You Can Be A Hero - ACT Today We Are Almost There! We Are Counting On You!

We are over 60% there! The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and brighter. You can help us get there. Whether you've done one show or 20, you know the impact theater has on everyone involved, from the cast to the audience. If nothing else..how many of us have groaned on tech week that we would gladly pay to not have to move the set...now is your chance to make sure we don't ever have to move another set offsite again. $10. $25. $50. Every single dollar makes a difference. WOW! As the number of dollars raised gets higher and higher, and so much closer to our goal (we are at over 60% funded and 103 backers!) we can’t help but think about why we started this Kickstarter. We wanted to be able to create a home for the future generation of performers to be able to learn and find their voice. In order to do that we have to have ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant bathrooms, which the funds raised from Kickstarter will build. Help us continue to give these young performers a chance to shine! Help us continue to give these young performers a chance to shine! Having just wrapped up the ACT Kids and ACT Jr. Summer Education Programs, which performed Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids and Pippin, we have a renewed commitment to our dream of having theater space. The passion and determination these kids and teens have for their love of performing is astounding and humbling. They are the reason we are doing this. Help us keep giving these faces a stage and spotlight!!! ACT Theater Company in The Boston Globe ACT Theater 1632 Osgood Street Suite 102 North Andover, MA 01845 ACT THEATER COMPANY ONLINE

Everyone has the ability to change a life. Will you help?

Help us build a 200 seat theater and classroom space in North Andover, MA. Let's get kids off the screens, and into the spotlight! Everyone has the ability to change the life of a child. With “The Spotlight Initiative” ACT is trying to do just that … improve the lives of our local youth by offering programs that will build confidence and forge friendships. It’s a sad reality that in today’s world, the light we most often see illuminating our children’s faces is that of a computer, tablet, phone, or TV screen. ACT Theater Company wants to change this reality. We want to make our young people’s faces shine from a different light: the spotlight. To make this dream into a reality, we need your help. We need to raise $80,000, but need at least $22,000 to get us started. ACT Theater Company’s mission is to entertain, educate, and enrich the lives of our members, our audiences, and the community. We strive to perform professional-quality live theater that embraces diversity, fosters a passion for the performing arts, and touches the lives of the entire community. The ACT Theater will be a gathering place for young people and adults from all areas, to nurture their love of performing. In a time when arts education budgets are being slashed in our schools, ACT will keep theater alive for the next generation. We are not only building a theater, we are building a home for the arts. When children are engaged in the arts, it’s proven that they do better academically. But we don’t just want them to do better in school - ACT wants them to flourish in life and be the best they can be. The skills that are taught in workshops, classes and educational programs at ACT can be used in classroom presentations, college interviews, and in conversations with teachers and adults. When asked to describe ACT, our students came up with words and phrases like: confidence building, safe, family, commitment, accepting, fun, teamwork, passion, friendship, welcoming, and hard work. These are skills and lessons that students will carry with them for their entire lives … and it all begins by putting them in the spotlight. You might wonder if participating in theater can really do all this. It can. Being involved in theater is so much more than just getting up on stage and learning lines and music. It’s about being part of a team and making a commitment. It’s about taking part in something that is bigger than just one person and expecting excellence from all those involved. It’s about learning to work with different personalities and people of all types, and creating something that is not just about what is happening on stage, but what the people in the audience are seeing and feeling. In a world where our youth are often forced to grow up before their time, ACT seeks to surround them with a nurturing and fun environment that embraces their differences and helps them love themselves for who they are. By having a home base, ACT will be able to offer more programs for students and adults of all ages. We will be able to put our educational class plan and curriculum into action. Since we have never had a performance space of our own, we have been limited in the number of offerings we can provide each year. The Spotlight Initiative will change that. Our own theater will change everything and allow us to take our classes, workshops, and youth shows to the next level. Your pledge will touch every person that walks through the doors of The ACT Theater - not just the countless kids and teens, but the adults who mentor them, and the audiences that come to see their faces in the SPOTLIGHT. You can make this possible. You can change their lives. ACT Theater Company 1632 Osgood Street Suite 102 North Andover, MA www.acttheatercompany.com

