Our Story
We Just Keep Growing
Black Box Theatre Company continually seeks to expand theatre education in the youth of our community and surrounding areas. After its conception in 2012, Black Box officially became a 501c3 not-for-profit organization in 2015. Since our beginning, our goal has remained the same — to bring the arts to the children of Boone County and its neighbors.
“A little black box can have anything inside it, just like our children. Our theatre company’s purpose is to remind students that we are all special and significant in this world and that they too have a voice and ideas that deserve to be heard. It is my hope that Black Box becomes a place where confidence and camaraderie flourish. It is through the Arts that young people can take their energy and put it toward a goal of which they can be proud.” ~ Emily Wolfgang
Our Mission
We get parents and students involved on every level.
“Teaching Character to Build Character” is more than a slogan to the Black Box Theatre Company. Our mission is to utilize a variety of performing arts to bolster the self-confidence of today’s youth. We strive to create a collaborative environment where each participant and his or her family feels welcome, heard, and respected. Our goal is to guide our students through the creative process to enhance their confidence in other aspects of their lives, both socially and academically. By focusing on the process of creation, education, and balance, we can give our students a sense of accomplishment that stretches far beyond the walls of our little Black Box.
Our Team
The Black Box Team is made up of individuals from diverse professional backgrounds including business, law, computer science, theatre management, acting, music, art, and education. The team makes special attempts to use its variety of complimentary talents to help make the Black Box a special and supportive space for students.
Emily Wolfgang
Emily grew up in Lebanon, IN. She followed her dream to be in show business by attending UC Santa Barbara as a film major. Transferring to Indiana University gave her the opportunity to be classically trained as an actor and receive a degree in Education, with masters courses in English Lit, Journalism, and Shakespeare. After a stint with ComedySportz Indianapolis, she continued her pursuit of the Arts by enrolling in The Second City’s 2-year Conservatory program for Improvisational Comedy.
Teacher by day and actor by night, she lived her dreams in Chicago for four years. During that time she acted in and choreographed for shows in the improv circuit as well as the schools. In August of 1999, she turned her focus toward full-time teaching and happily landed in Arizona where she shared her knowledge and passion for the Arts, including dance, drama, comedy, cheer, basic music, and winter guard. Focusing on family brought a change.
She now is back in Indiana, raising her children with her husband Andy. Emily is happy her path has turned full circle and is able to pay forward the love of dance and acting to the community that gave her her start. She was honored to continue her work with young people and upon returning to the community has directed a countless array of programs and productions over the last 15 years.
Currently, Emily teaches Language Arts, Fine Arts, and Journalism for the Lebanon Community School Corporation while also serving as Black Box’s Artistic Director. For Emily, the creation of Black Box is the perfect combination of her loves and talents. She couldn’t be more thrilled to have a space where love, laughter, and learning can be shared with her students and the community.
Tricia Acton
Tricia has always loved the theatre and continues to be a participant, patron, and promoter of theatrical arts in her native Boone County. She studied solo and choral music while performing first with Lebanon High School’s Charisma and Madrigal Singers, then with the Purduettes at Purdue University. She studied instrumental music, playing the flute in the LHS Tiger Pride Marching and Concert Band and tenor saxophone in the LHS Jazz Band. Whether on stage singing as Maria in the “Sound of Music” or supporting a cast while playing in the pit band, Tricia knows first-hand how important theatrical experience can be to a child’s complete development.
The mother of three sons, Tricia has encouraged each one to participate in school productions, both onstage and backstage, as well as the many opportunities offered by Black Box Theatre Company. She believes a well-rounded person has not only had success with the three R’s of traditional education, but has also met the challenge of the three C’s of theatrical participation, namely confidence, collaboration, and character.
