Mission + Vision

Twenty-three years ago when I first founded the Saddle River Youth Theatre, we had 15 students. Today, we offer a safe place for our students to learn and grow, with over 200 cast families involved throughout the year and serving an audience of over 6000, we offered 300 classes and 60 performances in 2019. Come see why the Bergen County Division of Cultural Affairs rates the Saddle River Youth Theatre as an, "Outstanding Theatre Program  For Young People!"

​SRYT, Inc. is a 501c3 not-for-profit art

organization since 1996.

The previously announced Disney Villains Workshop has been cancelled and postponed until a future date. Check in with us again in the future if you were interested in this Cabaret Workshop!

Our professional staff is dedicated to offering both individual and personalized instruction in addition to teaching our students the rewards of teamwork and belonging.   

Prompted by the growing concern over the coronavirus, we at RIVERSTAGE/SRYT have come to the difficult decision that for the safety of our theatre families and our staff, our remaining “The Little Mermaid” shows will be postponed until the end of April. (tentatively the week of April 20-25 for Cast 1 and 2 and April 27th—May 2nd for Casts 3 & 4).

The reality that theatre families have invited friends from out-of-town, as well as the fact that two other organizations share our building, we are opting for the “better safe than sorry” scenario regarding the virus.

Recent news reports advocate for “social distancing” to keep everyone we love safe; which has led to our decision for the postponement. While we have never warranted a postponement in 24 years, we feel that very sadly this is the exception to the rule. As we are great believers in the show must go on… the show will go on…in APRIL! In addition, our end of March Spring auditions (March 23, 25th, 27th) for “The Lion King” and “Heathers” will go on! We have already discussed that all students will have the choice of an in-person or a video audition submission. (All submissions should be emailed to: srytheatre@aol.com.) 

If schools close next week or the following week as predicted, we will be designing smaller rehearsal groupings of actors to minimize social contact but maintain some social interaction for the children in the weeks and months ahead.

This is such a scary time for everyone, especially the children. While online learning will be essential for their school work, if they have no social interaction at school, they may quickly feel isolated and alone. We want to assure you as our cherished theatre families that RIVERSTAGE/SRYT is determined to keep things as normal as possible for everyone’s sake because now more than ever a feeling of normalcy will be essential for us to get through this together. We ask that you please share our “mission message” with family, friends and neighbors that RIVERSTAGE/SRYT will be a safe haven throughout this time period. 

When the school’s online learning times are announced, we will create a modified schedule of rehearsals to ensure that the “The Little Mermaid” actors retain their material and to once again minimize the amount of children in the theatre at one time. Your children are and will always be our number one concern and we want to assure them that we will be here for them in any way that we can be.

We thank you for your support and understanding during this time and we look forward to seeing you very soon!

THE SHOW WILL GO ON!

Christopher Barker

Executive Director

RIVERSTAGE/SRYT