(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Actors Playground School of Theatre, a beloved creative hub in New Jersey known for its innovative curriculum and deep commitment to student support, proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary this May.
Since opening its doors in 2005 under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Ralph Colombino, the school has become a cornerstone of theater education, transforming the lives of young artists and igniting the power of storytelling for social change.
Over the past two decades, Actors Playground has cultivated a culture where students feel safe, supported, and artistically challenged. “When a student truly feels supported, not just by their teacher, but by their classmates as well, their self-esteem will be strengthened,” says Colombino. “That’s when their work will skyrocket.”
Taught by working actors and educators with advanced theatre degrees, the Playground’s curriculum spans a wide range of acting styles and techniques. The school’s mission is to build confidence, encourage creativity, and inspire discovery. What sets it apart is its unwavering support outside the classroom: students receive free one-on-one coaching, including taping sessions for auditions and college prescreens - an unprecedented offering in performing arts education.
This commitment has paid off. Alumni have been accepted into every top-tier theater conservatory, including ten currently enrolled at Rutgers University’s prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts. Notable students include Shea Grant, starring as Claudia in Stranger Things on Broadway, and Ryan Buggle, who has been playing Noah Benson on Law & Order SVU for eight years.
Actors Playground is also home to the Playground Theatre Project (PTP) - a socially conscious ensemble of student leaders who tour the country performing powerful original plays about pressing social issues, including bullying, racism, mental health, and violence. Their critically acclaimed piece Lost Angels has run for ten years and remains a poignant catalyst for conversation and healing among young audiences.
Following one recent performance at a teen wellness conference, Lanette Mantle, Adolescent Health/Suicide Prevention Program Manager, said: “Many kids said they finally understood what they were going through and wanted to know how to get help. This play gave them the words.”
The youngest branch of this mission-driven theatre work is the Mini Misfits, a peer-led troupe of elementary-aged performers delivering an anti-bullying message to young students across the region. With 15 years of performances and the distinction of being the youngest social issue theater company in the world, they embody the Playground’s ethos of using art to make the world better.
Actors Playground isn’t just a school - it’s a sanctuary. Countless testimonials from parents and students echo the same sentiment: here, young artists find family, confidence, acceptance, and purpose. Students return week after week, year after year, not just to train, but to belong.
“It’s not just a place where my son could study his craft, hone his skills, and feed his passion,” said one parent. “It’s a place where he could feel safe, encouraged, and cared for. AP ROCKS!”
As the Playground celebrates 20 years of creative excellence, its mission remains unchanged: to provide unmatched theater training in a nurturing environment, to empower students to reach their potential, and to use theatre as a force for good.
