A new children’s rehearsal-centered theater studio and performance space has opened in the Thornton Park District. PaperMap Theater & Co. is located at 2 N. Summerlin Avenue in the former Artifact Candle Foundry, just a few blocks from the Howard Middle School Academy of Arts.
Founder and Artistic Director Richie Akers, originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, relocated to Orlando in 2019, bringing years of theater experience to downtown Orlando. He and his family live close by in the Lake Eola Heights neighborhood.
“The studio is for children ages 10 to 17,” Akers said. “Kids work more on telling the story in an informal space, rather than reaching a huge audience. As [the acting industry] moves more towards film and television productions, this type of theater lends itself well [to those genres].”
In the black box theater students will learn costuming, sound design, light design and, of course, acting, but with minimal sets. There is no backstage, so family and friends who come to watch performances will witness the entire production, front and backstage.
Four productions have already been announced: “The Outsiders,” “Puffs” (a Harry Potter–themed play), “She Kills Monsters” and Kate Hamill’s “Pride & Prejudice.”
“We’re really excited to participate in creating community arts,” Akers said.
PaperMap Theater & Co. is a new rehearsal-centered theater studio and performance space for children. Founder and Artistic Director Richie Akers previously ran a similar business in Iowa. (LOGAN LAMPHERE)