ActOUT!

What ActOUT! does

ActOUT! (legally "ActOUT! The Kitchener-Waterloo Children's Drama Workshop") is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit organization founded in 1995 that provides performing arts education to children and youth ages 5–17 in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. The organization operates as a board-governed charity (#86502 1083 RR0001) under General Manager Breanna MacLeod, with former Artistic Director Todd Vercoe serving as Artistic Director Emeritus. Its core offerings span three product lines: (1) recurring classes — Acting Adventures ($175/session, ages 5-9), Theatre Skills ($175/session, ages 9-12), Improv Academy, Acting for Youth, Mini Play Class ($250/session), and Audio Drama & Voice Acting; (2) seasonal camps — Summer Drama Camp ($330/week, ages 5-10), Summer Theatre Camp ($345/week, ages 8-14), and March Break Camp ($330); and (3) a Performance Program staging full-scale musicals and one-act plays (e.g., Anastasia: The Musical at $725, Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon at $475) capped at 35 participants per production. Programs run across eight venues in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, including KW Little Theatre, Registry Theatre, Cambridge Arts Theatre, three public schools, and CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo.

Revenue is generated through four streams: per-program tuition ($175–$725), live performance ticket sales, individual and corporate donations (with tax receipts), and show sponsorship/advertising. The organization supplements earned revenue with Ontario Trillium Foundation grants ($43,700 in 2021 for virtual program development; $60,200 in December 2023 for technology upgrades) and support from the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo, and the Waterloo Region Community Foundation. A Financial Assistance Program ensures no child is turned away due to cost, funded by an internal subsidy pool.

Go-to-market is community-led: families discover actOUT! primarily through word-of-mouth, local Reader's Choice Award recognition, school partnerships, newsletter/email marketing, and organic social media. All registrations are processed via the Amilia self-serve platform. The technology stack is standard non-profit tooling — Squarespace website, Amilia registration, Microsoft for Nonprofits, Google for Nonprofits, and TechSoup Canada — with no proprietary software or AI/ML components. The organization has staged over 60 productions since founding and serves hundreds of children and youth annually.

Name

ActOUT!

Legal name

ActOUT! The Kitchener-Waterloo Children's Drama Workshop

Website

https://actoutkw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ActOUT! is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit, founded in 1995, that delivers drama classes, theatre camps, and youth musical productions to children ages 5–17 across the Waterloo Region of Ontario, funded through program fees, ticket sales, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Youth theatre education
• Performing arts classes
• Children's drama workshop
• Summer drama camp
• Youth musical productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterloo

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Program fees: Revenue from tuition/registration fees for classes, camps, and productions. Fees range from $175 for acting classes to $725 for full musical productions. Payment plans and financial assistance are available.
2. Ticket sales: Revenue from sale of tickets to live theatre performances and productions staged at venues including KW Little Theatre, Registry Theatre, and Cambridge Arts Theatre.
3. Donations and charitable contributions: Cash donations from individual supporters, corporate sponsors, and institutional funders including government grants and foundation support. ActOUT! is a registered charitable organization (#86502 1083 RR0001) issuing tax receipts for donations.
4. Corporate sponsorship and advertising: Revenue from show sponsors purchasing ads in programs, logo placement, social media mentions, and live announcements at performances. Sponsorship tiers are described in a separate ad rates document.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ActOUT! is a registered charitable non-profit that delivers in-person performing arts education programs to children and youth ages 5-17 in Waterloo Region, Ontario, including weekly drama skills classes, school-break and summer theatre camps, an audio drama and voice acting class broadcast live on community radio, and staged youth theatre productions ranging from one-act plays to full-scale musicals. Programs are sold to families through per-session registration fees and live performance ticket sales, and operations are sustained by donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

