Acting-A-Part is Paving the Way in the Theater Franchising Industry

When Erika Lupo was working as a teacher in New Jersey’s public school system, her students didn’t have access to a theater program. So she decided to step up and make a change.

After launching successful fine arts programs at two separate schools, Lupo realized that she had tapped into something with a lot of potential. That’s why she broke off on her own to start Acting-A-Part, a theater program that offers kids the chance to dive into the world of theater, film, TV and commercials. For over a decade, the brand has established a strong presence in its home state. But now, because Lupo decided to pursue franchising, the brand is on the verge of breaking into new markets like California and Pennsylvania.

“It all started 14 years ago. I was working as an English teacher in a public school that didn’t have an English program, so I went to my superintendent and told him that I wanted to build the department myself. As soon as he gave me the green light, it really took off,” said Lupo. “But it wasn’t until I created a theater program for another school that I realized I had the opportunity to turn my passion project into an actual career.”

At first, Acting-A-Part’s reach was small. The brand’s first season was made up of eight kids in an incredibly small space. But it started picking up speed through word of mouth. After just two years, Acting-A-Part outgrew its first location. So Lupo decided to open up a second.

What separates the brand from other after school or summer theater programs is its ever-changing curriculums. Because Lupo has experience as a teacher, she’s able to create custom lesson plans for every single season. That means the same program is never repeated twice. Lupo is also constantly adding new classes to Acting-A-Part’s lineup—beyond stage shows, the brand also offers classes in film and TV. She says she wants every one of her students to be able to find something they’re interested in.

“At its core, Acting-A-Part is designed for the kids. Our mission is to provide a positive and creative environment that builds self-esteem and confidence—we want our students to feel good about themselves every time they leave on of our classes,” said Lupo. “At the end of the day, we want to give them the opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment when they’re done with their final performance or presentation.”

Acting-A-Part’s commitment to creating a unique opportunity for kids to express their creativity has not gone unnoticed—the brand is constantly fielding requests from people all over the U.S. and Europe asking when they were opening up a location in their city. That’s ultimately why Lupo decided to pursue franchising—it opened the door for more people in different communities to get involved. And even though the brand just launched its franchising program at a trade show earlier this year, it’s already on the verge of expansion.

That ability to grow at such a rapid pace is partially due to Acting-A-Part’s reputation in the entertainment industry. Some of its productions—along with the students behind them—have gone on to be recognized by the fine arts community on the national level. Acting-A-Part made a movie, for example, that was accepted in the Garden State Film Festival. The film, which was shot over the course of six hours for no money, was up against movies that took months to produce. The brand has also had a student go on to have her own show on Nickelodeon and experience success in Hollywood.

But Lupo says Acting-A-Part’s success—and strong potential as a franchise brand—is ultimately fueled by its commitment to helping kids express themselves.

“From a business standpoint, I think our biggest milestone has been successfully operating for nearly 15 years. Not all small businesses make it this far, so it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come now that we’re starting to grow through franchising,” Lupo said. “There’s no doubt that we’re only going to get bigger and better from here—there’s so much more potential left for us to explore. My goal is to get to a point where I’m opening five new franchises every year.”