Our Community: StarStruck Academy and Theatre
StarStruck Executive director and instructor Peter Jones teaches voice and piano to a student via Zoom software.
The show must go on: StarStruck creates connection and character from a distance
The faces peer out from the computer screen, each beaming in from their own home, from their bedroom, their living room, their porch. The enthusiasm of their teacher grabs them, bringing them right back to that thing that they love--acting, singing, dancing, collaborating, connecting. It’s been several weeks since they walked through the doors of their beloved building, a place that is, for some, like a second home, when life is normal.
While our community practices social distancing, the StarStruck Academy and Theatre building on Kanner Highway in Stuart sits empty, with the sign outside that has told us “The sun will come out tomorrow.” The building, though, however wonderful, isn’t what makes or breaks the StarStruck family. What matters most is the people, their connections, enthusiasm, support and full belief in their mission. The mission on the outside looks like performing arts--acting, dancing, singing.
Dance instructor Anastasia Keating talks with students during class.
But that’s not really the mission. Through StarStruck, the performing arts have become a path along the journey to adulthood, a fun place for kids to find and develop their talents while also developing good character and being part of something bigger than themselves. StarStruck isn’t just a place to go to take a few classes and move on. When you are part of the StarStruck family, you are part of a group aspiring towards excellence in all you do, a group that encourages and lifts each other up.
“If you can excel at StarStruck, you can excel at anything,” Creative Director Jennifer Jones said. “Our philosophy is that it takes kindness and hard work to be a good and successful person in the world. Those are our core principles. We put on a show and then say ‘Wow, kids--see what you just did there—you can apply that to everything in your life.”
“It’s the worst feeling in the world to get on stage in front of hundreds of people and not know your lines because you just didn’t work quite hard enough to memorize them.” she said. “You can take that and use it as a metaphor for anything in life. How long is that going to work for me? Everything in putting on a show is truly a metaphor for so many other things in life that people do.”
In early March, when kids in Martin County headed home on a Friday afternoon, looking forward to Spring Break, the news about the Coronavirus had crept into our lives, a little more each day. When the kids came home that Friday, we had suspicions they might be home for a while, but the concept was still fresh for all of us, something foreign to our sensibilities, unchartered territory. Soon it became clear that life was changing, school would be out until at least the end of April, and now, for the rest of the school year.
StarStruck student Sophia Srb during class via Zoom, on the back patio of her home in Jensen Beach.
At this point, StarStruck creators Jennifer and Peter Jones started brainstorming--how would they continue? To them, clearly, the show must go on. That was never in question. Almost immediately, plans to move everything online were set in motion. Peter quickly purchased the technology needed.
“My favorite is a gooseneck style iPad Pro holder that hovers over my head so the camera angle faces directly down on my piano keyboard,” Peter said. “This is especially helpful for my piano students to see my hands when explaining difficult hand/finger positions.”
“Lighting was easy.....we are a theatrical production company, after all,” Peter said. “I went into our storage warehouse and gathered several LED lighting fixtures to make the dance rooms look more exciting. It was important to us for our students to see their Purple Home looking great even though they couldn’t physically be in the room.”
Most important to Jennifer, Peter and their staff: seamless transition into the new way of teaching and giving their students (their “kids”) a sense of belonging and normalcy as many other areas of their lives were disrupted, plus a continued sense of community and connectedness. Starstruck isn’t a stuck-up place for only the most talented performers. StarStruck has opportunities both in front of the audience and behind the scenes.
Jennifer Jones’ office door.
“We provide a safe place for all children and families from all walks of life, from all socioeconomic backgrounds,” Jennifer said..” We are an anti-bullying, fully accepting, loving space that encourages confidence and self-esteem in young people through the performing arts.”
“Allowing children to have a voice is my personal mission. I don’t think there are many platforms in our country where children have a voice,” Jennifer said. “They need that. Right now, Zoom classes give them a place to vent. The first week I had kids crying on the Zoom calls in front of their peers, a big deal. Really vulnerable and allowing themselves to be vulnerable. They wanted to tell us how they were feeling.”
During this pandemic, Zoom classes have been a wonderful thing, enabling the kids to stay connected with their teachers and other students, to see each other on the screen, to talk and to learn. Yes, learning happens, but in the end, isn’t it the connection and the realization that we need each other that matters most? In these times of uncertainty, knowing “your people” are still “your people,” maybe that’s what matters most. Knowing each Tuesday at 4 you will be with the same group of people, the people you used to meet with in person each Tuesday afternoon, before the pandemic changed our lives.
“The feedback we’ve gotten from our families has made Peter and I cry,” Jennifer said. “They email us and tell us ‘Thank God for StarStruck. It gives our child the structure she needs during the week.’”
