Rising Stars is a wonderful training ground for young performers in 1st through 8th Grade. 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. Additionally, several Broadway-style intensives/camps are offered each summer along with Musical Theatre Experience classes during the school year. Rising Stars is audition-based, while Musical Theatre Experience is class-based.

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.", and "Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Jr." The winter 2023 production will be "Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins JR". For more information on auditions, please go to our Auditions page.  

With classes in Franklin and Nolensville, the Musical Theatre Experience Program has produced "101 Dalmatians Kids", "Annie Kids", "Aristocats Kids", "Dear Edwina, Jr.", "Seussical Kids", "Frozen Kids" and "Lion King Kids, and "The Addams Family" (young@part version). The spring production will be James & the Giant Peach JR. 

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.