About Read Play Love
Our mission is to provide educational experiences to empower children and create an inclusive culture of love. Welcome to our little village!
Founded in Summer 2014 by Marney, Tony and Kai Makridakis, Read Play Love is a community of families build on creativity, collaboration, and compassion.
Since its inception, RPL has existed to share the arts with children of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities. We offer enrichment opportunities in all the arts, including our unique approach to musical theatre classes and productions. One of RPL's highlights is our series of "new musicals for a new generation" and in RPL productions, the focus is always on the creative self-discovery of each child by creating empowering experiences. We encourage the development of inclusive collaboration as all children work together to launch one-of-a-kind world premiere productions. Every child is given the opportunity to shine and expand their growing edges of confidence and expression.
In addition to theatre, we also offer all kinds of classes and activities for homeschoolers, after-schoolers, and pre-schoolers. In 2019, we acquired the property for the RPL Arts & Nature Exploratory, and now many of our newest programs are related to adventures in the out-of-doors.
We refer to our unique mix of the arts & nature as free-range creativity.
We continue to evolve creatively and organically, growing our little village in a culture of love.
Since its inception, RPL has existed to share the arts with children of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities. We offer enrichment opportunities in all the arts, including our unique approach to musical theatre classes and productions. One of RPL's highlights is our series of "new musicals for a new generation" and in RPL productions, the focus is always on the creative self-discovery of each child by creating empowering experiences. We encourage the development of inclusive collaboration as all children work together to launch one-of-a-kind world premiere productions. Every child is given the opportunity to shine and expand their growing edges of confidence and expression.
In addition to theatre, we also offer all kinds of classes and activities for homeschoolers, after-schoolers, and pre-schoolers. In 2019, we acquired the property for the RPL Arts & Nature Exploratory, and now many of our newest programs are related to adventures in the out-of-doors.
We refer to our unique mix of the arts & nature as free-range creativity.
We continue to evolve creatively and organically, growing our little village in a culture of love.
About Our Director
Marney Makridakis graduated from Duke University with a BA in Drama, and went on to direct innovative arts education programs in New York City, including for The American Place Theatre and Westchester Philharmonic. In 2000, she launched Artella Land, a ground-breaking online creativity network that was one of the very first virtual social communities, and a true pioneer in the design and utility of digital products.
She and her husband Tony have written all of of Read Play Love's series of "new musicals for a new generation," which she has also directed in alignment with Read Play Love's mission: to empower children through the arts and create an inclusive culture of love.
She and her husband Tony have written all of of Read Play Love's series of "new musicals for a new generation," which she has also directed in alignment with Read Play Love's mission: to empower children through the arts and create an inclusive culture of love.
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One of their original RPL Musicals, The Whimsical World of Sherlock Holmes, was later revised for an adult cast and then selected for the highly competitive Broadway Bound Theatre Festival. It performed a successful run in Times Square in 2021, where it received rave reviews and 5 Broadway World Nominations, including Best New Off-Broadway Musical.
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A leader in the creativity movement, Marney founded the ARTbundance™ philosophy of self-discovery through art, and has trained over 400 individuals to be ARTbundance Coaches and Practitioners, using her methods to support the personal growth of others. She is also the author of two bestselling non-fiction books about creativity, published by New World Library: Creating Time: Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life, and Hop Skip Jump: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life.
Our Location
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For our first 3 years, we operated out of a building in Richardson, complete with a theatre that we built from the ground up! In 2018, area crime forced us to leave our building and enter into a time of transition.
We have been so grateful to the community partners who hosted us throughout our transition period, allowing us to continue our activities and serve families in different North Texas locations: including Dallas Children's Theater, Living Ethics School, Owenwood Farm & Neighborspace, Plano Boys & Girls Club, First Baptist Church Richardson, CC Young Senior Center, the Dallas Elks Lodge, and Dancer Strong Studio in McKinney. While we continue to offer activities throughout the metroplex, we have settled in a new location for our homeschool activities: RPL's Arts & Nature Exploratory in Lowry Crossing (East McKinney). Read more about the Exploratory, here! |
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Continuing a Legacy
Photo: Alix Jules
The Read Play Love Children's Library is core to our activities. RPL Founder Marney Makridakis' mother, Arthiss Kliever, operated a children's library out of her Lake Highlands home for 12 years. When she retired, Marney vowed to do something special with the collection of books, so that they would continue to inspire children, which they have done through the RPL Library.
The Library is now once again serving young children at the RPL'S Arts & Nature Exploratory!
The Library is now once again serving young children at the RPL'S Arts & Nature Exploratory!
What Families Say
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"It feels just like yesterday when after seeing your open house performance, my daughter turned to me and said, "I want to be a part of this!" Thanks to you and Tony for casting her in her first play... and helping her dream for the stars! We love you!" ~Zar Atiqzoy
"In our first semester at RPL, we have been touched by the warm embrace of community. Whether it’s Marney’s encouragement and affirmations of our budding actors, Tony’s genuine concern for RPL families, or other moms helping us out with costume design and baby wrangling, we are heartened by the authentic spirit of community that permeates this place." - Jen Babisak "RPL, for our family, has been a place of unconditional acceptance and appreciation. RPL gave us what I had always imagined & dreamed for our children. We are so grateful for Marney, Tony and Kai for giving us the gift of RPL and all of the other RPL families for putting the beautiful, colorful bow on that gift every day we are together." - The Fiorentino Family |
Ms. Marney with one of RPL's rising stars!
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"I cannot say enough how much I love the people at RPL. The kids are so talented, and also sweet and supportive of each other. And I guess the same goes for the adults! Ms. Marney is just beautiful with the kids, just totally giving them a space to shine in the musical theater productions at RPL. And every class my kids have attended (science, art, etc.) have been wonderful and they've been entirely absorbed into whatever is being presented and worked on. Love this place." - Lorna Goldsmith
"RPL has been a great place for our entire family to have a creative outlet. We love that our entire family gets to be involved and all of us have enjoyed getting to know the other amazing families at RPL." - Desi Brown |
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"The musical theater experience that our daughter has gained from being part of RPL productions is immensely enriching. So grateful for RPL to have provided this opportunity and I know that she will cherish the memories made here for years to come." - Lakshmi Devajaran
"Read, Play, Love is a place where children are treated as the precious people they are! From the super fun, child centered activities to the brilliantly clever stage productions that make each kid feel like a star, RPL is THE place!" - Dina Ridenour "Our family has been welcomed to Read, Play, Love with open arms (literally). Our kids have made friends, grown in confidence, and felt validated as they were included in the creative process. Marney created such a safe and encouraging environment that my kids took risks they have never taken before." - Jenny Barham "What makes RPL different from all the wonderful children's theater experiences we've garnered around the metroplex is the LOVE! They genuinely nurture and mentor each child through the musical theatre production process." - Renae Lesley "We knew from the moment we walked into RPL that it was a perfect fit for our family...a place for our kids' creativity to bloom in a positive, loving environment." - Abby Espinoza |
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