Kathleen Chapman is a motivational Christian Speaker and author of Teaching Kids Authentic Worship.

Quotes from Kids

"When I'm receiving my Oscar someday, the first person I'll thank is Kathleen Chapman. As I'm becoming a professional in theater and entertainment, I give much recognition and gratitude to Kathleen Chapman and her musical theater training for teaching me how to glorify God in such a secular industry - teaching me how to use my talent and love for performing as a gift for my Heavenly Father."

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"Working with Kathleen was a blast! She was so much more than a director - her contagious laughter, love for the theater, Miss Piggy fascination, and fabulous high heels always made her famous in my eyes."

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"I have worked with Kathleen in several musical productions over the last few years, and each show is more spectacular than the last. Her dedication, persistence, and natural talent help make each production a remarkable and memorable one."

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"I've had a great time in all of the plays I've performed with Mrs. Kathleen! She and Nancy are the best! They make class so fun that you don't even realize you're working hard and learning until its time to perform. She taught us how to have 'stage presence' and not just how to be up on stage."

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"Mrs. Kathleen and Mrs. Nancy have taught me all about drama, singing, and dancing... since I've been about 4 years old and I loved every minute of it! You got to know how fun she is - just by the outfits and jewelry she wears! She makes everyone feel like they're the star of the show!"

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"Kids theatre is fun because we learn about Jesus and scriptures are made into songs. It's really fun to be with my friends and be in plays together. And the other thing is I like to act and it's really cool that I get to act in play's that are about God."

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A few years ago I was part of an organization that would visit local high schools and speak to teens. One of our slogans was, "The choices you make today will impact you for the rest of your life." This was the quote that came to mind when I reflect on my years with Kathleen and CMC. How do I put into the words how my parents' (and then later, my own) decision to enroll in these musicals year after year profoundly impacted my life and my personhood forever?

It exposed me to the performing arts, an art form that I quickly fell in love with and that became a part of my life for years to come. I take for granted that I know what downstage and upstage mean (!), that I even know HOW to get into my right brain at all, yet alone feel extremely comfortable there! For me personally, I know that performing and dance were a part of my personal destiny anyway.... the CMC experience opened the door for me, and led me down the path to a tool and form of expression that has literally saved my sanity over my lifetime

Experiencing the rewards of discipline, perseverance. At the ages of 10 and 12, it was just the sheer fun of it that kept me going all those days to the summer workshops. When I was new at it, it didn't really occur to me that the POINT was the show at the end! And boy did those summers seem to be endless (in a good way!) But the 3 days at the end during which we would actually PERFORM that show in front of an AUDIENCE.... wow, what a RUSH! The pride and accomplishment that I felt after working that hard at something - to look back over the hours and hours of rehearsals and see a JOB COMPLETED and WELL DONE - was new and overwhelming... (On the way home from every cast party I would cry my eyes out and my dad would have to remind me that I was coming down off of my high and the intense emotion and experience) This was a small taste of what adulthood would hold much of: long term "goals" and "delayed gratification" and the sweet rewards that can follow.

Self-esteem and identity: I had the unique opportunity one year to play a lead in one of the shows. That experience challenged a rather tentative youth to tap into parts of herself that she didn't know were there, and during that show I grew in amazing ways. I learned skills I still use to this day!!! I had to risk even when I felt afraid, to take chances and be ok with what followed, to step outside of myself, to express, to BE........ And people ended up CLAPPING for me!!! How can one put a price tag on that kind of attention and experience as one is growing into a young adult?

Precious memories & cherished friendships - the special times and friendships will never ever be forgotten. They are woven into the tapestry of my history, of WHO I am. It’s amazing to reconnect at the age of 31 with the people I shared the stage with at the age of TEN - it's like we are back there again, the exact same people, just an accepted and assumed part of each other's lives and memories, like extended siblings. Except now we have husbands, wives, jobs.... and children who want to sing and dance too. I was one of the "lucky" ones that was embraced and invited in to the Chapman family as one of their own. Now as an adult, I see that they have extended this invitation to probably literally hundreds of children, each made to feel so special.

And of course, the EVER PRESENT deeper messages behind Kathleen’s music and shows, the simple but PROFOUND spiritual truths we were speaking and singing were delving into our hearts and souls and teaching us and ingraining in us, even if we didn't understand them at the time.

Now I do.

Thank you Kathleen, (and Nancy!) for being obedient and doing what you were brought on this earth to do! You are literally CHANGING LIVES FOREVER.