Business Details
50 Years
experience
Youth Theater Arts & Original Productions
Since 1976, Young Actors Theatre has dedicated itself to creating original theatre with youth that addresses social issues, fostering personal growth through collaborative artistry. Our mission centers on empowering students to become empathetic, confident individuals through immersive theatre education. Founded in Indianapolis, our programs blend research, devising, and performance to cultivate creativity and critical thinking. Our team of experienced educators and artists, including nationally recognized leaders like Executive Director Justin Wade and Artistic Director Georgeanna Smith Wade, brings decades of expertise in theatre pedagogy and community engagement. We prioritize student development over performance outcomes, emphasizing resilience, collaboration, and self-expression.Alumni consistently highlight how Young Actors Theatres inclusive environment and innovative approach have transformed their academic, professional, and personal lives. With a focus on accessibility, we ensure no student is turned away due to financial constraints, offering scholarships and maintaining affordable participation rates. Our productions, often staged in unconventional spaces, reflect the diverse voices and stories of our youth. Through partnerships and community outreach, we extend our impact beyond the stage, advocating for arts education as a catalyst for social change. Young Actors Theatre remains committed to evolving with the needs of young artists while upholding its founding vision of building a more empowered, empathetic world.
Services
Theatre Classes
Original Productions
Social Issues Troupes
Community Engagement
Devising Workshops
Details
- Year established: 1976
Highlights and features
- Weve empowered youth through theater since 1976 with a focus on social issues.
- Our staff includes nationally recognized educators and artists with decades of experience.
- We offer need-based scholarships to ensure accessibility for all students.
- Our alumni consistently achieve success in theater, education, and creative industries.
- We prioritize student growth over performance outcomes, fostering empathy and resilience.
What people say
Empowered to react
Confidence
Creative environment
Lifelong skills
Supportive community
Services
Theatre Classes
Young Actors Theatres theatre classes for K-12 students foster creativity and collaboration through improvisation, scriptwriting, and performance. Our curriculum emphasizes student-driven storytelling and social awareness. Classes are designed to build confidence, communication skills, and empathy in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Original Productions
Students co-create original plays addressing social issues through research, devising, and rehearsals. Productions often feature unconventional staging and audience interaction. This process prioritizes student voices and real-world relevance, culminating in dynamic, thought-provoking performances.
Social Issues Troupes
Our social issues troupes use theater to explore themes like bullying, equity, and mental health. Students collaborate with educators and community partners to develop impactful narratives. These programs aim to inspire dialogue and positive change through artful storytelling.
Community Engagement
Young Actors Theatre partners with schools and organizations to expand access to arts education. Initiatives include workshops, school residencies, and scholarship programs. We prioritize underserved communities, ensuring equitable opportunities for creative expression and personal growth.
Devising Workshops
Devising workshops teach students to co-create theatre from scratch using improvisation and group storytelling. Participants develop characters, themes, and scripts collectively. These sessions emphasize teamwork, innovation, and the creative process behind original productions.
People
Justin Wade
Executive Director
Justin Wade has led Young Actors Theatre since 2005, blending anti-establishment artistry with education. A former student and apprentice to Young Actors Theatres founder, he brings over 20,000 teaching hours and a passion for boundary-pushing theatre pedagogy.
Georgeanna Smith Wade
Artistic Director
Georgeanna Smith Wade, Young Actors Theatres Artistic Director, shapes our creative vision with a decade of experience. A Butler University graduate and former NoExit Performance leader, she specializes in socially conscious theatre and youth empowerment.
Ryan Mullins
Associate Artistic Director
Ryan Mullins, Young Actors Theatres Technical Director, merges site-specific theatre and clowning expertise. He teaches at Central State and balances urban homesteading with creating immersive, humorous productions that engage young audiences.
Gara Gaines
Community Engagement Director
Gara Gaines directs Young Actors Theatres outreach efforts, combining Emmy-winning writing skills with youth theatre experience. She manages communications and donor relations while teaching through the Christel DeHaan Program.
Fiona Dwyer
Managing Director
Fiona Dwyer, a former Young Actors Theatre student, oversees operations with a focus on community-theatre intersections. She holds advanced degrees in collaborative theatre-making and has taught in the U.S. and U.K.
Questions
What age groups does React serve?
React offers programs for K-12 students, with classes and productions tailored to different grade levels from kindergarten through high school.
How can my child join React’s programs?
Students can sign up through our website for classes, workshops, or productions. No prior experience is required—just enthusiasm for creative collaboration.
Are scholarships available for React programs?
Yes, we offer need-based scholarships to ensure accessibility. Our pay-what-you-can model helps families contribute at their capacity while covering program costs.
What makes React’s approach unique?
React emphasizes student-driven storytelling and social issues through devising. Students co-create original plays, prioritizing personal growth and community impact over traditional performance metrics.
Does React offer behind-the-scenes opportunities?
Yes, students can explore technical theatre roles like set design, lighting, and stage management alongside performance opportunities in every production.
