Don Gruel (Producing Artistic Director)
Don received his B.A. in Theatre, Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina in 1993. He also serves as the Resident Playwright for A.C.T. For Youth, having written 40 scripts that have been produced and performed across the United States. As a playwright, he has also written numerous adaptations of Classic Literature which have been performed by companies such as California Theatre Center Conservatory and Theatre Winter Haven. He has also been commissioned to write “Water Conservation” themed plays for the Hillsborough County Arts Council in Tampa, FL. As an actor, Don has performed professionally in over 45 States, for companies including American Family Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), The Phoenix Theatre Circle (Columbus, OH), Tecumseh! (Chillicothe, OH), Birmingham Children’s Theatre (Birmingham, AL), California Theatre Center (Sunnyvale, CA). He also performs at The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, and he has written, directed, and performed for SeaWorld Orlando. Don has developed, taught, and directed education programs for Arts Center Of Coastal Carolina (Hilton Head, SC), The Hilton Head Community Youth Theatre(Hilton Head, SC), and the Master Class Academy (Orlando, FL). In 1995, he became a Recognized Actor/Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, and he has taught Stage Combat Techniques to children and adults across the country. Don has driven over 700,000 miles, and performed for over 700,,000 kids in his touring with A.C.T. For Youth. He is proud to be part of ACT For Youth’s vision.
To view Don's Creative Portfolio, click here.
To view Don's Acting Page, click here.
Noel Holland (Education Director)
Noel is a professional actor with a great love of Arts Education. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Montevallo in 1996 with a degree in Music Education. Since graduation, Noel has worked full-time as a professional performer and theatre educator for theatres and art centers around the country. Noel received Artist In Schools training with the Phoenix Theatre Circle of Columbus, OH where she taught theatre to inner-city children. She co-created and directed a highly successful Young Actor Training Program for the
Arts Center Of Coastal Carolina in Hilton Head, SC. She has toured across the country with Birmingham Children’s Theatre, the Hampstead Players, and California Theatre Center, where she was integral in education design and planning. In Florida, she has directed young performers in Theatre Winter Haven’s Troupe In A Trunk, served as the Project Director for the Orlando Theatre Project Governor’s Summer Institute, and performed for a variety of professional theatres. She has also developed hands-on workshops as the Curriculum Designer for the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando. Being the Education Director for ACT for Youth is one of her greatest joys in life! Noel uses her skills as the Composer for A.C.T. For Youth's many musicals. Every day Noel looks forward to making a difference in children’s lives all over the country- bringing smiles, laughs, and a love of theatre to the youth of America!
Robbin Watts (Set Designer/ Scenic Artist)
A.C.T. For Youth is fortunate to have the amazing Robbin Watts design and paint the scenery for our touring productions. Robbin has worked across the United States for theatres such as BIRMINGHAM CHILDRENS' THEATRE, THE ORLANDO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, THE ORLANDO REPERTORY THEATRE, & RIVERSIDE THEATRE in Vero Beach, FL. Robbin regularly designs for THE HARRISON SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS in Lakeland, FL, and she has been the artist responsible for painting THE FAIRY DOORS AT LEU GARDENS since 2018.
Previous Touring Seasons
Since 1999, all A.C.T. For Youth shows have been written by Actor/Educators Noel Holland and Don Gruel.
These adaptations of classic childrens' literature & original plays are developed to blend ENTERTAINMENT & EDUCATION together into a smart package.
1999
-OUR AMERICA
2000
-OUR AMERICA
-THE NOTORIOUS JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY
-THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
-HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD
2003-2004
-THE NOTORIOUS JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY
-THE BALLAD OF DIXIE & BILLY YANK
-CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE
-CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL
-THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
2004-2005
-RUMPELSTILTSKIN
-THE TRIALS OF JOAN OF ARC
-MYSTERIOUS MONA LISA
-CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE
-CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL
-THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
-THE WATERVILLE-VAUDEVILLE COMEDY 1/2 HOUR
2005-2006
-THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
-A WORLD OF WONDERFUL TALES
-CASEY AT THE BAT
-RUMPELSTILTSKIN
-THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
-THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
-TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
