Inspired by London’s Spirit Young Performers Company, Main Stage Young Performers Company was created to elevate performance opportunities for youth in our rural Humboldt community, while also connecting young artists through the shared experience of live performance. The company performs in a variety of settings throughout the year from full scale musical productions to community events and performance based projects.
Based on Goodspeed Opera's Kids Company model, Young Performers Company members train with many of the Main Stage guest artists they perform alongside as well as other arts professionals from all over the United States via online workshops. "The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence".
"The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence". -Maria Montessori
The Young Performers Company is a Montessori influenced arts program and students are given as many hands on experiences as possible, both as performers as well as with the technical and business aspects of the arts. Students are supported in the study and facilitation of as many facets of musical theatre production as they're interested in, from stage management to dramaturgy!
Young Performers Company is by invitation only. Students from the Young Performers Ensemble program are selected to join the company in August each year. Typically students need to complete at least 1 year in the Ensemble program before they are considered for YPC.
YOUTH ARTS EDUCATION
Sylvia Tout (Gretl, The Sound of Music 2024)
Photo by Krista Curry Photography
Let's Start At Very Beginning.....
From the very beginning, young people have been at the center of Main Stage's mission and vision. Inspired by London's Spirit Young Performers Company, Main Stage first started as a pilot project under the Ink People Center for the Arts when seven local youth premiered selections from British composer Ethan Lewis Matlby's new musical Ada Lovelace at the Morris Graves Museum of Art in 2014. The very first Main Stage production, The Sound of Music was produced that following summer to give youth artists the opportunity to be a part of full scale production in our rural area. Main Stage Young Performers Company was born!
Over the past the decade the Main Stage Young Performers Company has grown tremendously, now producing two youth productions at the Arkley Center annually, in addition to events in the community and beyond. Serious students have the opportunity to train online with arts professionals from all the country, as well as appear in the company's professional productions alongside adult actors.
Beyond Humboldt
We've always believed that young people in our rural area were capable of achieving great things and our students have done just that! Notable performances include the Triad Theatre (NYC), Radio City Music Hall (NYC-Spotlight Kidz). Several of our students are represented professionally by agents and managers in New York (Take 3 Talent, Bercy Talent) and have appeared in Broadway National Touring productions (North American Tour of The Sound of Music).
“Children acquire knowledge through experience in the environment.”-1946 London Lectures
The Young Performers Company is a Montessori influenced arts program. Whether they're pursuing the arts as hobby or a professional career, students are given as many hands on experiences as possible, both as performers as well as in the technical and business aspects of theatre Students are supported in the study and facilitation of as many facets of the arts as they're interested in, from stage management to dramaturgy.
FALL 2026
Young Performers Ensemble Fall Classes 2026
Young Performers Ensemble is the first step into the world of Main Stage! Classes focus on developing basic performance skills, a strong work ethic, and getting young artists introduced and excited about being on stage. Students will learn music and choreography for the fall or spring youth production and perform as an Ensemble alongside the Young Performers Company. This class is open to students with or without prior experience and also gives staff an opportunity to evaluate eligibility for the Young Performers Company program (Grades 2+) should the student wish to continue in future seasons. Fall 2026 classes are offered Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with cohorts for:
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TK-Kinder
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Grades 1-3
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Grades 4-6
Note that Middle/High School programming is by audition only.
Questions? childrensdivision@mainstagehumboldt.org
Young Performers Company students in The Sound of Music 2024
Young Performers Company 2026/2027
YPC is an audition based program for performers with prior experience, ready to take their training more seriously. Auditions for both elementary and middle/high school cohorts are held annually in the spring. Students in Grades 2-6 must have completed at least one season of Ensemble classes to audition.
In the 2026/2027 School year YPC will have multiple cohorts based on age and skill development. YPC members have the opportunity to audition for roles in both Young Performers productions as well as Main Stage productions in addition to community events and professional development opportunities throughout the year. Pro-track and/or high school students may also opt to coordinate private lesson and/or small group classes within the program based on individual training needs and performance goals.
YPC Auditions for the 2026/2027 school year were held in May.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Young Performers Company program supports local youth seeking professional opportunities in the arts. Several of our alumni and current students are represented professionally by agents and managers out of NYC and have appeared on Broadway and beyond! Main Stage Humboldt also regularly hires YPC alumni in our full scale productions giving young adult artists the opportunity to perform professionally in their hometown.
The YPC program can align students with professional interest and potential to industry training and networking opportunities from both a New York based training studio, as well as a multitude of individual coaches and instructors that support our young artists in developing professional careers.
The YPC program can also facilitate training opportunities at a recreational level for any student wishing to build their skills. To inquire about individual training opportunities and your student's current goals please reach out to Daphne: daphnee@mainstagehumboldt.org.
NOTE: We can only faciliate private lessons and/or small group coachings for current program students.
Taylee Mullins
Inaugural member of Main Stage Young Performers Company. Represented by In Both Ears Voiceover Agency. Recently seen as Anna in Main Stage's production of Frozen as a part of the professional company.
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me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
Madisyn Wood
Inaugural member of Main Stage Young Performers Company. Represented Take 3 Talent
I’m a paragraph. Double click
me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
Berkeley Waluk
Represented Bercy Talent Management. Currently appearing as Marta Von Trapp in the Broadway National Tour of The Sound of Music
Radio City Music Hall with Spotlight Kidz November 2025
YPC members Adeline, Berkeley, Heidi, and Sylvia joined youth performers from all over the country to open for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall with Spotlight Kidz Company in NYC
