About Us

The Humanitarian Players (“THP”) is a startup, 501(c)3 non-profit, theatrical troupe dedicated to serving as a fundraiser event for any grass root charities whom are also focused on improving quality of life for our communities.  THP just received its 501(c)3 in June 2024! We are currently raising seed money to at least pay rent for a space in which to meet and rehearse. See the “Donate Here” button above if you wish to contribute.

Improving life for the few uplifts our whole community. Community by community we can create a web of healthy interconnectedness and interdependence. No man is an island. It’s all for one and one for all—together we thrive.

Fundraiser Events

THP has rights to a western melodrama series called Good Measures, created by its founder, PJ Thiessen. Good Measures uses the same main characters for each episode, which saves on lights, sets, and costumes. Each character has a few actors learning the part, so there is always someone available to play the role at any given fundraiser. Audiences enjoy watching their favorite, familiar comic characters or actors in changing episodes while helping to raise funds.

THP’s first troupe will start in Polk County, NC.  As THP develops we hope to start new troupes in other communities in the hope of creating a web of linked communities. Connecting to the needs of one’s community requires generating an atmosphere of informed communication. Audiences will be able to engage in conversation about the need for the cause being promoted with each other, the sponsoring charity(ies), and the set stock characters who fear change.

In small communities where resources are spread thin, THP will have to share its area artists with other local performing arts groups. By having multiple actors and musicians performing the same roles, it allows performers to continue to participate with these other groups. Also, we realize there are many other fundraisers in the community, and THP is happy to coordinate with them to avoid conflicting event dates.

Theatre Craft Education

It is part of THP’s mission to help educate the community in the craft of theatre arts. Our first project for the community will be in the craft of acting.

Youth Acting Classes

We plan to develop children’s talents in our local schools by offering free acting lessons after school. Acting lessons are helpful to children on many levels. We also hope it will support local theatrical groups in their endeavors to develop new generations of actors. Acting classes help people of any age learn more about themselves, gain confidence and practice in effective communication, move outside of self-focused insecurities to focus more on others and the world around them, and develop public speaking skills, all essential for our next generations of community members and its leaders. We hope to develop young leaders and community members who will want to stay in and contribute to our county rather than emigrate elsewhere after high school.

Adult Novice and Intermediate Acting Class

We plan to provide daytime and evening acting lessons for actors from novice to intermediate levels to help them develop their craft. There are various exercises actors can practice to develop and improve their skills. The actors will discover the combination of techniques that work best for them through our instructing the various acting methods across history, including representational vs presentational, Stanislavsky, The Method, and Uta Hagen’s practice from New York’s HB Studio. Actors will practice monologues that may also be developed as audition pieces, practice dialogue in scene study to interact with other actors and build character development, and practice analyzing a script. The study of acting helps in more ways than simply performing plays for the community; practice in using the voice and body to communicate helps prepare one for job interviews, contribute one’s voice to public meetings, effectively work with clients, enhance public relations skills, and many other benefits to one’s career and community life.

Acting Workshops

We plan to create a space for veteran actors to hone their talents. Here an actor can get help from staff and fellow actors to prepare for an audition, learn lines, develop a character, analyze a script, and develop acting techniques.

While we can provide instruction, it is only the individual who can discover his or her place in acting. Here we encourage actors to be responsible for their own learning, for mastering their craft, while studying with others and sharing resources. We encourage self-study, self-discovery, and self-mastery. We teach it is not the job of the actor to be great, but to do his job to the best of his ability; for in the pursuit of doing a good job, greatness is occasionally released.

To contact The Humanitarian Players, call 434-221-5113 or email thehumanitarianplayers@gmail.com.