Matilda
Verona Area Community Theater (VACT) was founded in 1992 by Dee Baldock with the goal of providing affordable opportunities for children and adults to engage in and enhance their passions for all facets of theater. Since that time the organization has grown exponentially, but continues to provide a strong sense of community and many memorable experiences for participants and audiences alike.
People of all abilities, skill levels, and ages have found a home at VACT and everyone is welcome to participate.
VACT now offers 10-12 productions a season and paid annual attendance at VACT shows has grown from a total of 290 patrons in 1992 to over 9,000. In addition to full-length musicals and plays featuring adults and youth, at least five of the annual productions are for youth only, and in 2022 VACT began a senior theater program, completely cast with actors aged 55 and over. VACT productions are complete with professional quality sets, costumes, sound and lighting. Additionally staff and cast for all VACT productions are made up almost entirely of volunteers.
VACT also offers year-round arts programming for youth and adults, including theater and music classes and workshops, summer camps, as well as a dance program, which is done in partnership with the City of Verona Recreation Department.
VACT additionally provides scholarships to outgoing seniors in high school and an application assistance program that provides a combination of mentorship and financial assistance to teens of color that have participated in VACT programs and are in the process of applying to and selecting colleges, training, or trade programs.
VACT performs the majority of its shows in one of the two outstanding Verona Area School District Performing Arts Centers, but for rehearsals, class programming, and some smaller productions uses its own, state of the art building, which opened in 2017 after a major 3-year fundraising campaign. The VACT building includes a dance studio, a music room, a full shop and lighting area, a costume room, a large costume storage and prop area, office and conference space, as well as a full theater that seats 120 people.
While VACT continues to grow, our Guiding Principles remain our focus -
o We provide a fun, positive, safe, and inclusive experience;
o We treat everyone with kindness and respect; and
o We work to understand others.
TESTIMONIALS
“No other activity that we’ve been a part of in our 8 years in the Madison area has even come close to providing the kind of entertainment, friendship, and community that we get from being a part of VACT.”
“Our children have learned that it is okay to take risks and fail, that they need to work hard to increase their chances of success, the importance of volunteering their time and the joy of working as a team to be part of a process much bigger than themselves.”
“There are the obvious skills that you gain from being part of theater: confidence, poise and communication skills. But we have discovered so much more. Our kids have learned to build community with a diverse group of children, and they have learned teamwork.”
