Kids’ Open Mic Night at 12 Grapes
Peekskill (914) 737-6624; 12grapes.com
We were all there as kids—sweaty-palmed, heart thudding as we approached the piano bench/music stand/podium. There’s nothing quite like recital terror to make a child reevaluate all his or her decisions. But at 12 Grapes, owners Jeannie and Rich Credidio are combating stage anxiety one night at a time. Each month, they put on a casual, no-stress Open Mic for child musicians in the area. Kids come with their instruments and the Credidios provide the rest: amps, music stands, drum kits, etc. Kids get a chance to play for a supportive crowd (usually a two-song max) and work off some of those performance jitters.
Broadway Training Center of Westchester
Hastings-on-Hudson (914) 478-5825; broadwaytraining.com
With Drama Club for kindergarteners and first-graders to Advanced Acting/Improv for high-schoolers, Broadway Training Center has something for kids of every age. Highlights include the Junior Ensemble for grades 3 through 9 and the Senior Ensemble for grades 9 through 12. Both ensembles offer young performers well-rounded training in acting, singing, and dancing, as well as the chance to perform in classic shows such as A Chorus Line, The Wizard of Oz, and Jesus Christ Super Star.
Croton Academy of Comedic Arts
Croton-on-Hudson (914) 862-0988; crotonacademy.com
The Academy of Comedic Arts at Croton Academy of Arts is an incubator for class clowns and middle- and high-school hams. (Is it any wonder it’s referred to as CACA?) Offering classes in improv and comedy, including writing workshops, sketch, and standup, this program for kids in grades 7 through 12 focuses on performance, and ends with an interactive show for friends and family. What’s more, kids work on their communication skills and creativity, all while honing their punch lines.
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