To offer young people an opportunity to participate in theater programs that celebrate community, culture, and art. This is a supportive, non-competitive environment where participants are encouraged to develop their creativity both as individuals and by working cooperatively as a team, which builds character and strengthens self-esteem.    

Kids ages five through eleven participate in an eight-week workshop that culminates in a short musical production complete with costumes, scenery, and publicity. Children learn acting and vocal technique, dance, and performance skills while having fun with other kids of different ages.

Teens ages twelve and up participate in a twelve-week workshop that culminates in a full-scale production complete with costumes, scenery and publicity. Teens learn acting technique through a variety of theater and improvisational games, as well as singing, dancing, and performance skills. The material for Up Front Theater Ensemble is chosen based on its appeal to teenaged performers and audiences.    

Students ages 8 years and up work together to produce a play to benefit a specific charity.  During the rehearsal process, students learn both performance skills and about philanthropy.  A typical meeting might include exercises to improve acting skills, rehearsing scenes from the play, and writing letters on behalf of the charity.  The workshop culminates in a full-scale production performed for the community, the proceeds of which are donated to the charity. 

Rachel Borsavage is the Founder and Executive Director of Kids Up Front. She started dancing at the age of 2½, and studied ballet with Rose Marie Menes, a former member of The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.  Rachel performed with Dance Theater in Westchester and with The Yorktown Theater Workshop.  Her business experience is in the field of Marketing Promotions. She has worked with clients such as Nabisco, Pfizer and The James River Corporation.  Most recently, Rachel owned and operated Front Street Studio, a dance studio in Patterson, NY. That venture lead her to start Kids Up Front.

Amy Emke has been involved with Kids Up Front since 2003, when she served as the stage manager for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  Since then, she has directed Clara’s Christmas Dream, The Hatmaker’s Daughters, Disney’s Cinderella Kids,  Grease, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids, Disney’s Jungle Book Kids, Shetland Valley Farm, and The Stone in the Road for Kids Up Front. 

Amy is a graduate in Theatre from The Baltimore School for the Arts, and later studied at NYU’s Experimental Theatre Wing, before receiving her B.A. from The City College of CUNY, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.  

Amy also performs regularly with the Pawling Theatre Company, where she serves on the Board of Trustees. 

Amy is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Angeline is a music therapist for the Music Conservatory of Westchester, working with both children and adults, and a pre-K music teacher for the Mamaroneck Avenue School. She has recently completed work as a composer, arranger, pianist, and vocalist for the production of four “Musical Munchkins” children’s music CDs.

While studying film and television at NYU, Aaron met a foxy drama student named Amy. Sensing intuitively that Amy would someday become the director of a children’s theater company, Aaron shrewdly married her so that he could exploit the situation and have his plays and songs performed on stage by talented and enthusiastic young artistes. The rest, as they say, is history.

Kids Up Front is non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation and belongs to the community it serves. Kids Up Front is blessed with an enthusiastic and active Board of Directors.  

Our board members are:

Mary DeBellis, elementary school teacher.

Linda Ferri, promotions.

Carole Gajdosik, early childhood education, owner of the Sunshine School in Pawling, NY.

Valerie Kagan, owner of VK Direct in Patterson, NY, a direct mail fund raising company.

Rachel Borsavage, Executive Director of Kids Up Front.

Amy Emke, theatre and preschool teacher.

Our board meets three times a year.  If you are interested in children’s theater and would like to attend board meetings or become a board member, please contact us.