FALL MUSICAL THEATRE CLUB
Go beyond the stage and discover the art of musical theatre in a whole new way!
The Ritz Stage Starz Fall Musical Theatre Club is an immersive exploration of three remarkable musicals over six weeks. Every two-week session takes a deep dive into a different show through script and song study, dramaturgy, group discussion, collaborative studio activities, and/or performance exploration. Rather than rehearsing for a public performance, students will explore what makes each musical unique while expanding their knowledge and appreciation of the art form. Whether you’re discovering a hidden gem or revisiting a classic with fresh eyes, Musical Theatre Club is the perfect place to broaden your theatrical horizons.
No auditions. No pressure. No public performance. Just six weeks of discovering great musicals in a fun, collaborative studio environment.
For this first outing, we will be studying THE FANTASTICKS, GYPSY, and THE OUTSIDERS.
ANNIE JR.
November 13-14, 2026
Grades 3-8
Directed by Kacy Hofstetter
Music Direction by Nick French
Choreography by Lindsey Krier Repici
Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with a beloved book and score by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, ANNIE JR. features everyone’s favorite little redhead in her very first adventure.
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
ANNOUNCING THE 2027 RITZ STAGE STARZ SEASON!
Seven incredible productions. Three summer camp divisions. A whole year of stories waiting to come to life on stage!
The 2027 Ritz Stage Starz season is here, and we could not be more excited for what’s ahead! From rarely produced musical gems and beloved Broadway classics to magical underdogs, colorful adventures, heartfelt family stories, and fairytale chaos, our upcoming season has something for every kind of theatre lover.
Whether you’re a longtime member of our Stage Starz family or just discovering our program, we invite you to take a look at everything coming to The Ritz in 2027!
THE APPLE TREE
January 15-16, 2027 Winter Teen Musical | Current Grades 8-12
Love, jealousy, temptation, and happily-ever-afters take center stage in this delightfully unconventional musical! THE APPLE TREE is made up of three separate musical one-acts, each offering a unique and often hilarious take on relationships between men and women. From a quirky retelling of Adam and Eve and a rock-and-roll fable about love and jealousy to an offbeat twist on the Cinderella story, this rarely produced musical is full of wit, memorable music, and unexpected surprises.
This production will also mark a special first for Stage Starz: live piano accompaniment! We’re thrilled to bring this unique musical experience to our older performers and our audiences.
Director: Robert Repici
Music Director: Tim Herman
Choreographer: Lindsey Krier Repici
Stage Manager: Quinn Moscariello
AUDITION SIGN-UPS NOW OPEN! VIEW THE AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT HERE!
OKLAHOMA! YOUTH EDITION April 23-24, 2027 Spring Junior Musical | Current Grades 3-8
Oh, what a beautiful day! One of the most influential musicals in Broadway history is coming to Stage Starz! Set in the early days of the Oklahoma Territory, this beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein classic follows the cowboys, farmers, and young romantics whose lives intertwine amid rivalry, courtship, and the promise of a new frontier.
Featuring iconic songs, spirited storytelling, and a groundbreaking blend of romance, comedy, and drama, OKLAHOMA! helped redefine what musical theatre could be. Our young performers will have the opportunity to bring this timeless American musical to life in a special youth edition made for the next generation of theatre artists.
Director/Choreographer: Lisa Krier
Music Director: Nick French
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! FILL OUT THE FORM HERE!
PUFFS June 18-19, 2027 Summer Teen Play | Current Grades 8-12
For seven years, a certain boy wizard attended a certain school of magic and conquered evil. But this… is not his story!
PUFFS tells the story of the students who were never the chosen ones: the loyal, kindhearted, awkward, and often overlooked kids who just want to make friends, get through school, and maybe survive a few dangerous adventures along the way. While another student gets all the glory, the Puffs are busy having their own mishaps, triumphs, and unforgettable moments.
Packed with fast-paced comedy, outrageous characters, and affectionate nods to the magical world audiences know and love, PUFFS celebrates the underdogs and reminds us that you don’t have to be the hero of the story to be extraordinary.
Director: Kacy Hofstetter
DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS July 31, 2027 Kiddie Camp | Students entering Grades 1-4
We’re heading into the jungle for an exciting new chapter in Stage Starz history! Based on Disney’s beloved animated film, THE JUNGLE BOOK KIDS brings the adventures of Mowgli and his animal friends to the stage in a lively musical packed with familiar songs, colorful characters, and plenty of jungle fun.
From the easygoing Baloo and wise Bagheera to the mischievous King Louie and the fearsome Shere Khan, this adventure is filled with opportunities for our youngest performers to explore character, movement, music, and storytelling. It’s the perfect introduction to the magic of theatre!
And this production is extra special because it launches our FIRST-EVER KIDDIE CAMP! Designed specifically for students entering Grades 1-4, this new division gives our youngest performers their own age-appropriate summer theatre experience, culminating in two performances on July 31.
Creative team: To be announced!
TROLLS JR. August 7-8, 2027 Junior Camp | Students entering Grades 5-8
Get ready to turn up the color, crank up the music, and embrace the power of optimism! Based on the hit DreamWorks Animation movie, TROLLS JR. brings the vibrant world of the Trolls to the stage in a high-energy musical adventure.
When a diplomatic crisis threatens their future, a troupe of Troll performers must reimagine their show and discover how creativity, teamwork, and a little bit of sparkle can bring everyone together. With lively characters, catchy songs, and a message that the show must go on, this production is sure to be a celebration of imagination, friendship, and theatrical fun.
Our Junior Camp performers will have the chance to sing, dance, act, and bring this colorful world to life in a summer production bursting with personality!
Director: Randi Fowler
Music Director: Jen Rosario
Choreographer: Ashley Engelson
Stage Manager: Kat Iafolla
Some stories are too big to tell in just one lifetime.
Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, BIG FISH is a fantastical and deeply moving musical about family, the stories we tell, and the legacies we leave behind.
At the heart of the story is Edward Bloom, a man whose life seems to be filled with extraordinary adventures, unbelievable encounters, and larger-than-life characters. But as his son Will tries to understand the man behind the stories, he begins to question where the truth ends and the myths begin. What unfolds is a heartfelt journey about the complicated relationship between a father and son, the power of storytelling, and the ways we come to understand the people we love.
With imaginative worlds, a memorable score, and an emotional story at its center, BIG FISH will give our teen performers an exciting opportunity to explore complex characters and create theatrical magic on a grand scale.
Director: Robert Repici
Music Director: Chuck Hartung
Choreographer: Lindsey Krier Repici
SHREK JR. November 12-13, 2027 Fall Junior Musical | Current Grades 3-8
Once upon a time, in a faraway swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek…
When Shrek’s peaceful home is invaded by a crowd of banished fairytale misfits, he sets off on a quest to reclaim his swamp. Along the way, he teams up with a wisecracking donkey, encounters a princess with a surprising secret, and discovers that happily-ever-after might not look quite the way he expected.
Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film and the hit Broadway musical, SHREK JR. is packed with outrageous comedy, memorable songs, larger-than-life characters, and plenty of fairytale fun. Beneath all the laughs is a heartwarming message about friendship, acceptance, and learning to embrace what makes us different.
BIG FISH: SCHOOL EDITION