The 14th annual Riverside Children’s Theatre Spring Fiesta was a celebration of the performing arts from a youthful perspective, as budding young talents sang, danced, acted and showcased their talents.
During the four-hour Spring Fiesta event, children participated in various activities and also had a chance to get their faces painted – with tigers, fairies, unicorns and butterflies being among the most popular themes.
Riverside Children’s Theatre’s open house last Saturday highlighted a sampling of what it has to offer in the way of after-school classes, workshops, camps, productions and more. If there was any one lesson learned that day among the 600 or so children and adults attending, it was that the theater helps children discover and develop their talents.
“If it weren’t for this theater, my daughter wouldn’t have had a chance to do this,” said Roxy Larabie, mother of 12-year old Chloe, who takes classes in ballet, tap and jazz, and vocals at RCT several days each week after school. “I didn’t even know she could sing until she came here and they told me my child had vocal ability. When I heard her sing, I said, ‘who is this child?!’ I didn’t know she could sing!”
Chloe is among several children who participate in RCT programs to the extent that she considers it a “home away from home,” her mother said. “It’s an extended family. They eat dinner and do homework together during breaks. She has made at least a dozen of her best friends for life here, I’m sure.”
While children’s theater is designed to help youths channel their artistic talent in many forms, there are so many other great outcomes, observed parents, instructors and kids. It teaches youths how to work as a team, helps them build self-confidence and instills in them a sense of responsibility and commitment as they learn the importance of showing up for classes and rehearsals.
“It’s one of the greatest things this community has to offer – the people it attracts, the opportunities to learn,” said Cody Cioffi, 17, of Vero Beach. “It’s really rewarding being a part of it.”
Cioffi, who has been involved with RCT programs for five years, composes music and plays the guitar, piano and violin, and also acts. He had just completed a staged sword fight and sang songs from Disney’s animated musical fantasy-comedy film, Frozen. “You get to express yourself with music, acting, dancing and other things, and share that with others in a very creative way. My goal is to have fun and enjoy what I do. What better place to do that than here?”
The event was primarily an opportunity for the community to learn about what RCT has to offer. The program included performances from the Broadway ensemble class and vocal class; Mr. Bones Magic Show; storytelling; a performance of RCT On the Go Hits Hollywood; Treasure Island; Silly Sam the Music Man; Tangle of Tales; and Goldilocks & the Three Bears. Events were held outside the theater and inside the Anne Morton and Agnes Wahlstrom Theatres and the Richardson Room.
Linda Downey, RCT education director, said the beauty of theater for children is that it allows them to express themselves artistically, and reinforces what they learn in school in the areas of reading and language arts.
“Children are naturally interested in pretending,” she said.
That’s certainly the case for Charlie Ernst, 10, of Vero Beach. After performing a couple of songs, she explained her reasons for participating in RCT activities. “I like becoming someone else, not always being myself.”
Besides, she added, “My school doesn’t give us a lot of homework, so I like going to the theater after school. It’s good not sitting at home not doing anything. It gives me something fun to do with friends.”
Founded 28 years ago, Riverside Children’s Theatre is a community-funded 16,000 square-foot educational facility that includes a 300-seat theater and black box second stage.