Theater Program
Spring 2025 Musical Theater Program Updates
As we prepare for the spring season, we want to get your feedback on The Lion King Jr. season. You can also give your input on the next show! Both parents and students can fill out the survey. Select the button below to fill out the survey. If you are not currently a part of our program, you can still complete the survey. Just put n/a in the feedback fields and provide input about options you’re interested in for the spring.
New for Spring 2025: We’re offering both musical theater and stage play programs. See the FAQ section on this page for all the details.
Spring Show Announcement: Stay tuned for our Spring show announcement which will be made before Thanksgiving.
Fall 2024 Season of Musical Theater
We are producing The Lion King Jr. for our Fall 2024 Season, and we are extremely proud of all of our students for their hard work on this production. We have a few tickets left so if you want to see a trailer of this amazing show, select the Buy Tickets button now.
Technical Theater Class
We launched our technical theater class in the Fall of 2024 with The Lion King Jr. It was such a hit we are going to continue for the Spring of 2025! Students will attend the class at the same time/date as the musical theater program and will learn how to create costumes, build sets, assist with social media campaigns, host promotional events, and anything show-related that they are interested in. Learn more.
Meet the Directors & Production Team
Gisele Gathings
Theater Director for Musical Theater
Gisele Gathings has performed as an actress, model, writer, composer, vocalist (Gisele TYF), talk show host, news anchor, voiceover artist, and media personality on television, radio, and film as well as the stage. Gisele’s featured vocal performances include: Kylie Odetta, SpeakEasy Jazz, Lakia Club Italy, Razz Ma Jazz Band, and Grady Hodges Group. She has performed in all of the major theaters in the upstate and is currently touring with Christian Creative Media’s production Viable. Her music project, The Journey Gisele TYF is available on all digital platforms.
Jairo Puello
Music Director for Musical Theater
Jairo was born in the Dominican Republic and started his musical career in Puerto Rico where he graduated from college. He later returned to his country to be the national director of Awana Clubs International in the Dominican Republic. Of his seven music albums, these are the most popular: You are Exalted, I’ll Stay With You, Attached to You (nominated to the Cassandra Awards 2008), and On the Rock. Jairo serves on worship teams at NewSpring Church (Greenville campus) and Foothills Church (Seneca, SC). He currently works as the music director for the musical theater program and the field trip host for World Upside Down Arts Studio.
Emma Peters
Musical Theater Choreographer
Emma is a teacher, student, and artist dedicated to sharing her love of movement with the world. As a teacher, she strives to make each of her students feel seen, no matter their level of expertise. She is currently pursuing a BS in Business and Accounting with a minor in Dance at Anderson University, so that she can work in the arts as a business professional. She has taught musical theater, jazz/tap, hip hop, and creative movement at World Upside Down Arts Studio and looks forward to choreographing our Fall 2024 show.
Joanna Puello
Producer & Theater Director for Stage Play
Joanna Puello has 25+ years of experience as an educator, nonprofit founder and director, senior instructional designer, and project manager. She plays the piano and violin. Joanna started directing plays with her brother for their church's youth program when she was 10 years old. In college, she played principal roles in Antigone, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Peter Pan. She directed The Sound of Music and an original Easter Production while living in the Domincan Republic. She has done voice over work for radio, television, and churches. She has a BA in Creative Writing from Bob Jones University and an MS in Instructional Design from Full Sail University. She is the founder and CEO of World Upside Down nonprofit and director of World Upside Down Arts Studio.
Sign Up Today
Step 1: Get your $50 Registration Fee waived
Register for the program and get your monthly payment plan set up by Jan 1 or Aug 1 to have your registration fee of $50 waived. (Returning families, please fill out the Procare registration form again with updated information about your student/s. We can now merge new registrations with existing accounts to update information.)
Step 2: Sign Up for Auditions
Auditions will be on Saturday, January 11 from 9am-12pm (musical theater program) and 12pm-2pm (stage play program) with callbacks for both at 3:00pm. Sign up for a time slot on the form below. Prepare an audition monologue and song (30 seconds to 1 minute each). Students can choose any song but must choose a monologue from this document for their audition: (DOWNLOADABLE LINK COMING SOON)
Step 3: Attend the Free Audition Prep / Meet the Directors Workshop
Attend this workshop to meet the director team, meet other cast members, and learn tips and tricks for how to nail your audition.
Time: Thurs Jan 9, 5pm-8pm (we will confirm this date by Dec 1)
Location: World Upside Down Arts Studio
Step 4: Confirm your commitment
We will announce casts for both musical theater and stage play programs by the end of the day on Sunday, January 12, 2025. Notifications will be sent via Procare messages. You must reply to accept your role and confirm your participation in the Spring program.
