The Riverfront Community Players are expanding their theatre program in Burlington and Burlington Township.
When people approached Burlington Township Middle School teacher Roxanne Ferguson to ask for a local theater program recommendation, she never had a close location to give. With parents travelling at least 30 minutes in any direction, Ferguson thought there had to be a better way.
Through a discussion of the problem with some friends and acquaintances, the Riverfront Community Players were born last year, and with the first run having been a success, the group is expanding this year in hopes of continuing to grow within Burlington City and Burlington Township.
Linda Golden, president of the Riverfront Community Players board, said creating the group was about filling a need. She said the group’s founding members realized the community lacked an outlet for music and theater. So the group negotiated with A+ Education and Performing Arts to house its organization, which helps afford the Community Players a structure and non-profit status.
Last year, the group had one mainstage production and one theater class for children. This year, the camp has expanded to include three classes broken up by age group, with kindergarten through second grade in one group, third through fifth in the second and sixth through ninth grade in the third. The camp will run from June 30 to July 28 with students being taught by a local acting teacher, music teacher and dance teacher.
Three mainstage productions are also planned for the summer, with high school-aged students performing “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Hairspray” performed by all ages, and “13” for the middle school group. The shows are performed at Saint Paul School in Burlington.
“We are so excited to be bringing live theater to Burlington, discovering the talent that resides here during the summer time and teaching our youth to appreciate the arts at a time where the future of the arts is uncertain,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson, the players’ artistic director, said the group is starting off its fundraising with “Britishmania,” a Beatles tribute band show taking place at Saint Paul School on James Street in Burlington. The concert will take place on April 29 at 7:30 p.m.
The group is also holding auditions for the “Putnam” show at Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burlington, where the summer camps will also be held. Golden said every person involved in the players last year has eagerly expressed their interest to return.
“People are anxious to see what we are going to be doing,” Golden said. “Even as far as the camps go, we have a number of people wanting to sign up.”
Golden said her friends in surrounding towns have expressed interest in getting involved, so she anticipates the group will continue to expand. Her hope is eventually the Riverfront Community Players become a household name.
While Golden said the group is a place for residents who have performed previously, it’s also an opportunity for someone who has been interested in theater but never been involved before to try being on stage in a comfortable environment. She said she considers the players more than just a theater group but a family.
“It’s nice to be able to do not only what you love to do and what you have a passion for, but to be able to add to your family — so to speak — along the way,” Golden said.
Tickets to Britishmania are $25 a piece and available at www.APlusArts.org/RCP.
