Mom and dad get into the act in 'Oliver!'

Though the musical centers on a band of rag-tag orphans, the Riverdale Children’s Theatre’s (RCT) production of “Oliver!” has proven to be a family affair.  

“It’s really fun. I’ve never been in a show with both my parents,” said P.S. 24 student Ava Wanko, 7, at the show’s dress rehearsal on Jan. 15. 

While Ava plays a schoolgirl and an orphan, her parents, professional freelance opera singers Theresa Santiago and Michael Wanko, of south Riverdale, have volunteered for roles themselves.

RCT is known for recruiting professional guest artists for more prominent roles in its productions. They act as mentors to the young actors and actresses in the rest of the cast. 

“We’re happy to be doing this,” Mr. Wanko said as he stood with his family during the dress rehearsal’s intermission. “We’re taking it as seriously as we take the opera.”

“Probably even more so,” Ms. Santiago added. 

The show, based on Charles Dickens’ 1838 novel, follows the young Oliver Twist from a workhouse where he lives with other orphans to the streets of London, where the Artful Dodger recruits him into a gang of young pickpockets. 

The miserly Fagin acts as leader of the street urchins. In RCT’s production, guest artist David Winter has taken on the role, joined by his daughter Hannah Winter, 11. 

Mr. Winter’s daughters convinced him to play the part. 

“They said, you’ve got to do it, you’ve got to do it,” he recounted. “And it’s fun — I love acting with the kids.”

With its focus on the youth of 19th-century England, “Oliver!” has allowed directors Becky and Derek Woods to feature the talents of around 60 young actors. 

“I’ve done over 100 plays, but I’ve never done a play with 60 people, let alone 60 kids,” said guest artist Guy Ventoliere, who plays the kindly Mr. Brownlow. The character is revealed as Oliver’s grandfather toward the end of the musical.