AUDITIONS FOR 2025-2026 ARE NOW OPEN

SHOW STARTERS 2025–2026

Show Starters is a unique performance ensemble for GCPA students entering grades 5–8, focused on developing well-rounded, community-minded performers. Students will train in voice, dance, and performance technique while preparing entertainment to share at events around the St. Louis area. The program emphasizes team-building, responsibility, and service through the performing arts.

This is a year-long commitment. Members are expected to prioritize rehearsals and performances.

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Stephanie Fox
Music Director: Ashleigh Blevins
Choreographer: Jennifer Egley

APPLICATION & AUDITIONS

Admission is by application and audition only.
All students must:

Complete an application form (CLICK HERE)
Submit a video audition (details below)

Eligibility

Must be entering grades 5–8 in Fall 2025
Spots are limited and not all applicants will be accepted

Video Audition Requirements

VOCAL AUDITION

Perform one 16–32 bar cut of a song from contemporary or jukebox musical theater
Use an instrumental/karaoke track—no a cappella
Begin with a slate: name, age, grade, and song title
Record in a quiet place, landscape orientation preferred

DANCE AUDITION

We’re asking you to record a short video of yourself demonstrating a few common dance steps to help us assess your current level. You only need to include the skills you already know—you can skip a skill if you do not know it. Please combine all the steps into one video link. Music is not required, but you’re welcome to use it if you’d like.

4 Jazz Squares in a row
4 Chaînes in a row
Lindy to the right and left
Pirouette - however many you can execute cleanly
Two chasses into a Grande jeté
Special Skills/Dance Video: If you have a skill you'd like to share, please include it! If you have a solo video of you doing a dance, you are also able to upload that as a separate video.

Submit as Unlisted YouTube or Google Drive link shared with:

sfox@gcpastl.org
ablevins@gcpastl.org
jenniferegley13@gmail.com

Audition Deadlines

We aim to cast in early summer to allow families ample time to plan.

Videos due: June 9
Callbacks: June 12, 6–8 PM

DUAL ENROLLMENT: CrAFT + Show Starters (8th Grade Only)

8th graders may apply for dual enrollment in Show Starters and CrAFT, which provides mentorship, leadership training, and skill development.

Starting Fall 2026, CrAFT will be for 9th grade and up only—this is the last year to join CrAFT as an 8th grader.

CrAFT Show Starter students must enroll in:

Show Starters class (counts as CrAFT elective)
One acting class
One dance class
Private voice lessons
You do not need to submit separate applications. Everything needed will be included in the Show Starters application.

IMPORTANT DATES

Raise the Curtain Performance – REQUIRED

Saturday, October 4, 2025
Rehearsals:

Summer Intensive – LIMITED CONFLICTS

August 11–15, 2025 | 12 PM– 7 PM

A full-day, camp-style intensive to build ensemble unity, teach material, and conduct assessments
Limited conflicts allowed—this week is essential to the program’s success. Students who start school during the intensive will be given approval to arrive after school and given instructions on how to catch up.
Focus areas include:

Group bonding
Skill assessment
Holiday and spring show preparation

WEEKLY COMMITMENT

Regular Classes/Rehearsals:

Rehearsals: Mondays, 5:30–7:00 PM

Fall: Sept 8 – Dec 13, 2025 (No classes Nov 24 - 30)
Spring: Jan 12 – May 9, 2026

Rehearsals include learning music, choreography, and building performance quality. Conflicts are allowed, within reason. Students are called to all rehearsals.

REQUIRED CLASSES

As Show Starters is a training program to prepare students for high school performance opportunities, students are required to take additional classes as listed below.

