Allens Community Theatre

In 2024, ACT offered four (4) theatre-related camps - two (2) in the spring from February to April and two (2) in the fall from October to December - where classes were held on a specific weekday. During both the spring and fall, one of the classes was for "Rising Star" actors (Kindergarten through 4th grade) on Thursdays, where students learned basic actings skills, what a character is, and how to work together. The other class, also both in spring and fall, was "Intermediate Actors" (grades 5 through 8) on Tuesdays, where students learned how to get into character and figure out what that character would think, feel, like and dislike. The final day for each class was a performance for students to showcase what they learned in the class. All camps were taught by experienced theatre professionals. Throughout the summer of 2024, ACT reintroduced 2-week intensive camps, where students would participate in Jr. production from the ground up, where they be a part of the full rehearsal process: learning and memorizing music, lines, and dancing, getting into costumes, applying makeup, set changes, etc. In June, students put on a production of "Shrek the Musical Jr.," book by Jeanine Tesori and music and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. Based on the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical, it's a "big bright beautiful world" as everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek the Musical Jr. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family. In July, students put on a production of "Annie Jr.," music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning musical, Annie Jr. features everyone's favorite little redhead. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually fools Miss Hannigan, finding a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a loveable mutt named Sandy. At the end of the two weeks, students performed their respective productions on three (3) different dates, open to their parents and our supporting patrons. Tickets to these events were sold and complimentary concessions were offered to patrons. Camps were led and facilitated by experienced theatre professionals. The two-week intensive model proved to be a great success for the theatre, and we will continue to include this in our curriculum and refine the process in the years to come. In addition to the children's camps discussed, ACT also continued to offer one-day adult workshops for individuals aged 16 and older. In 2024, we offered workshops for voice over, improv, cultivating confidence, prop making, character development, dance, scenic painting, villain character development, and unarmed stage combat. All workshops were taught by reputable experts in their respective subjects, and the sessions themselves consisted of lectures, warm-ups, exercises, and general best practices for both inexperienced and seasoned performers for them to take with them for their next gig. Each workshop had varying levels of turnout and participation, but we will continue to balance these offerings with the schedules for the children's camps and ACT's mainstage productions.

This encompasses ACT's management of general grants received, other general expenses, and the leasing, improving, and maintenance of our 101-seat facility during 2024. In 2024, we received a $7,000 grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA Grant). In addition to the government grant received, ACT received a $16,000 grant from the Allen Arts Alliance (AAA), a private entity, resulting in $23,000 in total grants. All grants required comprehensive applications to receive funding and reporting on the usage of funds. This $23,000 amount, along with individual and corporate donations ($18,455) came to a total of $41,455. Expenses totaled $96,382, most of which can be attributed to the lease ($60,000). Other facility expenses in decreasing order: utilities ($7,563), repairs & maintenance ($5,458), storage ($3,516), liability insurance ($1,674), and improvements ($1,635). This results in $79,845 in total facilities expenses. Other operating expenses, which encompass marketing, concessions, dues & subscriptions, info tech, supplies, and general production costs, totaled $16,537.