About Acting Out! Louisville
What is Acting Out Louisville?
Acting Out! Louisville, is a drama performance company whose mission is to foster a love for musical theatre and give young people the opportunity to “shine” on stage.
Acting Out! Is all about giving students in grades 4-8 the opportunity to perform on stage. We operate from performance to performance. We also participate in the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, GA. Our current team of students is preparing for the upcoming JTF in January. We rehearse at VAAS located in Old Middletown.
About Deanna Williams
I love musical theatre and I love watching children perform on stage. I love how being part of a production gives students a sense of belonging. In musicals, children learn team work as they work together to make a performance happen. Opportunities to be on stage help students develop self-confidence and creates role models among the student population. But, one of my favorite results of musical theatre are the looks on the faces of students as they share memories of past productions. All of these are reasons why I started Acting Out! For the last 25 years I have been a Jefferson County Public School teacher teaching the arts to elementary students. During this time, I directed more musicals than I can count, but the result was always the same–happy kids, happy audience!
I fell in love with Musical Theatre when I was in high school and attended the Youth Performing Arts School. I went to college at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville and majored in music. I later decided that I wanted to teach and got my Master’s at Spalding University while I was in my first teaching position with Jefferson County Public Schools. I taught music with JCPS for 25 years, finishing my last 17 years at Stopher Elementary. My first school had somewhat of a musical theatre tradition which gave me a template to start. As Stopher was brand new when I started there, I was given a lot of support from the principal and the opportunity to dream, build, fundraise, and pour out my heart into the arts program. It grew into something I was very proud of and hard to leave! The pictures you see on this website are from the work that we did there. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working with students on the stage and can’t wait to see what is ahead.
About Katie Thomas
Katie Thomas and Deanna met at Stopher Elementary, first as parent/teacher and soon became colleagues. Katie’s love for musical theatre is evident to all. She and Deanna have worked on Broadway, Jr Musical Performances, Junior Theater Festivals, and Student Camps. We’ve even produced several talent shows together! Katie has been an integral part of this team and it’s success over the last 8 years. Students love working with her as much as she loves working with them.
Our Programs
Junion Theatre Festival
The Junior Theater Festival is made up of 140 theatre groups from around the world that all come together to celebrate musical theatre in Atlanta, Georgia every January. Each group performs in front of adjudicators made up of Broadway stars, teachers, choreographers, and directors. The festival includes opportunities to watch interviews with stars and hear them perform on stage. Each year, several new Broadway Junior shows are premiered also. Young Actors have the opportunity to attend workshops in acting, dancing, singing–well, everything musical theatre has to offer! As a director, I am excited to take my 5th group to the festival. In the past we have won awards–Best in Ensemble-2022, Best in Music–2023, and Best in Acting–2024. We have begun rehearsals and are excited to prepare for the upcoming festival.
Performances
Acting Out! Louisville is a performance based company. Be sure to check our website for upcoming auditions and shows if you love the stage as much as we do!
This spring we will be doing the Broadway, Jr. hit, Annie, Jr.! Watch for information about December auditions and age groups that will be involved in the show!
Camps
Coming Soon! Information about a Summer Camp we will be hosting for our younger actors! Lots of fun ahead!
“Deanna’s teaching style is so warm and encouraging. She has a knack for bringing out the best in each student. She’s not just an acting coach, she’s a mentor, friend, and cheerleader all rolled into one.”
Lacey E
Parent
“Playing the Trunchbull in Matilda was one of the best experiences of my elementary years. I will definitely never forget it!”
Marley S.
Student
“I loved my experiences at JTF with Mrs Williams. I still talk about meeting actors and actresses from Broadway and consider that the start of my dream to be on a big stage.”
Eliza S.
Student
“Year after year, it was amazing to see how she could bring together such young kids, most with no prior experience in theater, to create a show that captivated an audience and made you forget you were watching elementary age kids.”
Sherri S
Parent