The high-energy students of Riverside Children’s Theatre showcased their multiple singing, dancing and acting skills Saturday at RT Star’s Big Birthday Party, a free day filled with children’s activities and shows to celebrate their smiling star mascot’s special day.
Bubbling with excitement, youngsters led parents and grandparents to the performances which took place throughout the event, alternating between RCT’s Anne Morton Theatre and the Live in the Loop outdoor stage in front of Riverside Theatre.
Outdoor presentations by RCT students included two helpings of an enthusiastic Big Birthday Performance, plus a preview of songs from “Aladdin,” coming up June 17 and 18.
Inside, the Anne Morton Stage featured “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” and “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” performed by six apprentices with RCT’s On the Go Touring Program. That program takes theater to children at their schools and afterschool settings as part of Riverside’s academic outreach component.
Staff members are looking forward to the new director of education, Jim Van Valen, who is scheduled to come on board June 1. Van Valen replaces longtime director Linda Downey, who retired in 2015 from the position after 35 years at the helm.
“I’m excited because he seems to be interested in making lifelong arts learning a priority,” said Adam Schnell, RCT director of dance and the founding artistic director of Ballet Vero Beach. “He was supportive of starting our adult dance classes. As far as I know, he’s also going to start some adult theater classes as well. So it sort of becomes the whole spectrum.”
The previous week’s drenching rains had mostly receded, with the exception of a little pond in front of the building that attracted some curious looks from youngsters who hadn’t remembered seeing it before.
“This is our Lake Agnes,” said RT Director of Finance Patti Rooney, referencing Agnes Wahlstrom, whose name graces the building.
“We’ve called it that for years because it always floods,” she added.
Summer is a busy time at RCT, with Kinder Camp, Beginning Stages, Second Stage Workshops, Show Workshops, the iRascals Experience and Teens in Concert. Things will really be hopping on Aug. 6, when this year’s Riverside Dance Festival, in collaboration with Ballet Vero Beach and the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, coincides with RT’s Back to School Bash, which is hosted in partnership with the Education Foundation and the School District of IRC.
There is something going on every weekend for adults as well, with free outdoor concerts every weekend – no tickets required. The concerts coincide with the alternating Comedy Zone and Howl at the Moon Experiences on the Waxlax Stage inside, where tickets are required.
“We’re definitely keeping busy, that’s for sure,” said Riverside’s Managing Director Jon Moses.
Discounted tickets are also available this summer only for a Rock and Disco bundle special, offering two shows for the price of one – “Ring of Fire: The Music of John Cash” in the fall, and “Saturday Night Fever: Songs from the Bee Gees” in the spring.
