Rutland Youth Theatre strives to create positive, affordable, and inclusive educational opportunities for our community's aspiring young artists to develop their craft in the performing arts. RYT's current fearless leader and Operations Manager has been with the program for over a decade! She has worn many hats and filled many shoes everywhere from a Volunteer parent to our #1 Stage Manager. Barb Lassen is multi-talented, adaptable, creative, caring, driven, and simply put - one of the best humans you may ever meet! Prior to Barb Lassen’s turn at the helm of the program, RYT was led by Operations Manager Saskia Hagen Groom from 2008-2019. Saskia is an accomplished actress, performer, producer, director, writer, poet, and dancer. Saskia was trained at SUNY Purchase - Theatre Arts and Film - and in recent years at Thor East Studios and Castleton State College in Vermont. She’s an avid storyteller and has been performing her poetry/short stories/ skits/dance at various venues, including First Night. Saskia has appeared in many performances and plays in the USA as well as her native country, The Netherlands. Saskia loves to produce plays and to direct children of all ages. Though Saskia is no longer physically with RYT, her passion and enthusiasm for theatre continues to encourage those she taught for a decade. RYT got it's initial roots back in 2002 with Susan Baker who planted the seeds of theatre with the Rec and nurtured the program until it took off. Can you believe this was almost 20 years ago? If you are a former member of RYT and/or alum, please feel free to share your memories or important facets of history with us so we can continue to share your story proudly.
