The Phosphorescent Pathway · Expand Community Arts Alliance
From first spotlight to the professional stage
Five steps, each one brighter than the last. Young artists begin at DMA, step onto our stage, work inside professional rehearsal rooms, and grow into company artists who create new work.
New for 2027–28: The Limelight Apprentice Program holds its first auditions in May 2027 and runs September 1, 2027 – May 5, 2028. The Phosphorescent Company follows in 2028–29.
Apply for the Limelight Apprentice Program · See the season
Fireflies · Ages 4–9 · At DMA
Most programs need no audition; Broadway Bound Company is by audition. Our youngest performers explore acting, singing and dance at The Dance and Music Academy.
- Story Stage (ages 4–6, new): creative drama, movement and storytelling for our youngest performers
- Young Actors Workshop (ages 7–9): acting basics, theatre games and confidence
- Broadway Bound Company (ages 7–9): where dance and musical theatre come together. By audition
- Summer musical theatre camps: a fun, low-pressure first show
- Dance at DMA: jazz, theatrical dance and tap
- Private music lessons: voice and instrument
- Studio Share: a short, informal performance for families at the end of each class session
Kindle · Ages 10+ · At DMA
Most programs need no audition; Broadway Bound Company is by audition. Students ages 10 and up build the skills and confidence for their first Spark audition.
- Young Actors Workshop (ages 10–13): scene work, character and confidence
- Broadway Bound Company (ages 10–13): where dance and musical theatre come together. By audition
- Summer musical theatre camps: a full show experience in a supportive setting
- Dance at DMA: jazz, theatrical dance and tap
- Voice: private lessons, plus a new group voice class for ensemble singing, harmony and reading music
- Audition Ready (new): 2–3 sessions before each Inner Light audition to choose a song, cut 16–32 bars, introduce yourself and manage nerves
- Spring mini-musical (new): a no-audition show where everyone is cast
- Backstage Basics (new): stage management, props and lighting for students who love theatre behind the scenes
Spark-ready checklist. A student is ready for a first Spark audition when they can:
- Sing 16–32 bars on their own
- Perform in front of a group with confidence
- Take direction and try something a new way
- Learn and perform a short dance combination
Step 1: Spark · By audition
Two audition-based performance opportunities on the same level. Artists can do one or both. Both teach how to audition, prepare and perform with professionals in the room.
Inner Light Youth Cabaret
Throughout the season, September–June · By audition · Annex Black Box · $50 participation fee
- A solo or small-group spotlight with a live accompanist
- Coaching from the cabaret director
- Performers choose the charity that receives 100% of proceeds
Summer Semi-Pro Production
One week · Summer · By audition · $595
- A one-week intensive ending in a performance, like 2026's Camp Rock
- Students share the stage with adult professional actors
- A real audition, rehearsal and tech process in a single week, plus professional photos and video of the performance
Who it's for: Ages 8–18 ready to audition and perform. Artists ages 8–9 usually come to Spark with prior stage or professional credits.
Investment: Summer Semi-Pro Production is $595 for the week, including professional photos and video. Inner Light Cabaret has a $50 participation fee.
What's next: Spark artists ages 14+ can audition for the Limelight Apprentice Program each May. The first auditions are in May 2027.
Step 2: Limelight · Auditions May 2027 · Begins 2027–28
A small cohort, chosen by audition, that works inside professional rehearsal rooms. It runs on our Professional Artist Partners program: visiting artists who rent the Annex mentor our Apprentices in exchange for reduced rates.
Limelight Apprentice Program
September 1, 2027 – May 5, 2028 · Target cohort of 5–7 · About 30 hours: one hour a month (Limelight Lab or Audition Studio), two Showcases, and placements
- Placements: at least 8–10 hours across the season with Artist Partners, during evenings, weekends, tech and performances, as ensemble, understudy, assistant stage manager or assistant director. Daytime rehearsal observation is optional and requires your school's approval
- Limelight Lab (4 a year): a one-hour group masterclass with a visiting artist, such as a director, choreographer, playwright or stage manager
- Audition Studio (5 a year): a one-hour private lesson with Phosphorescent faculty to build an audition package of 2 contrasting monologues, 2 song cuts, a self-tape and an updated résumé
Limelight Showcase
End of each term · Invited audience
- Apprentices present audition material and scene work
- Audience includes invited Chicago directors, casting professionals and college program reps
- Each Apprentice receives written feedback and a reference letter
Who it's for: Ages 14+ who have shown readiness and professionalism.
Investment: $115 a month.
What's next: Apprentices can audition for the Phosphorescent Company in May 2028, when it launches for the 2028–29 season.
Step 3: Phosphorescent Company Artist · Auditions May 2028 · Launches 2028–29
A year-round ensemble that develops and premieres one new work each season, from first idea to opening night, alongside professional artists.
