How-One-Audition-Became-a-Starlight-Family-Tradition.php

How One Audition Became a Starlight Family Tradition

• Community
• 07/07/2026

What began as a single audition has blossomed into a cherished family tradition for the Saunders family, one that’s become an enduring part of Rock Valley College’s Starlight Theatre.

 

Their journey started when Kenaniah Saunders, encouraged by musician Jodi Beach, auditioned for Fiddler on the Roof. He quickly found a home on stage, later appearing in Agatha Christie’s Akhnaton before heading to college. When he returned in 2015 to join Young Frankenstein, his mom Christy discovered her own passion volunteering at the concession stand. “I learned how fun the concession stand was,” she recalls. “I’ve been hooked ever since.”

 A Family Affair

Over the years, nearly every member of the Saunders family has found a place at Starlight onstage, backstage, or behind the concession counter.

In 2018, Greg, Kenaniah, Myriah, and Noah all appeared in Shrek. Myriah also joined the cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Kenaniah performed in Anything Goes, and Greg stepped in as Purser during a second run of the show. Noah took on a role in Cinderella After the Ball, while Christy continued her work in concessions.

By 2019, Christy took to the stage herself, performing with Greg and Kenaniah in Mamma Mia!. That same summer, the family reunited for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, with Greg, Kenaniah, and Noah all in the cast. Noah starred as King Julian in Madagascar, and Kenaniah worked backstage for West Side Story.

The family’s Starlight story continued with many memorable moments during the past five years.
Myriah starred as Lady Larkin in Once Upon a Mattress and as Janet in the 2022 Cabin on the Stage production of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Britney joined concessions.

Greg appeared as Reverend Hopkins in the 2021 Cabin on the Stage production of Best Christmas Pageant Ever, played Rudy in Hello, Dolly!, and took on the role of Admissions Director in Legally Blonde.
In 2019, Kenaniah took on the role of Bad Santa in the Cabin on the Stage production of A Christmas Story.

Greg and Christy took to the stage together as Uncle Wes and Aunt LuLu in Footloose. Greg, Myriah, and Becca performed in The Wedding Singer, with Allison and Noah backstage and Christy in her first season as Concession Supervisor.

Sharing the Stage

For Christy, the real magic lies in sharing the experience: “I have been cast in the same show with my husband twice. The rehearsal date nights and time on stage with him are not only memorable but cherished. I also had the opportunity to share the stage with one of our sons. Spending quality time in rehearsals and acting in a production with a kidult is precious and an amazing experience.”

Noah agrees: “I’ve done three shows with my family, and it’s been such a blast to share a stage with them. My highlight was ‘Joseph,’ where Greg and I were Jacob’s sons. It was only a little weird referring to my dad as my brother, but singing ‘Those Canaan Days’ with him made up for everything. Also, Kenny as an Elvis-esque Pharaoh was the best thing to experience, ever.”

Some memories are more subtle like the “unspoken love story” between Greg’s Father Alexandrios and Christy’s wine seller in Mamma Mia! a family in-joke that still makes them smile.

More Than a Theater

Though the Saunders family has performed at theaters across the region, Starlight holds a special place. “The friendships and family bonds that have been created on and off the stage are so special and keep us coming back each summer,” Christy says.

A standout moment for the family was during the 2021 season, when Christy discovered that cast member Jack Hill was excited to share the stage with Myriah, whom he had directed years earlier. “Starlight is a constant in our year. We look forward to auditions in the late winter, rehearsals in spring, and family summer fun every year.”

Continuing the Legacy

Now, as Starlight celebrates its 60th anniversary, the Saunders family remains part of its ongoing story. In 2026, Greg and Noah appear in The Wizard of Oz, Becca performs in 1776 in Concert, and Myriah, Kenaniah, and Britney all volunteer in concessions alongside Christy. What started with one audition has become a family legacy proof that Starlight Theatre is more than a stage. It’s a place where families grow together, season after season.