In the year 2000, Britni Girard was an 18 year old high school graduate attending the University of Colorado in Boulder. Her emphasis was Musical Theater and it was during that time that she was restless and needing a place to perform. Sitting in her dorm room, she began toying with the idea of bringing all her friends together for the summer and producing an original show.

Growing up without a father figure close by was hard and her mother did the best that she could to get her children involved in extra-curricular activities. She believed in her children so much that she did anything and everything to make their dreams a reality. Working tirelessly to afford lessons and classes for her children, Britni's mother signed them up for everything she could to try and help them discover what they were truly passionate about. For Britni, she had found comfort and acceptance in performing. There was something so thrilling about being on stage and for just a moment, pretending to be someone else, someone people couldn't take their eyes off of. It's the sort of acceptance many children crave when they've gone through a divorce or dramatic change and Britni was no exception. She found performing to be a positive and encouraging environment, which molded her into who she is today. Not many children are given that opportunity. For some it takes years to move on and discover that they are not defined by their circumstances.

It was years later that she was able to look back on the impact that performing had on her life and see how valuable the lessons and classes were. It took one person; in this case her mom, to show her that life doesn't end after a tragedy, but instead it can begin. For some the answer may not be performing, but it is having someone in their life that can pick them up when they are down, instill confidence in them and encourage them to dream. Performing just happens to be an activity that teaches life lessons that any child can use in their future, no matter what that might look like. Performing instills confidence, grace, passion, and dedication, all of which are achieved by showing them acceptance, encouragement and empowering them to dream.

After having performed nearly her entire life, Britni had been quite involved in her high school's musicals and choir programs, and it was because of the impact she had on her school that she was hired to come back to direct and choreograph the musical that year. When looking from the outside in, Britni discovered that the programs at the school were much different then when she was there. There was a discontentment amongst the students and many of them felt so alone, unnoticed and underappreciated. She stepped back evaluated the situation and upon the completion of her work on the production, she recognized a strong difference in the performers of that show. They felt a since of accomplishment. They were so proud of themselves and they had no idea that they were capable of so much. It was then that Britni made the choice to offer an opportunity for the youth of that community to perform over the summer. So within a month she had organized auditions, music and a place to rehearse and perform. Before she knew it tickets were on sale and the original, cast-written show, Rockin' Summer Nights opened a full-house and was the first ever fully youth produced show to come to that community.

Britni again saw how fulfilled and excited the youth were about having a place they could call their own. So from that point on, Up In Lights Productions took up residence at the Rialto Theater and became the first youth ran company in Loveland. The organization began producing musicals annually, and beginning in 2008 started producing a full season of 3 shows a year. Britni's training had come from the 9 years she spent at the Colorado Academy of the Arts, where the performing school trained its students in the areas of, singing, dancing, acting and stage performance. Since then she has had 23 years of dance training and experience and has been teaching and directing for public schools in the Northern Colorado Region for the past 9 years. She has become one of the most sought after choreographers in Northern Colorado, having choreographed over 40 shows and performed in over 50. Her heart for youth and for the community, are what has driven Up In Lights and developed it into what it is today. Now with a board of directors by her side and a crew of volunteers the organization has produced numerous musicals including; Love At First Sight, Grease, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Footloose, The All Night Strut, High School Musical, Godspell, All Shook Up, and Little Women with many more to come.

In 2007, Up In Lights began offering a musical theater and performing arts camp during the summer for ages 6-14.  The success of the camp was so overwhelming that the organization now offers three camps during the summer, each camp for a different age group.  Students leave this Musical Theater Intensive with a proud sense of accomplishment; having learned the fundamental aspects of a Musical Theater Production and gaining an opportunity to perform in a large scale musical.  Specific elements each child will have learned include; set design and construction, numerous styles of dance, memorization techniques for dialogue and music, general auditioning techniques, vocal and acting techniques and working together as a team.  Past camp productions include High School Musical Jr., Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians and Grease: School Edition.

Through the years the Rialto Theater has been a major contributor to the success of Up In Lights Productions.  This community based theater has supported the enlightenment of theater and performance in Loveland by opening its doors and allowing organizations like Up In Lights to grow and flourish.  It appeals to the community with its standard of excellence and because of this; the community shows a great deal of support for the productions that are brought there.  For the many years Up In Lights, along with many other organizations, has been able to hold their rehearsals in the theater during the weeks leading up to the opening of their productions.  However, with the popularity of the Rialto growing, the availability of the theater became so restricted that Up In Lights began to look for a new location to hold their rehearsals.  This decision left Up In Lights and it’s performers stranded and with no other options for a rehearsal location.  The finances required to rent a room from any other space in Loveland was too great and the kids needed a place that they can call their own.  This new development has put the organization in a tight spot, having not needed to pay for a rehearsal space before.  Thus, Up In Lights decided to make a major move to a permanent location in downtown Loveland to facilitate their rehearsals, summer camps and workshops.  The productions are still being held at the Rialto Theater, but now there is a place that performers can really work to expand their craft.  To help supplement the many costs that come with renting your own facility, Up In Lights decided to also fill the need that so many parents had requested; a school of performing arts.  So in 2008, Up In Lights moved into their own location in downtown Loveland, calling it the Up In Lights Performing Arts Centre.  Here they offer nearly 25 classes each week for students as young as 3 years old all the way up to adults.  The classes have become very popular, some of the classes include Musical Theater Dance, Ballroom, Broadway Tap, Singing for Actors, Acting for Film, Songwriting, Vocal Jazz, Acting Games, and much more.  The most popular classes that the organization offers are the Musical Theater Performance and Production classes.  These classes teach students the fundamentals of becoming a triple threat performer, as a singer, dancer and actor.  Not only does Up In Lights offer classes, but also workshops to give a more intense training opportunity in areas like, choreography, stage combat, stage make-up and a variety of others.

In the past year, Up In Lights has also started getting involved in the after-school programs at local elementary, middle and high schools; offering opportunities to learn aspects of musical theater, performance, dance and production.  Some of the workshops brought into the schools are The Prom Bootcamp, which teaches high schoolers ballroom dancing, Stage Combat and Make-up Workshops for the theater departments and Musical Theater for the Wednesday Early Release Programs.

The organization's heart is to provide the community with Broadway style entertainment using young, local performers. For the past 9 years they have been welcomed with open arms to produce some of the hottest most in-demand shows using performers from all around Northern Colorado, ages ranging from Middle School to Adult. Their goal, and the reason the organization was formed, is to consistently give an opportunity for the youth of Loveland to grow and mature in their performing abilities outside of the school. Giving performers the hands-on training needed to succeed in this industry and in their future careers. Up In Lights has successfully seen many performers begin their performing with the organization and then turn around and give back to Up In Lights as directors and assistants. Up In Lights is not only an organization that produces Musical Theater, but also a learning ground to challenge their performers to go beyond what they believe is possible. Through this they leave stronger, more motivated and more creative, carrying these traits into their schools and their careers.