Rhode Island Youth Theatre

Our Mission Provide opportunities for students to CREATE, PERFORM, and EXPERIENCE exceptional theatre. Rhode Island Youth Theatre puts on high quality productions performed by students from around the state! Our Values We are an ensemble-driven company guided by RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, and COLLABORATION. Our Vision Our goal is to create a permanent youth theatre organization – a model of excellence in the development of new works, innovative programs, and educational initiatives. We plan to accomplish this through collaborations with centers of learning and distinguished artists, while continuing to provide apprenticeships and internships to teens planning careers in the arts. Our Journey Rhode Island Youth Theatre (RIYT) is a non-profit educational theatre company. It was known as Fantasy Works Youth Theater for the first 23 years of its history and emerged from the ideas presented in an original paper on talent development written by Ann O’Grady as she pursued her doctorate at the University of Connecticut. The paper was entitled “The Real Work of Fantasy,” and described a youth theatre company run by high school and college students who were considering careers in the arts. In 1987 the wheels were set in motion, and Fantasy Works opened as a two-week summer camp run by student directors, working in collaboration with professional mentors. Over 300 shows and 20,000 students later, Rhode Island Youth Theatre has grown into the largest youth theater program in the state, producing a summer musical series, after-school programs, and original plays for educational venues, as well as training programs for students in partnership with Skills for RI. RIYT graduates have gone on to work on Broadway, national tours, summer stock theaters, community theaters, and schools. Our alumni include professional performers, directors and choreographers, casting agents, production managers, arts administrators, technicians, teachers, and supporters of the arts.