If you confirm your commitment before Jan 1 / Aug 1, we will waive the $50 registration fee. If you confirm after auditions, we will charge you for the $50 registration fee and will set up monthly billing of $120/month. When you set up your payment method, Procare will default to autopay. You can change this at any time.
Step 5: Start Rehearsals
Rehearsals start the week of January 13 for both musical theater and stage play programs. We can’t wait to see you there!
Theater Program FAQs
What's the difference between the musical theater and stage play programs?
The musical theater program is ideal for students who are strong singers and actors and are also responsive to dance coaching. The stage play program is ideal for students who are not strong singers but are strong actors. At the end of the season, we provide students and parents with an evaluation and rating for singing, acting, and dance along with recommendations for which program to choose based on their personal goals and strengths.
The show selection for the stage play program will be the same as the musical theater selection but the script will be adapted in conformance with licensing laws.
Can my student participate in both the musical theater and stage play programs?
Yes. Based on our casting needs, we may offer a principal role in stage play and an ensemble role in musical theater to the same student. Our goal is to avoid having too many students in each cast and to give every student the best and most equitable opportunities for growth.
Students participating in both programs would pay a total of $180/month. If offered roles in both programs, students can make their final decision on what to accept after final casting decisions are made.
What are the key dates I need to commit to?
Dates: We will make final decisions on rehearsal days/times for each program by December 1st. The schedule below is an example and will be locked in by December 1st.
Musical Theater & Stage Play Program
- Thurs, Jan 9, 5:00pm-8:00pm - Meet the Directors & Audition Prep Workshop (optional but strongly encouraged)
- Sat, Jan 11 - Auditions: Musical Theater 9:00am-12:00pm, Stage Play 12:00pm-2:00pm, Callbacks 3:00pm
- April 12, 9:00am - 2:00pm - Meet the Cast
- April 27, 3:00pm - Finish - Move-In Date - Simpsonville Arts Center
- Ap 28-May 1, 4:00pm-8:00pm Tech Rehearsals
- May 2-3, Shows (call time 1.5 hours before show)
- May 5-8, 4:00pm-8:00pm Tech Rehearsals
- May 9-10, Shows (call time 1.5 hours before show)
Musical Theater Program
- Thurs, Jan 16 - April 24, 5:00pm-8:00pm - Weekly Rehearsals
- Sat, April 5, 10:00am - 2:00pm - Lead Vocalist Recording
Stage Play Program
- Tues, Jan 14 - April 22, 5:00pm-8:00pm - Weekly Rehearsals
Where are the rehearsals held?
Weekly rehearsals are held at World Upside Down Arts Studio. Tech rehearsals are held at the performance venue the weeks of shows. Rehearsals are mandatory for participation in our theater program.
How do auditions work?
Every student in our program participates in the show. We train students for auditions and then hold auditions to determine cast roles: a principal role or an ensemble role. We invite all students (experienced or novice) to attend our free audition prep training class so that they can get to know the directors, meet peer actors, and feel confident about the auditions. In this free class, students will receive instruction that will prepare them for their monologue and their song. Students should wear comfortable clothes. Dance will not be a part of the Saturday auditions. We will conduct auditions for both musical theater and stage play on the same day.
What is the age range for students?
Elementary, Middle, and High School students are invited to participate in our theater program.
How many casts will you have?
We will have one cast for each program with understudy opportunities for principal roles. Depending on how they develop during the season, understudies may perform in the second weekend of shows.
What do I need to know about performances and tech week?
The shows will be performed at the Simpsonville Arts Center in Simpsonville, SC, on May 2-3 and May 9-10. There will be tech rehearsals at the Simpsonville Arts Center in Simpsonville, SC, Mon-Thurs before the shows for both weekends. The second week of rehearsals will vary based on the program and the students. We will release schedule specifics a week or two before tech week.
What is the tuition fee schedule?
The tuition fee for the musical theater program is $120/month per student.
Fall Season – August – November (four months of $120/month)
Spring Season – January – May (five months of $120/month)
**Monthly payments are due before the 1st of each month to avoid a late fee.**
Registration Fee $50 (per semester)
**Avoid registration fees by starting your seasonal payment plan on Aug 1 and Jan 1.**
Additional Costs: Parents are responsible for costumes. We will try to keep these costs to a minimum. If your family is going through financial hardship, we can help you raise funds to cover the costume costs.
Do you offer any discounts or scholarships?
We offer 5% discounts for siblings, veterans, and full-semester payments.
See the Policies & Pricing page for details on payment dates, pricing, discounts, and scholarship applications.
Support Our Musical Theater Program
World Upside Down Arts Studio is proud to offer a robust and growing theater program. We are currently funded with tuition payments and generous donations. You can support our theater program by volunteering, sponsoring a show, and/or giving a 501(c)(3) charitable contribution to cover production costs for set design, costumes, props, and more!
