About
Riverdale Children’s Theatre offers full scale musical theatre productions along with music, dance, and voice and dance classes. The program includes specific offerings such as Broadway KIDS, H.S. Audition Prep, College Audition Prep, Professional Development, Summer Programs, SummerLights, the MSV Lunch Program, and the Legacy Robe Celebration.
Riverdale Children’s Theatre is a 501(c)3 non profit educational theatre program that focuses on children participating in full scale theatrical productions to learn the basic elements of theatre, music and dance, while pushing their own creative and physical boundaries. The program states that the performing arts stimulate children emotionally and intellectually, raise self esteem, emphasize teamwork and foster a strong sense of community, and that it enriches families by providing an opportunity for parents to be a part of their children's growth in a fun and creative way. Riverdale Children’s Theatre was founded in 2010 by Derek and Becky Woods and has evolved into a 501c-3 theatre arts education program. The program distributes thousands of dollars in scholarship each year so that any child can have access to its arts program.
The Riverdale Children’s Theatre program brings together children from various religious and cultural backgrounds to learn about themselves, each other and the joy of performing, and it serves families in the Bronx, Yonkers and beyond. Its programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. RCT Founders were honored by the Aisling Irish Center, and RCT was honored as 2022 Torchbearers by the Sri Chinmoy Peace Run in Queens.
Riverdale Children’s Theatre reports that over 95% of its students are accepted into the competitive NYC Performing Arts High Schools, and that many students are going on to professional careers and attending some of the nation’s top performing arts colleges and universities. Riverdale Children’s Theatre has been cited in Backstage Magazine as one of the leading children’s theatre companies in the United States and was recognized on CNN as a 2021 “Champion for Change,” including being featured on CNN’s “Champions For Change” series. In November 2014, Backstage Magazine recognized Riverdale Children’s Theatre as one of 12 children’s theatre companies in the country, and in September 2021 CNN recognized it as a 2021 Champion for Change. Riverdale Children’s Theatre has also been cited by AmericanTowns Media. It is one of only four official “pilot” programs in the country recognized by leading theatrical licensing company Music Theatre International, and it helps workshop new shows and scripts to bring new shows to new audiences. RCT was one of the first theatre companies to premiere Junior versions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Disney’s Finding Nemo, Disney’s Aladdin, DreamWorks Madagascar: A Musical Adventure, DreamWorks Shrek the Musical, Children of Eden, Hairspray, Matilda, Mean Girls, Broadway Junior Revue: Pure Imagination, and Beetlejuice the Musical.
Riverdale Children’s Theatre states a Commitment to Kindness with rules: Be Kind to Ourselves, Be Kind to Each Other, Be Kind to Our Space. The program also states a Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion where all children, staff, volunteers, and audience members feel respected and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, disability, education, or any other bias.
Last updated April 17, 2026.
Riverdale Children’s Theatre is a 501(c)3 non profit educational theatre program that focuses on children participating in full scale theatrical productions to learn the basic elements of theatre, music and dance, while pushing their own creative and physical boundaries. The program states that the performing arts stimulate children emotionally and intellectually, raise self esteem, emphasize teamwork and foster a strong sense of community, and that it enriches families by providing an opportunity for parents to be a part of their children's growth in a fun and creative way. Riverdale Children’s Theatre was founded in 2010 by Derek and Becky Woods and has evolved into a 501c-3 theatre arts education program. The program distributes thousands of dollars in scholarship each year so that any child can have access to its arts program.
The Riverdale Children’s Theatre program brings together children from various religious and cultural backgrounds to learn about themselves, each other and the joy of performing, and it serves families in the Bronx, Yonkers and beyond. Its programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. RCT Founders were honored by the Aisling Irish Center, and RCT was honored as 2022 Torchbearers by the Sri Chinmoy Peace Run in Queens.
Riverdale Children’s Theatre reports that over 95% of its students are accepted into the competitive NYC Performing Arts High Schools, and that many students are going on to professional careers and attending some of the nation’s top performing arts colleges and universities. Riverdale Children’s Theatre has been cited in Backstage Magazine as one of the leading children’s theatre companies in the United States and was recognized on CNN as a 2021 “Champion for Change,” including being featured on CNN’s “Champions For Change” series. In November 2014, Backstage Magazine recognized Riverdale Children’s Theatre as one of 12 children’s theatre companies in the country, and in September 2021 CNN recognized it as a 2021 Champion for Change. Riverdale Children’s Theatre has also been cited by AmericanTowns Media. It is one of only four official “pilot” programs in the country recognized by leading theatrical licensing company Music Theatre International, and it helps workshop new shows and scripts to bring new shows to new audiences. RCT was one of the first theatre companies to premiere Junior versions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Disney’s Finding Nemo, Disney’s Aladdin, DreamWorks Madagascar: A Musical Adventure, DreamWorks Shrek the Musical, Children of Eden, Hairspray, Matilda, Mean Girls, Broadway Junior Revue: Pure Imagination, and Beetlejuice the Musical.
Riverdale Children’s Theatre states a Commitment to Kindness with rules: Be Kind to Ourselves, Be Kind to Each Other, Be Kind to Our Space. The program also states a Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion where all children, staff, volunteers, and audience members feel respected and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, disability, education, or any other bias.
Last updated April 17, 2026.
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