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

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Photo of two people, with white hair, sitting on couch, smiling at each other

Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Care Services Expands in Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia

seniors-helping-seniors-in-home-care-services-expands-in-manassas-and-fredericksburg-virginia

BooXkeeping

Tech-Driven Bookkeeping: How BooXkeeping Franchisees Are Embracing the Future

tech-driven-bookkeeping-how-booxkeeping-franchisees-are-embracing-the-future

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier's State-of-the-Art Facilities and Multi-Discipline Approach Fuels Franchise Owner Success

fitness-premiers-state-of-the-art-facilities-and-multi-discipline-approach-fuels-franchise-owner-success

Melting Pot

Melting Pot 50th anniversary photo, featuring three people enjoying celebratory drinks and fondue

Melting Pot Celebrates 50 Years of Fondue Magic With a Year of Special Menus, New Offerings and Unforgettable Moments

melting-pot-50th-anniversary-fondue-celebration

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

Kathy Turner: The Filta Franchisee Keeping LA's Kitchens Cooking (and Green)

kathy-turner-the-filta-franchisee-keeping-las-kitchens-cooking-and-green

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

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company

Hooters Bankruptcy - Chapter 11 - April 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Restaurants to Franchisee Group

hooters-bankruptcy-chapter-11-april-2025

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

&pizza - Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Begins Franchising - 1851 Franchise

&pizza Embraces Franchising To Fuel Bold New Growth Strategy

andpizza-franchising-ceo-mike-burns

CFOs See Recession as Likely in ’25; Why Now Is the Time To Water the Franchise Buyer Seeds

cfos-see-recession-as-likely-in-25-why-now-is-the-time-to-water-the-franchise-buyer-seeds

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

Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support: 1851 Supplier Highlights

Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support: List of Franchise Suppliers

emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Franchise Banking/Financing | ApplePie Capital — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-bankingfinancing-applepie-capital-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Clayton Kendall: Revolutionizing the Franchise Marketing Supply Chain

clayton-kendall-revolutionizing-the-franchise-marketing-supply-chain

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Franchise Deep Dive: Studio Pilates Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

franchise-deep-dive-studio-pilates-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Military Veteran and Craft Beer Enthusiast to Bring Voodoo Brewing Co. to Toledo, Ohio

military-veteran-and-craft-beer-enthusiast-to-bring-voodoo-brewing-co-to-toledo-ohio

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

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS