Welcome to Rags to Riches Theatre for Young Audiences

We are a traveling theatre troupe, entertaining the young and the young at heart with stories pulled from history, literature and fantasy. Our performances include music, laughter and improvisation.

Each year we put out a repertoire for the season, packing our props into a trunk and quite literally taking our show on the road. We perform in front of hundreds of people each month.

But Rags to Riches is not just for watching. Oh no, if indeed that were the case, we would be lost for words.

You Become Part of the Show

Our shows rely on participation – we teach our audiences songs and shouts and moves and dances. You just may end up being a tree or a fish or the net that catches one.

Rags to Riches is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1993. It is the culmination of a dream and we value the support offered by the community.

Rags to Riches Participating in the Great Human Race 2017

Rags To Riches Theatre for Young Audiences is participating in The Great Human Race 2017,an upcoming 5K that the Volunteer Center of Durham puts on for area Non-Profits. This event is a nice way to offer an annual fundraiser and also be doing something that benefits our organization as well as other non-profit organizations in the community.

Help us keep growing and reaching new schools!

Please consider visiting our fundraising page for the Great Human Race 2017 and contributing what you can! No amount is too small! Thank you for your support of bringing live theatre to so many young folks and folks who are young at heart! We are excited and grateful to have been performing for Rags To Riches for more than 23 years now!

Make N Take Family Series – The Disenchanted Dragon

Rags to Riches Theatre for Young Audiences is thrilled to partner with the Scrap Exchange for The Make N Take Family Series. We will perform at The Scrap Exchange one Saturday a month at 4:00pm-5:30pm. Come see a show then stay for a make and take craft project that will link you and your family to your experience! Take a look at our flyer for a listing of shows and dates!

Our next show in the series is, “The Disenchanted Dragon” on March 25th. Get more information on this performance at the Scrap Exchange!

Dreams for Rags To Riches

We would love to bring Rags To Riches theatre for young audiences to a school of higher learning. We believe that our plays and style of production would be an effective teaching tool as well as a wonderful outreach for an institution of higher learning. With 24 years of experience and an MFA and a BFA would could teach and/or develop many credit hours of coursework.

Upcoming Rags to Riches Performances

No Events

Rags to Riches Summer Tour 2017!

Don’t miss your chance to Watch Ananse the spider weave his web of stories in “Build a Better Web,” available June – August.

Come See Our Next Public Performance!

Our Next Public Performance is

No Events

People are Talking

You performed at Morehead this past week—I didn’t see it, but Lena reported that it was great! She was singing various songs about Stone Soup all evening. She also noted that in all your plays, she really likes the travelling music.

I’m pretty sure you all are magic, the way you keep kids’ attention and worm your stories into their malleable little brains!

Laura, parent of audience member

Myself and my two young children saw your performance of The Frog Prince this past Wed. at the Rowan Public Library. I just wanted to pass along something that my four year old son had to say about your show….“I guess if I had to marry a frog, I would want a funny one like that one we saw today…” We had such a wonderful time at your show and hope to be able to see you again very soon. Thanks for the laughs!!!

Crystal Love

“The Owl and the Turtle”

Get your copy of Lou Peters’ book, “The Owl and the Turtle” here, from Lulu.com.

Rags to Riches in the News!

Rags to Riches in the News It is always an honor when our Rags to Riches performances are featured in local news publications.

Take a look:

Act naturally: Drama Camp Encourages Kids to Grow, in The Times News, Burlington NC – July 29, 2015
Rags to Riches brings Dragon, Common Core to Life in The Daily Dispatch, Henderson, NC
“Gunn Memorial Library kicks off summer reading series” in the Caswell Messenger, June 25, 2014
“Rags to Riches” in The Wake Forest Weekly, Rolesville – Wake Crossroads Weekly, The Franklin Weekly -October 4, 2012
“The Tortoise and the hilarious” in The Wake Forest Weekly, Rolesville – Wake Crossroads Weekly, The Franklin Weekly – September 29, 2011