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404.607.SHOW(7469)

TICKETS
DONATE
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TICKETS
DONATE

404.607.SHOW(7469)

Whether you give time, money or everyday household items, your support enables us to do what we do. Please consider giving to AE in one or more of the ways below. Contact [email protected] or 404.875.1606 x102 for more information.

DONATE NOW

Michelle Pokopac and Chris Kayser in Hometown Boy (2021). Photo by Casey Gardner Ford. 

MAKE A DONATION

Our donors are our partners and collaborators. Without you, we simply could not do the alluring, provocative and unexpected work that you have come to expect from Actor’s Express. Whether producing a new, untested play or a bold reinvention of a classic, Actor’s Express strives to present the best modern theatre in Atlanta. Your support enables us to stretch the limits of what contemporary theatre can do. 

Donate today online, by calling the box office or by mailing your donation to the theatre.

 

Actor’s Express
887 West Marietta Street NW, Suite J-107
Atlanta, GA 30318

Remember some employers offer matching gifts! Check with yours to double the impact of your gift.

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EXPLORE YOUR DONATIONS IMPACT

The Value of Partnerships
Planting Seeds Recap

Monthly pledges are a great way to create reliable cash flow to our theater and enjoy exclusive perks; contact us to join our A-List with a monthly pledge of any amount.

$10/month

Can cover the cost of snacks and beverages for each AE read-through rehearsal.

$20/month

Can go toward video licensing for upcoming AE productions.

$50/month

May cover the cost of administrative support for AE’s intern company.

$100/month

Can be used to cover ¼ of a typical actor’s weekly salary.

MONTHLY DONATIONS

JOIN THE A-List

The A-List is a special group of subscribers dedicated to taking Actor’s Express and its unique brand of bold, adventurous theatre to the next level. You can join the A-List by being a subscriber and making a monthly donation of any amount to AE.

Members of the A-list receive these exclusive benefits:

  • A free drink at each show
  • Name recognition in a special section of each program
  • Invitations to Fridays with Freddie, refreshments and conversation with Artistic Director, Freddie Ashley.

 

Make your donation online or contact Alex Scollon at [email protected] for more information about making a pledge.

To officially join you may contact Managing Director Alexander Scollon, via [email protected] or fill out this form. 

The Legacy Society is a group of uniquely devoted individuals who wish to support Actor’s Express in the production of groundbreaking and inspiring works for years to come. It is a recognition for those who have provided for Actor’s Express through their estate plans by including AE through bequest, will, living trust, or other planned gifts.

The Impact of the Legacy Society includes: 

  • The creation of brave and adventurous theatre that Actor’s Express is committed to producing
  • Robust support for the development of new work, and other artistic advancements
  • The cultivation and development of future generations of artists
  • The growth of Actor’s Express staff and community, better equipping our team for the challenge of creating bold and inspired Theatre.
 

The Legacy Society champions the development of Actor’s Express and its unique brand of daring and bold theatre. Legacy Society members may make specific asks as to where their contribution may go, and where they wish to see AE progress in the future. We are grateful for the support of community members like you.

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The Fearless Gala (2024); Photo by Olivia Hackney
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The Fearless Gala (2024); Photo by Olivia Hackney
Why does Actor’s Express need planned gifts?

Many arts organizations are dependent on endowment income in order to create long-term stability and meet leadership demands. Planned Gifts supports the building of these endowments. Large endowments are necessary for the support of any arts organization and especially Actor’s Express with its unique mission of “ Inspiring people to question themselves, their community, and the world around them through the creation of live theater in an inclusive space designed to challenge conventional thinking and reflect contemporary human experiences.” What they will allow you to do is through bequest, wills, charitable trusts, and other planned gifts provide generous support without disturbing your current financial situation.

The most common way to include Actor’s Express is through a will or living trust with a charitable bequest. This will not involve you rewriting your current documents, instead you will just need to include an amendment, called a codicil. With the review of your attorney you may use the example language below: 

“ I give and bequeath to ACTOR’S EXPRESS, Tax Identification Number #581808173, located in Atlanta, Georgia, (Insert Amount).” This amount does not have to be a specific dollar amount, it can be a percentage, appreciated stock, or described real or personal property.