Father's Day 2 for 1 sale! Last Chance to see The Sound of Music Jun 15 2 Tix $20

Last chance to see The Sound of Music today Sunday 2pm FATHER'S DAY 2 FOR 1 TICKETS SALE SPECIAL - Get two tickets for the price of one today at the box office with the attached coupon. The Sound of Music Final Show Sunday June 15th 2pm West Middle School Theater 70 Shawsheen Road Andover, MA 2 tickets today's matinee for $20 www.ACTTheaterCompany.com (978)276-9568

"Meet the Cast of Les Miserables" blog series #10: Jean Valjean!

Charles Dizon Gracy, our Jean Valjean

Charles was educated at Bard College in NY as a drama/dance major and received a B.S. in Theater Education at SSU. He studied voice with Arthur Burrows of The NY Met, dance/acting with Eileen Passloff in the Stanislavski Method, Kate Kohler Amory in the Grotowski Method of Acting, Peter Sampieri for Directing and Theatre History, dance with Jean Churchill of the Boston Ballet, and Albert Reed of the Merce Cunningham Company. Always continuing to hone his craft, Charles currently studies voice with Brett Johnson. Some of his favorite roles include Jerry (The Full Monty), the Baker (Into the Woods), and the Lion (The Wiz). His directing credits include Steel Magnolias, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, Cinderella, Rent, The Wiz, and Les Misérables Jr.

What was your first experience with Les Misérables?

My first experience with Les Mis was as a middle schooler. I was fascinated with musical theater at that point and began studying with local teachers. Here in Boston, they had a casting call for Young Cosette and Gavroche. One of my theater friends (who was 2 years younger than me) went out and was cast as Gavroche. I remember going into the city to him and was completely mesmerized by the whole thing. I immediately purchased the cast album and t-shirts! I remember purchasing a big t-shirt so I would have it a while. I wore that shirt all over Russia in 1990 when I was an exchange student there!

What has it been like to prepare for your role?

This role has been one of the most challenging—not only to prepare the character, but also to prepare vocally. I find the music more challenging than Into the Woods, which I thought was extremely difficult at the time. Jean Valjean has a complete character arc that the audience needs to buy into, or else the story falls flat. 

What about this production excites you the most?

The sheer talent associated with this production is mind blowing. I can’t wait until we step out on that stage! I think people will be completely blown away. 

How has local theatre and performing enriched your life?

When we started this group we wanted it to be a supportive, friendly, and respectful place. We have gathered together some of the most talented and professional people in the area and their grace and spirit are a blessing each and every day.

Les Miserables Live In Studio

Les Miserables Live In Studio

Check out the great article featuring some of the cast of ACT's Les Miserables Live in the Studio.  October 25-27 at The Collins Center for the Performing Arts Andover Tickets on sale now visit ACT Theater Company

"Meet the Cast of Les Miserables" blog series #9: Meet Gavroche!



Andrew Jones, our Gavroche
My name is Andrew Jones. I am 11 years old and in the 6^th grade at West middle School in Andover. Les Misérables is my 6^th show with ACT.  I previously appeared in Annie (Orphan ensemble), Aladdin, Jr. (Aladdin), Willy Wonka (Oompa Loompa #2 and ensemble), Seussical the Musical (Jojo) and Little Mermaid, Jr. (Prince Eric). At school, I have also appeared inMulan, Jr.(ensemble) and Beauty and the Beast, Jr. (Gaston).  Besides Gavroche, my favorite role so far has been as Jojo is Seussical. I love to perform and I have learned so much and have gained a lot of self-confidence from doing shows with ACT.  I like to do shows with ACT because it feels like being in a movie or a TV show and that is what I would like to do for real someday. When I am not in school or at rehearsal you might find me on the golf course, playing tennis or playing video games.


What was your first experience with Les Misérables?
My first experience with Les Misérables was watching the movie with my mom.  I knew I wanted to be in ACT’s production but I didn’t know anything about the show other than what my mom had explained to me.  We planned a movie night at home and watched it together.  When I saw the movie I knew that I just had to play Gavroche.

