The first prep meeting is scheduled for Oct. 3 at 5 p.m., with additional prep days on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24. The meetings are held at St. Barnabas Elementary School at 413 E. 241st Street.<\/p>\n
Special arrangements are available for any student observing the Sabbath.\n<\/p>\n
About a decade before the Riverdale Children\u2019s Theatre was founded schools basically stopped doing plays and musicals. In the \u201960s and \u201970s nearly every school did some form of theatrical performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany families do not have access to strong theater arts programs, or the means to hire an acting or vocal coach,\u201d said Riverdale Children\u2019s Theatre executive director and founder Derek Wood, who runs the program with his wife and co-founder Becky Lillie Woods.<\/p>\n
The team provides the students tips for a strong audition, helps the students pick out audition material, prepare for the audition and videotaping tips. Successful applicants from past years will be on hand to answer questions about the audition experience. Parents can accompany their child at the Oct. 3 session only.<\/p>\n
RCT\u2019s audition prep workshops level the playing field and hopefully increase the students\u2019 chances to gain entrance into their preferred high school.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI know many kids from across the Bronx will benefit from the help in preparing for these difficult auditions,\u201d Wood said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to say that RCT has dramatically increased the number of kids from the Bronx who attend NYC performing arts schools over the past 15 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, all 26 audition prep students received at least one offer from one of the six specialized schools.\n<\/p>\n
Overall, 95% of their students are accepted into competitive NYC performing arts schools, and many have gone on to professional careers and attended some of the nation\u2019s top performing arts colleges and universities.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/RTC-4.jpg\")
Riverdale Children\u2019s Theatre founders, Derek and Becky Woods. Photo by Monica Glick<\/p>\n
Emmy-award winner Jharrel Jerome attended RCT as a St. Brendan\u2019s Elementary School 8th grader. He received the \u201cOutstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series\u201d award for his depiction of one of the Central Park 5 in Netflix\u2019s \u201cWhen They See Us\u201d based on the Central Park jogger case. He also appeared in \u201cMoonlight\u201d and others.<\/p>\n
Besides the audition prep workshops, RCT fee-based program produces full scale musical productions, offers music and dance programs, and distributes thousands of dollars in scholarships each year so that any child can have access to RCT\u2019s high-quality arts program.<\/p>\n
Unlike the traditional concept of serving one immediate community, RCT serves the entire borough, as well as lower Westchester and northern Manhattan.\n<\/p>\n
Since its inception, RCT has produced 180 full-scale musical productions and community events at rented venues across the North Bronx. Last year, 10,000 people attended RCT\u2019s 8 well-produced productions that served 400 students.<\/p>\n
Derek has had a long involvement in the Bronx. For many years he prepared a wide variety of programming at BronxNet TV and garnered many accolades for his work.<\/p>\n
\u201cDecades ago, after BronxNet TV first launched, Derek Woods helped document the borough\u2019s news, culture, and history as an award-winning producer and reporter,\u201d said Michael Knobbe, executive director of BronxNet TV said. \u201cDerek and Becky Woods carry that same spirit into the Riverdale Children\u2019s Theatre, creating exceptional performing arts opportunities for Bronx children and families.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also, Riverdale Children\u2019s Theater has the distinction of being one of only four official \u201cpilot\u201d programs in the country recognized by leading theatrical licensing company, Music Theatre International.<\/p>\n