Tricia brings over 28 years of business and managerial experience to her position as Executive Director. In her professional role as vice president of a nationwide wellness company, she has coordinated the schedules of clients and screening teams while managing the cost of doing business. She also has an extensive background in training, mentoring, and supervising individuals. Her dedication and skills help Black Box Theatre Company meet its financial and organizational growth goals in order to serve the children of Boone and surrounding counties, giving them a place to feel safe, be encouraged, and to shine.
Kelley Hulse
Kelley grew up in a small town in southern Illinois. She graduated valedictorian of her high school and went on to further her education at Ball State University. While attending BSU, she took classes in acting, music, dance, Shakespeare, clowning, design, and more. She had the opportunity to observe auditions, listen to casting panels, direct shows, and perform on stage and in front of a camera. Some of her more notable stage roles include Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz), and Little Red (Into the Woods). Her notable film work includes a national commercial for Ball State University and several short films partnering with SONY to provide test footage for a new line of 4K cameras.
She graduated from Ball State University magna cum laude with a BA in Theatrical Studies, minor in marketing, and Academic Honors in Writing, originally intending to pursue casting and talent management. However, after starting at Black Box in Fall 2016, she fell in love with the mission and realized her true passion was teaching.
Since joining Black Box, Kelley has played a part in numerous shows: The Lion King Jr, Beauty and the Beast Jr, The Little Mermaid Jr, Frozen Jr, Willy Wonka Jr, Mary Poppins Jr, Into the Woods, and Tuck Everlasting — just to name a few! Whether it be directing, costuming, stage managing, or stunt coordinating, Kelley loves being a part of the amazing processes at Black Box.
Along with shows, Kelley has brought a number of educational opportunities to Black Box, including dialect, puppetry, and voice lessons. She is also head of the Internship Program and Game Master for the Black Box LARP Club. Kelley has returned to study at her alma mater to pursue her Masters in Secondary Education and teaching certification.
Kelley is a cat person who loves D&D and video games. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her fiance (husband on 9/23/23!), Sean, their two cats, Daenerys Targaryen and Jinora, and their husky, Howl.
Brandy DeVol-Moss
Brandy DeVol-Moss got her start in the entertainment industry by helping manage her daughter’s career as an up-and-coming child actor and variety/circus performer. In helping her daughter navigate the “showbiz” waters, Brandy realized that she also had talents to share. This led to becoming a producer with Team Dharma Productions, where the team made several award-winning films.
Brandy has a love of independent film, circus, and especially clowning. Her passion to share these not-so-traditional art forms with the next generation led to her creating the Black Box Bozos, a clown alley for Jr Joeys (kid clowns) that has grown to be the largest youth clown alley in the world. She writes and directs the annual Circus Spectacular and also directs other stage shows (musicals and plays) at the Black Box. In addition to directing, she teaches several classes and camps including Makeup Design and Application, Intro to Musical Theatre, Circus Camp, Cinematic Studies, and more. Brandy loves directing and teaching, but she gets the most joy out of leading the Bozos and working with them on community outreach projects and performances.
Katie Walters
Katie was raised in Versailles, IN, but currently resides in Clermont with her husband, Joel, her son, Lincoln, and her two fat cats, Jude and Charlie. She graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a BA in Music Education, licensed in Choral and General Music. She was also named as Future Music Educator of the Year for the State of Indiana, a title only awarded to 4 students that year. Katie comes from a long line of educators and music lovers. She began her career with the Lebanon Community School Corporation in 2016 teaching K-5 General Music at Central and Perry-Worth Elementaries. In the Fall of 2021, she became full-time at Perry-Worth Elementary.
In her first year, a student came up and told her about Black Box Theatre Company and asked her to come to watch him in The Lion King, Jr. that summer. After seeing the show, Katie knew she wanted to become involved! She started working at Black Box in the summer of 2018 and has loved every moment spent with the students and staff! The constant creativity and camaraderie has been inspiring and has led her to teach a variety of classes including swing dance, private ukulele lessons, private voice lessons, arts camp, musical theatre camp, once upon a stage, and more. Katie hopes everyone gets a chance to come to experience the Black Box magic!