What has it been like to prepare for your role?Preparing for the role of Gavroche was easy and it just came naturally to me.  I learned all of my music quickly and was pretty much off-book by my first rehearsal. The role of Gavroche has been fun to create because he is involved in the revolution and gun battle and ever since I was 2 years old I have always loved playing with army guys (the Toy Story green army guys were my favorite!) and creating battles in video games and role playing with Nerf, paintball and airsoft guns.  I like how Gavroche is a little cocky and self-confident because that helps me to act and feel the same way, even when I am not rehearsing.

What about this production excites you most?What excites me most is that from my perspective the rehearsals have been going so well.  Everyone is trying their best to make this a fantastic production and I know that we will all deliver.  Being on stage with so many performers (we have more than 80 in the cast) and such talented principals is electrifying.


How has performing in local theater enriched your life?Performing in local theater has enriched my life because, as I said before, I have gained a lot of self-confidence from doing shows with ACT as well as the shows through my school(s).  Doing theater makes my life a lot more livable because it is so much fun and gives me something to look forward to.  It is like going to a job that I love.  I just love acting and performing and ACT has given me the opportunity to do what I love.


Is there anything else you would like to add?I want to thank Mark and Charles Gracy and the entire production team for selecting me for the role of Gavroche and allowing me to be a part of such an epic show.

"Meet the Cast of Les Miserables" blog series #8: Meet Cosette!

Chantal Desjardins, our Cosette

Chantal is from Haverhill, MA. Last May, she graduated from UMass–Lowell with degree in Communications with a focus in Philosophy and recently became an executive assistant for a company that ships high-valued products all across the country. Part-time, she works at a shoe store to feed her extreme addiction to shoes! Chantal has been in love with theatre since she first went on a stage at 6 years old. She has performed with the North Shore Music Theatre, Emerson Umbrella, Pentucket Players, Colonial Chorus Players, and Anna Smulowitz Productions; this is her first show with ACT Andover. Some of her favorite roles include Peter (Jesus Christ Superstar), Cinderella (Into the Woods), Isabelle (Scrooge), and a Delta Nu (Legally Blonde). When she is not working or on stage, she loves playing with her three-year-old Shih Tzu, Darla (like the Little Rascals character).

What was your first experience with Les Misérables?

After my mom and grandmother went to see a production of Les Mis in Boston, they both fell in love with the show. I was too young to see the show at the time, but one day my mom recorded (on a VHS not DVR!) the PBS showing of the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Dream Cast. She played the song “Castle on a Cloud” for me over and over. Already knowing I could sing, I think she did this as a way to get me singing something besides the Annie selections she was all too familiar with. As I grew up, I learned to love the entire show, and saw my first live production at Andover High School (coincidentally, the same as Cara Kennedy, who plays Madame Thénardier!).

What has it been like to prepare for your role?

Besides having a minor panic attack that my Mezzo singing voice would have to sing very high Soprano notes, I was very interested in the development of my character. I don’t think audience members get much about who Cosette is, based on what she sings. Spoiler alert?... She lives a very privileged life, falls in love at first sight, and then is one of the only characters in the show to have a “happy ending,.” Unfortunately, that’s about it. I want to make sure I could convey her emotions more deeply, and show some kind of underlying message that you don’t hear, but rather see. I want to make sure I can create a realistic person out of the typical “sheltered, love-struck” woman everyone is used to seeing.  

What about this production excites you the most?

I feel so incredibly lucky to be a part of one of the first companies in the area to perform the full show. I also get to share the stage with some of the most talented people I have worked with before. I think I will be most excited when I see the real barricade for the first time. My favorite scenes are the ones that take place on the barricade, and I think it creates one of the most iconic images in theatre. 

How has local theatre and performing enriched your life?

Musical theatre has helped me feel confident enough to pursue a career in communications. I have been able to develop great speaking skills, as well as being able to interact with the public comfortably. What I love most about being in musicals, however is being able to transform into a totally different person. It’s also great when I get to sing about stuff without being looked at strangely!