Today we’d like to introduce you to Lexy And Shmaine Shepherd.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Where It Started
Young Star Musical Theatre (YSMT) has its roots in a rich family legacy of children’s theatre. It began in California in the 1980s, founded by Barbara Shepherd as a place where young performers could discover their voices, build confidence, and learn the discipline of the stage. In the 2000s, her daughter, Shmaine Shepherd, carried the torch forward, expanding the program’s reach and continuing the mission of offering high-quality theatre education to children of all experience levels.
In 2018, the next generation—Lexy Shepherd-Cizek—revived and expanded the program in Central Florida, giving it new life as Young Star Musical Theatre. Since then, YSMT has grown into one of the region’s leading youth theatre companies, known for its welcoming, family-oriented environment and professional-level productions.
Where It’s Been
What started as small classes and intimate showcases has grown into a large-scale program serving hundreds of students across Central Florida. YSMT now offers programs for every age group, from kindergarten through high school, with classes in acting, singing, dance, and technical theatre. Students participate in fully staged musicals ranging from classics like Les Misérables and Beauty and the Beast Jr. to contemporary favorites like Descendants and Frozen Jr.
In 2025, YSMT found a new home inside a historic citrus packing facility in Winter Garden, FL. The space has been transformed into a 110-seat three-quarter thrust theatre featuring a one-of-a-kind revolving stage, providing young performers with a professional environment to learn and grow.
Where It’s Going
YSMT’s future is rooted in expanding access and opportunity. The company continues to create scholarships for students in need, develop new educational programs for homeschoolers and early childhood learners, and foster a culture where “every child has a place on stage.” With the establishment of the Dillard Street Theatre non-profit, the organization is looking ahead to larger community partnerships, original works, and expanded outreach programs that will bring the magic of theatre to even more families across Central Florida.
At its heart, YSMT is more than a theatre company—it’s a community. Generations of families have passed through its doors, and with each new show, Young Star Musical Theatre continues to celebrate creativity, teamwork, and the belief that every young person deserves their moment in the spotlight.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many arts organizations, Young Star Musical Theatre has faced its share of challenges. One of the most significant was navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. With live performances and in-person classes suddenly impossible, the program had to completely rethink how to keep students engaged and connected. Productions were cancelled or postponed, rehearsals moved to Zoom, and creative solutions—like virtual cabarets and outdoor distanced workshops—were put in place to keep the spirit of theatre alive during an uncertain time.
The pandemic also brought financial strain. Ticket sales, tuition, and sponsorships—all vital to sustaining a youth theatre company—declined sharply. Families faced hardships, and YSMT worked to offer scholarships and flexible tuition options so students wouldn’t lose their creative outlet.
Despite these obstacles, the company found resilience in its community. Parents volunteered their time, staff adapted quickly, and students showed remarkable dedication. In many ways, those difficult years reinforced YSMT’s mission: theatre is not just about performing on stage, it’s about connection, creativity, and hope.
Today, having come through the pandemic, YSMT is stronger than ever. The organization carries forward the lessons learned—how to adapt, innovate, and care for one another—as it continues to grow into a hub of young artistry in Central Florida.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Young Star Musical Theatre, our work is centered on helping young performers grow both onstage and off. We specialize in producing full-scale musicals with children and teens, where every student—whether they’re 5 years old stepping onto a stage for the first time or a high school senior preparing for college auditions—has a meaningful role to play.
We’re known for creating professional-quality productions in a nurturing, family-oriented environment. Our shows are staged in our home venue, Dillard Street Theatre, a historic 108-year-old citrus packing house turned 105-seat theatre with a custom-built revolving stage. This unique space gives students a rare chance to perform in a true black-box theatre, while still being intimate enough to foster close community.
What sets us apart is our philosophy: every child deserves their moment in the spotlight. We don’t cut students or limit casting based on “experience.” Instead, we embrace all levels of ability, tailoring our programs so that beginners feel supported and advanced students feel challenged. We also emphasize education—our rehearsals are classrooms, where students learn vocal technique, stage movement, character development, teamwork, and resilience.
We’re most proud of the community we’ve built. Generations of families have been part of Young Star, and many of our students have gone on to pursue theatre professionally or carry the confidence they’ve gained into other areas of life. We’re also proud of how our organization weathered challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we found creative ways to keep the arts alive for our kids.
Above all, what makes us unique is the combination of heart and excellence: we deliver polished, high-quality productions while still keeping our doors open to every child who wants to be part of the magic.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
think working in the arts—and especially running a children’s theatre—is an act of risk-taking. Theatre itself is built on vulnerability: stepping onto a stage, opening your mouth to sing, telling a story in front of others. That same spirit carries into the way I lead Young Star Musical Theatre.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was establishing a permanent home for our company inside the Dillard Street Theatre. It meant renovating a 100+ year-old building, investing in a vision when the safe option would have been to stay small and temporary. It was financially daunting, and logistically overwhelming at times, but it was also necessary to give our students a true home where their creativity could thrive.
I’ve also taken risks programmatically—launching new age groups, adding homeschool programs, and building productions that might feel “too big” for a youth company. But I believe in giving kids the chance to rise to the occasion. Every time we’ve stretched, our students have exceeded expectations.
I don’t think of risk as recklessness. To me, it’s about vision and trust—seeing where we want to go, doing the homework to make it possible, and then stepping out in faith. Some risks bring challenges, but they also open doors to opportunities we never could have imagined. Without risk, Young Star wouldn’t have grown into the thriving community it is today.
Pricing:
- $100/month
- $150/month
- $175/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iLoveYSMT.com
- Instagram: @youngstarmusicaltheatre
- Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/iloveysmt