Anneliese Wolfgang
Lead Teacher / Instructor
Anneliese Wolfgang
Anneliese Wolfgang is a graduate of Lebanon High School and is now a freshman at Indiana University studying elementary education and theatre. She has been a part of the Black Box program for 13 years, both as a performer and a teacher. In high school, Anneliese was involved in Tigerettes Color Guard, Charisma Show Choir, school plays and musicals, Black Box shows, Madrigals, ballet, tap, improv, and so much more. Anneliese loves theatre and is so glad that she gets to share her knowledge and passion with the younger kids.
Evan Wolfgang
Lead Teacher / Instructor
Evan Wolfgang
Evan Wolfgang is an Acting Major at the University of Connecticut, working towards his undergraduate BFA. During the school year, Evan works closely with the Connecticut Repertory Theatre.
Evan grew up in Lebanon, IN, and started his theatre career at the Black Box. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 2021. A passionate performer and teacher, Evan has worked as a teacher, director, and assistant on many Black Box shows, classes, and camps, including being the lead teacher on the ever-popular Movie Camp and directing Black Box’s productions of Wind in the Willows and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He has also participated in school, youth, and community theatre around the Indianapolis area, as well as making the step to professional theatre through the CRT.
In addition to being a Black Box teacher, Evan is a member of the Night Club and Night Club Club Improv Troupe and is a creative lead of Jump the Creek Productions. He also continues to work as an actor, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Neil Acton
Lead Teacher / Instructor
Neil Acton
Neil Acton has taken the stage in roles that include John Proctor (The Crucible), Edward Bloom (Big Fish), Gomez Addams (The Addams Family Musical), Paris (Romeo and Juliet), Peter (The Diary Anne Frank), Cinderella’s Prince (Into The Woods), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)[Revised], Peter Pevinsie (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe), Shrek (Shrek the Musical), Tinman (The Wizard of Oz), and more. He has also worked behind the scenes, both as a Director and Sound Technician.
Neil is a skilled vocalist, dancer, and acro base (dance, tumbling, etc.) who has a passion for music. He lends his multiple talents to the Black Box in a variety of positions including as an Assistant Director, Lead Teacher, Sound Designer/Tech, Scene Shop Designer, and more.
Neil attends Purdue University, where he is pursuing a major in Audio Engineering. He is also a member of the prestigious Purdue Varsity Glee Club.
Taylor Moss
LEAD TEACHER / INSTRUCTOR
Taylor Moss
Taylor Moss began performing at the tender age of five when she sang in her first talent show. Since that time, she has trained in nearly every medium, including film, stage, variety, dance, and more. She has won multiple film and acting awards and is currently represented by Jeffrey Loseff Management (based in L.A.) and agent Scott Tucker of Talent Fusion (based in Indianapolis).
Taylor is a classically trained ballerina. She has studied dance primarily with MaryLou Hume and Don Steffy and has taken many master classes from professional teachers and performers. She shares this talent with the Black Box by choreographing shows (Mary Poppins Jr, Big Fish, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, etc) and teaching dance classes.
She is also a professionally trained circus artist, focusing on aerial arts (Lyra, flying trapeze, static trapeze, corde lisse, and more), but also other circus arts including clowning, contortion, juggling, and more. She is also the co-founder of the Black Box Bozos, which has become the largest Jr. Joey alley in the world.
Taylor is also an accomplished vocalist and trains here at Black Box with Kelley Johnson.
Another talent that Taylor brings to Black Box is her expertise in makeup application and design. She has lent her hand to multiple productions and has helped elevate the characters to the next level.
Notable stage roles include Abigail Williams in The Crucible, Winnie Foster in Tuck Everlasting, Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Sandra Bloom in Big Fish, performing all over the United States as her alter ego Hoops the Clown, Alice in The Addams Family, and many more. Taylor is currently a student at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI where she is double majoring in Theatre and Translation & Interpretation (world languages).
