____________________________________________________ Mirror Me Improv Show
back by popular demand!!
Jane DiMaso, Joseph DiMaso, and Julia Dingman are back, to bring you a night of fast-paced, fully improvised comedy. Inspired by your suggestions, the trio creates unforgettable characters, unpredictable stories, and big laughs, all made up on the spot. From quick-hitting short form to bold long form, every show is a one-of-a-kind performance you won’t see anywhere else. Create a night of laughter this holiday season!
Performances: December 26, 2025 @ 7:00 pm December 27, 2025 @ 7:00 pm
Tickets: $15
Performance Location: the Studio, 6300 W 19th St.
Purchase tickets by calling (708) 749-4900, or visit us @ 1619 Wesley Avenue Visit us @ www.nbpd4fun.org
Play in a Day
You will create a brand-new play in seven hours. You start the day by picking an original creature that you will be in our play. You will decide what type of creature you are. Do you fly, swim, crawl on the ground? Maybe you are a robot? Which of the other creatures are your friends? Are you afraid of any of them? Draw pictures of what you look like and start deciding how you will play with the other creatures. Through a series of theater games, we create a story for our characters. Then you create masks and simple costumes. You will decide on what the world looks like that our creatures live in and create a simple set. Finally, after a little rehearsal, we will present our play for our family and friends at 3:00pm.
2-1 day sessions Ages: 5-14 yrs. Day: Saturdays Date: 1/17, 2/21 Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm D/ND Fee: $40/$50 per session Location: Community Center Code: 261811E,F Min/Max: 4/10 * Pre-registration is required 1 week in advance of class session to ensure your spot and supplies. *Please have students come with lunch.
Theater Games
Bring your fun and creative self to a weekly hour of theatre games! This is a class to stretch your creativity - from improvisation games to ensemble building games - this class is for the enthusiastic actor who wants to wring the fun out of every moment on the stage! This 8 week class will end with a showcase of their new improvisation and stage skills!
Learn the basics of unarmed fighting for the stage in this 8 week class covering the basics of tumbling and stage combat. Learn how to safely execute individual actions (such as falls, rolls, and somersaults) as well as partner-based actions (such as pushes, slaps, punches, kicks, and hair-pulls). We will cover how to do this all in a safe and fun manner. We will also learn respect for our bodies and others. We will present a group fight at the final session for friends and family.
8 weeks Ages: 9-13 yrs. Day: Date:Cancelled due to low interest Time: 5:30-6:30 pm D/ND Fee: $60/$70 Location: Community Center Code: 261811B Min/Max: 4/10
Beginning Acting
Learn the basic skills of acting through theater games and exercises. We will explore the physical and emotional aspects of creating a character. Each actor will learn a short scene, the “same one”- and through this, learn how dialogue can help shape a character! This class will end with a showcase of their work for family and friends!
This 8 week class will teach students armed Quarter Staff stage combat for the theater with a concentrated focus on partnership, safety, and storytelling through movement. Focus on hand-to-hand combat and quarterstaff. Learning how to understand and apply stage combat techniques in a safe and effective manner -- Develop a better sense of awareness, balance, control, and coordination. Learn partnering skills that include clear communication and trust. This class is for students with some prior knowledge. We will present a group fight at the final session for friends and family.
8 weeks Ages: 9-13 yrs. Day: Mondays Date: 1/12-3/16 *No class 1/19, 2/16 Time: 4:30-5:30 pm D/ND Fee: $60/$70 Location: Community Center Code: 261811A Min/Max: 4/10
16th St. Children’s Theater Winter/Spring Production
The Adventures of Bad by Alaska Reece Vance
Everyone wants Bad to be really, really bad. Terribly bad, like all the other animals at Forest School. She is a honey badger after all. When Miss Skunk sends a note home to Mr. and Mrs. Badger that says " I was nice today", they promptly faint, and kick Bad out of the house. Will crazy animal antics, a narrator on strike and a mosquito who thinks he's a king help Bad and her new too-cute-to-be-true friend save the forest from the mysterious robin robber? The whole family will laugh and cheer as Bad finds the courage to be kind in the face of peer pressure.
Students will rehearse twice a week as they prepare for a full weekend of live performances. From auditions to opening night, they’ll experience every part of a real production—costumes, lighting, props, and sound included! Along the way, they’ll learn to work as a team, build characters, memorize lines, and help create props and costumes. A fun, hands-on way to discover the magic of theater!
