OUR MISSION

Copperstar Repertory Co. is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to entertain, educate and enrich community members of all ages by offering high quality productions, providing professional instruction in performing arts, and creating performance opportunities for Arizona’s youth and adults.

OUR HISTORY

Founded in Gilbert, Arizona by an entrepreneurial and spirited group of professionals, Copperstar Repertory Co. is building a reputation for artistic achievement that has attracted both local and national support. Copperstar Rep prides itself on growing a highly recognizable brand that will become synonymous with quality, innovation, and dazzling musical theatre in the East Valley. Our goal is to bring the joy of live performance to thousands of people each season through our performances and education outreach programs.

Copperstar Repertory Co. presents a broad range of programming each season, including premiere youth theatre performances, Cabaret Café with visiting master performers and several outreach programs dedicated to enriching the educational experiences for community members of all ages.

Copperstar Rep presents its shows at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts, a 1,220 seat state-of-the-art theatre built in 2006, and located in Gilbert, Arizona.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Mary-Jo OKAWA
Artistic Producing Director
Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Mary-Jo has a great deal of passion for this theatre company and all that it stands for. She comes to Copperstar Repertory Co. with 16 years experience as an educator and Performing Arts Specialist and 30 years experience as a professional performer, director, choreographer, costumer, and producer. Through the years, her performances and productions have won her local and national accolades. She serves as Director of Education for the Gilbert Fine Arts Association, co-created the Music Curriculum currently in the Chandler Unified School District and serves on the writing team for Arts Assessment in Arizona. She has also been a Board Member at Large for the Arizona Orff Schulwerk Association and Chairperson of the CUSD Choral Festival for five years. Working with Copperstar Rep will be the culmination of a lifelong love for the arts and will benefit the development of talent and character in those that join her for the journey.

Sam L. STITH
Associate Artistic Director
Sam has been a professional actor and performer for most of his life. He has a great passion for the arts and a great heart for education. Sam has performed throughout the United States and abroad in a wide variety of productions. He attended the University of Utah with an emphasis in Musical Theatre. Sam is also an extremely accomplished hair stylist, having worked for Frederick Fekkai for many years with a clientele list reading like the who’s who of the arts world. He is also a teacher for the L’Oreal Corporation, specializing in color. Mr. Stith has been a beloved business partner to Mrs. Okawa for the past two years. Sam is an essential part of the Copperstar team.

AFFILIATIONS/LINKS

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