​    The Actor's Playground (TAP) began as a new community theatre program in the summer of 2016.  At our very core, The Actor's Playground team has always been a group of passionate young artists striving to give an opportunity to other blossoming young artists in our community- an opportunity that didn't exist when we were young and in need of an artistic outlet.

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The necessity to create drove founder Chloe Torrence to assemble a group of leaders- all younger than 25- to begin teaching theatre, dance, and art, as well as instrumental and vocal music.  Theses artists included Jaylan Miller (choreography) Trey and Melinda Hawkins (orchestra) and Sarah Kitzmiller (Scenic Design). This is where the mission became clear. Our productions would be youth driven, youth led, youth performed.

Soon after the wheels began turning, several other young artists joined the leadership team- Miranda Somers (Stage Management, A. Direction), Ashley Weaver (Stage Management), Shane Smay (Stage Management, Lighting Design), Jaynie Hazlett (A. Direction), and Diane Brunke (Stage Management, Costume Design). Together, the TAP team- accompanied by the incredible folks at Berlin Christian Fellowship- were able to stage 3 spectacular productions; The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and Mary Poppins.  Over 150 young performers participated in TAP's productions, aged 3-25. Soon after The Little Mermaid, we began attending events with the Fairytale Entertainment branch of  The Actor's Playground, which then became a full-fledged business. Many of our Princess Performers came up through the theatre program, and still share in the joy and whimsy that we get to create almost every weekend. 

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Recently, TAP has made a return to full-length theatre productions! In the summer of 2022, we returned with Dorothy meets Alice in the beautiful, brand-new Ravine Ampitheater behind Martins Creek Church. While there are no definitive plans for future productions, TAP is happy to be back and is on the lookout for our next big project!