-THE WATERVILLE-VAUDEVILLE COMEDY 1/2 HOUR
2006-2007
-ROCKIN' RED RIDING HOOD
-THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR
-THE BRAVE TIN SOLDIER
-THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
-CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL
-THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
-TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
-THE WATERVILLE-VAUDEVILLE COMEDY 1/2 HOUR
2007-2008
-THE TORTOISE & THE HARE...THE MUSICAL
-ROCKIN' RED RIDING HOOD
-THE NOTORIOUS JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY
-THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
-YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS
-THE WATERVILLE-VAUDEVILLE COMEDY 1/2 HOUR
-WATERPALOOZA (A BENEFIT CONCERT TO SAVE WATER)
2008-2009
-CHICKEN LITTLE (AN APPALACHIAN MUSICAL JAMBOREE)
-THE TORTOISE & THE HARE...THE MUSICAL
-MYSTERIOUS MONA LISA
-YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS
-A "COUNTRY" CHRISTMAS CAROL
-WATERPALOOZA (A BENEFIT CONCERT TO SAVE WATER)
2009-2010
-THE RELUCTANT DRAGON
-CHICKEN LITTLE (AN APPALACHIAN MUSICAL JAMBOREE)
-CASEY AT THE BAT
-THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
-A "COUNTRY" CHRISTMAS CAROL
-THE BRAVE TIN SOLDIER
-WATERPALOOZA (A BENEFIT CONCERT TO SAVE WATER)
-THE WATERVILLE-VAUDEVILLE COMEDY HALF-HOUR
2010-2011
-THE FAIRY TALES OF GRIMM
-THE ADVENTURES OF ECO-MAN
-THE BALLAD OF DIXIE & BILLY YANK
-THE RELUCTANT DRAGON
-THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
-CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL
2011-2012
-SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE OPERA MYSTERY
THE FAIRY TALES OF GRIMM
-THE ADVENTURES OF ECO-MAN
-CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE
-THE RELUCTANT DRAGON
-A BEATRIX POTTER HOLIDAY
2012-2013
-THE PIED BAG-PIPER OF HAMELIN
-FLORIDA TREASURES: A VIVA FL HISTORY EXPLORATION
-HANS BRINKER & THE QUICK-SILVER ROCKET SKATES
-A WORLD OF WONDERFUL TALES
-SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE OPERA MYSTERY
2013-2014
-ALICE ROCKS WONDERLAND
-THE PIED BAG-PIPER OF HAMELIN
-RUMPELSTILTSKIN
-YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS
-FLORIDA TREASURES: A VIVA FL HISTORY EXPLORATION
2014-2015
-OUR AMERICA
-ALICE ROCKS WONDERLAND
-THE ELVES & THE SHOEMAKER
-THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS (THE ADVENTURES OF MR. TOAD)
-FLORIDA TREASURES: A VIVA FL HISTORY EXPLORATION
-CINDERELLA AT THE SOCK-HOP
-THE THREE LITTLE CIRCUS PIGS
2015-2016
-THE TORTOISE & THE HARE...THE MUSICAL
-OUR AMERICA
-THE BRAVE TIN SOLDIER
-MYSTERIOUS MONA LISA
-FLORIDA TREASURES: A VIVA FL HISTORY EXPLORATION
-CINDERELLA AT THE SOCK HOP
-THE THREE LITTLE CIRCUS PIGS
-ALICE ROCKS WONDERLAND
2016-2017
-ROCKIN' RED RIDING HOOD
-THE TORTOISE & THE HARE...THE MUSICAL
-MYSTERIOUS MONA LISA
-A BEATRIX POTTER HOLIDAY
-HANS BRINKER & THE QUICK-SILVER ROCKET SKATES
-CASEY AT THE BAT
-THE THREE LITTLE CIRCUS PIGS
-FLORIDA TREASURES
-A WORLD OF WONDERFUL TALES ("CRUISE EDITION" SPECIAL ENGAGMENT)
2017-2018
-FLIGHT!
-ROCKIN' RED RIDING HOOD
-THE SNOW QUEEN
-CHICKEN LITTLE: AN APPALACHIAN MUSICAL JAMBOREE
-FLORIDA TREASURES
-MYSTERIOUS MONA LISA
-HANS BRINKER & THE QUICK-SILVER ROCKET SKATES
2018-2019
-THE RELUCTANT DRAGON
-THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH
-CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE
-THE SNOW QUEEN
-FLORIDA TREASURES
-FLIGHT!
2019-2020
-THE FAIRY TALES OF GRIMM
-THE RELUCTANT DRAGON
-THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS
-THE SNOW QUEEN
-FLORIDA TREASURES
-THE ADVENTURES OF ECO-MAN
2020-2021
-THE TIME MACHINE
-THE FAIRY TALES OF GRIMM
-FLORIDA TREASURES
-THE FAIRY TALES OF GRIMM VIRTUAL THEATRE
-THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS VIRTUAL THEATRE
-CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE
-CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE VIRTUAL THEATRE
2021-2022
-THE TIME MACHINE
-THE ELVES & THE SHOEMAKER
-THE PIED BAG-PIPER OF HAMELIN
-FLORIDA TREASURES
-THE KING OF THE JUNGLE'S ROCKIN' SAFARI SPECIAL
-THE FAIRY TALES OF GRIMM VIRTUAL THEATRE
-THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS VIRTUAL THEATRE
-CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE VIRTUAL THEATRE
2022-2023
-THE TIME MACHINE
-SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE OPERA MYSTERY
-THE ELVES & THE SHOEMAKER
-CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL
-FLORIDA TREASURES
-RUMPELSTILTSKIN
-CITY MOUSE & COUNTRY MOUSE
-THE KING OF THE JUNGLE'S ROCKIN' SAFARI SPECIAL
2023-2024
-WINNIE-THE-POOH
-ALICE ROCKS WONDERLAND
-SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE OPERA MYSTERY
-SILENT NIGHT 1818
-CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL
-FLORIDA TREASURES
-SALTY SAM & THE SIREN SONG
2024-2025 SHOWS
-WINNIE-THE-POOH
-THE NOTORIOUS JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY
-THE THREE LITTLE CIRCUS PIGS
-THE GINGERBREAD MAN...A HOLIDAY MUSICAL
-FLORIDA TREASURES
2025-2026 PLANNED SHOWS
-THE TORTOISE & THE HARE...THE MUSICAL
-MYSTERIOUS MONA LISA
-THE THREE LITTLE CIRCUS PIGS
-THE SNOW QUEEN
-FLORIDA TREASURES