From Camp Counselor to Warbucks: A Full-Circle Story

When Shine student Samuel applied to be a counselor for Shrek Jr. this summer, he didn’t do it for the spotlight. In fact, just weeks later, he helped bring the house down in Shrek the Musical. Not as a leading man, but as an assistant puppeteer operating the jaw-dropping dragon puppet with almost no fanfare or credit.

But during Shrek Jr. camp, Samuel’s leadership stood out.

He arrived early.
He led by example.
And he treated every younger student with kindness, patience, and encouragement.

It was the kind of quiet leadership that doesn’t always get noticed but leaves a lasting impact.

A few weeks later, when auditions were held for Annie Jr., Samuel was offered the role of Oliver Warbucks, the character who opens his heart and home to a young orphan girl.

The full-circle moment wasn’t lost on us.

Samuel had just spent his July championing younger students, and now, he’s about to step into a role where he does the very same thing on stage.

What’s more, many of the Shrek Jr. campers he supported have now been cast alongside him in Annie Jr.. He’ll be surrounded by little girls playing orphans—and we already know he’ll treat them with the same warmth and mentorship he modeled this summer.

This is Shine at its best.
Where students grow not only as performers, but as people.
Where high schoolers model the kind of leadership we hope our younger kids will one day carry forward.
And where a child can go from dragon puppeteer to Daddy Warbucks in the span of a summer.

As we prepare to celebrate Shine’s 10-Year Anniversary later this month, stories like this remind us:
It’s not just about the shows.
It’s about the people who make them shine.