Our History
A 501c3 established in 2015 but originally co-founded by Emily Wolfgang and Jessica Shoop in 2012 as The Little Black Box Theatre Company.
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.
Co-Founder
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. For Emily, the creation of Black Box is the perfect combination of her loves and talents. After almost 10 years as Artistic Director, Emily stepped back from her daily duties at Black Box but continues as Executor of the Dandelion Scholarship Program as well as a visiting instructor and consultant for the Black Box. She couldn’t be more thrilled to have a space where love, laughter, and learning can be shared with her students and the community.