This workshop is open to participants ages 13  through 2026 graduates and will run July 6th - 23rd. Rehearsals will be Monday through Thursday evenings (4:00 - 8:00), with optional build/costume days on Fridays and Saturdays at the Joseph P. Spencer Studio for the Arts (120 Jessie St., Manhattan, IL). Participants in this intensive workshop will create and perform their own cabaret show, with all participants sharing an equal say in the production design (directors, Emily Miller-Amato and Joe Amato will have final approval of all production decisions). 

The first rehearsal will begin with song selection. Directors will provide a pre-approved list of songs that fit the theme “This is me”, however additional songs that are appropriate may be added by participants. 

After song selection, participants will spend the remaining three weeks staging, choreographing, writing skits, rehearsing, and making creative production decisions about costumes, hair, lighting, and other technical aspects of the show.

Performances will be at the Joseph P. Spencer Studio for the Arts (120 Jessie St., Manhattan, IL) on July 24th and 25th.

$100 (plus $6.22 in fees) participation fee covers three weeks of workshops, cast t-shirt, and some costume needs. Additional costumes may be purchased or may come from clothing pre-owned by cast members. 

Spotlight Arts Collective Developing Artist program provides aspiring actors and actresses interactive educational and live theatre experiences through a wide array of performing and fine arts events. Our mission is to ignite passion in developing actors by providing safe, secure, and highly professional theater experiences that increase creativity, build self esteem, enhance collaborative skills, and nourish imagination on and off the stage. The creative endeavors of Spotlight continue to raise money for charities, scholarships, and other philanthropic pursuits in the community.