Capitol Arts Complex program offers acting, performance and life-skills training for students from grade 2 through college.
ROME, N.Y. Registration is open for the Rising Stars Youth Theater Program at the Capitol Arts Complex, giving young performers across Central New York a chance to build acting skills, confidence and stage experience. The fall session begins Saturday, Sept. 12, and is open to students in grades 2 through 12, as well as postgraduates and college students. No audition is required to enroll in the classes.
Rising Stars fall classes begin Sept. 12
The Capitol Arts Complex describes Rising Stars as a youth theater program built around both stage training and personal development. Students take part in games, coaching, creative projects and live performances on the Capitol stage.
The program’s 2026 tuition is $150 per student for each 10-week session. For families enrolling more than one student from the same household, the first student pays $150 and each additional student pays $130.
Saturday class times are divided by grade level:
- Grades 7-9: 10 to 11 a.m.
- Grades 10-12, postgraduates and college students: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Grades 5-6: 1 to 2 p.m.
- Grades 2-4: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The Capitol says the fall session also requires additional rehearsals on Saturdays and Sundays, plus at least one evening each week. Families considering the program should review those added rehearsal commitments before registering.
More than acting lessons
Rising Stars is designed to teach skills that can matter far beyond a theater production. According to the Capitol, students work on stage movement, character development, audition preparation, reading comprehension, public speaking, teamwork and responsibility.
A 2026 program sponsorship document puts the goal in simple terms: “every child deserves access to the transformative power of theatre.” The program also says it uses arts education to strengthen creativity, communication, critical thinking and collaboration.
Those goals matter because performing arts programs can give young people repeated opportunities to speak in front of others, solve problems as a group and take responsibility for a shared project. In Rising Stars, those lessons are tied directly to rehearsals and performances rather than taught only in a classroom setting.
Confidence that can carry into school and work
The Capitol says students develop skills that can help them prepare for school plays and local productions, but the program also points to everyday benefits. Learning to audition, speak clearly and work with a group can help young people during class presentations, college interviews, job interviews and other public situations.
That does not mean theater training guarantees stronger academic or career outcomes. It does mean students practice communication, preparation and teamwork in a structured environment, skills that schools and employers routinely expect.
A program with a record of large youth productions
Rising Stars has already brought sizable groups of young performers to the Capitol stage. In May 2026, the program presented Mystery at Main Street High, an original musical mystery written by program director Janet Foote. The production featured a cast of more than 50 students.
A 2024 production, Westward Ho!, also included about 50 young actors from 12 Central New York school districts and colleges. Those productions show that Rising Stars is not limited to small classroom exercises. Students can move from training sessions into full productions with sets, costumes, music and live audiences.
Professional instruction at Rome’s historic Capitol
Classes are taught by Janet Foote, a professional actor and director who has also taught theater arts at the high school level. The Capitol says Foote has conducted workshops and seminars for organizations including Fibonacci STEAM, BOCES, Girl Scouts, local theater groups and area schools.
Students also train inside one of Rome’s best-known cultural institutions. The Capitol Theatre opened in 1928 and today operates as part of the nonprofit Capitol Arts Complex. The organization presents films, concerts, live theater, SummerStage, Capitolfest and the Rising Stars program.
That setting gives students something many youth programs cannot easily provide: regular access to a full-size historic theater and the experience of performing on a professional stage in their own community.
What families should know before registering
For parents and students deciding whether Rising Stars is a good fit, the main points are straightforward:
- Classes begin Sept. 12.
- Students from grade 2 through college may participate.
- No audition is needed for classes.
- Tuition is $150 for a 10-week session.
- Additional students from the same household pay $130 each.
- The fall session includes extra rehearsals beyond the regular Saturday class.
The program may be especially appealing to students who are curious about theater but have never auditioned before. Because enrollment in the classes does not require an audition, beginners can enter the program without first competing for a role.
More experienced students can also use the session to strengthen performance skills and prepare for future auditions and productions.
Arts education remains part of Rome’s community life
Rising Stars also reflects a broader role for community arts organizations. In a time when families often look for affordable local programs that combine education, creativity and social connection, the Capitol is offering a structured option in downtown Rome.
The program’s value will ultimately be judged by the experiences of its students and families. Still, its long-running presence, its large youth casts and its continued place in the Capitol’s annual programming suggest that local theater remains an active part of youth arts education in the region.
How to learn more and register
Families interested in the fall session can visit the Capitol Arts Complex website for Rising Stars registration information and current program details. Questions about the program may also be directed to program director Janet Foote through the contact information listed on the Capitol’s Rising Stars page.
For young people who have wondered what it feels like to step onto a stage, learn a character or become part of a cast, the Sept. 12 session offers a local place to begin. Parents and students should review the schedule, rehearsal requirements and tuition, then register while space remains available.
