Rivertown Repertory Theatre

The Children's Wing of

Rivertown Repertory Theatre

2010-2011 Season to be announced soon.

HISTORY

The inaugural year of Imagine Theatre For Children earned Rivertown Rep BEST CHILDREN’S THEATRE for their production of Charlotte’s Web at the 1996 Storer Boone Awards, an honor bestowed by peers in the theatrical community. In 1997, for the second consecutive year, Imagine Theatre received the honor again for their production of James and the Giant Peach. Since then, Imagine Theatre has been honored as Best Children's Theatre for four of its five years that it has produced theatrical plays and musicals for children and it has afforded two young actresses the opportunity to receive awards for their performances.

The Rivertown Repertory Theatre launched their new children’s wing, Imagine Theatre For Children, October 12, 1996, with glittering fairy tale magic making “dreams come true” for many area children that had never before seen live children’s theatre. The inaugural year for Imagine Theatre For Children included two productions. The musical Charlotte’s Web based on the E.B. White classic book debuted in October, 1996 and the fairy tale musical Sleeping Beauty premiered in March, 1997.

A Gala Fairy Tale Ball was held to celebrate the opening of Imagine Theatre For Children, complete with a parade, floats and a procession of fairy tale characters for the public preceding a Ball, including: Cinderella, Prince Charming, Alice In Wonderland, Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf, Rapunzel, the Jester Imagination, the wicked Queen, Sleeping Beauty and royal court members all led by His Majesty King Phantasy and Her Majesty Queen Phantasia, rulers of the magical Land of Imagination.

With the launch, Rivertown Rep was able to provide cultural enrichment for young citizens and invest in their future. Countless reports on the educational and cultural impact of the arts for young citizens, particularly at-risk children, validate the importance of this program.

The children’s theatre wing had been in the Theatre’s long range plans since first opening only awaiting available space which came to fruition with the new theatre for the main stage. The Theatre has committed a large investment in these productions and contracts the most qualified professionals to make these productions an educational and cultural impact for children of all ages, while providing the highest quality children’s theatrical productions. The production values of Charlotte’s Web - combining life-size puppets and live actors - was shear magic. All artists performing on stage or behind the scenes are paid for their talent. Performances are scheduled for the public on weekends and for school field trips during the school week.

In 1998, the children's wing developed Phase II of their long range plan by launching the Broadway Jr Rep. This summer program gave children the opportunity to perform children's theatre for children and adults. The program's emphasis is on instruction and includes a four week program providing classes in theatre, dance, voice, combat choreography, auditions and other theatrical classes. Instruction is provided by working professionals in their field. In the summer of 1999, Broadway Jr Rep added a full musical component to their summer program, The Wizard of Oz. In keeping with the theatre's philosophy to provide opportunity to the thespian to work alongside the professional, the cast included New Orleans legend Stocker Fontelieu.

By December, 1999, the theatre was able to produce a full main-stage musical for the holiday season featuring children and adults, The Ice Dragon, with the lead written for and performed by a child. Over 20 children joined a cast of adults to launch this world premiere. The Ice Dragon was honored as Best Children's Production by the Storer Boone Awards and returns to the stage this December. The young actress who played the lead was honored as Best Child Actress.

The production costs of mounting these Broadway hits and premieres are nearly the same as other main stage productions for adults. Rivertown Repertory Theatre is committed to providing the resources necessary to continue this commitment to children. We believe that these future arts patrons must be successfully nurtured now.