Depot Theatre Academy and 4-H Bring Youth Workshops and Career Programming to New County Facility
April workshops launch the first public event in Essex County’s new Youth and Agriculture Building, with expanded career-focused programming to follow.
The Depot Theatre Academy and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County (CCE) will continue their county-wide 4-H youth partnership this spring with a new series of workshops in Essex County schools and community spaces.
The program will host an afterschool session on Friday, April 17 at the Mountain View Campus through OASIS, with a companion regional workshop scheduled for Saturday morning, April 18 at the newly constructed Essex County Youth and Agriculture Building at the Fairgrounds in Westport.
The April 18 workshop will mark the first public program held in the new facility, located at 6 Fairground Way, representing a significant moment for youth programming in the county.
In addition to the April workshops, the partnership will continue this spring and summer with a series of career-oriented theatre workshops open to 4-H and area youth, exploring careers in set building and carpentry, lighting and design, sound and acoustics, casting direction, and production management.
A Depot Dialogue post-show Q&A event will also be held in conjunction with Hadestown: Teen Edition on Friday, June 12, offering 4-H and area youth the opportunity to engage directly with artists and production staff in conversation about theatre-making and creative careers.
The partnership between the Depot Theatre Academy and 4-H is designed to support youth development through theatre-based communication, mentorship, and experiential learning aligned with the 4-H Thrive Model.
“Programs like this are about creating space for young people to find their voice,” said Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County. “Through the 4-H Thrive framework, we focus on positive youth development, helping young people build confidence, connection, and competence. This partnership expands those opportunities in a creative and engaging way.”
The April sessions will be led by theatre artists Tyler Nye and Mason Barber, local professionals who are both part of the Depot Theatre community and whose work spans performance, directing, and youth arts programming.
“This is exactly the kind of work we hope to see happening through the Academy,” said Scott Gibree, President of the Depot Theatre Board of Trustees. “Creating opportunities for young people to build confidence and communication skills, whether at the theatre, in schools, or in new community spaces, is central to how we think about our role in the region.”
Together, these initiatives represent a multi-layered approach to youth development, combining communication skills, mentorship, and creative exploration within a supportive community setting.
For more information or to register for upcoming workshops, email essex4h@cornell.edu or visit https://bit.ly/CCE_DT.
About The Depot Theatre / Depot Theatre Academy
The Depot Theatre, located in Westport, New York, is a professional producing theatre dedicated to artistic excellence, youth education, and community engagement. The Depot Theatre Academy provides training, mentorship, and performance opportunities for young artists throughout the region.
About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County provides research-based programming in youth development, agriculture, and community well-being. Through 4-H, CCE supports experiential learning, skill exploration, and leadership pathways for young people across the county.
See this article in the Sun Community News.
