A C T O U T T H E A T R E G R O U P LLC
is primarily a workshop-based youth/children's theatre focusing on theatre education and encouraging creativity, teamwork and self esteem.
A B O U T
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Act Out Theatre Group is an organization focusing on performance and education of the art of musical theatre. Our goal is to not only produce fine art but to facilitate an educational and fun social climate where students ages 3 to seniors in high school can be free to express themselves without judgment, to learn about music and theatre, and to share a common passion among peers.
In 2017, Dan Pittman took over as Act Out Theatre's artistic director. Dan ran Act Out Theatre Group LLC at its 408 North Main Street, Taylor location until 2018 when the building was unexpectedly put up for sale and sold. To keep the Act Out name alive and the arts program continuing, he found a new location at 150 E. Grove Street in Dunmore.
Nothing short of a massive Act Out Family effort allowed the theatre to move to Dunmore in a week. Nineteen days later, again thanks to the Act Out Family effort, Heathers: The Musical, School Edition opened on the Dunmore stage.
In 2022, Dan made the difficult decision to move the theatre again. In December 2022, A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol was the first production to appear at the theatre's NEW location at 802 South Main Street in Taylor. The Act Out Family could not be happier to be back home in Taylor!
The theatre has gone through a number of changes, but the family spirit has remained. Theatre offerings have evolved to include adult productions, educational theatre camps for children, family fun nights and more community involvement opportunities. The theatre is committed to creative a safe, inclusive environment where all children and teens are encouraged to explore the arts. Smaller workshop opportunities allow for more individualized attention and for participants to be more than just a face in the crowd. The theatre also offers a free summer workshop program for children through graduating high school senior.
Also in 2022, the Act Out Theatre Group Booster Club, a 501c3 entity, was created to help support the theatre's programming and workshop participants. The booster club also helps keep the programming and workshops as affordable as possible so that the arts are more accessible to everyone. The Booster Club also facilitates the theatre's Diversity Scholarship and can be reached at booster@actouttheatre.com
The theatre has been recognized by AccessNEPA.com and the community as "Best Theatre Troupe". It was also recognized for "Best New Virtual Event" and "Best Virtual Performance" for The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley: Online Edition.
Meet the family...
DAN PITTMAN is the owner and artistic director of Act Out Theatre Group LLC. He has a bachelor's degree in musical theatre from DeSales University, and is a NEPTA nominated choreographer and accomplished director, and performer. He has worked at a number of community theatres throughout Luzerne and Lackawanna counties and has also served as a substitute teacher in Luzerne, Franklin and New Cumberland counties.
Although Dan spends most of his time directing and choreographing, he appeared as Santa in Act Out Theatre Group's production of The Land of Forgotten Toys in 2022. In Summer 2019, he was an ensemble/dance ensemble member of Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre's production of Beauty and the Beast. He also ran the 2017 and 2019 children and teen summer workshops at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse in Swoyersville. His 2019 workshops at the Music Box were both nominated for NEPTA awards. In summer 2023, he, along with Kalen Churcher, costumed The Wizard of Oz for the Little Theater of Wilkes-Barre's summer youth program.
At Act Out, Dan is currently directing Mean Girls, High School Edition. He is a former recipient of the NEPA Business Journal's 20 Under 40 and was also a nominee for Cultural Ambassador of the Year in 2020 and 2022. He was named a 2023 by the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce.
KALEN CHURCHER has been active in community theatre since 2014 as an actor and production staff. She is the primary costumer for Act Out Theatre Group LLC. and can most often be found directing the theatre's youngest actors and actresses.
When she is not part of the production staff, Kalen enjoys performing, and is currently rehearsing for the mystery, Murder Can Be Habit Forming, at Act Out Theatre Group. She performed as Madam de la Grande Bouche (aka the operatic Wardrobe) in Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre's 2019 production of Beauty and the Beast. She also ran Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre's summer theatre workshop in 2017 and 2019, as well as its online workshop in 2020 and 2021. Both 2017 and 2019 workshops were nominated for NEPTAs. In summer 2023, she, along with Dan Pittman costumed The Wizard of Oz for the Little Theater of Wilkes-Barre's summer youth program.
Kalenis currently directing Finding Nemo Kids and music directing Mean Girls, High School Edition. She received her PhD in mass communications from Penn State University. Kalen is a professor at Wilkes University and teaches courses in public speaking, multimedia journalism, public relations, media law and cultural studies. She also coordinates Act Out Theatre Group's educational classes.
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN is a director's assistant and senior counselor for some of the children's shows at Act Out. She is an award winning vocalist whose theater credits include Little Red in Into The Woods, The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, and Genie in Aladdin with Lake-Lehman Theatre. She recently portrayed the role of Mimi in Act Out Theatre Group's production of RENT: School Edition. She most recently appeared as Brie in Act Out Theatre Group's production of Wine, Cheese and Murder.
Erin made her directorial debut with Act Out this summer with At Home at the Zoo (adult cast). She is the daughter of Tom Jr. and Shannon McLaughlin of Sweet Valley and an honors graduate of Lake Lehman High School, where she was ranked in the top 10 percent of her class.
Erin was also a competitive tap dancer with Back Mountain Dance Studio for 13 years before devoting her time to her love of theatre. She is currently a sophomore education major at the University of Scranton.
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