Riverside Childrens Theatre

RCT is a performing arts school and a performance troupe, winning awards from the Inland Theatre League, the Riverside Arts Council and the Press-Enterprise. For over 50 years, RCT has introduced thousands of children to the magical world of theatre through participation in drama instruction and performance opportunities.

Membership in RCT is open to all students regardless of background, encouraging children of diversity to learn acting and participate in theatre.  Each year, over 160 children, from kindergarten through 8th grade, participate in our acting school on Saturdays. The acting school, unique among area performing arts groups, holds classes throughout the year for three hours on Saturday mornings. These classes instruct students on music, dance, and theatre arts focusing on presentation and delivery.  In addition, great attention is devoted to helping children build their self-esteem, confidence, and public speaking skills, which will enhance their adult lives wherever their career paths take them.

All students enrolled in our school may audition for the two musical productions held in the fall and spring each year.  Past productions have included: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Willy Wonka, Snow White, Grease, and The Wizard of Oz. Full musicals, replete with a live orchestra, costumes, and make-up, provide children with the feeling of being an integral part of the production.  Rehearsals last for approximately two months and culminate in six performances to paying audiences. In addition to paid performances, RCT performs at no cost to the deaf community, group home residents, senior assisted living homes and local students from low-income schools on a predetermined night during the performance run.

Although RCT has been around for over 50 years, we have never had our own facility for Saturday classes or productions. We have been renting space from the local school district and it is our extreme desire to raise enough funds to help us buy our own home.