ActOUT! is a registered non-profit children's drama workshop serving Waterloo Region, Ontario. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of performing arts programs centered around drama education and youth theatre productions. The core offerings include acting classes (Acting Adventures ages 5-9, Theatre Skills ages 9-12, Acting for Youth ages 10-14), specialty programs (Improv Academy, Audio Drama and Voice Acting via Live On Air!), and seasonal camps (Summer Drama Camp ages 5-10, Summer Theatre Camp ages 8-14, March Break Camp ages 5-12). The Performance Program produces full-scale youth musicals (Disney's Aristocats KIDS, Anastasia, High School Musical 2 JR), one-act plays (Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, Around The World In 80 Days), and mini-play productions. A Financial Assistance Program ensures accessibility, while Ontario Trillium Foundation grants have funded technology modernization. The programs collectively serve children and youth ages 5-17 through an inclusive, non-competitive environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acting Adventures An introductory Friday-evening drama class for ages 5-9 that builds confidence through drama games, improv exploration, and an original short performance at the end of each session. Held at Sheppard Public School, Kitchener.
• Theatre Skills A Friday-evening class for ages 9-12 focusing on character acting, movement, script work, and stage focus, culminating in a short performance. Held at Sheppard Public School, Kitchener.
• Improv Academy A Tuesday-evening improv class for ages 8-12 where actors learn core improv skills — creative expression, accepting scene choices, and mastering the "Yes, and..." reaction — culminating in a short performance.
• Acting for Youth A Tuesday-evening class for ages 10-14 focused on character acting, movement, script work, and developing stage focus through short scenes or monologues.
• Mini Play Class An introductory Tuesday-evening class for ages 6-10 where young actors play games, learn about being in a play, are cast in roles, work with scripts, wear costumes and props, and perform a short play. Held at Smithson Public School, Kitchener.
• Live On Air! Audio Drama and Voice Acting A Monday-evening class for ages 10-15 at Rockway Public School and Radio Waterloo, where youth learn voice acting skills and perform a live broadcast on CKMS 102.7 FM at the end of the session, discovering how to stretch acting skills without visual cues.
• Summer Drama Camp A week-long summer drama camp for ages 5-10 held at Scout House (844 Frederick St, Kitchener), where staff guide campers to create short performances based on their original ideas or available scripts using costumes and props, with a Friday afternoon performance. Priced at $330 per full week ($275 for a short week).
• Summer Theatre Camp A week-long summer theatre camp for ages 8-14 held at KW Little Theatre (9 Princess Street East, Waterloo), where campers are cast in roles, learn lines, develop theatre skills, and perform one-act plays or participate in Improv Academy, with Friday afternoon performances. Priced at $345 per week.
• March Break Camp A week-long drama camp during March Break for ages 5-12 where campers create a short play based on original ideas or available scripts, with drama games, movement, improv, and a Friday afternoon performance. Priced at $330.
• Anastasia: The Musical (Youth Edition) A full-scale youth musical production for ages 11-17 featuring acting, singing, and dancing, with double-cast performances and professional production staff (Director, Music Director, Stage Manager, Choreographer). Maximum 35 participants per production at the Registry Theatre. Priced at $725 per production.
• Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon A one-act comedy for ages 11-17 in which two narrators attempt to recreate all 209 Brothers Grimm fairy tales combined into one fable. Rehearsals Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30-9pm. Priced at $475 per production; performed at KW Little Theatre.
• Disney's Aristocats KIDS A mini musical production for ages 6-10 featuring Disney's Aristocats story about Duchess and her kittens. Rehearsals on Sundays 12:30-2:30pm and Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm at Smithson Public School; Show Week at KW Little Theatre.
• Around The World In 80 Days A one-act adventure play designed for new or busy actors featuring Phileas Fogg's race around the world, with five actors portraying over 20 characters across seven continents.
• High School Musical 2 JR A youth musical production for ages 11-17 featuring the Disney Channel sequel about Sharpay and the Wildcats at Lava Springs Country Club. Performed at Cambridge Arts Theatre (47 Water St S, Cambridge).
