Thursday, October 1, 2026
Students at To The Stage in Oceanside stepped into the world of Broadway when they had the opportunity to learn from Stephanie Klemons, a choreographer, global dance supervisor and original cast member and dance captain of the Tony Award-winning musical “Hamilton.”
Klemons visited the theater school on July 17 for a special Broadway boot camp workshop, giving students firsthand insight into professional performance while teaching choreography from one of the most recognizable shows in theater history.
Courtney Koehle, director of To The Stage, said bringing Broadway professionals to work with students has become a yearly tradition.
“Every summer, I try to bring in a Broadway artist, either a performer, director or choreographer, for a Broadway boot camp workshop,” Koehle said.
Koehle said many of her students have a deep love for “Hamilton” and often ask about performing the musical themselves. While the rights to the show are not currently available for productions like theirs, she wanted to bring the next best opportunity directly to her students.
“I reached out to Stephanie Klemons, and she was just really receptive to it,” Koehle said. “She does workshops around the world, so we planned it about six months in advance and then she came.”
Klemons, who develops and maintains the choreography for “Hamilton” productions around the globe, worked with students during the three-hour workshop. She came directly from rehearsals with the Broadway and touring productions before meeting with To The Stage performers.
During the session, Klemons taught students the original choreography from the song “My Shot” and held a question-and-answer session where students could ask about Broadway, “Hamilton,” auditions and advice for aspiring performers.
Koehle said the experience was especially meaningful because Klemons treated the students like professional performers.
“She was very, very professional and really treated them as if they were Broadway performers trying to audition for ‘Hamilton,’” Koehle said. “She took the workshop very seriously, so I think they were amazed and also a little bit in shock.”
For Koehle, providing experiences like this aligns with the overall mission of To The Stage, which focuses on building confidence, self-esteem, public speaking skills and a sense of community through theater.
The theater school, which is celebrating its 14th year, began at St. Anthony’s Church before moving into a storefront location as it grew. Today, To The Stage offers instruction in singing, acting and dancing, while also providing more advanced opportunities for older students through programs such as Broadway boot camps.
Koehle, who grew up in Oceanside, said creating a welcoming theater environment close to home has always been important to her.
“When I grew up in Oceanside, there wasn’t a theater school in our area,” she said. “My parents would have to take me into Manhattan to do it. I thought it was so important to bring my love of theater to where I grew up.”
Koehle said she wanted To The Stage to be a place where students could explore their passion without the intense competition she experienced growing up.
“This was something I wanted to be more welcoming for all students who are interested in theater and just have a love of it and want to learn more,” she said.
