Mission Statement & History

South County Players has been a community theater in the Peace Dale area for over 90 years. In 1985 the organization expanded its activities to include a Children’s Theatre for young actors and technicians 5-18 years old.

Now in its 22nd season, the Children’s Theatre is providing quality learning experiences and creating audiences of children who expect quality theater.

The children collaborate with professional artists in the planning and rehearsing of each production. The children are then asked to assume responsibility for all aspects of stagecraft and to cooperate to achieve their collective purpose. They perform as actors, care for the Theatre’s equipment, and design and build props, sets, and costumes. They serve as ushers, makeup artists, choreographers, and operate as light and sound technicians.

After the actors take their places, the children manage the entire show. There are no adults backstage or in any way running the performance.

South County Players Children’s Theatre offers many different programs for children. They include: classes in Creative Dramatics; TAB – Theatre at the Beach, an intensive three weeks of performances at the University of Rhode Island to which campers from all over RI are bussed; three Mainstage Productions; Summer Theater Camps, where children are taught Broadway dancing, theatrical make-up, voice, improvisation, playwriting, and mime; and our Touring Company.

The Jonnycake Musical Revue is an annual fundraiser performed by adults to benefit the Children’s Theatre. Adult members of South County Players perform throughout each season.

South County Players Children’s Theatre offers employment to emerging Rhode Island artists as well as to established ones.