Tony Award Winner Jessie Muller performs with Rosie’s Theater Kids

On August 13,  Rosie’s Theater Kids held their Summer Celebration fundraiser at the home ofboard members Marty and Joanne Homlish in Edgartown, MA. Actor and RTK Board Member BD Wong welcomed guests who enjoyed performances from Rosie’s Theater Kids and Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Jessie Mueller (Beautiful). 

One of the country’s most dynamic and successful programs for the performing arts – Rosie’s Theater Kids, located on West 45th Street in Manhattan – made its 6th annual trip to Martha’s Vineyard from August 11-17, as previously announced by Lori Klinger, Artistic and Executive Director of Rosie’s Theater Kids (RTKids).

Thirty-three young performers from the ACTE II program (grades 9 through 12) living in underserved neighborhoods in NYC spent  the week in a performing arts intensive study at the Vineyard Arts Project in Edgartown, MA.  The students chosen to participate in this great getaway from NYC are all RTKids scholarship recipients, selected for their exceptional dedication and professionalism in RTKids classes year-round.  Along with their studies, the students explored the island and performed at a Summer Celebration fundraiser for RTKids.

Co-chairs for the event include Patty and Bill Babcox; Donna and Ken Hamel; Joanne and Marty Homlish; Jayne Lipman and Bob Goodman; Meg Ryan; Susanna and Eric Salk; Betsy and Richard Sheerr; Susan and Barry Tatelman along with Junior co-chairs Taylor Ahearn; Gene Berardi; Cate Homlish; and Aixa Weekes. 

The students’ curriculum on Martha’s Vineyard – led by RTKids instructors – is a continuation of their studies in NYC, but with the added bonus of ready access to the beach and other summer outdoor activities.  RTKids are regularly the toast of the town while visiting Martha’s Vineyard each year.

Founded in 2003 by Rosie O’Donnell and Lori Klinger, Rosie’s Theater Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of underserved students through the arts with both in-school and after-school programming. Its scholarship program, ACTE II (A Commitment to Excellence), serves students from Title I NYC public schools with free, conservatory-style training in musical theater from 6th through 12th grade after school at Maravel Arts Center, RTKids’ headquarters at 445 West 45th Street. The school’s motto – “We’re rehearsing for life” – is evident in its ACTE II offerings from performing arts instruction, to life skills development, academic tutoring, and a home-away-from-home environment.

To date, Rosie’s Theater Kids programs have directly impacted 20,000 NYC school students from pre-K through 12th grade, many of whom have never had the opportunity to see a Broadway show or experience the thrill of live art performances.  In 2015, Rosie’s Theater Kids won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award at The White House, making them one of the top creative youth development programs in the country. 

 For more information about Rosie’s Theater Kids please visit: https://rosiestheaterkids.org