Mission

StarStruck Theatre is a non-profit youth performing arts organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of a diverse community by providing theatre arts education, performance opportunities, and musical productions of uncompromising quality.

Our Guiding Principles

  • We value artistic expression and social interaction.
  • We place priority on the highest professional standards in all areas of production.
  • We provide a positive environment in which young people can learn teamwork and communication skills and build self-esteem.
  • Our programs give children of all ages an opportunity to work together and learn from each other.
  • We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of our programs.

Musical Productions

StarStruck Theatre produces two mainstage musicals each year held at The Smith Center, Ohlone College in Fremont, California. Additionally, we offer summer performance camps for students 8 to 14 years old.

START (Student Training in the Arts)

StarStruck offers classes through START, an education program featuring classes and camps designed to give the young actors of tomorrow a head start in their theatrical pursuits. Classes often include: musical theatre workshops, group voice lessons, acting classes, and musical theatre dance classes. Summer camps focus on training in the core elements of musical theatre: singing, dancing, and acting.

History

StarStruck Theatre was created in 1995 by Lori Stokes, a graduate of San Diego State University and a Fremont, CA resident, as a theater program for neighborhood children. It was originally named Kids On Broadway, and first performed at the Fremont Education Foundation’s Fundraiser luncheon at Castlewood Country Club, with twelve local children ranging in age from seven to twelve years old.

For the first six years, Kids On Broadway performed to sold out audiences at the former Broadway West Theatre Company.  In 2000, it became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and officially changed its name to StarStruck Theatre. It soon outgrew the Broadway West theatre. After performing a few shows at Mission San Jose High School, Lori Stokes took the big step and booked the Ohlone College’s Smith Center to produce her winter show, Honk!, and it was an overwhelming success! Since then, she has gone on to produce and direct two mainstage shows each year.

StarStruck has come a long way since 1995, producing dozens of mainstage musicals, junior shows, matinee performances for elementary schools, after school classes, and school break camps. The young performers at StarStruck range in age from 7 to 21 years old.

Lori Stokes continues to produce and direct the theater’s musicals, along with incredibly talented music director, Nancy Godfrey. For each show, StarStruck employs professional designers and  technicians. Very enthusiastic and talented parent volunteers also help achieve the professional quality shows that StarStruck has become known for.

StarStruck mixes a professional environment and training with the relaxed fun and enthusiasm of a kids’ community theater. It is this combination that attracts both the youngest, most inexperienced performer, and the theatrical veteran alike, so that all can share in the magic that comes from creating a musical. All cast members receive intensive training in singing, dancing, and acting, while learning “behind the scenes” aspects of theater as well.

StarStruck prides itself on the fact that it is the only year-round non-profit all-youth theater company in the Tri-City area. Actors cast in the mainstage productions are carefully selected through auditions that attract actors, singers, and dancers from the Tri-City and Tri-Valley areas and beyond.

StarStruck’s young performers often continue their involvement with the performing arts – through other community theatres, colleges, and even professional theatre. Broadway alumni include Juliane Godfrey (The SpongeBob Musical) and Kristin Stokes (The Lightning Thief). Wherever StarStruck kids go, they carry with them not only the memories of the enormous fun they had together, but also the irreplaceable social and professional skills they acquired during their time with StarStruck.