South Junior High 7th grader Jasmine Shavers didn’t start out planning to be a theatre kid — in fact, she’ll tell you herself that she wasn’t totally sure what to think at first. But the moment she stepped into her school’s High School Musical Jr. production, everything changed.

“I honestly thought theatre was kinda weird at first,” Jasmine laughs, owning it with full honesty. “But then I auditioned for High School Musical Jr., and it was so much fun. That show totally changed how I see theatre. I realized I love talking, I love being loud, and theatre is like the perfect place for all of that!”

From that moment on, Jasmine didn’t just catch the theatre bug — she sprinted into it.

The Summer That Changed Everything: Masterclass Mode

After school ended, flyers for GREAT Theatre’s summer camps went out and Jasmine begged her parents to join. She enrolled in two intensive experiences, Stage Makeup and Auditioning Masterclasses, that would shape everything she did next.

“I learned how to do real stage makeup…like actual characters,” she explains. “I made a whole black eye and scars using liquid latex! I didn’t even know I could do stuff like that. It made me feel like I could really transform into different people.”

And yes, she immediately used those skills in real life. Halloween? Consider it SLAYED.

Then came the game-changer: Auditioning Masterclass. “That camp literally changed everything for me,” Jasmine says. “I didn’t know how auditions really worked, or what they needed from you. But the teaching artists taught us to speak loud and confident, use manners, and never make excuses. It made auditions feel way less scary.”

That knowledge didn’t just stay in her notebook, she used it. She walked into the Annie audition, danced confidently, asked to restart when she made a mistake, and stayed calm.
And she got cast!

Welcome to the Mainstage: Meet Pepper

Now, Jasmine is officially performing in GREAT’s Annie as Pepper, and she’s living her dream out loud. “Annie is absolutely awesome,” she beams. “Pepper is so fun. I even get to jump off a bed! The dances are way harder than I expected, but they turned out so good. I’m really proud of myself.”

She walked into the rehearsal room not knowing anyone, but she walked out with a whole new community.

“I didn’t know a single person when I started,” she says, “but now I have so many friends. Everyone is so nice, and it feels like a family. I love being here.”

She also has another performer sharing her role and she thinks it’s a total win. “We share things and help each other. It makes the whole show better!”

Before theatre, Jasmine didn’t really think of herself as a singer. “I didn’t sing at all before,” she admits. “But theatre made me way more confident. Now I actually sing, and it feels really good!”

Confidence unlocked.
Skill expanded.
Identity discovered.

Annie opens this Friday running Nov 21-Dec 7 at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Tickets are still available and moving fast! 

Jasmine can’t wait to look out into the audience during weekday daytime student performances. “I remember being little and seeing shows, and it was the best feeling. Now I get to do that for other kids. That feels amazing.” And let’s be real – the energy of hundreds of hyped-up students cheering for you? ICONIC.

And Yes, She’s Just Getting Started!

Right after Annie, Jasmine is jumping straight into School of Rock the Musical.

“I didn’t think I could do two shows back-to-back, but I’m excited! I want to do lots of GREAT Theatre productions now. I love it here.”

Her message to anyone who’s unsure about trying theatre: “Definitely try it! People sometimes say theatre kids are weird, but when you actually do it, it’s so fun. It’s better than sports…and I’ve done a lot of sports!”

Jasmine didn’t just join theatre – she found her voice, her people, her passion, and her confidence. From masterclass to mainstage, she’s proof that when you take a chance, you don’t just learn something new, you might discover who you were meant to be.