About Fantasy Works Youth Theater
History
Fantasy Works Youth Theater developed from an original paper in talent development written by Ann O'Grady as she pursued her doctorate at the University of Connecticut. The paper was entitled "The Real Work of Fantasy," and described a theater company run by high school and college students considering careers in the arts who all assumed jobs just like those in professional theater as they put on a production with younger students.
In 1987 the wheels were set in motion, and Fantasy Works opened as a two-week summer camp run by student directors working in collaboration with professional mentors. One hundred shows and eight thousand children later, Fantasy Works has grown into the largest youth theater in RI producing a student-run summer musical series, after-school programs, and original plays for educational venues as well as training program for students interested in careers in theater.
Our graduates have gone on to work on Broadway, national tours, summer stock theaters, community theaters, and schools. Our alumni include professional directors and choreographers, casting agents, production managers, arts administrators, technicians, teachers, and supporters of the arts. We have an active alumni network that helps our emerging artists make the transition to professional employment.
We are an ensemble company: a community of emerging artists where respect, responsibility, and collaboration are the values that guide us.
Mission Statement
Fantasy Works Youth Theater, Inc. is a non-profit educational theater company providing opportunities for students to learn by exploring their interests and developing their skills through theater; Fantasy Works supports arts education and literacy efforts through the development of innovative partnerships, standards-based curriculum materials, and theater resource services.
One way we fulfill this mission is by hiring high school and college students as our summer series directors, choreographers, managers, designers, musicians and technicians. Providing these unique paid internships for Rhode Island's emerging artists is what sets Fantasy Works apart from other Rhode Island theaters.
Philosophy
Students are empowered as they enter the world of theater – a place where their diverse interests, talents, and skills are valued; a place where each student becomes an integral part of an ensemble through the process of creating performance pieces and presenting them.
Programs
Fantasy Works fulfills its mission and meets community needs through these programs:
 Summer Theater Camps –We produce five to seven summer programs in communities throughout RI. Each program culminates in a fully staged musical production open to the general public. High school and college aged students are hired to work as interns in all areas of theater production under the guidance of professional mentors.
After School Programs – After school programs enhance the company's ability to reach out to student artists during the school year. High school and college students are hired to work with elementary and middle school students to put up a full musical with four to six weeks rehearsal time.
Arts literacy and arts-across-the-curriculum programs – We've developed a partnership with Read Across RI and the Providence Public Library called Stories on Stage to produce a series of performances based on children's literature. Fantasy Works has also created original musicals with accompanying curriculum keyed to the National Education Standards.
Theater School Classes and Performances – Our theater school presents a Christmas show, a February vacation week program, skills classes and workshops.
Theater Resource Services to Schools and Youth Groups – We assist other groups by providing a low cost rental of our sound, lighting and technical equipment as well as our costumes and set pieces.
Community Outreach: Fantasy Works funds 100% of all scholarship requests. We provide blocks of tickets to social service agencies- House of Hope, Salvation Army, and agencies that serve at-risk populations of youth. We also write shows offered to the public for no fee performing at children's reading circles, educational conferences, and special programs.
Vision: Our vision is to create a permanent state children's theater that would become a highly visible asset for the State of Rhode Island. To achieve this vision, we will collaborate with those who share a commitment to children, the arts, and education in the RI community. In three years time, we envision ourselves capable of:
- Training arts leaders to run and manage after-school theatre arts programs thereby meeting the demands for this invaluable service to our schools
- Providing more opportunities in Rhode Island for employment in the theater arts
- Expanding our summer programs across the state to meet the growing community demand
- Creating a permanent resource of affordable costume, set and sound rentals that would be made available to youth groups across the state
- Offering productions targeted to school groups with accompanying curriculum units keyed to the National Education Standards
Ultimately our goal is to transform our organization into a state treasure that is a testament to Rhode Island's support of its youth, education, and the arts.
Staff
Ann O’Grady, Executive Director, is the Fantasy Works founder and program director. She has 35 years of experience in teaching and earned a Ph.D in Education from UConn where she developed components of the Fantasy Works program. Ann is a recipient of a Milken National Educators Award.
Elisa Cardone, Managing Director, is a graduate of Brown University and earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama where she currently teaches production management. She has been the production manager of national tours and Broadway shows.
Elizabeth Gotauco, Director and Costume Designer, graduated from URI with a BFA in Theatre. She has taught Intro to Theater at URI and is currently wardrobe supervisor at the Gamm Theater and a director of Fantasy Works Theater School programs.
Michael Hyde, Technical Director, is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a degree in Communications. He is the information technology administrator at Channel 12 and technical director for several RI theater groups.
Dinarte Ferro, Conductor, holds an MAT in Music Education from RIC and is the conductor of the Warwick Symphony Orchestra. He is also a music teacher in the Warwick Public Schools.
High school and college students planning careers in the arts will join our staff as:
- directors
- choreographers
- stage managers
- musicians
- and technical, set, and costume designers
Fantasy Works is proud to offer 35 summer jobs to RI’s emerging artists.
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"Inspiring Rhode Island's youth through the ARTS since 1987"
Arts Learning Opportunities
Every year, up to 1000 RI students take part in a Fantasy Works production through our
- Summer musical series
- Theater camps
- Theater school workshops and shows
- Comedy showcases
- Original children's musicals, and Community outreach programs.
Real Jobs in the Arts
Every year, Fantasy Works is proud to employ up to 50 of RI's emerging artists as:
- Directors
- Choreographers
- Production Managers
- Stage Managers
- Costumers
- Sound, Set, and Lighting Designers
- Musicians
- Production Assistants
Theatre Resource Services
Every year, Fantasy Works supports up to 20 community theatres & schools throughout RI with low-priced rentals of Sound systems Costumes Sets and Props
School-Based Programming
Every year, Fantasy Works collaborates with up to 6 local schools and/or educational venues to create:
- After school theater programs
- Standards-based curriculum for arts-integrated learning
- New musicals for educational venues
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