My name is Beckie McCord. My daughter, Mercy, and I were deeply involved at Shine for the nearly three years we were there. She was cast well and often. My husband and I volunteered regularly and I was the costumer for many shows. This review does not come from a place of frustration because we were not given our due.
I write to you today to say this, I cannot in good conscience recommend Shine Performing Arts as a healthy organization for children or adults.
Shine is an organization with one boss who rules with an iron hand. Every decision must be funneled through Claire. If you are deemed difficult, you will be berated with a smile or shown the door. She leaves children and adults in tears. She doles out responsibility without effective communication or support to complete the task. She then shows up at the last minute and holds untrained volunteers and performers responsible for her lack of leadership. Her demands are not sustainable - parents and performers alike burn out regularly.
Theatre is hard. I get that. I think everyone understands that you praise the good and correct the bad in order to get a quality finished product. But what happens on the Shine stage is not praise and correction. This is favoritism and dehumanization. This is shaming through comparison. Systematic crushing. This is abusive power.
The children do learn skills for theater. They learn to shine according to the rules of that stage. But in doing so, they lose their spark. They never know if they will be praised or punished for their performance. They are left starving for approval and terrified of making any mistake.
(I could list so many examples of this. I choose to let those families speak for themselves.)
It is not only the students who suffer in this environment. Parents feel the weight of that same power inequality. Control the children, control the family. The children want to be with their friends. They want to be on the stage. There is one person who controls that narrative.
The one you must please is Claire.
The problem is, that is impossible. You will get praise sometimes but know this, those thanks are prep for the next big ask.
The more valuable you are told you are, the more you will be asked to give. There seems to be no limit. Boundaries do not exist.
The employee turnover at Shine is astronomical. When employees leave there is no good-bye. They just disappear. If you ask, you are told "they are no longer a part of Shine". Families are just left to wonder.
Shine is proudly represented as a "tuition free" theater. Do not be fooled. You will be pumped for money at every turn for supplies for your child and the theater. The "wish list" purchases are mandatory and your name is broadcast if you have not contributed.
Aside from all this, there is a considerable safety issue at Shine. They have written and verbal policies in place that speak of two adults in the building at all times for the safety of the children. But know that adult status is interpreted as 18 years old.
Entire rehearsals are run by the young performers with no adult in the building.
Volunteers are not given safety background checks.
Dressing rooms are not monitored. In some situations you can have 8-18 years old in the same dressing room.
Rehearsals and class times are closed. Parents are welcome to wait in the lobby but are not allowed inside the rehearsal space or classrooms.
In my experience as a volunteer, I would stay in my car and wait until every child was picked up from the parking lot. There were multiple occasions where the lights were turned off and the doors locked with children still waiting for their ride.
Through all this mess, the families at Shine are amazing. They are sweet and welcoming.
The current office staff are incredible. They treasure your children and make them a priority. Sadly, they are limited in their authority.
If safety protocols changed and Claire learned how to be kind and how to manage a volunteer work force then Shine could be a great organization.
Until then, I give it 1 star. read more
