Young performers find their confidence on stage in Brockville’s ‘Fame Jr.’

For the young performers who took the stage last weekend, Fame Jr. The Musical was about more than simply showcasing their singing, dancing, and acting abilities. It was about finding confidence, pushing beyond comfort zones, and discovering what can happen when a group of young creatives works toward a common goal.

Youth Opportunities in the Arts (YOA) brought together a talented group of local youth to put on Fame Jr. The Musical, a condensed version of the classic hit musical, but tailored for younger performers and middle schools students.

According to their website, the board of YOA provide local youth between the ages 10 and 35 with free workshops, events, and other projects related to the arts.

After months of rehearsals that began in May, Fame Jr. was performed to local audiences at Arts Hub Brockville from Aug. 28 to 30, 2026.

16-year-old Mara Shannon played Frau Sheinkopf, a German music teacher at the fictional New York City High School of Performing Arts.

“This role excited me because it pushed me out of my comfort zone,” said Shannon, who noted that she was tasked with performing with an accent for the first time.

When reflecting on the rehearsal process, Shannon said she appreciated the way everyone involved approached the production one section at a time.

“We would start with the music and we wouldn’t move on to the dance until we knew the songs comfortably,” she told Brockvilleist. 

For 14-year-old Scarlett Belanger, who played Serena Katz, the production provided an opportunity to take on a more mature character than she typically plays.

When speaking with Brockvilleist, Belanger said one of the biggest lessons she took away from the show was that success does not happen overnight, a message particularly fitting for Fame Jr., a musical centred around students chasing their dreams while studying at a performing arts high school.

“In reality, becoming famous doesn’t happen overnight,” she said, “You have to work for it and always keep training.” 

For Belanger, one of her favourite moments of the whole experience was finally getting the harmonies right during the show’s finale song ‘Bring on Tomorrow.’ For Shannon, her favourite moments happened before the curtain even went up, when groups of cast members would arrive early and get ready for the show together.

Michael Mortsch, whose daughter Diana was also part of the cast, said the weekend’s performances were a testament to the tremendous talent within Brockville’s small but mighty performing arts community.

“The singing was outstanding, with beautiful harmonies and strong vocal performances that were especially impressive for such a young cast,” Mortsch shared.

Mortsch credited Co-Producers Deanna Powers and Harold Hess, Director Chris Coyea, Music Director Judy Quick, Choreographer Anita Mortsch and Stage Manager Jordan Ross, along with the many other volunteers and supporters who helped bring the production to life.

“For weeks leading up to the performances, the team worked together through rehearsals, choreography, music, staging, costumes, technical preparation and countless other details required to turn an idea into a live production,” Mortsch emphasized.

For a small but strong community like Brockville, Mortsch said, the production was a reminder of what is possible when young talent is supported by dedicated volunteers, families, and arts organizations.