The bequest is fully under your control during your life and becomes irrevocable upon death. If you have further questions you may contact us and, with the review of your attorney, we may discuss what is the best plan of action for your wishes.

We are honored that you have thought to include us, and join our “Legacy Society”. Membership will include a special page in our playbill, where all members will be recognized with a photo, bio on our website, invitations to all exclusive events at AE, including an exclusive invitation to our annual Staff and Board celebration, reserved seating at every show attended, and a drink ticket at every show attended.

SPONSOR A PRODUCTION

Packages start as low as $1,000 and go up to $10,000. Every package includes program ads and special opportunities for you or your team to engage with the artists. Email [email protected] to discuss sponsorship optionsi

DONOR-ADVISED FUND

Quickly and easily create a same-year tax deduction by gifting cash or highly-appreciated stock. For one, consider including Actor’s Express in your Donor-Advised Fund’s succession plan. If you already have one, you can use it to make annual gifts to Actor’s Express simply by sending your Donor-Advised Fund a grant recommendation for AE.

APPRECIATED STOCK

If you owned stock for more than a year and it has increased in value, you can donate the stock directly to Actor’s Express. You will receive an income tax charitable deduction for the full fair market value of your gift when you itemize and you will also eliminate capital gains tax.

RETIREMENT PLANS

Due to tax regulations, the transfer of plan assets to family members, other than the spouse, at the death of the plan participant may trigger an estate tax and income tax, potentially consuming up to 70% of plan assets and leaving little to family members. Leaving other estate assets like cash, stock or real estate to family members while making a charitable gift of plan assets could provide a major gift to Actor’s Express at minimal cost to heirs.

IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER

If you’re over the age of 70½, the IRS requires you to take distributions annually from your individual retirement account and pay taxes on them. Through the IRA Charitable Rollover provision, you can donate directly to Actor’s Express from your IRA account without paying income tax on the gift—so you benefit even if you don’t itemize your tax deductions.


Paint crew for Head Over Heels; Photo by Hollie Rivers

As a non-profit organization, there are everyday items we rely on the kindness of friends for. These donations qualify for a tax deduction, which we’ll document in a tax letter.

We always need:
• Postage (either first class or postcard stamps are great)
• Paper (8.5″ x 11″ or 8.5″ x 14″, laser compatible or copy paper, white or colored)
• Frequent flyer miles
• Gift Certificate(s) to Home Depot, Office Depot, Sam’s Club, Kroger, Target, etc.
• Paint brushes, handles/rollers, paint trays
• Paint supplies

In-kind donations can also come in the form of storage space, truck rental, marketing materials, advertising and more.

DONOR BENEFITS

Individual Donor
• Invitations to Fridays with Freddie 

A List
• Invitations to Fridays with Freddie 
• Listing in all show programs
• Free drink card at shows

Legacy 
• Invitations to Fridays with Freddie 
• Listing in all show programs
• Invitations to opening nights 
• Invitations to special legacy events

$100 + Player
• Invitations to Fridays with Freddie 
• Listing in all show programs

$500 + Stage Manager
• Invitations to Fridays with Freddie 
• Listing in all show programs
• Personal invitation to annual gala, season announcement, Apprentice Company shows, and showcase

$1,000+ Director
• Invitations to Fridays with Freddie 
• Listing in all show programs
• Invitations to an annual gala, season announcement, Apprentice Company shows, and showcase
• Reserved seating at all shows

$5,000+  Producer
• Invitations to Fridays with Freddie
• Listing in all show programs
• Invitations to an annual gala, season announcement, Apprentice Company shows, and showcase
• Reserved seating at all shows
• Invitations to first rehearsals and technical rehearsals 

$10,000+ Executive Producer
• Invitations to Fridays with Freddie 
• Listing in all show programs
• Invitations to an annual gala, season announcement, Apprentice Company shows, and showcase
• Reserved seating at all shows
• Invitations to watch first rehearsals and technical rehearsals
• Specialty listing in all show programs 

Interested in becoming a donor? Email [email protected] or call us at (404) 607-7469

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information and check out the link below.

