Inspired by Shakespeare and Company's tenets of Commitment, Generosity, Specificity, and Connection, Riotous Youth was founded in 2002 by Steven Hoochuk and Becky Kemper as part of the Maryland Shakespeare Festival in conjunction with their professional adult acting company. When the Maryland Shakespeare Festival closed its doors in 2015, Riotous Youth continued independently and became an LLC under Director Bess Kaye, in 2016.
Riotous Youth continued to hold semesters in various churches and spaces around downtown Frederick for the next four years, including a semester as part of the short-lived education programming of New Spire Arts, before the COVID-19 pandemic caused it to enter an indefinite hiatus in 2020.
Riotous Youth is now thrilled to return under the auspices of The Endangered Species theatre Project and excited to move forward with confidence that Riotous Youth's best days are not behind it.
Our Mission
Riotous Youth provides a safe and nurturing environment to use Shakespeare's words as a vehicle for self-discovery.
To Train
Through rehearsal and performance we will teach the importance of the written word, and being honest with yourself, your partners, and your audience.
To Discover
Through rehearsal techniques of "Yes, and" and "No, but" we strive to let children find out more about themselves and how to be generous and present with others.
The Riotous Youth of Maryland is a children's theater company based on the belief that the best learning is achieved through play! We get together on Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM to play with the words and emotions presented to us by the greatest playwright of the English language!
Riotous Youth provides a safe place for children to build an understanding of classical performance and ensemble building. Beyond standard staging practices, Riotous Youth also believes theatre provides an excellent environment for self-expression, building self-confidence, learning to work as a team, supporting others, and learning to take risks. Every young actor who comes to Riotous Youth is encouraged to be true to themselves.
Meet the Instructors
These are the teaching artists for Riotous Youth's upcoming
Spring Semester 2026.
