History:
In 1999, an arts-loving Flower Mound resident took up the standard to create The Flower Mound Children's Theatre. Performing in the town's only community venue, Samuel Lusk Amphitheatre, this little group brought to Flower Mound such productions as The Emperor and the Nightingale and The Wind in the Willows.
Sound and lighting were difficult with the lack of proper electrical wiring, the weather didn't always cooperate, and the dirt and splinters were sometimes too much to bear. But the group persevered and was well received by the citizens of the community.
A great deal has happened since those first outdoor musicals. Performance and rehearsal space in Flower Mound became difficult to locate as the original Lusk fell into disrepair, so the determined group made the best use of any space available. Yet the true world of the theatre kept nagging at the original creator who wanted the children to have the whole theatrical experience that could result from a real stage production.
For its 2003 season, the group, now restructured as The Actors Conservatory Theatre, made its way to its new home, The Family Life Center of the First United Methodist Church in Lewisville not yet a true theatre, but with a real stage.
Here, they improved and refined their resources as they continued the tradition of great children's shows with great sets, theatrical lighting and sound, along with the ever-wonderful costumes and makeup that have been the reputation of this children's theatre.
For its 2007 season, The ACT moved into its new home, the Crawford Center for the Arts, in space so generously donated by longtime local arts advocates, R.L. and Brenda Crawford. Their first production of the season, "Bremen Town Musicians", opened to a full house, and the warmth only a children's theatre can bring.
Now into its thirteenth year, and the sixth year at the Crawford Center for the Arts, The ACT has altered its repertoire of original musicals based on classic literature for children to include Disney and famous Broadway classics, also based on classic literature, such as The King and I by Rodgers and Hammerstein that was performed for The ACT's Tenth Annual Children's Summer Musical. If you missed it, you missed the finest in local theatre. Our team of volunteers did an outstanding job with every aspect of this show, from costuming, to sets. Since then, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Prince and the Pauper, and now, Honk! have graced the main stage at The ACT.
The ACT is unique in that it is a volunteer driven organization, dedicated to bringing classic literature to young minds through plays and musicals. And, it operates all year round, producing quality programming for children of all ages, by children and for children. Adult actors and actresses can be seen supporting these young actors on occasion and add to the overall educational process created for each show.
