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 4 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 and owner after Candice and Conway Rowe (who first opened Act Out Theatre) decided to pursue other opportunities. Dan ran Act Out Theatre Group LLC at its 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 close its final production at the Taylor location and 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.
Since that first production, 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 was mostly recently recognized by AccessNEPA.com and the community for the second year 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.
also has started a competitive Diversity Scholarship to help make theatre more accessible to everyone. Applications are currently being accepted. If you would like to contribute to the fund, please reach out directly to the theatre for details. Please note that no donation is too small. Currently, a complete tuition is $300 and includes tickets to the show, as well as other show incidentals.
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 was most recently on stage as Larry in Boys in the Band at Act Out Theatre Group. 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.
At Act Out, Dan is directing It's A Wonderful Life (Radio Play). 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.
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. She most recently performed in Act Out Theatre's All in This Together gala.
When she is not part of the production staff, Kalen enjoys performing and most recently 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. She most recently directed Steel Magnolias (Drag Edition) and Seussical Jr. and is preparing for a new winter musical workshop at Act Out Theatre Group, as well as assistant directing Wine, Cheese and Murder (also at Act Out) and directing Not so Grimm Tales.
Kalen received her PhD in mass communications from Penn State University. She is a professor at Wilkes University and teaches courses in public speaking, multimedia journalism, public relations, media law and cultural studies.
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 has most recently been cast 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 first-year education major at the University of Scranton and will be the assistant director for Not So Grimm Tales this winter.
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COVID-19
To do our best at prohibiting the spread of Covid-19, the theatre is implementing the following at live productions:
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Tickets can only be purchased online via ticketleap.
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Audience numbers are limited so we maintain less than 100 people in the vicinity.
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Hand sanitizer will be available for use and purchase at productions.
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Audience and Cast members are asked to leave immediately following the production; the venue is not available for photos after the performance.
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Anyone experiencing symptoms or within a household with a person experiencing symptoms is not allowed at performances.
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Masks are required for all indoor events and are strongly encouraged for outdoor events as well. Cast members will be wearing masks and having their temperature checked before the production.
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Programs will be digital and available via QR Code.
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No gifts will be allowed within the venue and must be kept in cars for after the performances.
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To prevent mass exodus at the end of the performance, audience members will be dismissed by row.
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Audience members will be greeted 5 minutes before top of show with a curtain speech including instructions on proper dismissal.
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Indoor locations are sanitized before/after each performance.
For more information or with concerns, please email actouttheatre1@gmail.com.