. You can email Chelsea Barnett, Stagelight’s Operations Manager, to ask any questions or be put on a waitlist for a SOLD OUT session at cbarnett@saltpa.com.
*See below for our UPDATED REFUND POLICY and ATTENDANCE POLICY
*REFUND POLICY (UPDATED 6/1/26):
You may receive a FULL refund if you cancel your registration more than two weeks in advance of the start date.
You may receive a 50% refund if you cancel within two weeks in advance of the start date.
Refunds are not offered within one week in advance of the start date or once the session begins. There are no exceptions.
If one session day needs to be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances (inclement weather, power outage, building complications, etc), partial refunds or registration credits will NOT be offered. In the event that two or more session days need to be canceled, guaranteed make-up session dates will be offered.
Stagelight does not offer credits for future programs
In the event of a government pandemic shut-down, all students will be offered compensation options for the days in which they miss.
*ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Actors are permitted 2 rehearsals off if needed (for sickness, unexpected life conflicts, school events, etc). If they miss any rehearsals beyond the 2, they cannot be in whatever scene or number is rehearsed on the days that they miss, and/or their role in the show may need to be altered or removed. Attendance at tech rehearsals and performances are MANDATORY, so we will not excuse conflicts for those dates. This will ensure a smooth and FUN rehearsal process and confidence in ALL of the kids across the board, which is always our goal!