Local theater company franchises

By Rose Sgarlato
SPARTA – Acting-A-Part, the local theater and movie company, recently franchised with locations to come in California and Pennsylvania. Founder and owner Erika Lupo talks about her journey 15 years later and why she thinks the company is bigger and better than ever.
“Acting –A –Part is a unique program offering a curriculum for the arts like no other. It is designed to build confidence by motivating and inspiring our students,” Lupo said.
Offering theater, television and film programs that encompass acting, directing and writing components of a production, Acting –A-Part has something for everyone. A variety of 10 to 15-week programs get participants involved with the whole creative process. And students are anywhere from 3-years-old to high school age. More recently, Lupo has added adults to the mix.
“Exciting, different, fun, creative, unique and affordable” are words Lupo uses when talking about her company.
She is no stranger to the stage and working with children. Before launching Acting-A-Part in Sparta in 2001, Lupo was a public school English teacher and created theatre programs in both Ramsey and Maplewood NJ. Her father Otto Salamon, now 82, was a William Morris agent and a producer for both TV and movies.
Coming up with new and creative concepts and tailoring programs to individual students is what makes Acting-A-Part a successful formula.
“I talk to the parent one –on- one so I can guide the child on what would work best for them,” said Lupo. “And the Acting-A-Part message is successfully translated through teachers some of who were former students. “
Another standout feature in the Acting –A-Part philosophy is that everyone is accepted with no auditions necessary.
“Every child is gifted in their own way. We accept everyone for who they are despite their challenges.”
This winning concept propelled Lupo to take her business to the next level in the form of franchising. After the lengthily process which took several years, Acting-A-Part was ready to be put on the block last June at the International Franchise Show in New York City where over 500 visitors stopped at the booth.
“The response was overwhelming and people found Acting-A-Part to offer more than most local theatre programs,” she said.
Presently, Acting –A-Part has two locations in New Jersey: Sparta and Ridgewood, and coming soon will be several locations in California and one in Pennsylvania. Lupo adds that negotiations are being finalized.
In addition to getting interest in franchised locations at the show, Lupo did a live radio broadcast on AM970 focusing on entrepreneurs in franchising that was parlayed into a business article in Entrepreneur Magazine.
“The magazine was focusing on women entrepreneurs, and I was featured on the cover as having he best new children’s franchise,” said Lupo.
The snowball effect continues as now Lupo has a weekly radio show on AM 970 called Women in the Loop where she interviews female contemporaries who also invest in new businesses.
An on-line newsletter, 1851franchise.com recently said. “Acting-A-Part is paving the way in the theatre franchising industry.”
It seems that Lupo has just scratched the surface with Acting-A-Apart and the future road is long and prosperous.
For more information on franchising or enrolling visit www.actingapart.com or call 973-879-3651.