 

Sponsorship Opportunities

Government Support

• City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
• Fulton County Board of Commissioners
• Georgia Council for the Arts
• National Endowment for the Arts

Major support is provided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts.

Foundation Support

  • Actors’ Equity Foundation
  • The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s Audience
    Building Roundtable
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies
  • Charles Loridans Foundation Inc.
  • Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
    Metropolitan Arts Fund
  • National New Play Network
  • The Imlay Foundation
  • The Shubert Foundation

Corporate Sponsors

  • Arcadia Sales Group
  • IBM
  • Kilpatrick Townsend
  • LiveTheGoals
  • Thompson Hine LLP
  • Warner Brothers Discovery
  • Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery

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Biography

Atlanta: Alliance Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, OnStage Atlanta, Red Phoenix Theatre Company, School Street Playhouse. Regional: Argyle Theatre, John W. Engeman Theatre, HERE Arts Center, CM Performing Arts Center, College Light Opera Company. Education: BFA in Musical Theatre and BA in Technical Theatre, Manhattanville University. Kevin is excited to begin his journey with Actor’s Express with Girl from the North Country. He would like to thank his family and friends for always being in his corner. 

Biography

Mace is a Georgia born and raised theatre artist with a passion for daring and unconventional theatre. In 2024, Mace graduated from Kennesaw State University where they studied scenic design, carpentry, prop making, technical direction, and a variety of other production skills. At Actors Express, they participated in the production processes of “Cabaret,” “Mercury,” and “Topdog/Underdog.” Their local credits include work with Aurora Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Horizon Theatre Company, and Stage Door Theatre. When not in a black box, Mace enjoys cooking for their friends, learning about social liberation, and wading in creeks in the North GA mountains. 

Biography

Actor’s Express: Blues for an Alabama Sky, Mercury, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Cullud Wattah, Sunset Baby, Desire Under the Elms, Lizzie, Bootycandy, Intimate Apparel, Heathers the Musical, Fun Home, Head Over Heels.  Upcoming with Actor’s Express: The rest of Season 36!  Atlanta: Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Horizon, Pinch N Ouch, Out Front Theatre. Outside of that, Nick is a vintage seller when not decorating shows – check out the goods at www.thatvintageguy.com

Biography

Ramey Ward currently serves as the Technical Director at Actor’s Express. Her recent technical direction credits include A Third Way and Topdog/Underdog. Additionally, Ramey was a Scenic Apprentice during the 2023-2024 season, contributing to the productions of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Mercury, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Cabaret (Asst. Scenic Designer), and The Cycle Breakers (Scenic Designer).

Looking ahead, Ramey will take on the roles of both Scenic Designer and Technical Director for The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath, which will close out Season 37 at Actor’s Express.

Ramey holds a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from the University of West Georgia.

Biography

Claire Quinn received her BFA in Acting from CCPA at Roosevelt University in Chicago and her MA in Business of Creative Enterprises from Emerson College in Boston. Her recent credits include Rooted at Horizon Theatre and Flame and Filament at the Atlanta Fringe Festival. Claire is thrilled to be a part of the Actor’s Express team! 

Biography

Amanda Washington currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Actor’s Express. She joined Actor’s Express as the National New Play Network Producer in Residence from 2020 to 2022. Her AE directing credits include, Crossroads, Sunset Baby, cullud wattah, and Blues for an Alabama Sky. Amanda guides the apprentice company during their one-year sojourn with AE. Other areas of her work include Community Engagement and assisting the playwrights for the AE Playwrighting Commission Program. Amanda received her MFA in directing from the University of Southern Mississippi and her BA from Brenau University. To learn more about Amanda, visit her website at www.washingtonamanda.com.

Biography

Marysa Sutton joined Actor’s Express in July of 2021. She has previously worked in the world of campaign finance and public service. Her theatre credits begin and end with Switzer Elementary School’s production of Santa, You’ve Got Mail where she starred as Ms. Walker.

