Upper School Performing Arts at Shorecrest

Upper School Performing Arts

Students in the 9th-12th grade Upper School have robust opportunities to study the Performing Arts in depth, with a wide variety of electives in Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Stagecraft and more. The Performing Arts courses and faculty support students at all levels of performance, from the interested novice to the experienced performer who intends to continue studying the Performing Arts in college.

Courses include opportunities like Musical Theatre, Acting Studio, Music Theory, Introduction to Piano, Introduction to Guitar, Advanced Band, Introduction to Recording Arts & Music Production, Stagecraft, and Theatre Technology and Production*

Performing Arts classes in Shorecrest Upper School offer opportunities to experience, explore, and master a variety of performing arts.

Instrumental Music

Shorecrest offers instrumental music courses and opportunities available to aspiring musicians at all levels. Some instrumental music courses meet outside the regular school-day schedule to allow for more flexibility for students who are interested in multiple performing arts tracks.

Course offerings include AP Music Theory, Band, Guitar, Piano, Intro to Recording Arts and Music Production and more.*

Shorecrest musicians have opportunities to perform in the annual Fall Showcase, Winter and Spring Concerts, Rock Band performances, special events, and even in student-initiated individual concerts. Audiences include fellow students, parents and family members, and the greater community.

Fun Fact:
Shorecrest singer-songwriter Lauren Brumbelow ‘24 worked with Band Director Ethan Updike to present a student-led concert featuring her original work. She was accompanied by a band of Shorecrest student musicians.

Acting & Musical Theatre

From delivering monologues, to performing in a musical ensemble, to the history of the acting craft, students have the opportunity to experience all different aspects of acting and musical theatre through performing arts coursework and co-curricular opportunities like competing with Thespian Troupe 3140.

Shorecrest actors have opportunities to perform in the annual Fall Showcase, a signature Broadway-style musical each spring, Thespian competitions, special events, and more.

Fun Fact:

Shorecrest's Thespian Troupe 3140 has garnered many top honors at both the District and State levels, including presenting one-acts and mainstage productions at the Florida State Thespian Festival at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, dazzling an audience of over 2,000!

Stagecraft & Theatre Technology

Shorecrest stagecraft and tech students take leadership roles in running and producing award-winning and visually stunning sets, lights, sound, and more. These behind-the-scenes opportunities allow students to to develop real-world, hands-on skills that are applicable not only to the performing arts but in other fields, too.

Fun Fact:
Stage manager Reanna Hossain ‘24 won a Broadway Star of the Future Award for her work on the 2022 Shorecrest musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." She was one of 9 Shorecrest students nominated for Broadway Stars Awards in 2022.

Performance Opportunities

Shorecrest students have a variety of opportunities to perform for audiences throughout their time at the School, from intimate one-act plays in the Black Box Theatre, to al fresco concerts under the stars, to Broadway-style musicals before an audience of hundreds.

Treblecrest, Shorecrest’s a capella ensemble, made its debut in 2015. The group explores a wide range of material from this increasingly popular style of vocal performance.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella"
"Radium Girls"
Band Concert
Thespians performing at Grandparents Day
Treblecrest performing at 2017 Fall Arts Showcase
"The Crucible"
"Les Misérables"
"Into the Woods"
"Something Rotten!"
Fall Showcase
"Mary Poppins"
"Chicago"
Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella"
Concert Band
"Something Rotten!"
"The Crucible"
"Radium Girls"
"Anything Goes"
"The Sound of Music"
"Les Misérables"
"A Chorus Line"
Winter Band Concert
Upper School Rock Band
One Night Only: Thespian Showcase

Independent Study

Students who wish to pursue topics above and beyond the scope of what is offered in the curriculum may propose an independent study course, under the supervision of a member of the Shorecrest Upper School faculty. Independent study courses may be of any approved topic of field, including the performing arts. For example, Class of 2022 student Wade LeCain was passionate about Classical Guitar and developed his own independent study of the topic. Part of his final assessment for the course was a live public performance of his work, which was held in the Janet Root Theatre at Shorecrest.

* Courses are subject to change. For a comprehensive list of current performing arts offerings, please see the current Upper School Curriculum Guide on the Upper School page.

More Fun Facts

Shorecrest alumnus Patrick Wilson '91 received a Tony nomination in both 2001 and 2002 for his Broadway performances. He also starred on screen in "The Alamo", "Phantom of the Opera", "Insidious", and received Emmy and Golden Globe award nominations in 2003 for his acting in "Angels in America." Watch Patrick's recent Shorecrest Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award acceptance.
Shorecrest alumna Monica Raymund '04 won the 2013 Imagen Award for Best Actress in Television. You may have seen her on TV starring in "Lie To Me" or "Chicago Fire".
Students from the Shorecrest Playwriting Class have had their works produced and performed in theaters off-Broadway - in Los Angeles, California, and in Telluride, Colorado - as well as in Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Competing with hundreds of high school and college talent throughout the country, Shorecrest musical theatre students are consistently selected to train with some of the most renowned artists of this era at Ann Reinking's Broadway Theatre Project.
Shorecrest theatre, musical theatre, playwriting and dance students have won "Superior" and "Critics' Choice" ratings at District, State and International Thespian Competitions.
Shorecrest was the first independent school in the Tampa Bay area to offer a course in Videography/TV Production. Students have won many awards for their programing.
Alumnus William Leavengood '78 is a two-time Eugene O'Neill Award winning playwright. He has several off-Broadway plays to his credit, including "Florida Crackers."
The Shorecrest Concert Band has been invited to play at a presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.
During the past twenty-five years, the Shorecrest Cultural Enrichment Program has brought hundreds of national and international artists to perform and hold workshops on campus.

Upper School Performing Arts Faculty

List of 5 members.

Jennifer Marquis

Performing Arts Producer

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Jennifer Marquis joins Shorecrest as the Performing Arts Producer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in telecommunications from Penn State University. She has worked as a marketing manager and special events planner in various industries, and has experience planning and executing trade shows and conferences and producing live industry award shows. Prior to relocating to St. Petersburg with her family in 2017, Jennifer had her own photography business, in addition to working as an infant hospital photographer for a baby portraiture company. As a Chargers parent to Lauren '23 and Julia ’21, Jennifer has been an active volunteer in the Upper School Performing Arts Department. She has used her artistic eye to create play props and to photograph school plays, concerts, sporting events and award ceremonies. Jennifer is thrilled to be able to work alongside the Shorecrest Arts community.
Michael McCarthy

Upper School Musical Theater Instructor
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Michael McCarthy holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Stephen's College and an ALAM (Honors) from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. As a professional actor Michael made an incredible impact internationally with his critically acclaimed portrayal of inspector Javert in "Les Misérables." From London’s West End to Broadway, he has performed in over 5000 shows in locations such as San Francisco, Sydney, Melbourne and Shanghai.

Michael is an accomplished recording artist and has performed as a featured guest soloist with international orchestras in concert arenas throughout Europe, most notably The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Michael is also a producer, music director, and co-founding director of Performing Arts Ireland and has successfully established performing arts academies at five-star resorts in the Caribbean. He has had opportunities to coach actors for West End and Broadway productions, and has also given many masterclasses in schools and colleges internationally.

In addition to being the Father of Cían, a Shorecrest Class of 2022 lifer, and husband to Stephanie, Middle School Music Teacher and Thespian Director, Michael has been involved as Music Director for all US spring musicals over the past 15 years and is delighted to be able to work with some incredible teachers and students. For more info visit www.michaelmccarthy.website.
Bradley Miller

Technical Director of Production Elements

727-456-7537

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Bradley Miller joined Shorecrest in the summer of 2014 as the Theatre Manager of the Janet Root Theatre. Formerly a Project Manager and Designer for construction companies within the Theme Parks in Orlando, Mr. Miller has been active in concert production and corporate theatre and is still an active designer for art installations, architectural lighting, theme park attractions, and theatre productions around the world. Mr. Miller has vast experience in teaching professional workshops and certifications in design and technology, in addition to high school theatre, stagecraft, and technology.
Ethan Updike

Director of Bands

727-522-2111 x641

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Ethan Updike became the Upper School’s lead music teacher and Band Director in 2015. He teaches Upper School music classes, instrumental music lessons to Middle and Upper School students, and directs the Concert Band and related music ensembles. Mr. Updike is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, and holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Education from Oberlin Conservatory, where he specialized in trumpet performance. He can play most instruments. Mr. Updike's favorite part of the year is seeing all of the students' hard work come together during the Winter Concert and Spring Concert. Outside of school, Mr. Updike enjoys leading an active lifestyle by exploring local restaurants around town, traveling, and practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Madelin Willett

Upper School Dance Instructor

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Madelin Willett is the Upper School Dance Instructor. She grew up in St. Petersburg, where she first trained with Academy of Ballet Arts and later began competitive and classical training with Y Dance Academy. Maddie attended PCCA at Gibbs High School and worked throughout as a professional choreographer for children’s performing arts centers and taught dance classes at local studios. She also trained pre-professionally with Joffrey Ballet School, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Broadway Dance Center, and Lines Ballet. Maddie graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance within the Dance Medicine Program.

In 2019, Ms. Willett was selected as a choreographer at Disney’s House of Blues, as well as a dancer for the Choreographer’s World of Dance Showcase in Miami. She has been fortunate to travel for numerous dance conventions as well as regional, national and world dance competitions, furthering her experience and connections in the dance community. She is eager to bring her knowledge of dance movement, dance in medicine, and the dance community to Shorecrest to educate and prepare Chargers to the fullest extent!

Anything Goes Rehearsal Excerpt

The 600+ seat, state-of-the-art Janet Root Theatre has a stage size comparable to professional theaters, fantastic acoustics, real dressing rooms, good sightlines and a black box rehearsal theatre on the side. This space becomes a home away from home for many students.