WATCH: Family Theater Founders Sing Miss You Song To Community

PATCHOGUE, NY — Think BIG! Theater Arts in Patchogue is a storefront theater center with a self-professed mission to inspire children to think creatively. Their goal is "using the arts to inspire children and families to think creatively and use their imaginations to learn and explore their world." With the coronavirus pandemic the center has had to suspend its in-person family programming.

Founders Heather Van Velsor and Shawn Thorgersen penned a song called "And Then We'll See You Again" and created a YouTube video with images from the theater and the community of families they serve.

Van Velsor told Patch that they are incorporating online rehearsals and free Facebook Live events for the youngest kids. They are also holding a puppet making workshop so children can recreate some of their favorite puppets from the theater.

Van Velsor said they didn't want to overwhelm families with even more online mandatory coursework during remote learning.

"We are switching to Facebook Live so the families can view at a time that works for them and their needs. Our mission has always been to support all artists with all levels of abilities to create in a way that is meaningful to them."

"We have had some families reach out to us to let us know that their kids have taken to recreating episodes of our popular 'Travelin’ Trunk Show' in their own room. It warms my heart to hear of kids pretending to be Miss Heather or Mr. Shawn while they play in their pajamas in their rooms and travel around the world exploring stories."