We at Bloomsburg Kids sat down with Abigail Leffler, BTE’s Education Director, to get the inside scoop on all thats happening on stage and backstage at this very special local gem!
Abigail fondly remembers her first experience at BTE as a kindergartener, when she went to see an historical performance of The Oregon Trail. The show and the theater environment deeply impacted her, inspiring her to become a performer as well as a theatre professional. She first began as an intern at BTE and was mentored and motivated by the actors and employees there, working her way up the ladder. In her current role as Educational Director (and regular guest actor), she works hard to offer theatre education through community outreach and involvement, workshops, camps, and many other wonderful opportunities.
According to Abigail: “BTE will begin summer camps June 12 at their new location at Bloomsburg’s First Presbyterian Church. Registration is already open for these popular camps! Education has always been a passion of BTE and has been offered since the company’s inception. Education in the arts has proven to benefit children in the long run with social, emotional learning and offers an amazing creative outlet while maintaining a safe and engaging environment.“
BTE will offer an Acting Workshop (open to middle school aged students) at the Joseph Priestley House (Northumberland) on July 15 & 22 from 2-4pm.
BTE also offers scholarships based on various criteria, which can be super helpful for many families wishing to take advantage of thier camps and other educational opportunities.
Abigail also tells us that “BTE is also set to produce the much beloved Dragons Love Tacos on our mainstage this summer. Check out a staged version of the very popular book Dragons Love Tacos. This funny and exciting play is centered around a kid and their beloved companion, Leroy the Dog who are just trying to get through a rainy day of homework when their world is turned upside down by a mysterious TV character who reveals to them the “mind-blowing, earth-shattering, titillating secrets of dragons. A cast of community kids perform alongside BTE’s professional actors starting the first weekend in July. A sensory friendly performance is offered July 15.”