Chloe Hill

Theatre I
Local Theatre Research: Acting Against Cancer

Theatre:
Acting Against Cancer
Founder(s):
Jacklyn and Whitten Montgomery
When and why it was founded:
In 1996, their mother, Sandy, was diagnosed with cancer (non-Hodgkins
lymphoma). The girls really wanted to help, so they combined one of their favorite
hobbies with a way to raise awareness and money that would go towards cancer
patients. So, in 1999, Acting Against Cancer was born.
Their first production:
Their first show was the musical Annie featuring a cast of fifteen girls with
ages ranging between seven to twelve years old. It was performed in the basement
of Jacklyn and Whittens Indian Hills home in 1999. Over the course of about five
years, they gathered around $200 from the show. Along with that they made other
efforts of fundraising, such as silent auctions. By the end of the run of this
production, they had donated about $85,000 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society.
How you can get involved:
They look for volunteers to audition and perform in their products, some of
which include a student cast. They hold separate auditions for each show as they do
not offer full season auditions. They will teach you the material at the audition, no
prior preparation is needed. They also look for volunteers to be in their tech crew.
Current Season:
Legally Blonde, directed by Jason Cooper, music direction by Michael Vettraino, and
choreography by Molly Kays. It runs from August 19 th to August 27th, 2016.
Heathers: The Musical, directed by Whitten Montgomery. It runs from January 27 th to
February 11th, 2017.
Tick, Tick BOOM!, (the director is to be determined). It runs from May 26 th to June
4th, 2017.
Recent past productions:
The Last Five Years, directed by Remy Sisk and music direction by Charlie Meredith

American Idiot, directed by Whitten Montgomery, music direction by Gayle King,

and choreography by Alfred Dale Jones Jr.
The Addams Family, directed by Remy Sisk, music direction by Charlie Meredith,
and choreography by Alfred Dale Jones Jr.
Next to Normal, directed by Whitten Montgomery and music direction by Charlie
Meredith
Rent, directed by Sharon Kinnison and music direction by Gayle King
Spring Awakening, directed by Sharon Kinnison and music direction by Alison Smith
Where they perform:
Some shows have been performed at the Henry Clay Theater, while others
have been in the MeX Theater, which is located inside the Kentucky Center for the
Arts.

Acting Against Cancer is a theatre company that stays true to its roots by
taking donations to support their season and to keep their ongoing pledge of
$100,000 to the Art Therapy Program at the Addison Jo Blair Cancer Center at Kosair
Childrens Hospital. One hundred percent of each productions profits go toward this
pledge. They also offer an after school musical theatre program for kids in grades
two to six with fall in spring semesters. Its good to know that for each ticket you
buy, you are also donating that money to a good cause.