Biography

Seamus M. Bourne (Director of Production) has worked in production management for over ten years, the last several with Actor’s Express. He has designed scenery at AE for a number of productions including:  Topdog/Underdog, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Urinetown, Red Speedo, Skintight, Wolves, Next Fall and Spring Awakening. He has designed scenery or worked in other production capacities throughout Atlanta, including The Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare and Theatre in the Square. Seamus is a four time Suzi Bass Award nominee. When not working, Seamus is Dad to Maddie & Holden, a home chef, and is a player/manager on an amateur baseball team in Atlanta. www.smbourne.com

Biography

Freddie Ashley has been Artistic Director of Actor’s Express since 2007. He has directed around 50 AE productions, including Doubt, Fun Home, The Crucible and Prayer for the French Republic. Locally, his work has been seen at Dad’s Garage, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Jewish Theatre of the South, Theatre Gael and numerous projects with Aurora Theatre. Regional credits include The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee at Connecticut Repertory Theatre, as well as many new play projects with the Playwrights’ Center, Kennedy Center, New Group, Page 73 and the Alliance Theatre, where he was Literary Manager and served as dramaturg for some 30 productions.

Ashley has worked on new play projects with some of the most compelling and important writers working in the American theatre today, including John Patrick Shanley, Joshua Harmon, Lindsey Ferrentino, Jen Silverman, Kenneth Lin, Janine Nabers, Marco Ramirez and Michael Lew.

He has been a frequent guest artist or lecturer at such universities as Virginia Commonwealth University, Hendrix College, University of Georgia, Austin Peay State University, South Carolina School of the Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Oglethorpe University. He served on faculty at Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, where he taught for 21 years.

He is a four-time Suzi Bass Award winner for acting and directing, and he has been named Best Director in Atlanta three times by Creative Loafing. Other awards include the Elliott Hayes Award for Dramaturgy from the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Medallion of Excellence. He has been profiled in American Theatre magazine in 2016, 2018 and 2025. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National New Play Network and on advisory boards for Emigrant Theatre and Working Title Playwrights.

 

He holds an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.

www.freddieashley.com

Biography

Ebony L. Jerry is a former 2017-2018 Actor’s Express Intern. She received her BFA in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her credits include Suzi Award Winning for Best Ensemble The Wolves playing #8 at Horizon Theater, and Synchronicity Theater’s The Bluest Eye as the swing. She is very excited to be back at Actors Express, where it all began.

Biography

Actor’s Express: 2016-2017 Intern Company. Stage Manager: Blackpool and Parrish (Out of Box Theatre). Director: Shadow Cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Next Fall (Georgia College). Irene Ryan and SDI nominations from KCACTF Region 4. BA in Theatre from Georgia College and State University. So thankful and excited for the opportunity to work with the artists and fellow interns at AE!

Biography

Actor’s Express: Sheila has been involved with Actor’s Express off and on since 1992 serving as Casting Assistant, Assistant Director, Props, Stage Manager, House Manager, Dramaturg and Fund Raising Coordinator. Other: She has served in many capacities at many theatres in Atlanta as well as Directing. She joined Chris Coleman at Portland Center Stage where she was Manager of Corporate Giving. Education: Sheila majored in theatre at the University of Texas. Email Sheila at [email protected].

Biography

Alex Scollon received his BFA from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama with a concentration in Production and Technical Management, and in 2005 received his Master of Arts Management degree from the Heinz School of Public Policy also at Carnegie Mellon. During the early phase of his career Alex has specialized in leading small theatres and multidisciplinary arts organizations to grow into important cultural centers in their communities while maximizing earned revenue, developing strong boards of directors, and creating partnerships with local government and community organizations. Passionate about community development and engaging the next generation of leaders, Alex has been involved in numerous boards and committees including, downtown associations, chambers of commerce and NEA sponsored emerging arts leadership networks. He is thrilled to join the team at Actor’s Express and looks forward to building on the theatre’s already amazing reputation. When not at the theatre you will likely find him trying a newly opened restaurant, at a terrible movie, or reading about space exploration.