Welcome to Acts of Youth Theater Company!
As a homeschooling mom of 5, I have cherished watching my kids grow through creative play and have intentionally nurtured this in our home. We appreciate the arts and treasure the power of creativity in its countless forms. However, theater has a specific soft spot for me because I was “one of those” children who were beyond shy, performance was a slow death and the idea of standing on stage was a vulnerability that I literally couldn’t imagine. My anxiety made it nearly impossible to talk with my peers, and sometimes I would lose my voice entirely. Theater largely contributed to my overcoming this area of my life. It wasn’t one single moment where my chains of insecurity fell to the floor but instead small victories that were catalysts for courage and, finally, a voice.
It has been a long-time shared desire of my daughter, Elianna, and mine to create a group where young people can come together to practice the art of pretending through the gift of creation. Together we hope to cultivate a safe and fun atmosphere of respect, encouragement, and the simple appreciation of play.
We understand not everyone loves to be on center stage. We hope to develop strengths, empower areas of weakness, and introduce new skill sets that we believe are practical to real life. Theater is more than just acting; it’s management, directing, design, writing, music, and more. It is my personal opinion that theater equips young people to express and communicate through more than just words alone. Creative thinking is foundational to problem-solving and the ability to analyze and evaluate solutions. In theater, one will exercise social intelligence and awareness as they work with others of various ages, abilities, and interests.
Putting on a production takes tremendous grit. Working cooperatively demands teamwork, commitment, and motivation. This includes recognizing needs, stepping up to take initiative, and being able to work and drive oneself independently are inherent aspects of teamwork and leadership skills. These life skills are fundamental character attributes that need space to be cultivated and practiced. In theater, roles are different, but it takes the dedication and follow-through of the entire team to bring an idea into reality. The skills they practice will last long after the production itself.
I consider myself a transparent person and would like to be clear. I am a Bible-believing Christian; this group will be biblically aligned to the best of my human ability and conviction. Questions are always welcomed.
- We believe that we were created by Him and for Him, in His image. He is the ultimate creator, and our creativity is a reflection of His good gifts and intelligent design.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16
- We believe we were given many good gifts and talents to grow and develop for His glory.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
- We believe true leaders develop over time through integrity, humility, confidence in others, serving others, and leading by example.
“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
- We believe that excellence means doing your personal best, not perfection. Comparison is a thief of joy and a distraction from our unique design.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
- We believe that everyone is loved, included, and encouraged towards excellence as iron sharpens iron.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
Thank you for your time in reading this letter. I hope it gives you some insight into my heart’s overall goals for this group. I’m absolutely thrilled to get to know all of you better and genuinely look forward to making memories together.
Best,
Danielle Rhine
(419) 930-7785