About The College Light Opera Company

​The College Light Opera Company (CLOC) is non-profit theatre organization located in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. For over 50 years, CLOC has provided hundreds of college-age students from around the country with a unique educational opportunity to learn from leading professionals and practice their craft in a challenging but supportive environment.

Each summer, CLOC invites 75 of our nation's most promising theatre artists to be in residence in Falmouth for 11 intense weeks of production. These students become members in our Vocal Company, Orchestra, Design and Production Team, Music Staff, and Business Staff. The result is 9 fully produced musicals and operettas performed at the Highfield Theatre. These productions are considered to be 9 of the best theatre productions on Cape Cod each year. 

Previous CLOC Alumni have gone on to work around the world on Broadway, Off-Broadway, television/film, professional opera companies, cruise lines, and more. CLOC prepares their students with the skill set to be successful artists in any professional setting. 

​CLOC is operated by a Board of Trustees, Executive Director/Co-Artistic Director Mark Pearson, Co-Artistic Director Beth Burrier, General Manager Deanna Dziedzina, and Theatre Office Administrator Emma Fitzpatrick together with their summer company each year, CLOC has become an integral part of our local and national arts landscape.

Our Mission & Vision

​Mission: The College Light Opera Company is a not-for-profit resident theatre company with a mission to educate, entertain, and enrich. We train talented university level students in the craft of performing arts and theatre production – providing an immersive, professional work experience that is rare and invaluable to the career-bound student. We are committed to diversity and inclusion in the arts. Our productions and community outreach programs foster an appreciation for the arts and provide exceptional enrichment opportunities for our patrons and community.

Vision: As America’s premier training ground for young artists, CLOC aspires to cultivate and perpetuate a deep appreciation for music theatre, shape the future of music theatre, make the arts more attainable and accessible for all, and enrich our community of students and audiences.

Our Philosophy

The College Light Opera Company is dedicated to providing young theatre artists with an immersive, hands-on learning experience that bridges the gap between academic training and professional practice. Through our rigorous summer season and collaborative environment, we offer a unique "professional sandbox" where emerging performers, designers, musicians, technicians, and arts administrators refine their craft in a fast-paced, high-caliber setting.

Our educational philosophy is built on the principles of learning by doing, artistic excellence, and collaborative growth. At CLOC, participants engage in a dynamic, real-world rehearsal and production process, gaining invaluable experience through mentorship, experimentation, and performance. By working side by side with industry professionals and fellow aspiring artists, our students develop the discipline, adaptability, and creative problem-solving skills necessary for a successful career in the performing arts.

We believe that access to intensive, hands-on theatre training not only fosters artistic mastery but also cultivates confidence, resilience, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Through our commitment to experiential learning, CLOC nurtures the next generation of theatre makers, equipping them with the skills and passion to thrive in an ever-evolving artistic landscape.

2024 Production of Irving Berlin's "Holiday Inn." (Photo Creds: Spencer Swetlow)

2025 Company Photo