Rising Stars is a wonderful training ground for young performers in 2nd through 8th Grade for audition-based productions. Rising Stars produces at least 2 full-scale musical productions each year in an effort to give younger actors the skills and opportunity to be on stage in leading roles. For the Franklin area, there are productions in the Winter and the Summer. Performances are at the Williamson County Performing Arts Center in Franklin. 

Past plays produced by the Rising Stars include "Annie, Jr.", "Lion King, Jr.", "Into the Woods, Jr.", "Aladdin, Jr.", "The Little Mermaid, Jr.", "Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.", "Peter Pan Jr.", "Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Jr.", "Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins JR" , "The Sound of Music (youth edition)" and "Willy Wonka Jr.". The summer production will be "13", taught in a 2-week intensive camp. For more information on auditions for "13", please go to our Auditions page.  

For information on upcoming performances, please go to our Performances page. 

For more information on our upcoming classes and summer camps, please go to the Classes, Camps & Workshops page. 

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 Blandina Vergara-Cruz
With over 25 years of experience in directing and working in the entertainment industry in Las Vegas and Franklin, Blandina Vergara-Cruz has worked with both adults and children at various theater companies in town, including Pull-Tight Players and Expression City. She is the director of our Rising Stars theatre program. When she’s not teaching, directing or performing, Blandina is involved in community projects like, “Kids on Stage Summer Academy” as the assistant director and community board member of “Tennessee Kids Arts Festival”. Blandina and her husband set up the non-profit Ray of Light Foundation in honor of their son Raymond's legacy after his passing from cancer in 2019. For more information, go to rayoflighttncom.