2106 North Hamilton Street Richmond, Virginia 23230

Showstoppers

Welcome to the Showstoppers Program for 2025!
Showstoppers is a year-long program for young people in 4th to 8th grades who are ready to commit to a rehearsal and performance process without the stress of an audition.

Class Description:

Showstoppers is the ideal choice for young people who are ready to commit to a more rigorous musical theatre-based rehearsal and performance process.

Students in this class will meet for an hour-and-a-half twice a week from September to April (not including a winter break). During that time, the cast of Showstoppers will learn skills like audition preparation, rehearsal etiquette, behind-the-scenes artistry, and – of course – they’ll learn their show!

In doing so, elements of performance like acting, scene work, memorization, choral singing, solo/small group singing, and dance will be heavily emphasized. Students will understand and practice singing in parts (harmony and melody).

Youth will identify the roles of a director, music director, and choreographer as part of a rehearsal and performance practice. The curriculum of this class also includes developing communication and collaboration skills for the theatre like dependability, cooperation, and teamwork.

This intermediate-level is the next stage of learning for students who have completed at least one year of SPARC programming.

Behind the Scenes:

SPARC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1981 and is one of the nation’s most comprehensive, community-based youth performing arts education organizations.

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SPARC - Paul Major

Meet Paul Major!

Paul has had the pleasure of teaching with SPARC for over a decade and has been a teaching artist and youth worker for even longer. With a degree in Music Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory, Paul performed all over the United States before deciding that youth work and teaching were his calling. While performing, he had the pleasure of working at Dollywood and received the I.A.A.P.A. award, the highest honor bestowed upon any theme park performer worldwide, and performed alongside Dolly herself.

In Richmond, he has performed in countless shows with local and regional theaters and has designed hair and makeup for many others. In his time at SPARC, Paul has served as the Program Director for Spectrum, SPARC's theatre program for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies, and the Program Director for Seasonal Camps. For many years he has lead and created other programs and classes at SPARC. The work that he has done with youth throughout his career has helped to shape the lives of many youth in the Richmond area and beyond.

SPARC - Katrinah Headshot (Tall)

Meet Katrinah Carol Lewis!

Katrinah Carol Lewis is a multifaceted theatre artist with varied experience including work as an artistic director, actor, singer, director, playwright, historical interpreter, teaching artist, and educator. Katrinah has contributed to the artistic landscape of Richmond for Virginia Repertory Theatre, The New Theatre, Firehouse Theatre, TheatreLAB, Cadence Theatre, Yes, And! Theatrical Company, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, and more.

Her body of work is diverse and consistently recognized as excellent, earning 14 nominations for acting and directing awards from the Richmond Theatre Community Circle and winning 3. Katrinah worked for over a decade at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and served as Associate Artistic Director for TheatreLAB and Interim Co-Artistic Director for Virginia Repertory Theatre, is a certified yoga instructor and featured vocalist at Unity of Richmond. Katrinah also currently serves as Associate Artistic Director for Firehouse Theatre.

SPARC - Laine Wagner

Meet Laine Wagner!

Laine Wagner hails from southern Rhode Island and completed her BFA in theatre with concentrations in Acting & Design and Tech at the University of Rhode Island.

She toured as an Actor/Director for Missoula Children’s Theatre at 45 residencies across the United States and Canada. She then moved to Portland, OR where she acted, produced, wrote, scenic painted, costume designed, and worked as a teaching artist at Northwest Children’s Theatre.

In 2019, she moved to Richmond to attend VCU to get her MFA in performance pedagogy. Wagner received her MFA in May of 2021. She began working at SPARC as a Teaching Artist and Scenic Painter in August 2022 before assuming the role of Associate Faculty Member in August 2023.