1851

Education brands have a long history of experiencing success in the franchising industry. So when Erika Lupo decided to take her theater concept&mdash;<a href="http://www.aapfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-a-balance-of-high-and-realistic-standards-helps-erika-lupo-create-a-leading-theater-franchise-10671" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Acting-A-Part</a>&mdash;from an independent business to an emerging franchise opportunity, she knew it had potential.

However, Lupo&rsquo;s brand isn&rsquo;t your average supplemental education resource. Acting-A-Part is designed to fill the void that&rsquo;s often left in the fine arts field. She initially launched her own theater program after the New Jersey public school that she was teaching at was missing an after-school program of its own. And after replicating her curriculum at another public school, she realized how simple it was to re-create the process. That combination of consumer demand and a simple business model then led Lupo to franchise.

&ldquo;I think that people are curious for Acting-A-Part in communities all over the country. Fine arts programs are often overlooked, but they serve such a critical role in a child&rsquo;s education. That&rsquo;s where we come in&mdash;we offer children the opportunity to explore their creative sides through theater, film, television and beyond,&rdquo; said Lupo. &ldquo;After seeing the success of my two corporate locations, I knew that I needed to franchise the business. I had taken Acting-A-Part as far as I could on my own&mdash;it was time to build a network of other owners.&rdquo;

Creating that network of franchisees hasn&rsquo;t always been an easy process. Because Acting-A-Part is based on a philosophy that combines multiple aspects of theater and fine arts education, Lupo needs to be sure that her franchisees&mdash;and their instructors&mdash;knew how to tap into every child&rsquo;s unique sense of creativity and talent.

&ldquo;People always say that there&rsquo;s only one you. But in franchising, the goal is to create a clear path to success for multiple business owners. So I had to learn how to replicate not only my curriculum, but the way that I teach my students and train my teachers,&rdquo; said Lupo. &ldquo;In order for Acting-A-Part to continue to be successful in communities across the country, I have to be picky while at the same time ensuring that my franchisees are realistically capable of building this business both financially and emotionally. It&rsquo;s not easy being a business owner, but the experience is incredibly rewarding.&rdquo;

By adhering to her high standards for prospective franchise owners and working with SMB Franchise Advisors* to launch her concept, Lupo now has franchise owners outside of New Jersey helping to develop the Acting-A-Part brand. Its first franchise location is set to open this spring in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. And Lupo is currently building another corporate location in California that will eventually be taken over by franchisees.

&ldquo;Three years ago, Erika had no idea how she was going to turn Acting-A-Part into a franchise concept. But through working with SMB Franchise Advisors, she now has additional company locations and is working with a network of strong and passionate franchise owners to help grow the brand,&rdquo; said Dawn Abbamondi, director of marketing and brand development for SMB Franchise Advisors. &ldquo;Acting-A-Part&rsquo;s concept is something that every community can benefit from, and we&rsquo;re so proud to see her growing in key markets across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.&rdquo;

Going forward, Lupo&rsquo;s goal is to have anywhere from five to 15 Acting-A-Part locations opening their doors for business every year. But in order to make that goal a reality, she knows that she&rsquo;s going to need to overcome an entirely new set of obstacles.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve successfully made the transition from independent business to emerging franchise concept. But now we need to take that momentum and build on it so that we continue to grow at a rapid rate,&rdquo; Lupo said. &ldquo;My plan is to continue refining and honing my franchise system so that local owners can hit the ground running as soon as they sign on board. By doing my due diligence and continuing to partner with only top quality candidates, I&rsquo;m confident that 2017 will be a really amazing year for Acting-A-Part.&rdquo;

How a Balance of High and Realistic Standards Helps Erika Lupo Create a Leading Theater Franchise

1851 Franchise

With its first franchise opening this spring, Acting-A-Part is hoping to carve out its own niche in the education segment of the franchising industry.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-a-balance-of-high-and-realistic-standards-helps-erika-lupo-create-a-leading-theater-franchise

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-financial-reporting-analytics-and-business-intelligence-qvinci-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

How a Balance of High and Realistic Standards Helps Erika Lupo Create a Leading Theater Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS