ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
Scituate Youth Drama, Inc. is a not for profit, 501c3 organization that offers education in the performing arts and enriches the local communities by producing multiple youth based productions a year. We believe that when young artists are given ample opportunity to participate in the performing arts, they not only develop into the next generation of performing artists, but they also develop into well rounded members of our community who are trained to work together as a team, think critically, present themselves with poise, and maintain a profound appreciation for the arts.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Scituate Youth Drama staff is made up of our alumni and highly experienced camp managers and workers who are dedicated to making sure all of our campers have the time of their lives. Read on to find out more.
JACLYN TIROCCHI
President, Production Manager, Executive Director
As former Vice President and Music Director of Scituate Youth Drama, Jaclyn assumed the role of President and Executive Director in 2019. Jaclyn, formerly the Choral Director of both Scituate Middle & High School, currently works as Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning of North Kingstown High School. She is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at Johnson & Wales University. Alongside her teaching and directing careers, Jaclyn is a Mezzo-Soprano opera singer who spends her downtime singing in a 1970s soul band called Souls on Fire. Jaclyn received both her BA and MM in Voice Performance from Providence College and The Boston Conservatory, respectively. She has performed roles such as Charlotte in Werther, Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, Mercedes in Carmen, and Carmen in Carmen. Following her masters level graduation, she opened and operated a private studio, giving voice and piano lessons to young artists in Scituate, Brockton, Lincoln, Smithfield, and Boston, while also reaching global audiences via Skype. In addition to her passion for music and performing, she is a huge nature lover and enjoys rock climbing.
DENA LINDE
Vice President, Costume Designer
Dena has been a key member of Scituate Youth Drama since 2015 and has been involved with each of our shows, in various roles, ever since. Her most notable positions have been Co-Director for Lion King Jr. and Stage Manager/Costume Designer for Grease. She is a mom of four, with one kiddo in middle school and three in Clayville elementary school. Dena was the Clayville PTO president in 2017-2019. She has also been a soccer and softball coach in her free time. Fun fact: when in need of anything at all, we ask Dena and it is magically done!
BILLY PETTERSON
Music Director, Artistic Director
Billy is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, music director, and educator based in Providence, Rhode Island. He received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Rhode Island College. Billy is an active classical musician and sought-after baritone soloist and chorister in the RI classical music scene, having performed in an array of capacities with ensembles such as the Providence Singers, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, The Greenwood Concert Choir, and others. He also works as a private instructor, sound tech, audio engineer, music producer, and video editor. Additionally, Billy enjoys a thriving career in the Rhode Island and Massachusetts musical theatre circuits as a director, music director/conductor, pit drummer, vocal coach, and performer with various youth, community, and professional theatre companies. Outside the world of music, Billy works as a school teacher at North Kingstown High School, loves coffee, and enjoys studying philosophy and Eastern spirituality in his free time.
LAUREN ANNICELLI
Director, Dramaturge
Lauren is an elementary school teacher in South County and has worked with a multitude of community theater programs throughout her career. She has directed one act and full length productions with children and adults of all ages. Her passion is creating an integrative and inclusive theatrical experiences for individuals of all abilities. Lauren has directed productions in many schools throughout Rhode Island and directed an original adaptation of The Christmas Carol in 2019. As an actor, Lauren has worked with The Rhode Island Shakespeare Theatre, What Cheer Shakespeare, Barker Playhouse, and The Little Theater of Fall River.
DONNA RODRIGUEZ
Choreographer
Donna has been with SYD since its inaugural production in the fall of 2015. During the day she works as a teacher in the Providence School District but at night she returns to her passion for dance as a choreographer and dance instructor at Jean DeLuca Dance Studio. She began her training there at age thirteen, then rose through the ranks, first as a teacher’s assistant and eventually a teacher herself. Through her studies at Jeannette Neill, Leon Collins and various master classes, she has grown to have an expertise in Choreography, showcasing her talents with Kaleidoscope Theatre and Mount Hope High School. Donna choreographed SYD’s productions of Disney’s Peter Pan, Jr., Annie, Jr., The Wizard of Oz, Disney’s The Lion King, Jr., Grease and Legally Blonde: The Musical.
BIANCA MANCINI
Treasurer
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OUR FOUNDER
Erin Erickson
In Fall of 2013, Scituate resident and parent, Erin Erickson, brought forward the idea of producing a musical. With a little over three months of planning and rehearsing, Hope Elementary School presented its first musical, The Unbelievable But True Tale of Pinocchio, with a cast size of about thirty students between Grades 1 through 5. The show featured set, costumes, lighting, microphones and props. Following its success, Erin moved forward to produce Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. with an even larger cast, crew and set. Eager to spread the magic of theater, the program quickly grew to incorporate all three elementary schools in the district and officially became Scituate Youth Drama, Inc. To enhance the beautiful program she had created, Erin began to run workshops from theatre professionals, talent competitions and summer camps. In 2017, the program expanded, yet again, to include young artists up to the age of 19. It is through her selflessness and passion that Scituate Youth Drama continues to thrive as the amazing organization it is today. The entire Scituate Youth Drama team expresses our deepest appreciation and gratitude to Erin for bringing her vision to life and allowing us to build upon it each and every day!