Our History
Discover the Magic of ACT ONE Theater Company
Our History
The ACT ONE Education Program was born after a highly successful first summer of theater camps in 2022. Founded by arts educators J.P. Gulla and Leeanne Shepherd, the program began out of Court Square Theater, operated by the Arts Council of the Valley. That first summer featured two one-week intensives—one focused on Musical Theater and the other on Classical Theater—giving students a chance to explore their talents, build confidence, and deepen their understanding of the theater world.
The response was clear: our community was eager for more opportunities to learn about and participate in the performing arts. From there, ACT ONE began to grow, offering year-round programming designed to foster a lifelong love of theater for participants of all ages.
In spring 2023, ACT ONE staged its first musical production, Willy Wonka Jr., at Court Square Theater with 26 young performers. That summer, a third week of camps was added for younger aspiring artists, focusing exclusively on musical theater. In the fall of 2023, ACT ONE expanded further, producing Steel Magnolias with a cast of artists over 60.
The following year, spring 2024 brought Shrek Jr., featuring 53 children from 19 different area schools. The summer continued with three weeks of camps, and the fall production for artists over 60, 12 Angry Jurors, highlighted the program’s commitment to theater at every stage of life.
In spring 2025, ACT ONE’s young artists program grew even larger with The Lion King Jr., performed by two casts and a total of 83 participants. Camps once again thrived that summer, providing creative outlets for even more students (102 in total).
That same summer, ACT ONE took its next big step—transitioning from an education program out of Court Square Theater and into its own theater company. The ACT ONE Theater Company, Inc. was officially incorporated in May of 2025 and is now an approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our inaugural production as a company was Beetlejuice Jr., which was staged September 26–October 5, 2025, at Back Home On The Farm in Harrisonburg, VA.
Through every camp, class, and performance, we remain guided by one belief: the performing arts have the power to bring people together, inspire creativity, and foster personal growth.
