At FMTA, creativity isn’t taught.
it’s unleashed.
Founded by award-winning composer, producer, and educator Brian Feinstein, FMTA is where emerging artists, passionate writers, and creative dreamers discover their voice and hone their craft. We offer programs and coaching for writers, composers, and performers at every stage of the creative journey.
Whether you're joining immersive programs like SHINE or Once Upon A Song, diving into one-on-one songwriting lessons with FeinTUNE, elevating your script through FeinSTORY, or preparing for your next audition with FeinLIGHT, you'll find expert guidance, a supportive community, and the tools to bring your story to life.
FEINLINE ACADEMY PROGRAMS FOR YOUR SCHOOL OR VENUE
BIG DREAMS, ORIGINAL SHOWS, AND ENDLESS IMAGINATION
FeinLine SHINE
Introducing SHINE: a bold, immersive two-week experience where kids don't just perform theatre, they invent it.
Conceived by award-winning composer and theatre educator Brian Feinstein, SHINE is not your average summer theatre camp. Here, imaginations run the show.
Young artists dive into writing, singing, staging, and performing a brand-new mini-musical entirely from scratch. The story? Theirs. The characters? Theirs. The catchy songs and show-stopping staging? All theirs, guided by professional teaching artists who turn big ideas into even bigger adventures.
SHINE welcomes kids ages 6–12, from shy first-timers to born spotlight-stealers. In a space that's warm, inclusive, and 100% kid-powered, they'll dream big, take creative risks, and discover the joy of storytelling. Each summer culminates in a final performance for family and friends, a celebration of their creativity, teamwork, and growth.
A Musical Theatre Experience For Kids
BIG DREAMS, ORIGINAL SHOWS, AND ENDLESS IMAGINATION
FeinLine SHINE – A Musical Theatre Experience For Kids
Introducing SHINE: a bold, immersive two-week experience where kids don't just perform theatre, they invent it.
Conceived by award-winning composer and theatre educator Brian Feinstein, SHINE is not your average summer theatre camp. Here, imaginations run the show.
Young artists dive into writing, singing, staging, and performing a brand-new mini-musical entirely from scratch. The story? Theirs. The characters? Theirs. The catchy songs and show-stopping staging? All theirs, guided by professional teaching artists who turn big ideas into even bigger adventures.
SHINE welcomes kids ages 6–12, from shy first-timers to born spotlight-stealers. In a space that's warm, inclusive, and 100% kid-powered, they'll dream big, take creative risks, and discover the joy of storytelling. Each summer culminates in a final performance for family and friends, a celebration of their creativity, teamwork, and growth.
WHERE KIDS MEET AUTHORS AND BOOKS BECOME MUSICALS
Once Upon A Song
Where Every Story Sings
Once Upon A Song brings children's literature to life through music. In this unique 3-hour workshop, kids ages 6-12 collaborate with a children's book author to adapt their story into an original song.
Together, they read, imagine, write lyrics, compose melodies, and stage a final performance, with the author joining them on stage!
It's a magical experience that deepens literacy, builds confidence, and shows young artists that every story has a song waiting to be discovered.
Perfect for: Bookstores, libraries, community centers, and schools looking for innovative literary programming.
EVERY PLAYLIST IGNITES A STORY
MIXTAPE
The Soundtrack Is Set. The Story Is Yours.
Introducing MIXTAPE: a dynamic, music-driven theatre experience where kids don't just sing the hits, they reimagine them into something entirely their own.
Here's the challenge: We hand them a curated playlist of iconic songs from beloved musicals like Annie, The Little Mermaid, and Matilda.
Their mission? Choose one song from each show and build an original 15-minute musical: writing the dialogue, creating the scenes, developing the characters, and crafting a story that's 100% theirs. Then they bring it all to life in a performance for family and friends.
Guided by professional teaching artists, kids discover a unifying theme: friendship, adventure, finding your voice—that connects their chosen songs and becomes the heartbeat of their story. They learn to craft narrative arcs, develop characters, write compelling scenes, and use songs to drive the story forward.
Whether your child is a Broadway superfan or simply loves a good showtune, MIXTAPE offers a fresh way to create original musical theatre: one playlist at a time.
Private Lesson Opportunities with Brian Feinstein
YOUR SONG, SHARPENED.
FeinTUNE
Songwriting Lessons
Every great song tells a story, and in FeinTUNE Your Song, we make sure yours sings in every way.
In these private, one-on-one sessions with Brian Feinstein, you'll explore the intricate marriage of music and storytelling, refining both melody and lyrics until your song doesn't just work—it shines. Whether you're writing for musical theatre, pop, film, or any genre in between, these lessons are tailored to your style, your goals, and your unique voice as a songwriter.
What You'll Work On:
Lyric clarity and emotional impact
Melodic strength and memorability
Dramatic purpose and narrative arc
Genre-specific techniques and industry standards
Key Details:
All ages and levels welcome: from first-time songwriters to seasoned professionals
Flexible format: Available online or in-person (NYC)
Personalized coaching: Every session meets you where you are, from first draft to final polish
GREAT STORIES START WITH STRONG BONES
FeinSTORY
The Script Doctor Is In
In FeinSTORY, Brian Feinstein steps into the role of script doctor, analyzing your play, musical, or screenplay with a keen dramaturgical eye and over two decades of experience developing scripts for stage and screen.
Brian identifies what's working, what's missing, and what needs reshaping to strengthen your story's structure, pacing, and emotional impact. Whether you're in early development or deep into rewrites, these consultations deliver actionable, specific notes designed to get your script closer to production-ready.
What You'll Receive:
In-depth analysis of character arcs, structure, and pacing
Guidance on thematic clarity and dramatic stakes
Scene-by-scene feedback (full scripts or select excerpts)
Confidential, supportive, and collaborative consultation
Who This Is For:
Playwrights, composers, lyricists, screenwriters, and anyone crafting a story for the stage or screen.
OWN THE SPOTLIGHT BEFORE YOU EVEN STEP ON STAGE
FeinLIGHT
Audition Coaching
FeinLIGHT is your all-ages audition prep program designed to help you walk into any room confident, prepared, and unforgettable.
Whether you're stepping into a Broadway callback, a community theatre tryout, or your very first school play, auditions are as much about connection as they are about performance.
At FMTA, we help you choose the right material, polish your delivery, and build the confidence to shine, even when things don't go exactly as planned. You'll leave knowing how to prepare like a pro, recover like a champ, and show them not just what you can do, but who you are.
What You'll Work On:
Song and monologue selection tailored to your strengths
Performance technique, vocal delivery, and presence
Room behavior and confidence-building strategies
Handling nerves, callbacks, and the unexpected
Who This Is For:
All ages and experience levels, from first-time auditioners to seasoned performers looking to sharpen their edge.
Format:
Private coaching sessions available online or in-person (NYC).
THE GALLERY
JOIN THE FUN
Enjoy creativity in action — performances, rehearsals, and moments that bring the FeinLine experience to life.
READY TO TAKE THE STAGE?
Let’s Create something extraordinary — Together.
Whether you're a young dreamer writing your first song, a storyteller polishing your next great musical, or a performer preparing to shine, FeinLine Musical Theatre Academy is where creativity becomes confidence and passion becomes art.
Join a community where every note, story, and performance begins with endless possibility.
"Theatre is the only place that lets both versions of us live at the same time: the one who wants to hide, and the one who longs to be seen in the brightest light."
Brian Feinstein