The Musical Theatre Academy’s origin began in 1984 in Irvine, California. The foundation for what was to become MTA started as a children’s choral program known as the Rainbow Singers under the direction of MTA’s founding Board Member, Margie King. As part of the Yamaha Music Education Center, the group was a valued part of the community dedicated to developing every child’s talent, confidence and potential through performing arts exposure. Over the next ten years, the group expanded from just providing a choral curriculum into teaching and producing full-scale musical-theatre productions. In 1994 the Yamaha Music Education Center sold the franchise and the group was faced with a decision; continue on its own, or let the program go. The decision was simple. With no financial backing, a group of committed parents with Margie at the forefront secured MTA as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and proceeded to make history.

Since then, MTA has provided life-skill development training through the musical theatre arts to well over 2000 children and young people ages four to eighteen throughout the Orange County and Southern California region. MTA has inspired their students to challenge their fears, and develop their natural talent by experiencing the known benefits of exposure to a performing arts education. With the addition of MTA’s Artistic Director Jimmy Hippenstiel in 2001 and through then continued efforts of both a highly dedicated staff and volunteers, MTA has created what is clearly a unique and very valuable asset to its students, their families and the world community at large. By providing a low-cost tuition-based program supported by private and public donations, MTA has helped shape the future of not only their students, but everyone whose lives they touch as they continue onto their individual paths.

Many of MTA’s students have used the skills that they have acquired at the academy to advance both their professional and personal lives. Whether they have gone onto further a career in the performing arts or ventured into other professional fields, all have benefited from their MTA experience.