Wide Eyes Theatre Company, inc.

Founding members of Wide Eyes Theatre Company, Inc. (WETC), Rebecca M Nason (Executive Director) and Carly Ruth Richards (Artistic Director) have extensive experience with educational theatre programs and know first hand how beneficial these activities are for developing minds. Nason and Richards have seen how the various available programs in the community operate and have developed WETC to provide theatre education and educational theatre that is accessible and affordable. W.E. focuses on process because we believe utilizing the arts to nurture the development of good actors also results in the development of life skills that can be applied in areas beyond the stage.

WETC will facilitate activities in one of three categories: workshop, class, or production. Workshops are designed to be short-term processes that focus on a particular skill or project. Our most recent workshop was an audition workshop, focusing on skills needed for professional/educational auditions. While this particular workshop helps to develop the skills necessary for success in theatre, it also builds confidence, sharpens public speaking skills, and develops quick thinking and problem solving skills needed for any business or academic presentation or interview. Workshops will also be used to help develop new works such as a student’s one-act play or an early career professional’s interpretation of a classic. This type of creative environment provides a space for students’ minds to expand beyond the limits of the page or even the theatre. WETC aspires to be a place where artists young and old learn to take risks and bring beautiful and inspiring ideas into the world.

WETC classes will work on a more long-term basis and narrow the focus, following a particular curriculum to enhance a particular skill; acting, singing, dancing, improvisation, playwriting, etc. These classes will bring in local teaching artists and creative professionals to pass on their passion and knowledge to the next generation of actors, directors, audience members, and other supporters of the arts. As the classes increase in size and students “graduate” to higher level instruction, more advanced opportunities will be developed as well as opportunities for students to teach students; inspiring leadership, a sense of community, and accomplishment.

Productions by WETC are opportunities for local artists of all ages to come together and engage in the theatrical process as a whole. Participants will learn the ins and outs of the rehearsal process, the responsibility and commitment of being a part of an ensemble, and the promotion of productions in order to provide an all-encompassing experience. Again, these productions will concentrate on process. We will always strive to provide the community with quality performances, but our ultimate goal will be providing participants with new tools and values that they can carry with them to other theatrical endeavors and beyond. Through the creation of WETC's workshops, classes, and productions, W.E. will provide educational theatre experiences for the community.