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Most students start the college audition process senior year — and arrive exhausted. Rising Star is built for grades 9–11 to do the opposite: build relationships, understand the landscape, and walk into senior year already knowing the room.
How it works: Register through our registration portal first. You’ll receive a code to submit through GetAcceptd starting July 1st.
By the time most students walk into their first audition room, they've already lost the biggest advantage: time. Rising Star is built for the students who want to start building before the pressure — not in spite of it.
Senior-year auditions are stressful in part because students are learning the rules and performing in them at the same time. Rising Star gives you the rulebook two or three years early — so when senior year arrives, the process feels familiar instead of overwhelming.
Colleges don't remember the first audition. They remember the student they saw twice — once as a sophomore, again as a senior. Rising Star puts you in front of college faculty years before you formally audition, so when your name comes up later, they already know it.
The biggest advantage isn't the audition itself — it's the strategic clarity. Rising Star helps you figure out which programs actually fit you, which to apply to, and how to build your audition list strategically instead of guessing in October of senior year.
Most students treat freshman through junior year as practice for the "real" senior-year auditions. The students who actually get in treat every year as part of the process. Rising Star is the on-ramp.
Five steps designed to introduce younger students to the college audition world before the pressure starts. Built around exposure, training, and meaningful early relationships with faculty.
Students prepare and submit their materials in advance, setting the foundation for a successful weekend. Select and refine one piece — either a monologue or a song depending on your track — while developing an understanding of proper audition structure, presentation, and expectations. This preparation ensures you arrive confident, focused, and ready to engage fully.
Throughout the weekend, students participate in college-led workshops and training sessions designed to introduce a variety of performance styles and program expectations. These sessions provide hands-on experience in acting, musical theatre, and movement, with direct interaction with college faculty in a supportive, low-pressure environment. This is where you begin to understand the landscape of college programs and how your individual strengths fit within it.
Beyond the workshop setting, students have meaningful opportunities to engage with college representatives and learn about each program. Through conversations, seminars, and informal interactions, you gain insight into training approaches, program culture, and expectations. This step helps you move from general interest to informed decision-making as you identify programs that align with your goals.
Rising Star students complete their audition experience on Sunday in a structured and supportive environment. Faculty know you're early in the process — this is about exposure to the real audition format, getting comfortable in the room, and beginning to be recognized by programs years before senior year.
Throughout the experience, students are actively building connections with college faculty and programs before senior year. Through repeated exposure in workshops, seminars, and the audition room, you begin to establish familiarity and recognition. Many Rising Star students receive invites to summer intensives at college programs — a significant advantage that helps you transition into the senior-year audition process with confidence, clarity, and a stronger sense of direction.
Less than the senior audition track, by design. The focus is on showing up prepared, learning the format, and growing — not on assembling a senior-level package two years early.
Rising Star students attend all workshops, seminars, and college sessions throughout the entire weekend. Auditions happen Sunday — by then, you'll know the faculty and the format.
Arrive, pick up your badge, and get oriented. A dedicated Rising Star welcome session helps you understand the weekend ahead.
The same opening keynote as senior students. Hear from the headliner, get inspired, and start meeting the community.
Hands-on workshops in acting, musical theatre, and movement led by attending college faculty. Pick the tracks that fit your interests.
Sit-down sessions with college reps about program culture, admissions timelines, summer intensives, and how to prepare over the next year or two.
Intensive faculty-led sessions focused on scene work, audition technique, vocal craft, and performance skills.
Dedicated session for Rising Star students to rehearse their piece, get last-minute feedback, and prepare for Sunday's auditions.
Sunday auditions in a structured, supportive setting. Perform your one piece for college faculty in a format that mirrors senior auditions.
Faculty share information about summer intensive programs. Many Rising Star students leave with invites and clear next steps for the year ahead.
The same colleges attending senior-track auditions are watching Rising Star students. Our roster is being finalized — here’s what to expect.
Faculty know you're early. They're not evaluating you against a 17-year-old's package — they're watching potential, growth, and how you receive information. Bring curiosity, not perfection.
For Rising Star, the workshops are the main event. The audition is one piece on Sunday. Treat the weekend as training that happens to include an audition, not the other way around.
Faculty will say things in workshops that change how you prepare for the next two years. Write them down. The senior-year version of you will thank the freshman-year version that captured them.
The hallway conversations matter more than you think. Faculty remember students who introduced themselves, asked good questions, and stayed engaged outside the workshop room.
Many programs run summer intensives that double as pre-audition relationship-building. If a program interests you, ask directly: "Do you run a summer intensive?" Faculty are happy to talk about it.
The biggest advantage of Rising Star is repeated exposure. Students who return as juniors and then audition as seniors are already known by the time they need to be picked.
For the students who get in, the path didn't begin in October of senior year — it began when they decided to start early. Rising Star is that decision. Lock in your spot before slots fill.
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