Next Act Theatre’s summer program Next Actors have been back in session these past few weeks. The program has teens working with local theatre professionals to write and produce an original theater piece. The group has been working with program director (and profoundly talented actress) Karen Estrada as well as music director (and clever playwright/comedic performer) Jason Powell as well as choreographer Stephen LaFond (who I am woefully unfamiliar with) and teaching assistant Sara Zientek.
Now in its 17th year, the Next Actors program is entirely free to students, funded through ticket sales with Next Act and generous donations. The group concludes this summer with a series of free public performances. On Jul. 20 at 1:00 p.m. the group will perform at the COA Goldin Center on 2320 W. Burleigh St. On Jul. 22 at 2:00 p.m. there will be a performance at the COA Riverwest Center on 909 E. North Ave. There will then be one final benefit performance at Next Act’s space on 255 S. Water St. the evening of Jul. 25. Tickets to that performance are $6 in advance or $8 at the door. For more information, visit Next Act online.