Dance

Must take one Jazz Technique class:

Level 1/2 (Beginner+): Mondays, 4:30–5:30 PM
Level 3/4 (Intermediate+): Mondays, 7–8 PM
Placement determined by Stephanie Fox & Jennifer Egley

Focus is on technique and skill, not choreography
If a student is more advanced than the levels listed, a new class will be discussed. This is determined by Stephanie Fox & Jennifer Egley

Voice

Required: 16 private voice lessons from Sept–April (bi-weekly)
May study with GCPA or an outside instructor
Must turn in attendance records if studying outside GCPA

Acting

Recommended for all
Heavily suggested for 7th grade
Required for 8th grade

ATTENDANCE POLICIES

Rehearsals

Must attend 80% of rehearsals per semester
2 unexcused absences allowed (with notice, illness, bereavement)
5 total absences max per semester
Must attend the rehearsal before any performance or risk being removed from that event.

Classes

Must attend 75% of all dance/voice classes
Makeup classes are allowed per GCPA policy

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

Students must commit to 80% of confirmed performances at time of audition. Additional performance opportunities will arise and should be prioritized when possible. Performances are also subject to change, as most are performances we do not host.

School performances are a mission of the program, hoping to inspire new students to explore the arts. A maximum of 4 school-day events will be scheduled through the entire year, but it is usually 2 -3.
Students must commit to at least 2 school-day performances unless your school prohibits any absences.

Tentative Performance Schedule:

Here are the dates currently confirmed for 25-26. There are many we have not received dates for, yet, so more dates to come.

Saturday, Sept 14th: Greentree
Call time TBD
Performance 1 - 1:45 pm

Saturday, October 4th: Raise the Curtain
*Please hold all day as rehearsals and performance times are not available, yet.

Saturday, December 6th: Ranken Jordan
Call time 10 am
Performance 11 am

Saturday, December 6th: Webster Groves Tree Lighting
Call 4 pm
Performance 5 pm

Tuesday, December 9th: Friendship Village
Call Time: 5:30pm
Performance: 6:30pm

Saturday, December 13th: EverTrue Meramec Bluffs
Call Time: 1 pm
Performance: 2 pm and 2:45 pm

Saturday/Sunday December 20th and 21st: Wizard of Oz Pre-Show
We are working on expanding lobby experiences for these shows. This will include Show Starters performances, but the time is TBD. Traditionally, they perform at 1:30, but that may be earlier.

Thursday, March 5th: Friendship Village
Call Time: 5:30pm
Performance: 6:30pm

Tuesday, March 10th: Miriam School
Call Time 8:45 AM
Performance: 9:30 AM and 10:15 AM

Saturday, April 4th: Magic House
Call Time 10 am
Performance 11 am and 12 pm

Saturday April 11: Ranken Jordan
Call time 2:30 pm
Performance 3:30 pm

Saturday/Sunday, April 25th and 26th: Grease Pre-Show
Call: 12:30 pmShow: 1:30 pm

FINAL DEMO SCHEDULE:*
Monday, May 11th - ADDED Rehearsal, 4:30 - 8
Thursday, May 14th - ADDED Rehearsal at theatre, 4:30 - 8:30
Performance: Friday, May 15th.
Call 5 pm
Show 7 pm

COST

Total costs vary by class load.

Production Fee (Paid upon acceptance to program): Covers the Intensive (35 hours of training), uniforms and performance needs):$400

Registration Fee: $35 paid in first class payment

Class Fees: 9 monthly payments on the first of the month: September - May.

Here's an example based on the minimum requirement:

Show Starters (1.5 hrs/week)
$95/month x 9 = $855

Dance Class (1 hr/week) (discounted 5%)
$60.80/month x 9 = $547.20

Private Voice (16 @ $30)
$480

Production Fee
$400

Registration Fee
$35

Estimated Total
$2,367.20

UNIFORMS

Two looks are used throughout the year, mostly covered by the production fee:

Casual Look (you provide black bottoms and jazz shoes)

Personalized Show Starters shirt (yours to keep)
Show Starters jacket

Dressy Look (rented; returned annually)

Options include:

Dress + black shorts + jazz shoes*
Vest + button-down shirt + black pants + jazz shoes*
Suspenders + button-down + pants + jazz shoes*

*Student provides marked items