• Youth Theatre Performance Season (Live Theatre Tickets) Ticketed live theatre performances staged throughout the year at KW Little Theatre, Registry Theatre, and Cambridge Arts Theatre as part of actOUT!'s annual production season for families and the Waterloo Region community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 productions staged since 1995, serving hundreds of children and youth annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of KitchenercoreOthersMunicipal government supporter and partner. The City of Kitchener provides support and recognition as part of actOUT!'s network of institutional supporters.
• City of WaterloocoreOthersMunicipal government supporter and partner. The City of Waterloo provides support and recognition as part of actOUT!'s network of institutional supporters.
• Region of WaterloominorOthersRegional government supporter and partner providing funding and community support to actOUT!'s programs.
• KW Little TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary performance venue partner for Summer Theatre Camp and numerous productions. Located at 9 Princess Street East, Waterloo.
• Registry TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey performance venue partner for full-scale musical productions including Anastasia: The Musical (Youth Edition). Located at 122 Frederick St, Kitchener.
• Cambridge Arts Theatre / Cambridge Community PlayersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance venue partner for productions such as High School Musical 2 JR. Located at 47 Water St S, Cambridge.
• CKMS 102.7 FM Radio WaterloocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity radio station partner for the Live On Air! audio drama program. Youth perform live on air and stream online during the program. Located at 283 Duke St W, Kitchener.
• Elora FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership as official children's drama camp of the Elora Festival. Produced Willy Wonka KIDS (2018) and Seussical KIDS (2019) at the festival.
• Mat's AutominorOthersCorporate supporter providing donations and in-kind support to actOUT! programs.
• Baby's Best Sleep (Amanda Jewson)minorOthersShow sponsor for 2025 Fall Musical Something Rotten! JR and 2026 Spring Musical Legally Blonde The Musical JR.
• Drayton EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional theatre partner in the Waterloo Region theatrical community. Part of actOUT!'s network of theatrical organizations.
• MT SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal theatre company partner in the Kitchener-Waterloo arts community.
• Green Light ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization partner in the Waterloo Region arts community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carousel Players: Hamilton, Ontario-based professional theatre company creating productions for young audiences since 1972. Comparable Canadian children's/youth theatre operator producing staged productions and education programming.
• Drama Kids International: Franchise-based drama education provider offering weekly after-school drama classes for children. Directly competes for the same kids-aged parent buyer but with a franchise vs. independent non-profit model.
• Helen O'Grady Drama Academy: International franchise network offering developmental drama classes for children ages 5–17. Compares directly on the drama-education class offering rather than producing full productions.
• Geordie Theatre (formerly Geordie Productions): Montreal-based English-language theatre company dedicated to young audiences, producing professional productions and operating educational programming across schools and venues. Directly comparable youth-focused theatrical business model.
• Young People's Theatre: Toronto-based professional theatre company producing shows for young audiences and running education programs. Most direct Canadian analog to ActOUT!'s mix of youth productions and theatre education, though operating at a larger scale.
• Children's Theatre Company (Minneapolis): One of the largest children's theatres in North America, based in Minneapolis. Closest scale analog globally for producing professional productions specifically for children/youth audiences.
• Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People: Victoria, BC-based professional theatre company producing theatre for young audiences. Comparable Canadian youth theatre company with educational outreach and staged productions.

Regional players

• KW Little Theatre: Waterloo-based community theatre that serves as ActOUT!'s primary performance venue. Comparable community-focused theatrical programming in the same Waterloo Region but primarily adult/community focused.
• Drayton Entertainment: Large Ontario professional theatre company based across the Waterloo Region and surrounding areas. Comparable as a regional Ontario theatre operator with overlapping venues and audience base; ActOUT! lists Drayton as a community partner.

Broad incumbents

• National Theatre School of Canada: Canada's premier national theatre training institution offering conservatory-style programs. Relevant as a broader incumbent in the theatrical training/education space, though operating at a much higher credentialing and tuition scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/actOUTkw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ActOUT!