The Future of Theater Shines Bright at Andy's Summer Playhouse

The stage at Andy's Summer Playhouse has welcomed young actors since its launch in Mason back in 1971 when it began as a dream of two teachers at Mascenic Regional High School. It moved to its current home in Wilton in 1985, to a site with a long history of meeting houses that dates back to 1752 and has also housed a grange hall, lions club, and a Waldorf school. The mission of Andy's is "to provide a safe environment for children to experience and learn about all aspects of the performing arts, with the goal of creating innovative theater for the surrounding community." The nonprofit's guiding principle is "an unrelenting faith in the integrity, dignity and importance of children and their point of view." Led by Executive Producer Jared Mezzocchi, who was himself once an "Andy's Kid" as they're called, the Andy's management team is small with Jess Honovich and SMJ sharing duties as co-artistic directors. Both have been involved with Andy's for several years now and are also Brooklyn-based teachers and artists during the schoolyear with backgrounds in playwriting that initially brought them to Andy's.They organize a group of teaching artists that changes season to season and whose work they are familiar with through the educational theater sphere. Artistic associates, who are Andy's alums, join to assist as well, bringing the total to about 20 rotating leaders."What makes Andy's so special is that we start with a really eclectic group to get to what we want to accomplish," SMJ said, adding that their own theater experience as a longtime mime performer brings one example of the special skills that are taught.While the artists rotate, many return for repeat seasons. Peter, their lighting pro, comes back to Andy's year after year and is beloved by the kids, said Honovich. The artistic associates program started last summer and the group goes through an application process to fill a large number of different critical roles at the playhouse."The kids really look up to them," Honovich said, adding that this summer the program will include a showcase opportunity so associates put on a show of their own. Now on its sixth summer since moving to a tuition-free model in 2020, SMJ said the number of Andy's registrants has been "exponentially growing in number" and last year had between 90 and 100 kids. There is a $150 registration fee per child, although a payment plan option is available or parents can volunteer their time towards the fee."We don't believe in turning kids away," SMJ emphasized. It's a professional theater atmosphere with a community focus that treats the youth with a high level of trust that emulates adult theater programs. The emphasis on community care fosters a belief in what SMJ calls, "radical accessibility."Ages of participating youth range from 8 to 18 for most productions, although the directors stress that this is not a summer camp. Youth are taught and practice from 10 a.m., to 6 p.m., and then the building of sets occurs from 6 to 10 p.m. "It's amazing to see the growth over the past five years and the enthusiasm of the young artists," Honovich said. "They're committed to whatever we do."Coined "The Summer of Adaptation," this year's season will feature three world premiere shows that were announced in early March. One of the performances is an original musical by a Brooklyn-based writer that was chosen by a community vote between five brand-new concepts. "This show ends the summer," SMJ explained. "The director is also a choreographer so there will be a more intensive dance aspect." There are also Mainstage Productions, which are open to any child, and include a 24-hour play festival where six new plays by all Andy's Kids are produced in 24 hours; an adaptation of a children's book led by Honovich; and a new artistic director play, written by SMJ this year, that typically is focused on a current event. This season it delves into the topic of book banning.In addition, The Andy's Studio Series features five unique workshops designed to allow Andy's Kids to explore and sharpen new skills in an intensive, week-long setting that each culminate in two public performances. This series is a little less structured and is not performance focused, the directors explained.The Greenhouse Initiative brings professional artists and Andy's Kids together to experiment with skills that expose them to the process of brainstorming for the stage. Greenhouse Initiatives include The Teen Play for ages 12 and up, The Dance Concert for ages 12 and under, and the John T. Russell Playwriting Festival."The Greenhouse Initiative is a space where they can grow," Honovich explained.Finally, The Andy's Apprenticeship Program allows Andy's Kids to learn the technical side of the craft and experiment with production elements like lighting design, sound, set construction, props creation and management, and stage management. They are led by the technical director and help bring main stage productions to life. "This is our most flexible program," Honovish said. "They learn what they want; nothing is forced. It's like watching young artists take on professional positions and run everything."Youth theater at Andy's is different in many ways, the directors say, and stresses the importance of developing new work and strong work."The stigma out there is that youth theater is 'less than' but Andy's is 100 percent challenging that notion," SMJ said. "We don't write down to them. We bring our A work and the kids step up to that challenge. "We meet them where they are. We make work that matters and because it's original work there's a different understanding of what we do.""It's a gift to try new things with an open mind," Honovich added. "We're shaking up how we make theater. The stuff that comes out of that feels more impactful."An ever-present focus on community is also key to Andy's mission and creating intimate relationships with families and the audiences, SMJ said. Tickets go on sale April 15 for the start of the season on June 23 and the audiences have been steadily growing each season as well."We might have one or two special events planned for the community as well," SMJ teased. "We try to pack in the programming. There might be surprises that we don't even know about yet."The level of positive impact on these two directors brought by working at Andy's has been great."I wish I had this program when I was growing up," Honovich said. " ... We're all community members who want to tell a story. I just love it. Treat young people like older people and they'll respond to that always.""It's a magical place," agreed SMJ. "There's something about it ... They might not be social at school but have deep friendships over the summer. These kids blossom in their own individual ways in the span of nine weeks. Kids here foster a lifelong love of theater in a time when that is desperately needed." To learn more about Andy's Summer Playhouse and the upcoming season, visit andyssummerplayhouse.org.