ACT was founded by experienced classical actors, educators, musicians, and artists in Arizona. Each one of our artists is a veteran in their professional field. Read our bios below.
JAMES D. PORTER - James founded ACT in 2009 on a shoestring and a prayer. He is a 10-year veteran of the professional stage and has taught theater and Shakespeare to schoolchildren for 7 years. He was a member of the nationally-acclaimed Looking Glass Theater performing original works in schools all over New England.
DANETTE D'ANJOU - Danette has a degree in Musical Theatre Performance from the American Musical Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles where she studied singing, acting, and dance. Her background also includes extensive stage combat as well as fencing. Danette worked with Childsplay Inc. where she conducted school workshops on acting and improvisation.
STEFAN DOLLAK - Director of Bartholomew Faire (the valley's most eclectic medieval/renaissance band) and Green Street (a vocal ensemble that specializes in 'forgotten' American singing traditions), Stefan Dollak is a veteran presentor and performer on dozens of instruments, many of which are representative of Shakespeare's time: the lute, pipe & tabor, hurdy gurdy and shawm, to name a few. In addition to being an early music specialist, Stefan is a scholar of Middle English, can use an astrolabe, can ramble eloquent on folklore and mythology, and can throw the boomerang.
JIM COATES - Jim Coates is a professional character actor, a private teacher of the Alexander Technique, an acting coach, a theatre raconteur, and a lecturer and consultant on Theatre Arts and the Humanities.
JASON BARTH - Jason is an accomplished classical actor and veteran of Valley stages for over 10 years. He has performed in over half of Shakespeare's canon to critical acclaim and award-winning turns as Puck and Macbeth. Jason is a seasoned combatant and fight choreographer and regularly teaches workshops on stage combat and Shakespeare. He is the co-founder of Living Art Studios, specializing in vintage and period photography.
KAITLIN O'NEAL - Kaitlin has an MFA in Theater from the University of Delaware, a BFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University, and she is an 8-year veteran of the New York City stage. She recently appeared opposite René Auberjonois at The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. to great critical acclaim.