Our Story, Our Mission, Our Passion
Discover the heart behind Center Stage Youth Company LLC. Learn about our dedication to nurturing young talent and building a vibrant community through theatre.
Our dedicated team: passionate mentors and artists
Center Stage Youth Company is led by Founder and Artistic Director Lavontè Rogers, an educator, theatre director, and youth mentor who has spent years working with young performers in classrooms, rehearsal rooms, productions, and community programs. His passion for youth theatre comes from seeing firsthand how the performing arts can help young people find confidence, discover their voice, build meaningful relationships, and realize what they are capable of.
Center Stage is also supported by a collaborative team of directors, music directors, choreographers, designers, stage managers, technicians, educators, and theatre professionals who share that same commitment to young artists. Each team member brings their own experience and perspective while working toward one goal: creating an environment where students are taken seriously as artists while still being supported as young people. What brings our team together is a genuine love for teaching, mentoring, and creating theatre with.
Our founding vision: love, purpose, and community
Center Stage Youth Company was created from a love of theatre and a desire to give young people a place where they can grow, create, belong, and be seen. After years of working with young performers, I saw how powerful theatre could be in building confidence, discipline, friendships, leadership, and a sense of purpose.
The dream behind Center Stage is to create high-quality theatrical experiences without losing the sense of family and community that makes youth theatre so special. We wanted to build a company where students could receive meaningful training, perform challenging and exciting material, and be surrounded by adults and peers who truly believe in them.
Accessibility has also been an important part of that vision. Talent and passion should not be limited by a family’s financial circumstances, so Center Stage strives to keep opportunities affordable and provide payment options and scholarships whenever possible. Ultimately, Center Stage exists to give young artists more than just a stage.
Beyond the stage: building character and confidence
While we love putting on incredible shows, our mission extends far beyond the curtain. At Center Stage Youth Company, we are dedicated to fostering profound personal growth in every young performer.
We believe that through the theatrical process, students gain invaluable life skills that resonate long after the final bow. They learn to express themselves creatively, develop strong communication abilities, collaborate effectively as part of a team, and embrace leadership roles. Most importantly, they build unwavering confidence that empowers them both on and off the stage.
"We believe young performers deserve high expectations, excellent training, encouragement, honesty, and adults who are willing to invest in their growth. At Center Stage, the people behind the productions are just as committed to developing the person as they are to developing the performer."
Lavontè Rogers, Founder & Artistic Director