Phosphorescent Company
Launches 2028–29 · Ensemble size to be announced
- Fall: devising lab and first staged reading with a professional writer or director
- Winter: workshop and revisions
- Summer: a world premiere in the Annex
Professional Launch
For every Phosphorescent Company Artist
- Production footage and photos for reels and college prescreens
- A one-on-one with a professional mentor each term
- Assistant-direct or assistant-choreograph one Inner Light Cabaret
Who it's for: Ages 16+ and alumni preparing for college programs or professional work.
Investment: Pricing to be announced.
What's next: Phosphorescent Company Artists move on to BFA and conservatory programs, professional auditions, and teaching.
Alongside any step
- Future Leaders (with The Dance and Music Academy): Students assist in younger DMA classes and build leadership and teaching skills.
- Phosphorescent Screen Lab (offered this season, 2026–27): On-camera workshops in dance and music on camera, casting, stage-to-screen acting and short film, building to a 60–90 second reel. Details below.
- One-on-One Coaching (any step): Private audition and acting coaching with faculty, tailored to each artist's next goal.
Phosphorescent Screen Lab (2026–27)
On-camera training built on what makes the Alliance different: dance, music, a black box and working filmmakers. Take one workshop or the whole series. Students who complete the series finish the season with a 60–90 second reel.
- Dance & Music on Camera: Film a dance combination so it reads on screen, record a vocal self-tape with the right mic placement, track and eyeline, and create a short dance film with DMA and TDC choreographers. You leave with a dance tape and a vocal tape.
- Casting Room Day: Rotate through every role in the room: actor, reader, camera operator and casting director. Then review a stack of tapes together and decide who gets the callback, and why. You leave with a monologue self-tape and an insider's view of how casting decisions are made.
- Stage to Screen: Take a scene you performed in a cabaret or the Summer Semi-Pro Production and rework it for the camera. Performing it both ways shows how acting scales from stage to screen. You leave with a filmed scene.
- Stories for a Cause: Write, act in and film a 60-second PSA for the charity chosen by our Inner Light performers. The nonprofit gets a finished video to share, and you leave with a scene for your reel.
- Shoot Day: Act in a short film made in the Annex by one of our Artist Partner filmmakers. You leave with an on-screen credit and footage for your reel. Offered when a filmmaker partner is in residence.
- Parent Reader Night: A short session for parents on reading lines and running the camera for home self-tapes.
Format: about 2 hours per workshop, on weekends. Ages 10–18. Dates and pricing to be announced.
Season timeline
- February 6, 2027: Winter Inner Light Cabaret (Spark)
- April 4, 2027: Pathway Info Night, 5:00 PM (Launch)
- May 2027: Limelight auditions (Launch)
- June 5, 2027: Season Finale: Inner Light Cabaret (Spark)
- June 21–25, 2027: Semi-Pro Production week (Spark)
- September 1, 2027: Limelight Apprentice Program begins, running through May 5, 2028 (2027–28 season)
Where should I start?
Beginners start in Fireflies or Kindle at DMA. From there, artists audition for Spark. Faculty make all placement decisions.
- Ages 4–9, new to performing: Start in Fireflies at DMA.
- Ages 10+, new to performing: Start in Kindle at DMA, then take Audition Ready before your first Inner Light audition.
- School or studio shows: Audition for the cabaret, the summer production, or both.
- Full musicals or plays, ages 8–13: Audition for the summer production, and add a cabaret any time during the season.
- Full musicals or plays, ages 14+: Audition for a cabaret this year, and for the Limelight Apprentice Program in May 2027.
Questions families ask
Should we do the Cabaret or the Summer Production? Either, or both. They're on the same step. The cabaret is a solo spotlight held throughout the season, from September through the June finale. The summer production is one intensive week as part of a cast with professional actors.
When do Limelight and the Phosphorescent Company start? The Limelight Apprentice Program launches in 2027–28. Auditions are in May 2027, and the program runs September 1, 2027 – May 5, 2028. The Phosphorescent Company launches in 2028–29, with auditions in May 2028. After that, auditions are held every May.
Can my artist audition in May 2027 without doing Spark first? Yes, for the launch year. Artists ages 14+ with comparable stage experience are welcome to audition. Starting in 2028, Spark experience is recommended.
Why is there a separate audition for these steps? These steps put students inside professional rooms. A dedicated audition makes sure each artist is ready, and keeps the trust of the visiting companies and artists who host them.
How is this connected to DMA and Trifecta? Phosphorescent is part of the Expand Community Arts Alliance with The Dance and Music Academy and The Trifecta Dance Collective. Students can train, perform and lead across all three companies.
Ready for your first spotlight?
Tell us about your artist and we'll suggest the right first audition.