About Us
Rhonda Wilson - Artistic Director
Carol Valasques-Jackson, Executive Director
Background:
The Star Center Children’s Theatre, Inc is a non-profit organization providing arts education and performance opportunities to area youth and their families since 2000. The STAR Center is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized as a public charity by the Internal Revenue, thus qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests, transfers or gifts.
The Star Center is well-known in the community and has received several awards both locally and state-wide. The Star Center received the local SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH AWARD and statewide, received the GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR INVESTMENT IN YOUTH.
Our Mission:
The Star Center exists to provide experiences that educate, challenge and inspire young people through the arts. The Center provides performance opportunities that allow young people to be creative, develop comradarie and experience success in completion of a production. The Center will help youth develop lifelong skills that can be used in any profession they choose.
How Does Our Program Relate To the Mission?
The Star Center programs, classes and workshops allow the kids to participate in all aspects of the production. The youth develop a sense of teamwork and pride in finishing something that they played a major part in producing. The center allows the kids to create and develop in the areas they like. We utilize student directors, musicians, costumers, visual artists and choreographers. During the Summer camps, some of our former child performers are camp counselors.
The programs are designed to educate both preschool and K-12 students. The Center also offers special programs for adults and families. Students learn about techniques and skills used in the performing arts and receive hands-on experience in technical theater. The programs are rooted in education and promote inclusion in school curriculum. Many of our students use their experience at the Star Center as part of their community service. The Star Center, because of its strong belief that theater should bring together all kinds of people, has been successful in building a whole new audience for the shows. Because of the low cost many people are able to attend and bring their entire families including young children to the shows. This creates a new generation of art supporters.
Brief History:
The Star Center was founded in the Summer of 2000. The theater was officially incorporated in August of 2004. Programs offered began in a small space in a after-school center. We began rehearsal for our first production, An American Girls Revue during the fall. 15 children enrolled in the first program. We continued offering classes in acting and dance and our enrollment increased during our second production of Babes in Toyland. The local community theater allowed us the use of space to perform our shows for an audience.
During the Summer of 2001, the Star Center received a small grant from the Corner Drugstore to provide arts education by combining industry professionals with at-risk youth. The Center , in partnership with the Center for the Performing Arts, was able to produce the Broadway musical, Once on this Island. This program increased our enrollment to 35 children and 15 adults. Classes and programs continued to grow so there was a need for more space. In 2002 the Center partnered with a local daycare that had a chapel that could be used for performances. Programs continued to expand and the community began to recognize and support The STAR Center as Gainesville’s Children’s Theater.
In the spring of 2003, the Star Center moved into a shared retail space with Gainesville Community Playhouse. We renovated the space into a theater complete with stage and seating. The first program in the new space was a huge success with a production of Tom Sawyer. This program combined 25 kids with local actors. The Center was up and running.
As of 2004-05, The Star Center is a fully incorporated 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization. The Center offers 8 main productions and 7 small shows that tour libraries, community centers and schools. The Center relies heavily on volunteer directors, musicians and choreographers. The center currently serves over 250 child performers annually. We have over 5000 patrons who attend the performances.
Summary:
The Star Center is committed to inspiring and building self-esteem in youth. We will continue to make the arts available to all children. Our goal is to one day have a state-of-the-art facility where children, families and the community can fully enjoy the beauty of art.
For more information about the Star Center please call 352-336-5309.
Located at the Sweetwater Branch Inn (Colson House) 625 East University Ave, Gainesville 32601
Site Designed, Maintained, and Donated by For Sale by Owner in Gainesville, LLC