Watch Riverside Build a Show. Classes Start Oct. 8.
Backstage Access offers an exclusive, first-rate passport into the inner workings of Riverside Theatre. Designed for established and budding connoisseurs of the craft, these classes take you beyond the curtain of every mainstage production this season, with most courses including rare access to a tech rehearsal. Seating is limited, so only a small group gets into each class.
Each production in the lineup has its own dedicated class, spanning two or three sessions, most on Thursday mornings. You will explore the historical origins of the work and discover how Riverside takes a show from script to stage.
This season, you will meet the writers of two new works. In January, you will step inside the world premiere of The Mouse & The Mustache, a new play about Walt Disney and Salvador Dalí, while the production is still being built. And Executive Producer/CEO Jon R. Moses will personally guide you through how he and his team build a season, including the one coming next.
The next time you find yourself with friends discussing a Riverside production, you won't just be a member of the audience. You will be the insider who watched it come together.
The first class of the season begins Thursday, October 8. Due to the intimate nature of these courses, capacity is limited. Reserve your seat today by calling the box office at 772-231-6990 or visiting riversidetheatre.com.
Tuition is $75 per course, or $300 for the complete season. Select individual works or immerse yourself in the full series, but don't wait, because once a class is full, it's full.
My Vaudeville Man! Oct. 8, 15 and 22
A heartfelt two-person musical inspired by the real-life story of vaudeville performer Jack Donahue and his devoted mother, Mud. The show captures the push and pull between a young man's yearning for stardom and his mother's desperate attempts to shield him from the pitfalls of show business.
Class topics: the history of vaudeville, creating new works of theatre, details of Riverside's production, and meeting the writers. On Oct. 15, class moves to the afternoon for tech.
Clue Tuesday, Jan. 5 and Thursdays, Jan. 7 and 14
Clue is a fast-paced stage farce and murder mystery inspired by the 1985 cult film and the classic board game. Set in 1954 at the remote Boddy Manor near Washington, D.C., six eccentric guests arrive for a dinner party hosted by the mysterious Mr. Boddy. When it's revealed that each guest is being blackmailed, Mr. Boddy distributes the famous weapons and proposes murder to keep their secrets hidden.
Class topics: the history of the game, creating new works of theatre, and details of Riverside's production. On Jan. 7, class moves to the afternoon for tech.
The Mouse & The Mustache: World Premiere Thursdays, Jan. 21 and 28 and Feb. 4
In 1946, Walt Disney and Salvador Dalí, two icons from distinctly different worlds, met in Hollywood and began an extraordinary creative collaboration on the animated short film Destino. Both men were intrigued by the challenge of merging Disney's imaginative animation with Dalí's surrealist art.
Class topics: the history of Walt Disney and Salvador Dalí, creating new works of theatre, details of Riverside's production, and meeting the writers. On Jan. 28, class moves to the afternoon for tech.
Producing Theatre with Jon Moses, Executive Producer/CEO Thursdays, Feb. 11 and April 1
Step behind the curtain and be part of the excitement on how we built the 2027–2028 season. This exclusive backstage access class puts you at the center of the action, offering insight into how artistic visions become unforgettable productions. Experience the buzz of planning and decision-making during a transformative moment for our campus, as a major capital project reshapes our creative future. From early concepts to final selections, you'll get an insider's view of the ideas, innovation, and ambition driving what's next on our stage.
On the Town Thursdays, Feb. 18 and 25 and March 4
A musical theatre classic. Three sailors, Ozzie, Chip, and Gabey, arrive in New York City for 24 hours of shore leave, looking for fun and romance. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Class topics: the history of the show, Leonard Bernstein, Comden and Green, Jerome Robbins, and details of Riverside's production. On Feb. 25, class moves to the afternoon for tech.
The Light in the Piazza: A Co-Production with Palm Beach Dramaworks Thursdays, March 11, 18 and 25
The story of a mother and daughter traveling through Italy in the 1950s and the daughter's instant attraction to a young Italian, but their attraction sets off a chain of encounters in this lyrical, romantic musical.
Class topics: the history of the show, how co-productions with other theaters work, and details of this joint production.
Hairspray Thursdays, April 8, 15 and 22
Set in 1962 Baltimore, the award-winning musical follows the story of Tracy Turnblad, an upbeat, plus-sized teenager who dreams of dancing on "The Corny Collins Show."
Class topics: the history of the movie, John Waters, the musical, and details of Riverside's production. On April 15, class moves to the afternoon for tech.
