Summer at iStage belongs to the iStagers — the young performers who, in a magical year, unexpectedly encountered the stage and have since experienced days full of surprise. In 2020, they learned about pandemics and social distancing; they also learned about focus, and the power of rising to a challenge. For them, iStage is a place filled with music and performance, but also a place that comes with pressure and difficulties. iStage never shies away from hardship, nor does it forget to care for each student’s feelings. When you entrust your child to us, we bring them into the world of performing arts.
Over the past two months, some students chose to participate in the “Summer iStage Teaching Assistant Experience,” gaining hands-on social practice and seeing musical theatre from a different angle. Every day, they “clocked in and out,” diligently helping with tasks like temperature checks, script guidance, backstage coordination, and more.
iStagers are growing up — visibly — alongside iStage.
Ava W.
If you ask who the most beloved student at iStage is, Ava would undoubtedly top the list. Every student who has shared a class or had her as a teaching assistant remembers her radiant smile. Every morning, Ava warmly greets each student, explains the day’s schedule, helps teachers organize lunch seating, and keeps students quiet during meals. In class, she maintains order and notes everyone’s positions on stage for smooth scene changes. By taking on a new role, she became part of the entire production process. When we asked her how it felt compared to performing herself, Ava flashed her signature smile and said, “This is even more complicated and tiring than performing. There’s so much more to remember.”
Grace L.
“The thing I regret most is not taking the ‘Welcome Back to the Sixties’ audition seriously. If you really want a role, you have to fight for it yourself.”
Because she missed the two-day casting call earlier in the year, Grace lost the chance at her ideal role — a lesson that stuck with her. As a teaching assistant, she shared this with younger students, encouraging them: “If you like a role, give it everything you’ve got — don’t let yourself regret missing out.”
Daniel W.
We saw Daniel again in the iStage summer rehearsal room. It hadn’t been that long, but the young boy had grown into a nearly 1.8-meter-tall young man — warm, polite, and exactly how we remembered him. (Daniel has performed in several iStage musicals over the past two years.)
He immediately joined the 5–8-year-old class and, familiar with iStage’s routine and teacher expectations, kept the younger kids on track. When a few boys misbehaved in class and were sent to a separate room to reflect, Daniel stayed with them, helping them understand what went wrong and how to improve.
After the “Mean Girls” performance, the stage was littered with confetti (a stage prop) and crowded with cast and audience members. As soon as Daniel finished performing, he went backstage, grabbed a broom, and started cleaning the stage — faster than the crew — ensuring everything was ready for the next performance.
Kaye L.
As one of the oldest Select team members, Kaye has been with iStage for many years. Her musicality and strong technical foundation have earned her the respect of every teacher — 9 years of dance training and years of experience in violin and piano. In the summer production *Aladdin*, one short dance sequence was choreographed by Kaye herself. It was her first attempt at choreography, and she had to balance storytelling with appropriate skill levels for the performers. She completed the task beautifully and gained valuable experience as a choreographer.
Cherry L.
Cherry lives in Minhang and commuted under the blazing sun every day to be a teaching assistant. In the practice room, she led students through dance drills again and again. Cherry expressed interest in stage technology, and her teacher gave her the responsibility of helping students wear their microphones during performances — starting from the basics of tech work. She followed the rehearsal and show schedule, helping with mics before performances and carefully removing and organizing them afterward.
Being an actor, technician, or stage crew member — each role carries completely different responsibilities in a musical theatre production. The summer teaching assistant experience gave these students a brand-new perspective on the creative process and let them experience the responsibilities and challenges behind the scenes. Tasks that may look easy at first often turn out to be quite difficult in practice.
After four and a half years, iStage students are slowly growing up. Our iStage Family — those who trust and support us — is growing too. We hope everyone here feels the love. Looking to the future, we remain open and inclusive, welcoming former students to take part in practical experiences that develop both responsibility and personal growth. iStage Academy will always be your home!
