06/02/2026
River Oaks Expands the Stage for Summer Arts Studio
Summer at River Oaks Square Arts Center is always filled with creativity, imagination, and the kind of artistic energy that keeps families coming back year after year. In 2026, Summer Arts Studio continues that tradition while also taking an exciting step forward with the launch of a new performing arts opportunity: Theatre Immersive Program - Session 3B. At the same time, River Oaks is still celebrating the success of another unforgettable Men Who Cook & Men Who Mix, which brought the community together once again for a night of great food, fun, and support for the arts.
Summer Arts Studio 2026 carries the theme “American Dreaming,” a celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday through art. Campers will explore major movements in American art history while creating work in painting, ceramics, mixed media, cooking, acting, and more. Each session is built around hands-on learning and creative exploration, and once again the program is expected to fill quickly. Registration for Summer Arts Studio is open, and families can find details and sign up through https://www.hisawyer.com/river-oaks-square-arts-center/.
One of the most exciting additions this year is the 2026 Theatre Immersive Program: Session 3B, which runs July 6 through July 25 for students ages 8-13. Designed as a three-week deep dive into theatrical arts, the program gives campers a chance to explore performance both onstage and behind the scenes. Students can focus on acting, improvisation, and performance technique, or they can discover the equally important art of stagecraft through theatre tech, scenic design, and stage management. The session culminates in a full-scale performance of DreamWorks Theatrical’s How to Train Your Dragon JR. at the Coughlin Saunders Performing Arts Center on July 24 and 25.
For River Oaks, this program is the natural evolution of something that began years ago. Around 2014, acting classes were introduced into Summer Arts Studio as a practical companion to ceramics on days when clay was drying or between kiln firings. What started as a way to fill those pauses soon became a favorite class in its own right. Campers responded enthusiastically to the opportunity to create in a different medium, whether through short films, skits, or original plays. Those experiences showed River Oaks that theatre belonged in the heart of SAS.
Camp Director Aubrey Bolen has been one of the driving forces behind this expansion. “We created Session 3B because we saw how much campers loved the acting and improv component, and we knew there was room to grow it into something truly special,” he explains. “This program gives young people a chance to work with professionals, build confidence, and experience theatre in a way that goes beyond simply performing. It’s about collaboration, problem-solving, storytelling, and discovering how many creative paths there are within the performing arts.”
The philosophy behind the Theatre Immersive Program is especially unique. It blends the imaginative, metaphor-rich storytelling style of playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer with the student-centered, hands-on educational philosophy of Montessori. Rather than simply following directions from the front of the room, campers are invited to become active architects of their theatrical world. They are presented with the tools of stagecraft - scripts, props, materials, sound, and lighting - and challenged to use them creatively and collaboratively. The goal is not just to put on a show, but to help students learn how stories are built, how worlds are created, and how working together makes theatre possible.
This year’s theatre faculty reflects that same level of ambition and care. Returning acting instructor Kody Walker will serve as Artistic Director for the production. Alex Scoloveno, an actor, writer, and filmmaker with credits stretching from New York to Poland, will join as Guest Director. Patrick Hunter, chair of the arts at LSU Alexandria and a longtime theatre educator and professional actor, will serve as Production Manager. Together, along with local high school theatre mentors and camp staff, they form a remarkable creative team that gives students the rare chance to learn from working professionals while still enjoying the joyful, camp-centered spirit of SAS.
Of course, Summer Arts Studio remains much more than just one session. The full roster of instructors for 2026 reflects the depth and range of the program: Fernando Rivera, Dusty Reed, Michael Williams, Carrie Bruyninckx, Amy S. Thomas, Emilee R. Pringle, Naomi G. Fuselier, Lindsay B. Moore, Leslie Carmouche, Alex Scoloveno, Kody Walker, Patrick Hunter, Jenevieve Bolen, Amber Voorhies, and Megan Hale. River Oaks also extends special appreciation to Events Coordinator Amy S. Thomas and Camp Director Aubrey Bolen, whose leadership and vision help make the entire summer possible.
“Summer Arts Studio has always been one of the most important things we do at River Oaks,” says Rachael Dauzat, Executive Director. “It gives young people a place to discover their talents, to build confidence, and to experience the arts as something alive and deeply meaningful. We’re especially excited about this year’s Theatre Immersive Program because it reflects the same spirit of growth and innovation that has made SAS so beloved for so many years.”
River Oaks is also grateful for the generous support that helps keep Summer Arts Studio thriving. Sponsors for Summer Arts Studio 2026 include Explore Alexandria Pineville CVB, LA Project Grant as administered through the Arts Council of Central Louisiana, The Hotel Bentley, RoyOMartin, Cleco, Dun-Cour LLC, Jackson Orthodontics, Alexandria Pediatric Dentistry, the River Oaks Board of Directors, Martha & Will Crenshaw, Beverly & Gray Easterling, Tammi & Bryon Salazar, Leetha & Lance Harris, Noelle & Michael Crowell, and Michelle & Chris Karam.
River Oaks recently wrapped up Men Who Cook & Men Who Mix on May 2, another memorable evening under the oaks filled with great food, spirited competition, and community support for the arts. This year’s Louisiana Saturday Night theme brought plenty of personality to the event, and the participating teams once again showed just how much fun can be had while raising money for a great cause. It remains one of the Arts Center’s most beloved annual fundraisers and a favorite tradition for many in Central Louisiana.
Congratulations once again to this year’s winning teams. Kings of Sporkles took top honors as the 2026 MWCAM Champion Team with their Cajun Rub Pork Belly with Cane Syrup Glaze and Purée White Sweet Potatoes, prepared by Matt Laborde, Scott Netherland, Taylor Courville, and Heath Grimes. Red River Bank earned Second Place with Jambalaya, prepared by Dennis Wimmert and Daniel McGuffee, while Da Bayou Brigade captured Third Place with Red Beans & Rice, served by Taylor Moore, Caleb Stark, and Marcus Walker. The Secret Judges Choice Awardwent to The Bayou Bad Boys (Christus Cabrini) for their Seafood Arancini - Deep Fried Crawfish & Crab Risotto Ball, prepared by Jonathon Drago, Michael Johnson, and Miguel Guynn. Kings of Sporkles also took home the award for Best Dressed Team, making it an especially memorable night for their crew. River Oaks extends heartfelt thanks to every team, participant, sponsor, and guest who made the evening such a success.
As River Oaks celebrates another successful Men Who Cook and looks ahead to a full summer of creativity, the next major exhibitions are just around the corner. Opening June 4, the Arts Center will present the Resident Artists Annual Summer Show in the Bolton-Davis Gallery, “Wild Inspiration: Fur, Feather & Form” by Simonne Soileau in the Galerie des Amis, and “Happy Trails” featuring the work of Dr. Bill Bryant in the Stokes-Harris Gallery. Together, these exhibitions will bring a fresh and inspiring mix of resident talent, wildlife painting, and artistic legacy to River Oaks as the summer season begins.
For more information about Summer Arts Studio, the Theatre Immersive Program: Session 3B, or other upcoming events at River Oaks, call (318) 473-2670, visit RiverOaksArtsCenter.com, or register through https://www.hisawyer.com/river-oaks-square-arts-center/.
Summer Arts Studio River Oaks Square Arts Center
