THEATRE ARLINGTON INC
The heART of Downtown Arlington!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
ACTUPS (Applied Creative Thinking Using Performance Skills)
ACTUPS targets culturally diverse, at-risk students in Title 1 schools within the Arlington Independent School District. Instead of focusing on talent and performance techniques, ACTUPS teaches creative problem-solving of everyday situations using performance activities and skills as teaching tools. ACTUPS is designed to break through participants’ emotional armor and encourage students to undertake the risks that both performing and life can bring. Theatre Arlington has partnered with the AISD since 1996 to offer ACTUPS, a twice-weekly creative dramatics program for fourth- and fifth-grade students. Theatre Arlington’s teaching artists guide students through social issues and relevant curriculum topics using creative exercises, as well as instructing students in improvisation, creative dramatics and musical theater. The goals of this program are to develop imaginations, increase confidence, improve communication skills and to foster a sense of belonging in each student.
Be a Star
Be a Star began as a one-week summer camp exclusively for homeless and transitional living students serving around 60 campers each year. In 2022, it turned into a year-round weekly program at our local women's shelter that now serves around 150 students in need. Be a Star is designed for children and youth who are in transitional housing at SafeHaven. The arts enrichment program helps students coping with a difficult situation who are at risk for low performance, low self-esteem and confidence, and dropping out of school. It is increasingly difficult for youth to learn important communication and people skills, especially if they do not have the advantage of a stable home. The weekly program offers theatrical and communication skills while having a fun, memorable experience with tons of positive feedback and encouragement. Activities help build self-esteem, improve confidence and develop problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.
Where we work
Awards
Top Five Best in Local Theater - "How I Learned to Drive" 2011
Star-Telegram
Outstanding Design in Local Theater - "Corpse" design team 2011
Critical Rant
Best Direction - The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 2010
Dallas-Ft. Worth Critics Forum
Critic's Choice Award - Best Theater Group 2008
Fort Worth Weekly
Top Five Theater Productions in the Metroplex for "Secret Garden" 2001
Star-Telegram
Reader's Choice Finalist for Best Summer Camps 2022
Arlington Today magazine
Small Business Nonprofit of the Year 2022
Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce
Affiliations & memberships
Actor's Equity Association 2012
Chamber of Commerce 2012
Texans for the Arts 2012
External reviews

Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
THEATRE ARLINGTON INC
Board of directorsas of 02/17/2023
Brian George
Retired architect
Term: 2021 - 2023
Lynn Rossi Scott
Attorney
Term: 2023 - 2023
Peter Scott
Rotary Foundation
Craig Lidell
Retired financial planner
Debra Freiheit-Reich
CPA
Robin Dotson
Teacher
Diane Kinzlmaier
Penske Truck Leasing
Aaron Reich
Arlington ISD board
Kara King Lidell
Community volunteer
Richard Urso
Semi-retired physician
Michael R. Miller
Retired airline pilot
Sharon Kaye Miller
Texas Educators Association and stage director
Courtney Barksdale Perez
Attorney
Nancy George
Retired teacher
Brian George
Retired architect
Lynn Rossi Scott
Attorney
Debbie Peach
Retired teacher
Mark Craig
Community volunteer
Lori Craig
Community volunteer
Felicia Abram
Anesthesiologist
Jenna Anderson
Health care recruiter and actress
Tracie Donaldson
US Environmental Protection Agency
Jack Hardaway
Dallas Arboretum
Pam Hardaway
Teacher
Gayle Krengel
President of Theatre Arlington Guild
Penny Reichert
Community volunteer
Terri Attaway
Realtor
Ginger Baker
Community volunteer
Al Clark
Owner, Al Clark State Farm Insurance
Shalyn Clark
Owner/Agent, Al Clark State Farm Insurance
Nina Jones
CPA
Jill McCaskill
Children's minister, First Baptist Church of Arlington
David McCaskill
Halff Associates
Chris Menger
Retired music professional
Dinah Menger
Elementary choral and music director, Fort Worth ISD
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/17/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.