Cottage Grove — Students from Park High School will join more than 1,200 students from across Minnesota at Spotlight Showcase, Minnesota high school theater’s biggest celebration, presented by Hennepin Arts. They will perform a selection during Spotlight Showcase at the historic State Theatre in Minneapolis on Tuesday, June 9.
Spotlight Showcase celebrates student achievement in theater performance, technical theater, student journalism and musical performance after a year of participation in Hennepin Arts’ statewide Spotlight Education program.
Hennepin Arts’ Spotlight Education program annually serves nearly 8,000 students at more than 100 high schools throughout Minnesota. The statewide program supplements theater education through production assessments, workshops, arts journalism opportunities and access to theater professionals from Minnesota and Broadway.
Spotlight Education helps students build confidence, critical thinking, empathy, collaboration skills and an appreciation for the performing arts. The statewide program is part of Hennepin Arts’ nonprofit mission to expand access to arts education and create meaningful opportunities for students in communities across Minnesota.
“For many students, Spotlight Showcase is more than a performance, it’s the moment they realize their passion for theater and music can truly become part of their future,” said Andrea Mokros, interim CEO of Hennepin Arts. “These students step onto the State Theatre stage and work alongside professional artists, directors and technicians in an experience that mirrors the professional theater world. As a nonprofit organization serving communities across Minnesota, creating these opportunities for students statewide is central to our mission. Whether they dream of performing on Broadway, working behind the scenes or simply discovering their voice and confidence, Spotlight Showcase celebrates their creativity, dedication and courage while showing them what’s possible.”
In addition to featured school performances, Spotlight Showcase highlights Minnesota theater educators and alumni and includes opportunities for students to participate in specialized learning tracks, including:
• Triple Threat on Hennepin
• Technical Theater Career Pathway
• Student Publicist Program
• Spotlight Orchestra
Spotlight Showcase also provides select students the opportunity to compete for national recognition through the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®).
Spotlight Showcase takes place Monday, June 8, and Tuesday, June 9, at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Tickets can be purchased at hennepinarts.org/events/spotlight-showcase-2026.
For more information about Spotlight Education and Spotlight Showcase, visit hennepinarts.org/education.
Spotlight Showcase proudly employs professional staff from Minnesota, Broadway, and beyond to collaborate with students across all areas of theater. Bourgoin Productions serves as producer.
Spotlight Education is made possible with support from Xcel Energy and PNC Bank.
 
About Hennepin Arts
Hennepin Arts creates positive change through the arts by bringing together people, businesses and organizations to create and enjoy cultural experiences. Through leadership of the vibrant Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis and statewide educational programming, Hennepin Arts helps drive cultural and economic vitality across Minnesota.
Its historic theaters – the Orpheum, State and Pantages – along with the Dudley Riggs Theatre, bring Hennepin Avenue to life with Broadway productions, live entertainment and diverse arts programming. Through initiatives like Spotlight Education, Hennepin Arts also provides students across Minnesota with meaningful opportunities to grow through theater, creativity and storytelling.
Hennepin Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at HennepinArts.org.