RITZ STAGE STARZ

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS: YOUTH EDITION

April 10-11, 2026

Grades 3-8

Directed by Kacy Hofstetter

Music Direction by Nick French

Choreography by Evelyn Passanante

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED! WE ARE AT CAPACITY!

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS: YOUTH EDITION is a one-hour adaptation of the beloved musical, designed for young performers.

Many moons ago in a far-off place, Queen Aggravain decreed no couples could marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, found a bride. Princesses came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen. That is, until the “shy” swamp princess, Winnifred the Woebegone, showed up. Would she be able to pass the Sensitivity Test, marry her prince and help Lady Larken and Sir Harry to the altar? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the classic tale The Princess and the Pea provides some side-splitting shenanigans. After all, a princess is a delicate thing.

SPRING WORKSHOPS

April 21-22, 2026

Grades 5-12

This spring, take your skills to the next level with THREE exciting, one-day workshops led by outstanding professional artists. Whether you’re looking to build physical performance skills or deepen your acting technique, there’s something for every young performer.

Fake Violence, Real Stories: Unarmed Stage Combat

Tuesday, April 21
Guest Artist: Sean McGarry

Learn the fundamentals of stage combat, including essential techniques, safety practices, and performance skills. Students will collaborate to create their own original scene featuring dynamic, choreographed fight sequences to showcase at the end of the session.

Session A (Grades 5–8): 4:00–5:30 PM
Session B (Grades 9–12): 5:30–7:00 PM

Please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for movement. No sandals, Crocs, heels, or similar footwear.

About Sean McGarry:
Sean is thrilled to return to the Ritz, where he has worked on multiple productions over the past several seasons. Most recent Ritz credits include She Kills Monsters, Company, Animal Farm, Peter/Wendy, and Angels in America. Regionally, he has worked on Sherlock Holmes: The Great Detective (Walnut Street Theatre), Misery (Act II Theatre), and Little Women (Masquerade Theatre).

Truth in Performance: Acting with Authenticity

Wednesday, April 22
Guest Artist: Melissa Connell

Dive into the art of truthful performance by exploring how character is shaped through voice, body language, and subtle nuance. Students will work to strip away distractions and build honest, grounded performances that feel real, specific, and compelling.

Session A (Grades 5–8): 4:00–5:30 PM
Session B (Grades 9–12): 5:30–7:00 PM

About Melissa Connell:
Melissa is an accomplished stage and screen actor with an extensive and versatile career.

Most recently, Melissa played Joanne in Company at the Ritz Theatre. Last fall, she portrayed all 11 characters in her Perry Award-nominated performance in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe with Stages.

Other theatre credits include Margaret White in Carrie (The Hill School Guest Artist), Madame in Cinderella, Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot, and Annabella/Margaret/Pamela in The 39 Steps at the Broadway Theatre of Pitman; Katherine in 33 Variations at The Kelsey; Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker with Mainstage Center for the Arts; and Barrymore-recommended productions at the Eagle Theatre including The King of East Jabip (Bridget), Gary (Lena), and Bonnie and Clyde (Emma Parker).

Her TV and film credits include One Life to Live, Sex and the City, Hack, and numerous commercial and industrial projects, including Saladworks, Susquehanna Bank, QVC, Rite Aid, Thom McAn, Dow Chemical, 6ABC, Curél, Peanut Butter & Co., EP Henry, and Hatfield. She has appeared in over 50 commercials and industrials.

Melissa is currently filming, playing Linda in the SAG project The Retailer with Poster Boys Productions, and appears as Sarah in The Hail Mary, a film by Daniel Roebuck premiering this winter.

She has narrated over 60 audiobooks and is a dedicated acting teacher. Melissa holds a BA in Radio/TV/Film and an MA in Public Relations from Rowan University. For the past 26 years, she has served as Client Care Manager, Team Leader/Facilitator, and Casting Director for True to Life Training. Up next, she will appear as Artie in Lee Blessing’s Eleemosynary with Isis Productions this spring in Philadelphia.

