HISTORY OF MTA:

Musical Theatre Academy of Orange County began in 1984 as a children’s choral program known as the Rainbow Singers, which was a part of the curriculum at the for-profit Yamaha Music Education Center in Irvine, California. After the Rainbow Singers had evolved from a choral program to a full-scale musical theatre production program, the Yamaha Corporation of America sold the franchise, leaving the Rainbow Singers with no financial support. In July of 1994, convinced that Rainbow Singer’s musical theatre program was valuable to both participating students and the community at large, a group of committed parents secured non-profit status and renamed the organization Musical Theatre Academy of Orange County, launching a mission to “develop every child’s talent, confidence and potential through year-round, inclusive professional training and performance in musical theater arts and dance.”

Since 1994, Musical Theatre Academy of Orange County has provided quality musical theatre training to well over 500 children and young people ages 6-19 throughout Orange County. Lead for many years by founding Artistic Director, Margie King, MTAOC has inspired children to challenge their fears, develop their natural talent and bask in the glory of success through the art of dance, music and acting. With MTAOC's Artistic Director Jimmy Hippenstiel, contract artistic personnel and dedicated volunteers, MTAOC has maximized community and parent resources to provide no-cost and low-cost training in performing arts as well as valuable life lessons, shaping the futures of many young stars. Many of MTA’s students have used the skills that they have acquired at the academy to advance both their professional and personal lives, with many MTA members starring in local productions, performing at Disneyland and earning acceptance into the elite Orange County Performing Arts High School.

Although these achievements are remarkable, the staff and volunteers of the Musical Theater Academy of Orange County also celebrate the simple triumphs witnessed each day through their work with young children of all ages, ethnic and religious affiliations and socio-economic backgrounds. Equally important to MTA is the opportunity for EVERY child, regardless of their skill level, to build self-confidence, lasting friendships and appreciation for the discipline of performing arts. In fact, MTA’s nurturing, highly-personalized training environment, combined with it’s “every child gets a part” policy is unique among youth performance agencies, which tend to value quantity and often dilute children’s joy of performing by creating intense pressure to meet professional standards.

At MTAOC, we strive to create a win-win situation for EVERY child, placing each student in a role that allows the child to gain new skills, make new friends and build self-esteem while turning dreams into reality onstage! Unlike many other agencies, MTAOC also incorporates and promotes three talents (singing, acting, and dance), while most children’s performance groups offer training in only one subject. Musical Theatre Academy of Orange County presents four or more full-scale, “family-friendly” productions each year, limiting the cast size of each production to a reasonable number, ensuring individual attention and starring opportunities for each student. All MTAOC productions are professionally produced, staged, choreographed and costumed, giving academy students a balanced and complete theatre experience.

MTAOC creates performance opportunities for two separate age groups. We currently have one group for children ages 7-12 and 13-18. MTAOC also offers a Tiny Tot Theatre class for our youngest performers, ages 4-6. The Academy also participates in an after class enrichment program (ACE) with the Irvine Unified School District.