Ages: 8-16 yrs. Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays Date: 1/13-4/19 *No class 3/31, 4/2 Time: 4:30-6:30 pm D/ND Fee: $230/$250 Location: the Studio Code: 261815A Min/Max: 6/12
Performances:
April 17, 2026 @ 7:00 pm April 18, 2026 @ 2:00 pm April 19, 2026 @ 2:00 pm
Tickets: $8 for adults $5 for children 4-12 yrs.
* children under 4 years are not allowed to ensure a quiet performance environment
Purchase tickets by calling (708)749-4900 or visit us @ 1619 Wesley Ave.
1st Mondays, “Let Me Tell You!” A Curated Story Telling Jam
hosted by 2-time Moth winner Errol McLendon
Everyone tells stories. At family gatherings. In bars and coffee shops. Here is your opportunity to share your personal stories with your community. Stories can be funny or poignant. About love or tragedy, or maybe both. They can be about something you learned or something you wish you had never done. Something historic you witnessed or were a part of.
Submit a description of a 7 - 8 minute story you would like to tell to errol.mclendon@gmail.com to be included in an evening of friends sharing stories with friends. First time tellers are welcomed and encouraged. A free Zoom workshop will be offered two weeks prior to each show to help enhance your story in a relaxed, informal environment. One-on-one coaching will also be available.
Ages: 18+ yrs. Day: Monday Date: 1/5, 2/2, 3/2, 4/6, 5/4, 6/1, 7/6, 8/3 Time: 7:00-9:00 pm Fee: Free Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center
Spring Registration opens March 2 ____________________________________________________
Storytime Acting
Experience books in a whole new way! Classic stories come to life. During the 6-week session we will take a journey through a favorite work of children’s literature. This class is designed for children ages 4- 5 years old as a great introduction to the magical world of theatre. Our acting sessions allow budding young actors to role play and practice improvisation and storytelling. The final class will have a presentation for family and friends.
Bring your fun and creative self to a weekly hour of theatre games! This is a class to stretch your creativity - from improvisation games to ensemble building games - this class is for the enthusiastic actor who wants to wring the fun out of every moment on the stage! This 6 week class will end with a showcase of their new improvisation and stage skills!
Learn the skills of acting through theater games and exercises. We will explore the physical and emotional aspects of creating a character. Each actor will learn a short scene, the “same one”- and through this, learn how dialogue can help shape a character! This 6-week class will end with a showcase of their work for family and friends!
Create a brand-new play in just seven hours! Start the day by inventing an original creature—maybe you fly, swim, crawl, or are even a robot—and explore friendships and fears through fun theater games that build your story. Design masks, simple costumes, and the world your creatures live in, then rehearse and present your play for family and friends at 3:00 pm.
1 day session Ages: 5-14 yrs. Day: Saturday Date: 4/18 Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm D/ND Fee: $45/$55 Location: Community Center Code: 262807D Min/Max: 4/10 *Please have students come with lunch.
Stage Combat Beginners Basics
Learn the basics of unarmed fighting for the stage in this 6-week class covering the basics of tumbling and stage combat. Learn how to safely execute individual actions (such as falls, rolls, and somersaults) as well as partner-based actions (such as pushes, slaps, punches, kicks, and hair-pulls). We will cover how to do this all in a safe and fun manner. We will also learn respect for our bodies and others. We will present a group fight at the final session for friends and family.
Stage Combat Advanced Quarter Staff & Two Handed Sword
This 6 week class will teach students armed quarter staff and two handed sword stage combat for the theater with a concentration focus on partnership, safety, and storytelling through movement. Learning how to understand and apply basic stage combat techniques in a safe and effective manner -- Develop a better sense of awareness, balance, control, and coordination. Learn partnering skills that include clear communication and trust. This class is for students with some prior knowledge. We will present a group fight at the final session for friends and family. *must have instructor approval to register for class.
Everyone wants Bad to be really, really bad. Terribly bad, like all the other animals at Forest School. She is a honey badger after all. When Miss Skunk sends a note home to Mr. and Mrs. Badger that says “ I was nice today”, they promptly faint, and kick Bad out of the house.
Will crazy animal antics, a narrator on strike and a mosquito who thinks he’s a king help Bad and her new too-cute-to-be-true friend save the forest from the mysterious robin robber? The whole family will laugh and cheer as Bad finds the courage to be kind in the face of peer pressure.
Join 16th Street Children’s Theater for an afternoon filled with fun, wild adventures, and creative storytelling. This action-packed theatrical adventure will make you laugh, explore, and enjoy an unforgettable afternoon of theater fun!
