Join the Academy at the Mary Winspear Centre

Sea Star Academy is the training heart of Sea Star Productions. Designed for young performers who love musical theatre, our academy focuses on building strong foundations in singing, acting and dancing technique. Through supportive, high-quality instruction, students develop confidence, discipline, and versatility while learning what it truly means to be a well-rounded performer. Our term-based training is performance-driven, with all classes focused on preparing students for a fully staged production presented at the end of each term.

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Our singing classes focus on healthy vocal technique, breath support, pitch accuracy, and expressive storytelling through song. Students learn how to care for their voices while building confidence as solo and ensemble singers. Emphasis is placed on musical theatre repertoire, performance skills, and finding each student’s unique sound.

Acting technique classes help students develop imagination, emotional truth, and storytelling skills. Through scene work, character development, and theatre games, students learn how to connect authentically with an audience and their fellow performers. These classes build confidence, focus, and the ability to bring characters to life onstage.

Musical theatre demands strong, confident movers. Our dance technique classes build coordination, strength, flexibility, and rhythm while introducing a variety of Broadway-inspired styles. Students learn proper technique alongside performance quality, helping them move with confidence onstage and keep up in fast-paced musical numbers.

“My dream is to bring all I have learned abroad to Vancouver Island and my goal is to create an environment where students feel safe, inspired and confident to learn the value of the performing arts”.

– Charlotte Denton

Your Questions, Answered

  • Classes are organised by level: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced, ensuring that each student trains in an environment best suited to their current skills and experience.

    At the beginning of each term, students will participate in a placement audition to determine the most appropriate level for them. To ensure fairness and consistency, placement decisions are made by a panel, which includes not only Sea Star Academy teachers but also external theatre professionals who observe and adjudicate. This broader panel approach helps provide objective feedback and ensures students are placed where they can grow, feel confident, and be challenged appropriately.

    Placement is about finding the right fit, not ranking talent — students may move between levels from term to term as they develop and progress.

  • Yes, at Sea Star Academy, students are required to take singing, acting, and dance technique each term. Musical theatre performers are true triple threats, and these three skills work together to create confident, versatile performers.

  • The Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney.

  • Classes and rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays 4pm-6pm. Students attend only one day of classes during the training and technique term, but may be required to attend both days when in term two, which is rehearsals for a production.

  • During each two-hour session, students train in singing, acting, and dance technique. Classes rotate so that students receive focused instruction in all three disciplines every week.

  • The Academy is a 14 week program per semester. The first term is 7 weeks of training and technique in all three Musical Theatre disciplines. With all training being connected to the semester’s production. The second term, the next 7 weeks, is rehearsals for the semester’s production. The Academy is a structured program, and consistent attendance is essential for student progress and show preparation.

  • We believe Musical Theatre is about more than just training — it’s about community. Each month, Academy students will gather together for special community time (during class) where performers from all levels connect, share, and celebrate their work. These gatherings help build friendships, encourage mentorship between younger and older students, and create the supportive, welcoming environment that Sea Star Productions is known for. It’s a chance for our students to play games, make memories and feel truly part of the Sea Star family.

  • Sea Star Academy is a holistic approach to musical theatre training and performance. Because each term’s training is focused on a specific production, all three classes work hand-in-hand to prepare students for their end-of-term performance. This ensures every student is fully supported, well-prepared, and set up for success onstage — and helps maintain a fair, cohesive, and professional rehearsal environment for the entire cast.