Letter from the Producer & Director

I remember being much younger, very shy, joining ACT. I’ve stuck with it for years in years, working all the different forms of Theatre from Crew, Actor, Assistant Director and even fundraising. Today I hold the title of Treasurer and Producer & Director. 

That's a fancy way of saying I handle all the money, fundraising and several administrative tasks while also coordinating, planning and directing each child in ACT. Yes, sometimes go around and knock on doors to raise money. It’s all worth it for the end results. An amazing show with lots of work included, watching all the smaller things come together and seeing talented ACTors create a brilliant show for our audience.

Each year a lot of our improvements wouldn’t be possible without the people I’ve come to know well. Without your funding and support we wouldn’t have been able to achieve our dream of incorporating. It continues to this day to amaze me of the amount of support and its growth each year. From me, thank you. Thank you for your time, effort, and presence to help Area Children’s Theatre, Inc. to grow.

We still have lots of plans in the works, which includes tons more growing to come. Over the next few years, we hope to continue improving, growing and building Area Children's Theatre into a centerpiece in our Regional Art Community. One day, one show, one child at a time.

"In every job that must be done. There is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap! The job's a game." 
   Musical, "Mary Poppins" (ACT XVI)
Jeffrey D. Fowler - Treasurer, Board of Directors | Producer & Director, Area Children's Theatre

Jeffrey D. Fowler

Treasurer
bOARD OF dIRECTORS

PRODUCER &
DIRECTOR
area children's theatre

EMAIL ME

Meet our Board of Directors

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Mission Statement
ACT's mission is to give regional children and youth, ages 8-19 a chance to participate in theatrical productions by either acting on stage, working the crew or helping with other facets of theatre.

Vision Statement
ACT envisions its work to be a centerpiece in the regional arts community...open to all...and bringing the community together through the arts.

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Georgia Downtown Association 2022 Award of Excellence
​Area Children's Theatre, Inc.
Organization - Premier Partner

Accepted by Secretary Angela Wilkerson, Chairman Erica Dawson, Founder Cindy Rivers-McGraw, Vice-Chairman Danyelle Rus, and Treasurer Jeffrey Fowler

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Cindy L. Rivers

FOUNDER  & consultant
Area children's theatre

Our History (by Cindy Rivers-McGraw)

I will tell you about our humble beginnings...

It started in 2006 when I approached the Board of Education about using a classroom at "the old high school" for a children's community theatre. My daughter had been involved in the Area Community Theatre in Milledgeville before we moved to Warrenton, and I wanted her to have the same type of opportunities here. ACT (Area Children's Theatre) was born in Warrenton with the help of the BOE, namely the 21st Century Program. For our first two seasons, 21st Century funded us by purchasing our scripts. Costumes and sets were built from private donations. Public, private and home schooled children were involved. 

After the 21st Century Program was dissolved in 2008, we became a Hometown Warrenton, Inc. (National Main Street Program) program and were awarded a GAP grant from the Greater Arts Council in Augusta for the next three productions: "Romeo & Juliet", "Comedy Through the Ages", and "Godspell". From then on, ACT has been self-sustaining through sponsorships, donations, program ads, and ticket and concessions sales. We remain a HWI program.

We rehearsed for our first play in a classroom for our first play only. After "Big Bad", we began practicing in the new high school's auditorium. We moved to the Cultural Center for the "Comedy Through the Ages" performances and permanently for the "And Then There Were None" performances. "Godspell" was rehearsed and performed at the high school. Since moving to the Cultural Center, which is owned and operated by the City of Warrenton, we have been given room by the city in which to store our props, costumes and set pieces. In 2016, we moved our costumes and props to an offsite climate-controlled facility so that the room at the Cultural Center may be used for additional set pieces.

In the summer of 2015 we started ACT, sr., which is a project for ACTors who are 15-20 years old. They plan, develop and direct a production all on their own with only consultation from me. Sarah Letteer bit off the first piece and directed "Drama at the Diner", a one-act play which she wrote herself.  For 2016, Shannon Bentley directed "The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood" by Mary Lynn Dobson. Mycala Hilson directed "Almost, Maine" in 2017, and Emily Kirkland took on "Dr. Evil and the Basket of Kittens" in 2018.

2017-2018 has been a big year for ACT:

• Incorporated in June as a nonprofit, awaiting 501(c)3 status
• Completed Renovation Projects at the Cultural Center---Phase I (exterior cleaning, repairs & painting), Phase II (front roof replacement), and Phase III (upstairs restrooms renovations)
• Created a Board of Directors and held their organizational meeting 

None of this would be possible without eager children and youth, patient parents and directors, dedicated community partners and sponsors, loyal audience members, and complete media coverage. ​Thank you all!!!
Cindy Rivers

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I first became involved with ACT in its beginning in 2006. I acted in nineteen productions, with leading roles in several, and was part of the crew for three; I also directed my first play in 2016, ACT Sr, The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood.

In 2018 I was one of the first to join and create the Area Children's Theatre Board of Directors as well as taking over as Stage Director, after the departure of Founder Mrs. Cindy Rivers McGraw. I Directed and served on the Board of Directors for two years before making the tough decision to resign in 2020.

It has been amazing to watch ACT grow and change over the years and I have enjoyed every “stage” of it. I loved acting in the productions as well as directing and I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to direct and serve on the Board. Getting to direct and work with the kids and youth as they learn and build their acting skills has been awesome.

​I am so proud of them and proud to have been a part of their acting journey. ACT will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to its continued growth and success, and to attending future performances. - Shannon Bentley

Shannon Bentley

fORMER director &
​bOARD MEMBER
AREA CHILDREN'S THEATRE