A dream come true
Bensalem husband-wife duo opened brand new all-ages theater school, The Drama Club
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Not even a dreary Monday morning could put a damper on Maria Theodorou’s positive energy. Though the rain poured outside, there was nothing but smiles, music and creativity as the Bensalem native entertained an intimate group during Mommy and Me Storytime. This is just one of several unique classes offered at The Drama Club, Bensalem’s new all-ages theater school. Run by talented husband-wife duo, Andy and Maria Theodorou, their mission is to make the performing arts accessible for everyone.
At its heart, The Drama Club provides a stress- and judgment-free environment for locals of all ages looking to get a taste of the performing arts world. Though the school just opened its doors at 2307 Bristol Pike on Sept. 30, classes are already underway.
A favorite so far is Mommy and Me Storytime. Typically held in the morning, children ages 6 months to 5 years can enjoy 45 minutes of music, crafts and learning, all with mom by their side. During a class on Oct. 9, four boys, including the Theodorous’ own son, enjoyed a reading by Maria of the book “One Rainy Day,” followed by a sing-a-long of “Oh, Mr. Sun” and the creation of paper plate suns.
Though the kids’ attention waned from time to time like any normal 3-year-olds, Maria kept them engaged with one activity after the next. After craft time, she broke out a large, colorful parachute as each boy chose a miniature stuffed superhero. The kids gently placed the toys in the center of the parachute to “tuck them in,” but they didn’t have long to rest. Singing the catchy “wake little heroes, wake wake wake,” kids and parents waved the parachute up and down to the rhythm as Spider-Man and friends went flying, much to the amusement of the class.
No matter the age of the group, the Theodorous also like to incorporate a bit of education into the fun. During a rousing game of Seek-a-Boo, the kids tested their knowledge of colors and animals in the interactive memory game.
In true theater fashion, Mommy and Me Storytime ended with a bang. The kids played tiny instruments while Andy cranked up the bubble-blowing machine, surrounding them in a soapy paradise. Everyone also received a lollipop before setting out for the rainy drive home.
In addition to this fun session, The Drama Club offers classes for elementary and high school students. In a drama class, the Theodorous cover all aspects of theater from stage presence to prop design and makeup. Throughout the 12-week class, the students learn a musical number or scene from a play, and have the opportunity to perform it for friends and family at the end.
If someone is looking to break out of their shell a bit, The Drama Club’s musical theater class, during which students learn how to act out a song, could be a good fit.
“They don’t have to be the best vocalist in the world,” Maria said.
For her, the most important piece is the ability to express emotions. Another challenging class teaches high schoolers improvisation techniques and the ability to think on their feet, something that’s useful on a day-to-day basis.
“It helps in all aspects of life,” Maria said.
Adults are able to pick up a few life skills as well. In a public speaking class, attendees can build confidence as they work toward the culmination of the session — a final presentation in front of a small group.
A more advanced acting class taught by Andy takes place at night where students can develop their own characters and incorporate them into a short play. Private coaching sessions are also available for local, aspiring actors and actresses looking for advice before a big audition. These rising stars can rest assured any guidance they receive is coming from a reliable source.
Both Maria and Andy have lifelong passions for the performing arts. Growing up in Bensalem, Maria was always active in local theater. This interest led her to study acting and directing at DeSales University, live in New York City for some time singing with the pop/rock band Hexa, and study comedy at Caroline’s Comedy Club and improv at UBC Theater.
As for Andy, he also studied acting and directing at DeSales, where the couple met. The Easton native is a theater producer and co-founder of Royal Family Productions, a nonprofit theater company located in Times Square. When he’s not inspiring young minds at The Drama Club, he continues to commute to New York to work as a sound engineer for The New York Public Library’s Audio and Moving Image Preservation Labs.
The two moved back to Maria’s hometown of Bensalem six years ago to raise their two children, and are thrilled to bring their combined experiences to Bucks County.
“It’s a dream come true,” Maria said. ••
For information on The Drama Club, visit thedramaclubpa.com, call 215–469–2109 or email info@thedramaclubpa.com.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
