Now in its second year in residence at the Delaware Valley Opera Center in Lake Huntington, NY, the River Rep Jr. workshop is offered to kids between eight and 18 as “a fun and exciting way for kids to explore their imagination and develop essential life skills that extend far beyond the stage.”
Young folks are offered the chance to enroll in either acting class or have the opportunity to learn about theatre tech—like sets, sound, costumes and lights.
I had a chance to sit in on a workshop session with River Rep Co-Artistic Directors Christopher Peditto and Arthur Aulisi last weekend, but truth be told, I was more interested in hearing from the kids themselves, who (IMHO) have their own take on what the workshop has to offer. Before doing so, I took a peek at the theatre company’s website, which informed me that the workshops are designed to help students “learn how to express themselves artistically, through fun-filled games, exercises, scene work, improv and more!”
Not only that, but acting classes and working with others backstage “boosts self-confidence and builds communication skills: acting requires clear articulation and expression,” the website informed me, “improving both verbal and non-verbal communication, which is invaluable in school and social settings.”
I learned that this in turn “develops empathy and emotional intelligence. By embodying different characters, children gain a deeper understanding of emotions, motivations, and diverse perspectives, fostering compassion and tolerance.”
Both theatre educators share the sentiment that the classes also help kids learn how to collaborate. “Acting is a collaborative art form.” Peditto said, while Aulisi added that “students learn how to interact with peers, to compromise and to work as a group to bring stories to life.”
To prove their point, I then sat down with a few of the River Rep Jr. workshop students, to get their unvarnished opinion on the latest series, which culminates this coming weekend with a work-in-progress presentation (for family and friends) of their “adaptation” of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” And you know what they say: “Kids say the darndest things.”

Ten-year-old Alden: "I actually want to be a chef, but it’s fun to act, pretending to be not who you are. We do this every Saturday, and we’re gonna do a play next week!"

RR photos by Jonathan Charles Fox

Theatre tech students Franco, 13, and Diana, 12, are a team. Franco: “Yeah we work on sets, costumes, lights, props—so, everything—the molecules of air, basically." As for working with Diana on the crew, Franco says, “We’re the best pals.” Diana: “My mom asked me if I wanted to do acting or work on the tech crew, and I thought, you know... new experience—I might as well try [tech …

RR photos by Jonathan Charles Fox

Ten-year-old Giuliana: “I really like acting. I grew up watching a lot of Broadway shows, and I always wanted to be on the stage. I like being in the audience, too. I feel like being in the show might be frightening but being an actor is definitely on the list of things I’d like to do. I haven’t done a musical yet, but I’ve been told I have a pretty good voice, so…”

RR photos by Jonathan Charles Fox

Ten-year-old John, right, pictured with younger brother and fellow River Rep Jr. thespian Charlie: “Learning how to act means pretending to be someone else—it’s like being a different person. Sometimes I have to pretend to be angry [in the play]. You have to make yourself feel angry to do that, actually. The only hard thing might be memorizing the lines but I’ve basically done that …

RR photos by Jonathan Charles Fox

Fourteen-year-old Luna: "I’ve worked with Chris [and Arthur] for a couple of years now, and this is the second session of the workshop I’ve done. I have learned a lot. It’s a very nice experience, and I definitely want to be an actor. I want to go to either the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art or Yale.” When asked if she is both confident and a good student, the answer came easily. “Yes. …

RR photos by Jonathan Charles Fox