Parent to Parent: Kids Theater

A lot of stars got their start right here in the hub.

Stars like Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Maura Tierney and the Wahlbergs to name a few, all got their start on a small stage here in the Bay State before achieving success on the silver screen.

Now a local theater group is helping kids hone their skills and gain interest in the arts.

Maggie Moore Abdow, Underground Railway Theater/Education Director
"It's part of our mission that hopefully we are installing in them a sense of wonder."

The underground Railway Theater in Cambridge offers a variety of classes for kids.

Maggie Moore Abdow, Underground Railway Theater/Education Director
"It's a new program that offers performance art, playwrighting classes, acting classes and puppetry classes and it serves young people ages three to 18."

The program's director says it helps build life skills.

Maggie Moore Abdow, Underground Railway Theater/Education Director
"You can easily look at what artists do, what performers do, what playwrights do, and you can match the skills required of these artists with what is necessary for the 21st Century work place"

8-year-old Sophie says it's already helping her

Sophie Lipkin, Acting student
"I conquered stage fright, because when I was in school, I would get really, really nervous and it also helped me to um remember things."

Sophie's Mom Linda sees other positive changes-

Linda Lipkin, Sophie's mom
"So she's in charge of her schedule, you know if she has a call at 12:45 we have to be out of the house and be there , so she is on top of that."

And Linda loves what Sophie takes away from the classes-

Linda Lipkin, Sophie's mom
"I'm not a stage Mom, so I am not thinking, hey we'll be able to bank on her Hollywood career...it's more about what she takes away from this co-creation of something positive with other with other kids, with adults in a space that's connected to our community."

And the theater hopes other families will take advantage of those opportunities as well.

Maggie Moore Abdow, Underground Railway Theater/Education Director
"Our goals are to have flexible programming for families, but also affordable, especially now"

Byron Barnett, 7News