Chloe Scott
Lead Teacher / Instructor
Chloe Scott
Chloe is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Communication and Marketing. She started as a student at Black Box when it first opened back in 2012, and was involved in many shows such as The Little Mermaid Jr (Sebastian), Willy Wonka Jr (Mike Teevee), Beauty and The Beast Jr, The Hobbit (Gollum) and Annie Jr.
Chloe took dance lessons at Sherry, Terry, and Jill’s School of Dance for 4 years and was a Tigerette for 2 years. She also participated in the Follies community musical for 4 years. When she isn’t teaching at Black Box, she enjoys spending time with her husband Brayden, and the rest of her family. She owns The Balloon Bar, a balloon decor company, where she gets to spend most weekends celebrating special events with her clients.
Chloe teaches a variety of classes at Black Box including but not limited to Jr Ensemble, Movement Ensemble, and Intro to Musical Theatre. She feels blessed to be able to share her skills and passion for theater with so many talented staff and youth in the very same place that sparked her creativity and love for performing years ago.
Samantha Buckway
Instructor
Samantha Buckway
Samantha was born and raised in Ogden Utah, but her family moved to Lebanon in 2017. With over 30 years of experience as a pianist and almost twenty of them teaching piano students of her own, it’s safe to say that music has played a pivotal role in her life. She was a member of her High School’s top Madrigal and Concert Choirs, as well as a member of the Jazz Band. Musical Theatre also became a huge love for her during her school years when she had the opportunity to join the casts of Annie, Footloose, and Children of Eden.
Samantha is a mom to five amazing kids and currently homeschools three of them. She and her husband Jared absolutely love attending the choir performances, ballet and piano recitals, and musical theater shows that come along with having all of their kids involved in the world of performing arts. In her spare time, if she gets any, she also enjoys crocheting, baking, and just spending time with her family.
Samantha is passionate about teaching and loves working with children of all ages. She is very excited to be joining Black Box as an instructor and she’s looking forward to helping the students of Black Box discover their own love of music and theater.
Julie Lakomek
Instructor
Julie Lakomek
With over 26 years of teaching experience, Julie Lakomek is excited to be teaching at Black Box Theatre. She grew up in the Cincinnati area and earned her undergraduate degree in music education from Eastern Kentucky University. In 1999 she made the move to Indiana where she has been teaching in Lebanon ever since. Julie’s primary teaching role is at Harney Elementary School where she teaches music to students in PreK to 5th grade.
Beyond her professional teaching life, Julie is a mother of 2 children. Her son is a business major at the University of Louisville where he also excels in track. Her daughter, a junior at Westfield High School, plays the bassoon in the band and applies herself to her studies. She spends her summer performing in the percussion section of a Drum Corps.
During the summer months, Julie continues to share her love of music with Drum Corps International. There she works on the event management team creating a positive experience for performers and fans of the marching arts community.
Deanna Jones
Instructor
Deanna Jones
Deanna Jones, born and raised in Lebanon Indiana, has a passion for serving the children and young adults in her community. For years she has been an avid fan of theatre and the arts, watching many productions both professional and community-based. She also has an affinity for special needs students and is making a positive difference working alongside the instructors at Black Box. She worked in child care for over ten years before joining the United States Postal Service from which she will be retiring in 2024.
What We Offer
With a wide-range of programs available to all ages, we are sure to have something for you or your child.
All the world's
a stage.
~ Shakespeare
We offer various programs for all ages throughout the year. Classes are rotated and scheduled based on need, interest, and staffing considerations.
We are always preparing for another show or event!
Programs
- Acting
- Dialect
- Prop & Set Design
- Costuming & Makeup
- High School Performance
- Scene Studies
- Musical Theatre
- Improvisational Comedy
- Film Making
- Clowning
- Movement & Private Lessons
- Summer Camps
Shows & Events
- Spring Musical
- Birthday Parties
- Open Mic Nights
- Holiday Programs
- Conservatory Programs