About Us

THEATRE WITHIN is a grassroots non-profit committed to providing free workshops and programs in creative expression and mindfulness to communities in need. The organization is also committed to celebrating John Lennon’s life, music and message of peace, love, brotherhood and sisterhood with its Annual John Lennon Tribute. Currently, Theatre Within provides workshops in songwriting, art, puppetry and meditation at Gilda’s Club NYC for children and adults impacted by cancer.

THE JOHN LENNON REAL LOVE PROJECT is a songwriting workshop, inspired by John Lennon’s music and message, that empowers participants to compose and record their own songs. With the warm support of Yoko Ono, the workshop launched in 2014 at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. The following year, the workshop moved to Gilda’s Club NYC, where it soon expanded to serve both children and adults. In 2020, in celebration of the 80 th year of John Lennon’s birth, this visionary program is being offered to public elementary schools in the New York tri-state area. The curriculum for the John Lennon Real Love Project was created by Beth and Scott Bierko,
with Joe Raiola.

BETH AND SCOTT BIERKO are Teaching Artists with over 25 years of experience working in public and private schools. Together and with children, Beth and Scott have composed nearly 500 songs, all of which enhance academic and social emotional learning goals for elementary students. Beth Bierko is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacherand Yoga Dance Instructor with additional training in acting and voice. Scott Bierko is a former music teacher, a guitarist and recording engineer with training in voice. Beth and Scott are trained Mindfulness Instructors and the parents of two grown daughters.

JOE RAIOLA is the Executive/Artistic Director of Theatre Within, which he established as a non-profit in 2006. He is the creator of the organization’s Annual John Lennon Tribute and John Lennon Real Love Project. He has led countless workshops in deep creative process and currently oversees all Theatre Within programs. For 33 years, Joe was a frequent contributor and editorial staff member at MAD Magazine, retiring at the end of 2017 as Senior Editor. He continues to perform around the country in his acclaimed solo show, The Joy of Censorship.

Special Thanks

Yoko Ono

Jonas Herbsman

Bob Gruen

Thomas Monaster

Helene Cohen

Jill Walker

Lisa M. Scicchitano