Make the Practice the Performance and the Performance the Practice

Friday, April 24
Guest Artist: Kimberly Valde

In this dynamic, hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to transform your practice routine by combining strong vocal technique with a powerful, performance-ready mindset. Discover practical tools to build confidence, reduce audition nerves, and unlock greater freedom in your singing and storytelling. Whether you’re preparing for auditions or looking to elevate your performance skills, you’ll leave feeling more in control, more expressive, and ready to take the stage with ease.

Session A (Grades 5–8): 4:00–5:30 PM
Session B (Grades 9–12): 5:30–7:00 PM

About Kimberly Valde:

Kimberly Valde has extensive experience as a voice instructor, having taught at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and The Conservatory of the Arts in St. Louis. She also operates a private voice studio in Cherry Hill, NJ. Her diverse clientele includes Tony and Barrymore nominees, as well as cruise ship singers, classical performers, Buddhist monks, and members of indie rock and jazz ensembles. At the height of her performing career, Kimberly contracted a virus that partially paralyzed one of her vocal folds. The subsequent rehabilitation and re-entry into her career has given her a unique perspective on the ability of vocal technique to provide a singer with true vocal freedom. As a performer, Kimberly has worked with esteemed organizations such as The Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Lake George Opera, Orlando Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera Company, City Rhythm Jazz Orchestra,Bristol Riverside Theatre, Media Theatre, Candlelight Theatre, and,of course,the Ritz Theatre.

Register for Workshops 1& 2 HERE! Workshop #3 HERE!

Send completed registration forms to RitzStageStarz@gmail.com! Spots are limited! Don’t delay!
Please Note: Sessions may be combined or adjusted based on enrollment.

ATYPICAL BOY

June 5-6, 2026

Grades 7-12

Directed by Matthew Weil

REGISTER FOR AUDITIONS HERE!

In a fantastical world (not entirely unlike our own) where “conformity is compulsory,” Boy cannot conform. Others make a desperate attempt to fix him, but neither they nor he can change his nature. Labeled a monster by the experts, Boy is shunned until, heartbroken and alone, he disappears into a world of monsters. There, Boy struggles with Hugo, ruled by his monster side, and is drawn to Girl, who is still in touch with her true feelings. A metaphor for invisible disabilities and disenfranchised youth, this play asks the question: Will Boy hold on to his humanity and accept himself, or will he become a monster? A cautionary tale that presents a comic anti-model of behavior, this entertaining fable for all times and all ages tells about the beauty and danger of being different in a world where conformity is valued and individuality is feared.

DISNEY’S DARE TO DREAM JR.

July 31 – August 1, 2026

Grades 3-8

Directed by Will Reid

Music Direction by Meg Bryan

Stage Management by Christian Randazzo

Disney’s DARE TO DREAM JR. is a 60-minute musical revue that follows an eager group of trainees on their first day at a fictional Walt Disney Imagineering Studio. As the group sets out to help each other discover their dreams, they work together to explore the power of dreams to unite, inspire, and make anything possible. Drawing from a century of beloved Disney films, DARE TO DREAM JR. features songs appearing for the first time ever in a Disney stage musical, including fan-favorites from The Princess and the Frog, Coco, Encanto, and Frozen II. This musical revue is a thrilling mix of contemporary songs, timeless classics, and brand-new medleys that are sure to surprise and delight Disney lovers of all ages.

DISNEY’S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

August 7-8, 2026

Grades 8-12

Directed by Robert Repici

Music Direction by Chuck Hartung

Choreography by Lindsey Krier Repici

Disney Channel’s smash hit movie musical comes to life on your stage! Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal with issues of first love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities.

It’s the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes find their cliques, recount their vacations and look forward to the new year. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. They cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical that is being led by Ms. Darbus. Although many students resent the threat posed to the “status quo,” Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well.

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.