For those who might be considering doing just that, or those who aspire to improve their craft on their local stage version of Broadway, a Stage Door Production-sponsored weekend-long Broadway Dreams workshop at the United All Stars facility is giving them a chance to learn, improve and maybe even decide if their dream can be achieved.

Amanda Watkins, of Gainesville, Georgia, is one of the instructors leading classes.

“My hope is that they achieve a greater motivation of the pride they feel,” she said. “They all have something they want to learn. An appreciation of their craft leads to pride.”

As the students experience the weekend, she hopes they find that.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Addison Hayes, 11, of Webster City, included a leap into the air during her dance interpretation of going down an hot city sidewalk during a Stage Door Productions sponsored Broadway Dreams workshop Saturday at United All Stars.

“This outlet is a really good one,” she said.

Students work with professional performers who, like Watkins, have spent time on and off the stage honing their craft.

“I was a Broadway performer and a producer,” she said.

Annette Tanner, of Atlanta, Georgia, is the founder of Broadway Dreams and the executive director. Among her many jobs in theater, she was a casting director and agent.

“I’ll be teaching the business of the business,” Tanner said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Maddie Reynoso, 12, of Fort Dodge, offers her dance interpration of walking along a steamy hot sidewalk during Stage Door Productions sponsored Broadway Dreams workshop Saturday at the United All Stars building.

They also cover such things as auditioning for a role, acting, singing and dancing and get help with song selections to, among other things, help the student find the right music for their skill set.

“They get to learn the type they are,” she said. “I’d like them to be their authentic selves. Most people are afraid to be honest about who they are.”

The students are from a wide age range.

“We don’t have an age limit on dreams,” she said.

A weekend-long intense workshop can also help the aspiring star decide if they really want to be a star.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Nadia Williams, of Omaha, an intern instructor with Broadway Dreams, shows the group of workshop students her interpretation of a song Saturday morning during one of the day's many learning sessions.

“I’ve seen people that change the direction of their life,” Watkins said. “They say, ‘I don’t actually want to do this.'”

Even if the stage is not their destiny, there are plenty of other opportunities outside the limelight.

“That’s one of the things we teach,” she said. “This business is so broad.”

Maddie Reynoso, 12, of Fort Dodge, was among the students attending Saturday’s workshop.

“I really like acting and dancing,” she said. “This was a great opportunity.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Amanda Watkins, of Gainesville, Georgia, at left, along with Broadway Dreams founder Annette Tanner, of Atlanta, right, watch as instructor Maxx Reed, of New York, teaches during a workshop Saturday.

One of the lessons she was already picking up early in the day was overcoming stagefright.

“I’m learning not to care that people are watching,” she said. “That’s kind of hard.”

Addison Hayes, 11, of Webster City, was also getting some of the same lesson.

“I’m learning how to let go,” she said. “I like to dance.”

Susan Ahlers Leman, vice president and treasurer of Stage Door Productions, said the event was greatly helped by a number of community members and organizations who provided scholarships for some of the Broadway Dreams students.

Those including the Comedia Musica Players, Valentine Law Firm, Jeff Halter and Rochelle Green, Dan and Jennifer Kinney, Don and Beth Bottorff, as well as Rod and Susan Leman.

The students also got to leave their workshop with some last-minute advice on how to improve their craft.

“Go to museums. Do you read? Enjoy a book,” Tanner said. “There’s a whole world out there.”