Jennifer Jones teaches the Rising Star Acting Class from home.
The seeds for StarStruck were planted when Jennifer and Peter met during a production of the musical Pippin, more than 20 years ago. Both had been performers as long as they could remember. Jennifer already had her Masters in Education degree and Peter had his Vocal and Piano Performance degree.
“When we first started, Peter and I would put together a small group of amazing singers and performers and do a one-hour set of music at different country clubs,” Jennifer said. “Then we did the first summer show at the Lyric Theatre in 2000.” Slowly through the years, with perseverance and the support of the community and happy students and parents, StarStruck emerged.
“When people say to us, ‘You’ve fulfilled your dream,’ Peter and I looked at each other because there was no conversation, no dream about having a musical theatre company. What we built came out of hard work and listening carefully to the children and their families. We just kept trucking along through the years.”
Rebecca Beery works with kids from the big studio in the StarStruck building.
Their two kids, Amanda and Kevin Paul, grew up with StarStruck. Both pursuing performing arts careers, Kevin now lives in Los Angeles and Amanda in New York City. As the news of lockdowns and social distancing surfaced, both headed home to Palm City. They are still pursuing their careers, from a distance, as they spend time at home right now.
More than 20 years ago, early in my career as a photographer, I was still figuring out my place in the world. One of my gigs landed me at the Barn Theatre, photographing a production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” I will never forget the mesmerizing sound of Peter’s voice as he sang his part of Annas, then seeing the show again during a production at The Lyric Theatre a couple of years later.
The day recently when I photographed a couple of StarStruck classes, as I walked through the empty building, Peter was in his studio teaching a piano class, his melodic voice and easygoing smile traveling over the internet into the home of his student during a private lesson. The student gazing out at Peter, almost as if they were together. Another teacher worked with a larger group, maybe 20 students, learning dance moves in the bigger studio.
Posters from past shows adorn the studio walls.
I felt a sense of awe at what two committed people had created together. The energy and enthusiasm infused by Jennifer, with her zest for life and love of people, still filled the empty space. A few choice inspirational words on the walls, posters from past productions proudly hanging. My favorite color, purple, StarStruck’s trademark color, filling the space with majesty. I felt a sense of encouragement at what will come in the future. I could feel the energy that will infuse the space when teachers and students are here once again. Knowing those who walk through the StarStruck doors to simply see a show will leave changed in a small way, through seeing this generation of kids using the talents and gifts they were given.
That same day, I headed over to the Jones’ home in Palm City, to photograph Jennifer (in a social distancing sort of way) as she taught her Rising Star acting class. So much fun! She truly can’t contain herself--she exudes enthusiasm, the kind of teacher all parents want for their children. Her words speak life into the kids and tell them that their contribution matters. The smiles coming from the screen say “I feel safe here.”
Mina Lippman shows her face painting to Jennifer during class.
“I’m dying to see them in person!” Jennifer said. “In the first couple of weeks, my energies were really focused on being there for them. Popping my face into all their Zoom classes. So they could see Peter and I are healthy and alive and will see you at your scheduled time. Now that we’ve been doing this awhile, I have said ‘I can’t wait to hug my students! I’m going to squeeze them so hard.’ This week I said it to them during class.”
“Thank God for the Zoom stuff that’s keeping us connected. We see their little faces and they see ours. But at the same time I know we are missing being in the same room together. We need other human beings. We need people. We need our audiences to give us energy to keep doing what we are doing.”
StarStruck exists because two people boldly created something from nothing, using the talents and gifts God gave them.
StarStruck already has children signed up for their two summer shows, “Frozen” and “Rent” plus full day camp programs, and will be following all CDC guidelines. Learn more at their website or call 772-283-2313.
We all have different talents and gifts. Are you using yours to make the world a better place? Do you need a nudge to do that? If so, consider taking a class, reading a book, finding a mentor. For me, taking writing classes has helped me develop my dream of writing. I hope you find and develop your dreams too!
Click here to learn more about Diane Dultmeier’s community journalism.
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For 20+ years as a family portrait specialist on Florida’s Treasure Coast, I have been known for relaxed portrait sessions at locations around Stuart, Palm City, Hutchinson Island, Hobe Sound, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and all areas in between. I am not like most photographers these days because I believe your family deserves to be celebrated each day, as part of your home decor. When you work with me, we will collaborate in creating Fine Art Portraits of your family, which will live on your walls or in a custom-designed album or folio box and be remembered as one of the best investments you have ever made. In addition to creating portraits for families, I create headshots and personal branding images for business use. To learn more, go the the Dultmeier Photography homepage.