One day, an attentive English teacher encouraged a shy high school sophomore in her class to try out for the school play, igniting a lifelong passion for theater in the student. Now, Laura Attanasio helps other young people find their love of performing as the founder of non-profit Shoreline Theater Academy Kidz Konnection.

The lack of theater options for interested kids in the area inspired Laura, who has an extensive background in theater work, to start Kidz Konnection in 2006. While it started as a small company with a handful of kids, the program has turned into a widely acclaimed theater arts academy that now sees about 700 students annually through various initiatives.

“It all sprung out of an idea from a bunch of passionate little kids,” Laura says.

Located in Laura’s hometown of Clinton, Kidz Konnection has served thousands of youth across Connecticut's shoreline, including Guilford and ranging from West Haven to New London with points north as far away as Waterbury to the northwest and Norwich to the northeast.

Members of the public can support this non-profit’s mission and take in a new show at the upcoming Mother's Day Tea & Recital. On its Facebook page (@The Shoreline Theater Academy, Kidz Konnection Inc), attendees are encouraged to play dress up with their kids and come to a high-fashion tea party, as “...a perfect ‘Mommy and Me’ activity ...indulge in elegance, sip tea like a royal, and pamper yourselves.” Attendees will be serenaded by harpist Megan Sesma, together with soprano Allison Landstedt singing Broadway hits, some opera, and the premiere of ‘A Mother's Love’ for harp and soprano by composer John Tafone. The event will also include special readings by the academy’s advanced-level actors.

The Mother's Day Tea & Recital is set for Saturday, May 11 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at 61 East Main Street in Clinton and has limited seating. The fees to attend are $60 for full-table tea service for two or $35 per person or $15 for recital only/self-serve tea seats. Tickets are available now at kidzkonnectionct.org by calling 860-227-2363 or emailing kidzkonnectionct@gmail.com.

All event proceeds will benefit an initiative to send students of the company to the 2025 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. As described at The Fringe website, “...for three weeks in August, the city of Edinburgh welcomes an explosion of creative energy from around the globe. Artists and performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city, presenting shows for every taste. Venues can be anywhere, from existing theatres and concert halls to repurposed spaces like bars, parks, buses and shipping containers.”

The academy’s invitation to participate in the festival is the result of one of many programs offered by the organization.

“About a year and a half ago, I started an initiative for young emerging artists working in the written arts,” Laura says. “Off of that program, a group of about 12 students have regularly met to devise a play that touches on themes of teen mental health and smart device addiction, which will be performed at the festival in Scotland next year.”

The Mother’s Day brunch recital and other fundraisers throughout the year are geared to ensure that all the kids invited to the festival can attend.

“All the proceeds of the recital go to getting our kids to the Fringe Festival. It’s a really powerful opportunity, and most of our kids do not get the chance to go to travel to Europe, so I want to make sure everyone can go,” Laura explains.

Laura has always been keen on giving back to others through theater. Even as a student at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Laura was more interested in the community aspects of theater than the acting.

“I’m all about community. It just warms my heart to see the kids in the program flourish. Nobody is ever turned away,” Laura says.

Reflecting on the growth of the company since its inception, Laura adds that, “It just gives me great joy to see how far we’ve come.”

Laura credits her interest in theater to her high school English teacher.

“I was very shy as a young child. When I was a sophomore in high school, my English teacher approached me and said, ‘I think you’ll be great in the school play. You should audition,’” Laura remembers.

Still skeptical, Laura auditioned and, sure enough, she landed the lead role in the play.

“I became more confident. The opportunity theater gave me transformed me. I knew I wanted to give back to the community and help kids, like my teacher did with me, and just give someone that little nudge to help find what they love.”

Upon leaving school, Laura was involved in non-profit theater work in Minnesota, New York, and Connecticut, prior to forming Kidz Konnection.

When asked about her favorite part of being involved in Kidz Konnection, Laura points to seeing the kids grow.

“I would say just watching the kids discover it’s a second home for them and seeing them grow up, and yet, they still come back year after year. We have some kids that start as kindergartners, and they’re still here in their 20s,” Laura proudly notes. “It makes me feel like I’ve done what I set out to do.”