Musical Theatre Institute

10/18/2024

Shafer's band, The Collateral, are excited to announce today's release of their single "Stay." Feels perfect for a fall day, sunshine, cool breeze, 'gotta get somewhere, windows down, radio up" vibe.
Check it out, and share! single
https://open.spotify.com/track/1I9xwYPBUe4ox8tq0or0Ln

The Collateral · Stay · Song · 2024

01/28/2024

An incredible way to celebrate Easter season - be a part of The Promise of Passover! Auditions are Friday evening, Feb 2nd from 7- 10 in Glen Rose at the Methodist Church Life Center AND Saturday, Feb 3rd, from 10-5 at Willow Park Baptist Church just west of Fort Worth on I-20. Visit
thepromiseglenrose.com to sign up. Stipend. Only 3 full day Saturday rehearsals, and 2 Friday evening rehearsals. Come join us!

08/16/2023

Playing "Sheila Kelly/"Florence Doyle" with John in "Annie Warbucks" at Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven, NJ til Sunday. Open "Disaster" on Tuesday! Three fun roles, stretching some skills again, trying some great local food, lashes at the ready.

12/06/2022

07/27/2022

07/27/2022

Wilkerson's Retro Christmas Spectacular Save the Date! Performances are Thursday, Dec 8 at 7:30, Friday, Dec 9 at 7:30, Saturday Dec 10 at 3:00 and 7:30 and Sunday Dec 11 at 2:00. Once again at the Plaza Arts Center on the festive Historic Downtown Carrollton Square! Continue or start a treasured holiday tradition with this heartwarming, toe-tapping, funny and touching variety show in the spirit of your favorite Christmas specials from the "Golden Age" of television. Think Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Carol Burnett and more. Broadway's John and Margaret Shafer Wilkerson head up a cast of North Texas' favorite performers in this joyous celebration that's great for families, "date nights" & church/organization/office parties. Ticket includes holiday desserts and beverages. Experience the joys of Christmas past and present while creating new memories with friends and loved ones!

Online ticket sales available soon. Call or message to purchase sooner by cash or check.

03/24/2022

Excited to offer a musical theatre summer camp again this year! We are partnering with Texas Youth Ballet Conservatory in McKinney July 18 - 30. Instructors have Broadway, National Tour, Concert, Recording, Premier Regional Theatre credits and more.

Celebrate this world-renowned American art form with solid training, where materials are chosen specifically for each student based on their personal abilities and potential. We ensure individual attention in all disciplines as we teach healthy techniques in styles of singing, dancing & acting, and coach on audition prep, current opportunities, theatre business and musical theatre history.

Every Child Shines In Our Camp Showcase!

We believe in addressing the physical, emotional, and mental challenges of performance in a positive and sensitive atmosphere. It is a fun way to build confidence, improve listening skills, encourage creativity, instill a good work ethic. We use only age-appropriate materials. Camp culminates in a program designed to showcase progress in each musical theatre discipline.

02/24/2022

Making their mark on the world! Current and former students, send updates with any information you'd like to share. Pictured here are Alyssa Danielle Jones, entertaining for a cruise line, Leah Beth Etheredge, NYC, Gabriella Rae Jimenez at Rizzo in Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma's Grease (currently in rehearsals for Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at UCO) and Aden Black as Mary Warren in SMU's opera, The Crucible. More to come!

06/19/2020

There were plans to partner with Texas Youth Ballet Conservatory in McKinney to offer a musical theatre summer camp, but, sadly, due to the Covid 19 situation, it was not possible to offer the same quality of instruction/experience that we insist upon. We were so excited to have our old friend Rudy Roberson on board with us again, but we plan to have him back with us next year. We will keep you posted about any other options that come available, in addition to details for next summer's camp. In the meantime, we are still taking private voice students, and now offering on-line piano lessons. Next post will have that information.

06/06/2020

Piano Lessons Available. Shafer is currently teaching online piano lessons. He works with all ages and is a patient and creative teacher. Bio "His piano studies began at age 7, and at age 9, he began working with Dallas teacher Jaquie Jensen, who valued and encouraged his innate musicianship and expression, and they concentrated on classical repertoire/technique which enabled him to nurture his gift for composition. He continued his studies with Dr. K. Hosoda Ayers at Baylor University. He has taught piano, voice and songwriting for 4 yrs, 3 of which were at a Suzuki-based studio, and is passionate about finding the best approach for the individual student. A studio musician & singer/songwriter, Shafer writes and records vocals and piano for other artists in all styles, in addition to his own works, which have garnered much praise through live streams and gigs in the Dallas/Ft.Worth and Oklahoma City areas." Contact him at [email protected]. Resume and references upon request.