Performances: Date & Time: April 17, 2026 @ 7:00 pm April 18, 2026 @ 2:00 pm April 19, 2026 @ 2:00 pm Tickets: $10 adults $5 children 4-12 yrs. Location: the Studio, 6300 W. 19th St.
Purchase tickets by calling (708)749-4900 or visit 1619 Wesley Ave.
To help create a distraction-free and enjoyable experience for everyone, we kindly ask that children under 4 years of age not attend the show.
1st Mondays, “Let Me Tell You!” A Curated Story Telling Jam
hosted by 2-time Moth winner Errol McLendon
Everyone tells stories. At family gatherings. In bars and coffee shops. Here is your opportunity to share your personal stories with your community. Stories can be funny or poignant. About love or tragedy, or maybe both. They can be about something you learned or something you wish you had never done. Something historic you witnessed or were a part of.
Submit a description of a 7 - 8 minute story you would like to tell to errol.mclendon@gmail.com to be included in an evening of friends sharing stories with friends. First time tellers are welcomed and encouraged.
A free Zoom workshop will be offered two weeks prior to each show to help enhance your story in a relaxed, informal environment. One-on-one coaching will also be available.
Ages: 18+ yrs. Day: Monday Date: 3/2, 4/6, 5/4, 6/1, 7/6, 8/3, 9/14, 10/5, 11/2, 12/7 Time: 7:00-9:00 pm Fee: Free Location: Joseph C. Vallez Activity Center * Snacks, soda, beer, and wine will be available for purchase throughout the show.
Downtime in the Green Room
by Gary Arnold
With the 2025 movie version of “Snow White” as a launchpad, “Downtime in the Green Room” goes behind the scenes for two seasons of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular stage production in Chicago and it takes a front seat at the table with the Public Relations Director of Little People of America.
Storytellers reflect on a spectrum of experiences that shape the portrayal of little people in popular culture and on attempts to change that portrayal.
Featuring Katie Arnold and Music by Ben Saylor
Performances: Date & Time: March 13, 2026 @ 7:00 pm March 14, 2026 @ 2:00 pm March 15, 2026 @ 2:00 pm Tickets: $15 Location: the Studio, 6300 W. 19th St.
Purchase tickets by calling (708)749-4900 or visit 1619 Wesley Ave.
Inner State Stories
by Errol McLendon
The show is a heartfelt memory piece about the road trips and roadside attractions Errol shared with his mother. As her Alzheimer’s takes away her short-term memory, Errol uses these shared journeys to create comfort and familiarity during her final years.
Through stories and a slideshow from a 7,000-mile memorial road trip, Errol reflects on a lifetime of travel—from childhood adventures to returning home to care for his mother—revealing humorous and deeply moving moments along the way.
Performances: Date & Time: May 1, 2026 @ 7:00 pm May 2, 2026 @ 2:00 pm May 3, 2026 @ 2:00 pm Tickets: $15 Location: the Studio, 6300 W. 19th St.
Purchase tickets by calling (708)749-4900 or visit 1619 Wesley Ave.
Imagine being the very first actor to ever play a role—a character no one has ever seen before.
Join the ensemble at 16th Street Children’s Theater and help originate a role in a brand-new play created by you and your fellow ensemble members. Guided by professional theater artists, you’ll collaborate to develop characters, shape the story, and bring a never-before-told world to life. Through creative exploration, movement, voice work, and imagination, you’ll build confidence, teamwork, and performance skills.
The experience culminates in an exciting live performance on stage, where you’ll share your original work with family and friends—a truly unforgettable theater adventure!
6 weeks Ages: 8-16 yrs. Day: Monday-Friday Date: 6/8-7/17 *No class 6/19, 7/3 Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm Pay in Full D/ND Fee: $625/$700 or 6 Weekly Payments D/ND: $105/$117 Location: the Studio, 6300 W. 19th Street Code: 263813A Min/Max: 5/15
*To maintain the integrity of the final performance, you must commit to all 6 weeks of Camp
Summer Performances
Dates: July 17-19 Time: 2:00 pm Tickets: $10 adults $5 children 4-12 yrs. Location: the Studio, 6300 W. 19th St.
Purchase tickets by calling (708)749-4900 or visit 1619 Wesley Ave.
To help create a distraction-free and enjoyable experience for everyone, we kindly ask that children under 4 years of age not attend the show.
Save Your Programs Nothing prevents a good program from running more than waiting until the last minute to register for it. Classes that have a low enrollment are generally cancelled approximately one week prior to the first meeting date. Please register for your programs as early as possible to avoid cancellations. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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