FSPA offers a rare opportunity to pursue musical theater at a high level. With professional training in our three departments of Music, Dance, and Drama and extraordinary performance opportunities, FSPA musical theater students are having the time of their lives while those pursuing careers on stage are matriculating in the country’s top conservatories and colleges for musical theater. Become a real triple threat at FSPA!

Children’s Musical Theater

For students in grades K-1, this class serves as a fun, energetic, and creative introduction to acting, singing, and dancing.  Children’s Musical Theater is a great class for students who love being the center of attention as well as for those that would like to become more comfortable performing or speaking in front of others.  No previous training is required.  This is a performance-oriented class with regular attendance required.

Musical Theater I-III

For students in grades 2-4, Musical Theater I explores and reinforces acting, singing, and dancing techniques and styles. More involved performance pieces and materials are introduced.

Musical Theater II for grades 5-7 builds on the skills learned in both Children’s Musical Theater and Musical Theater I, with great emphasis placed on preparation of material, performance skills, and stage presence.

Musical Theater III for grades 8-12 builds and expands vocal, acting, and movement skills. Students present songs and scenes in class and learn techniques for both speaking and singing in character. Musical theater history and legends of the Broadway stage are also explored. Regular attendance and commitment to learning more advanced material is required.

Musical Theater Faculty

Raye Lynn Mercer

Director

Founder of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, Raye Lynn Mercer received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Middlebury College and attended the Vienna International Music Center in Vienna, Austria, where she studied with Maria-Regina Seidlhofer of the Academy of Music. Her teachers included Guiseppe deLellis, Diana Fanning, Gabriel Chodos and Yoriko Takahashi. Pianist, director and choreographer, Raye Lynn has presented 34 seasons of musicals, plays, concerts and dance productions with FSPA and the community-based Franklin Performing Arts Company, established in 1991. Raye Lynn serves as Administrator of the school, oversees the FSPA musical theater program and directs the international touring ensemble Electric Youth. Her school’s student résumés include Broadway’s Matilda and Wicked, Lincoln Center, national Broadway tours, regional companies, European concert tours, Fox-TV’s American Idol, annual performances at Walt Disney World, and placement in top college and conservatory arts programs. Combining profession and hobby, Raye Lynn has directed Symphony of Horses productions across the country. Internationally, she has developed Electric Youth’s professional concert tours in Europe and taught musical theater workshops in Austria and Hong Kong. President and Executive Director of the Franklin Performing Arts Company, Raye Lynn is the visionary behind THE BLACK BOX, a performance and event venue located behind FSPA in the heart of downtown Franklin.    

Kim Frigon

Instructor of Acting and Musical Theater

Kimberly Palson Frigon has been working as a theater educator and actor for over 20 years. She earned an MA in Theater Education from Emerson College and a dual BA in Elementary Education/Theater from St. Michael's College. Kimberly has previously held positions at Holliston High School (Fine and Performing Arts) and Dean College (School of the Arts) and has taught at several area theater companies (Mass Music and Arts Society; Orpheum Theater, Medfield High School, JCC, Newton; The Footlight Club, and PALS Children's Chorus). An EMACT award winner, past favorite roles include: Adelaide, Guys and Dolls; Anytime Annie, 42nd Street; Diana, Lend Me A Tenor; and Marta, Company. Kimberly joined the FSPA Drama Faculty in 2021.

Kim Rezendes

FSPA Assistant Director, Director of Little Music School and Children's Music, Instructor of Piano and Musical Theater

Kim Rezendes graduated magna cum laude from Providence College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and from Rhode Island College with a Master’s Degree in Teaching Music. As coordinator of Children’s Music at FSPA, she also serves as Program   Director for the Little Music School and Instructor of Musical Theater. Kim serves as Associate Organist at St. Mary Church in Franklin. One of FSPA’s first students, Kim joined the FSPA faculty in 1997.