About Us

The Acting Out Playhouse began 14 summers ago when its founder, award-winning director and choreographer, Terry Odell, heard a call to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  She started a program called CPR, Children Performing for Relief, to raise money for the families victimized by the horrible disaster.  They worked hard, produced and performed several concerts in Orange County, NY that raised over $2500 for students in New Orleans.  During the project, it became clear that the positive affect on the children involved here was immeasurable.  Life skills were built, empathy and teamwork taught, a sense of pride in accomplishment and purpose.  At that moment, Terry saw the importance of dedicating her professional life to the opening of an official theater group for children that would be built on those very principals, and The Acting Out Playhouse was born.
 
The Playhouse is now an important learning and social community for over 150 Orange County children.  We have produced over 30 full-scale productions, performing them on small Black Box stages as well as on some of the largest venues in the area, such as the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center. Money has been raised for local and national charities and performed for schools, senior centers and local fairs.  
 

The AOP Team

Here's is my wonderful team of colleagues.  They are a really more like a part of my family.  I couldn't do it without their incredible talents! 

Welcome to our Playhouse family!

-Miss Terry

Terry has over 40 years of experience in the Performing Arts as a director, choreographer, dance instructor, performer and vocalist.  This expertise, combined with her Elementary and Special Needs teaching experience has culminated in the creation of the area’s finest children’s performing arts school and theater; one which often welcomes back children who have even already experienced nearby Broadway and Off-broadway successes.

Yvonne Bel, NYPD Lieutenant turned Costumer and Seamstress…

When this former NYPD Lieutenant retired after 20 years on the force, she had no clue that she’d spend the next 6 years single-handedly costuming an average of 6 full cast shows a year for The Acting Out Playhouse. Needless to say, we are both well-protected and well-dressed at The AOP!

Dom Pascullo has been the music director/pit conductor of the teen class at The Acting Out Playhouse for the past three seasons and also serves as the Director of the 5th grade class.  Dom is currently studying to be a teacher at SUNY New Paltz.  Living in Monroe, NY, Mr. Pascullo currently serves as the Creative Director of the Souza Scholarship for the Performing Arts as well as the Creative Director of the Monroe-Woodbury Summer Enrichment Musical Theatre Workshop.  

Cindy has a degree in child psychology from the University of California at Irvine and Pepperdine University in California. She worked for 13 years as a Behavioral Specialist, a Paraprofessional in the school district, a private tutor and in home interventionist, and a Social Skills Counselor for children with ADHD, and other related childhood disorders. 

She is a huge roller hockey fan, player (tried out for Olympic team!) and coach (High School Boys Varsity all the way to National Champs!), motorcycle racer, PTA President and girlscout leader. She currently divides her time between her job with Jenny Craig and The Acting Out Playhouse, where her job is very integral and multi-faceted, involving tuition collection, record keeping and running all the summer camp off-stage activities and parent communications. During show times, she assists in every way possible from painting sets to helping with costuming to providing caffeine, and for the kids...plenty of hugs and lots of laughter.