In the Community
In addition to being the resident, musical theatre production company located at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, 5-Star Theatricals is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization devoted to giving back to our community through extensive outreach programs serving disadvantaged children, in-need seniors, active military troops and beyond. Learn more about our established outreach programs below.
5-Star Starlight Kids
5-Star Theatricals creates professional-level productions locally and, when shows call for children, the talent from the community is overwhelming. In order to engage, inspire, and help cultivate a love of music and performance in these young performers, the 5-Star Youth Outreach programming was created!
The 5-Star Starlight Kids are our audition-based outreach performance group comprised of more than 40 children between the ages of 8 and 14. Education is a key component, as the singers are taught a wide variety of songs and repertoire, spanning from contemporary musicals and pop/rock classics to standards from the Golden Age of musicals. In addition to performances at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center, the Starlight Kids play a leading role in our entertainment for the military and senior citizens, allowing 5-Star Theatricals to share a fundamental education: the act of performance as giving.
Want to become a Starlight Kid? Auditions will be held June 5th and 6th. Learn more on our blog here or contact casey@5startheatricals.com for more information.
5-Star Young Adult Ambassadors
Once students start high school, they have the opportunity to audition for our elite outreach performance group, the Young Adult Ambassadors. The YA Ambassador program is all about the music and professional musical theatre development, with a concentration on harmony-heavy arrangements (written specifically for the YA Ambassadors by director Casey Comstock Mills). The YA Ambassadors are focused on professional performance preparation and have the opportunity to work with different acting and performance coaches within the 5-Star family. Current collegiate members and alumni of the YA Ambassadors can be found in professional productions and BFA musical theatre and acting programs across the country.
Like the 5-Star Starlight Kids, the Young Adult Ambassadors are front and center at 5-Star Theatricals performances in the community, including our shows for the military and senior citizens. Alumni include Tessa Grady, now appearing in her third Broadway show, and Jennifer Foster, of television’s “Glee.”
Want to become a Young Adult Ambassador? Auditions will be held June 5th and 6th. Learn more on our blog here or contact casey@5startheatricals.com for more information.
A.S.L.
5-Star Theatricals presents a signed performance for the deaf and hard-of-hearing for each production. This performance, which takes place on the second Saturday matinee of each run, also contains an educational component. Professional signers are paired with students learning the craft of signing musicals through their participation with 5-Star Theatricals. 5-Star Theatricals maintains its commitment to making musical theatre accessible for everyone.
Military Outreach
Every December, 5-Star Theatricals presents a specially-prepared show for the U.S. military and their families at the Naval Base Ventura County. Our annual shows feature stars from past shows, our youth performance groups, Santa Claus, and other holiday characters, performing in an 800-seat movie theatre on the base, converted for the evening into a holiday show celebration.
The Holiday Show for the Troops is just one facet of 5-Star Theatricals’ nationally recognized commitment to the military: All active members of the military and their families see all 5-Star Theatricals shows free of charge; 5-Star Theatricals provides entertainment at the region’s Annual Navy Ball; and 5-Star Theatricals singers sing our National Anthem at significant Navy events, such as 9/11 memorial ceremonies and retirement events.
Senior Outreach
For those who can’t attend shows at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 5-Star Theatricals takes entertainment to senior citizens across the community. What began with a single visit to a local center has now expanded to a multi-day tour of resident centers from Woodland Hills to Camarillo. The Starlight singers visit the centers on the major holidays: Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, 4th of July, during the Fall and then again during the holiday season.
Adopt-a-Bus
Everyone agrees that arts education for children is a great idea, but not all children have access to the arts. Your tax-deductible donation will ensure a magical theatrical experience for hundreds of at-need children in and around the Conejo Valley! Arts education builds creativity, confidence, problem solving, perseverance, focus, non-verbal communication, collaboration, dedication and accountability. Our community will thank you for giving our children an enriched educational experience and fostering a love of the arts!