acttheatrecompany.com 6635 NW Church Lane Topeka, Kansas 66618

Welcome ACT Theatre's New Artistic Direct

Karen Bartlett

Karen (KB) Bartlett has accepted the Artistic Director position with ACT Theatre Company. She is no stranger to the stage. Karen was a Contract Theatre/English major at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas.

While at Bethany she performed in several plays such as Into the Woods, City of Angels, and Carousel to name a few. She has performed with the Washburn University Theatre, Topeka Civic Theatre, Ad Astra Theatre Ensemble, Helen Hocker Theatre, and ACT Theatre Company.

Karen has a strong grasp of what it takes to direct others and to help actors, of all backgrounds, learn and understand the character and how they interact with each other in roles in which they are cast. This results in her cast collaborating well with one another and complementing each other in their roles.

She said, “I realize this is a new chapter in my theatre experience and that it is going to be a challenge. But I am ready to take the reins to guide ACT Theatre into the future".

Karen encourages her actor friends to consider ACT Theatre when looking for a place to perform.

About Us

Our Mission

Our Most Recent Show

"The mission of ACT is to provide the community with live theater produced to serve the cultural, educational and entertainment needs of the community. Additional activities may be conducted to support the organization both financially and to provide awareness
of the organization to the community at large.

Our Most Recent Show

"Short Cuts"

A compilation of Monologues, one acts and radio plays written by several different playwrights. This show was intended to allow some local playwrights and new playwrights a venue to showcase their shows. ACT Theatre tries to perform shows that are not usually seen on other stages in the Topeka, Ks area.

What is ACT Theatre Company?

ACT Theatre Company is proud to be a 501c3, not-for-profit, community theater. For us this means that anyone can audition for a role, even if the only place you have performed is in your home or car. We also have all sorts of volunteer and sponsorship opportunities for those who have the theater but don’t want to be on stage.

Our History

ACT began in the spring of 2007 as a group of friends who came together to do a children's show at the Auburn Community Center. The show was so successful that we decided to do another show in the summer of 2008, this time as an adult comedy. In 2009, ACT offered its first actual "season" of live theater. Seven shows were scheduled throughout the year. Season tickets were advertised and sold.

After the 2016 season the Theatre moved from Auburn, Kansas to Topeka, Kansas and legally changed its name to ACT Theatre Company. In 2016 ACT Theatre Company performed as the Kansas entry to the AACT Region V festival in Minnesota.

In 2017 under the new name ACT Theatre, the season opened at the prestigious Topeka Performing Arts Center. In 2018 ACT Theatre performed several productions on the stage at The Break Room in downtown Topeka, Kansas and on stage at Grace Episcopal Cathedral.

In 2019 The Forest Park retreat center was in the process of adding new events to their schedule. ACT Theatre agreed to partner with them to produce some shows in their facilities and to help with maintenance and income. The facilities at this location were not the most convenient so in 2020 ACT Theatre Company entered into a contract to use the Elmont UMC Fellowship Hall which has a stage and a kitchen area. It was anticipated that dinner theatre performances could be held there. We are proud to call this the Permanent Home of ACT Theatre Company. It is the intent of ACT to promote local playwrights work whenever possible and give them a platform for their plays.