Finding-a-Family-Home-at-Starlight.php

Finding a Family Home at Starlight

• Community
• 07/29/2026

For the Picchi family, Starlight Theatre is more than just a stage, it’s a place where passions are reignited, talents are celebrated, and family memories are made together under the summer sky.

 

A New Chapter Begins

Natalie Picchi’s love for Starlight stretches back to her teen years in the late 1990s, when she sat in the audience, playbill in hand, and dreamed of a life on stage. After years away and a life full of new adventures, Natalie and her husband Chris returned to Rockford in 2021 with their daughters, determined to share the magic of Starlight with the next generation. “That summer we saw You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Little Shop of Horrors. We were all smitten,” Natalie recalls.

Soon, her daughters Amelia and Ana, were performing with a local youth theater, while Natalie wondered if she was brave enough to audition again after so long away from the stage. In 2023, with her daughters’ encouragement Ana, helped with the acting portion of her audition video. Natalie soon joined Starlight’s stage, proving to her kids that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Cast in two shows that year, she found herself swept up in the community that had once inspired her as a young audience member.

Onstage, Offstage, Always Together

Amelia and Ana quickly made their own marks at Starlight. Amelia played a principal dancer in Beauty and the Beast and joined the ensemble for Mary Poppins and TheWizard of Oz. Ana performed in the ensemble for Beauty and the Beast and 9 to 5, played Valentine in Mary Poppins, and even played flute in TheWizard of Oz pit orchestra. Meanwhile, Natalie revisited the stage in roles such as Elanor Dunbar in Footloose, and as a Hot Box Girl in Guys & Dolls, while also joining ensembles in In the Heights, Ragtime, and 9 to 5.

While her husband Chris has yet to make his stage debut, Natalie shares, “He says he’s waiting for The Lion King so he can fulfill his lifelong dream of being Zazu.” In the meantime, he’s become a beloved fixture at concessions serving popcorn, bundt cakes, and a friendly smile. Since volunteer hours started being tracked, Chris has logged over 100 hours, connecting with audiences and supporting his family at every show.

Making Memories Onstage and Off

When the Picchis look back on their time at Starlight so far, two memories stand out: the sweltering heat during Ragtime and the torrential rain that drenched the last week of Color Purple and Legally Blonde. Through it all, the family found joy and laughter, building stories to share for years to come.

This year, Natalie and Ana shared the stage in 9 to 5 a particularly meaningful experience as Ana heads off to college this fall. “Having this time together has been special,” Natalie says. Amelia, meanwhile, is part of the The Wizard of Oz ensemble, and Ana is playing flute in the pit, making Starlight a true family affair. The dream? To one day see all four Picchis on stage together.

A Community That Welcomes All

What sets Starlight apart for the Picchis is its inclusiveness and heart. “At Starlight, there is room for everyone to be involved. Everyone brings value, no matter the size of the task or role,” Natalie shares. She credits the leadership with constantly expanding opportunities for people to enjoy Starlight, whether on stage, backstage, in concessions, or in the audience.

Celebrating 60 Years and Counting

As Starlight marks its 60th anniversary, the Picchis are honored to be part of its history. “Starlight is our family’s happy place. It is a shared passion and something we can do together as a family,” Natalie says. “We are honored to be part of a community that has provided our family with so much fun and purpose.”

For the Picchis, Starlight Theatre is more than a summer tradition, it’s a place where family, community, and the joy of theater come together, season after season.