Seventeen-year-old Juliana Centracchio of Seekonk, a student at Seekonk High School, has created a new Summer Theatre Program — and this year’s production is NEWSIES JR. You may remember Juliana from this Seekonk Reporter story!
Juliana, a young playwright, community activist, and standout performer in the local theatre program, launched this initiative to expand access to affordable performing arts opportunities for children in the Seekonk area. Her leadership is bringing together young performers for a meaningful, confidence-building summer experience.
☀️ Summer Theatre Program – NEWSIES JR.
Program Dates: June 22 – August 2
Location: Seekonk High School Theater
Auditions: June 22
Rehearsals: June 23 – July 31
Performances: August 1 & 2
Activities: Acting, Stage production, lighting, directing, costuming & makeup, and so much more!
Ages: 9–14 (capped at 50 children)
Program Cost: $125/child
Show Tickets: $15 general admission
Registration: https://forms.gle/wZk9XSDsJmYaxmRf7
An interview with Juliana:
Information below based upon an interview with Juliana Centracchio, a 17 year old junior at Seekonk High School and Founding Member & Director of the Summer Theatre Program.
How did you come up with the idea for the summer theater program?
Juliana was inspired to establish the Summer Theatre Program from her own experiences in theater, along with the success of other programs, such as the summer program at Case High School (her youngest sibling participated last year!).
Juliana recognized how meaningful it was to have opportunities to explore art through theater. While some students get to experience that in school through school plays, some kids don’t have that chance and many want to do even more theater and exploring beyond the school walls. Juliana collaborated with friends and classmates Alexandra Shields, Vincent Lastrina, and Willow Wilcox to create the Summer Theatre Program. All four are juniors at Seekonk High School, active in the theater program at the school, and will together lead the Summer Theatre Program.
The Summer Theatre Program lets others discover the magic of the stage.
What is the main goal or vision behind the program?
The program is designed to give students ages 9-14 all around MA and RI a higher-level theater experience than they might receive during the regular school year or had even maybe thought about doing before. The goal is to provide comprehensive training in acting, singing, and dancing while also exposing students to the broader creative process behind a production. Juliana wants participants to leave with stronger performance skills, greater confidence, and a deeper understanding of how theater works as a whole.
Can you tell me more about your background in theater, including your experience with playwriting and directing?
Juliana has been involved in theater since she was very young, performing in productions from the time she was a little kid. What began as an early love of being on stage developed into a deep commitment throughout high school, where she not only performed but also stepped into leadership roles within the theater community.
In October 2025, she made her playwriting and directing debut with South of 14th Street, marking an important milestone in her creative journey. Juliana serves as the Student Director for the Seekonk High Theater Program and, when not directing, enjoys acting in the productions.
Beyond the stage, Juliana has also strengthened her storytelling skills through academic programs. She has attended summer programs at Brown University, Smith College, Columbia University, and others for creative writing, experiences that have further developed her voice as a writer and deepened her understanding of character, structure, and narrative.
Some recent roles Juliana has stepped into include acting as Greta Olhsson in Murder in the Orient Express, Fletcher in Freaky Friday, Annie in Annie Jr., and Kurt in The Sound of Music (showing this March 6 and 8!).
Juliana’s years of performance experience, formal training in writing, and hands-on directing work have prepared her to collaboratively create and lead this summer’s production in tandem with her three classmates. Together with her classmates leading, the Summer Theatre Program will show other kids the power of both artistic vision and mentorship.
What will participants gain?
The summer program is designed to go beyond a typical school theater experience. Students will receive intensive, higher-level instruction in acting, singing, and dancing, with focused skill development alongside preparing for a performance. In addition to rehearsing the show, participants will learn about the collaborative and creative process behind mounting a full production. There’s so much that goes into creating a show beyond just what people see with the acting and the Summer Theatre Program participants will get to have a hand in it all!
The Summer Theatre Program is fully student-run and student-led. Our leadership team - Juliana, Vinny, Willow, and Alex - will be serving as leading the full production from opening casting to closing clean out. Plus, we’ll be serving as mentors and support throughout the full program to answer questions, guide and support, and make the show a success! In addition, members of the Seekonk High School Theater Company will manage the technical and production elements, overseeing backstage responsibilities and technical execution.
The Program participants, ages 9-14, will serve as the cast of Newsies Jr! From being the actors on the stage to set development, makeup, choreography, character development, and more, we’ll engage in creative practices that dig into all the details of play production. This will give each of us a broader understanding of how all aspects of theater come together to create a successful production.
Finally, the Summer Program offers students and families flexibility and engagement because not every kid will be needed at every single session. A schedule will be customized to the needs of each child, based upon the requirements of the stage and personal availability.
Why Newsies Jr.?
Newsies Jr. was chosen as the featured musical because it offers strong opportunities across multiple performance disciplines. Plus, it’s an incredible show! The show includes dynamic acting roles, high-energy choreography, and powerful vocal numbers, making it an ideal production for students with a wide range of strengths and interests.
The program will focus on all three core areas of musical theater (acting, singing, and dancing) providing well-rounded performance training while helping students develop and refine their individual talents. To ensure a high-quality experience and meaningful attention for each participant, enrollment is capped at 50 students.
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