Exciting news for InterAct Story Theatre!

Ali Oliver Is New General Director of InterAct Story Theatre

After 28 successful years as the founding Director of InterAct, Lenore Blank Kelner is “passing the torch” to Ali Oliver, who is the new General Director of InterAct Story Theatre as of June 30, 2009.

Ali has been with the company for many years as a teaching artist, theatre director, and Associate Director of InterAct.  She has been a tremendous part of our success as a company, and we are confident that InterAct will continue to grow and thrive under her leadership.

As Founder of InterAct Story Theatre, Lenore will be working closely with Ali as the Founder of InterAct Story Theatre.  Ali and Lenore will work together to make sure the transition is as smooth and as seamless as possible, and to ensure that InterAct Story Theatre will continue to bring the highest quality arts performances and arts integration workshops in drama, dance and music to students, teachers, and families throughout the region.

Lenore will be continuing her work leading drama workshops for teachers and students in our local area and across the country, both independently and with InterAct Story Theatre.  She will also be continuing her work as the Director of the Creative Kids after-school drama program.

We hope you will join us in celebrating Ali Oliver’s new role as General Director of InterAct Story Theatre. Together we are looking forward to a bright future for InterAct Story Theatre and for bringing quality arts education programming to students, teachers, and families everywhere!

About Us

InterAct's staff members are respected professional actors who are experienced educators. This unique mix of skills enhances the impact of our programs and products. As one administrator said, "The artist's wealth of experience as a teacher and as a professional actor really made the presentation exceptional... Teachers left wanting more."

Ali Oliver, General Director of InterAct Story Theatre
Ali Oliver a teaching artist, director, actor, classical singer and conductor. As a   teaching artist and arts education professional, Ali has worked with schools and arts organizations throughout the country, such as Imagination Stage, The Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts, OPERA Iowa, Nevada Opera, and Young Audiences.  In 2007, Ali was accepted to present student-centered residencies through the John F. Kennedy Center’s DC Partnership Schools Initiative Community Partnerships program. Ali’s work as a teaching artist is rooted in creative drama and in creative opera, an emerging form of creative drama in which drama and music are fused together to tell stories and express thoughts, ideas and feelings. As an artist on the leading edge of the field of creative opera, Ali works with teachers and students across the country integrating creative opera into classroom curricula. Ali is a proud member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, and is co-chair of the organization's Professional Theatre Network.

Lenore Blank Kelner, Founder of InterAct Story Theatre
Lenore Blank Kelner is an actress, theatre director, playwright, teaching artist, educator, and author. Since 1981, Lenore has shown thousands of teachers in the U.S. and abroad how to make teaching fun, exciting and effective. She is a frequent presenter for the John F. Kennedy Center's Arts in Education Program. Her first book, The Creative Classroom, was published by Heinemann and is in its 14th printing. Lenore's second book and videotape, Creative Drama in the Special Education Classroom, was published by Therapy Skill Builders. Recently, Lenore co-authored her third book with Dr. Rosalind M. Flynn, entitled, A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension, published by Heinemann, 2006. Lenore was awarded the 2004 Creative Drama Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education for outstanding work in the field of Creative Drama.

Lenore Blank Kelner is a teacher's teacher in the best sense of the word. Her workshops motivate, inform, excite and involve teachers in a hand-on, interactive way that does not fail to inscribe her philosophy. She believes that every child's learning needs can and must be reached; that the arts provide tools that every teacher can use to address those needs; and that, in reaching into and developing his or her own creativity through the arts, every teacher can become an effective advocate for the arts and education.
- Regina Gil, Executive Director of the Great Neck Arts Center

Lenore Kelner is a real pro! Her work with teachers demonstrates her thorough understanding of both creative drama/theater and the needs of young people. After working with Ms. Kelner, teachers are empowered to work with students in ways that capture students' imagination and stimulate their learning.
- Lynne Silverstein, Senior Program Consultant, The Kennedy Center

Company Artists and Staff

Kwame Ansah Brew
Gwendolyn Briley-Strand
Valerie Carroll
Lorena Cervantes
Stacey Coates
Judith Thibault Klevins
Nancy Krebs
Marian Licha
Diane Macklin
Jeff Mocho, Associate Artist and Technical Director
Amy Sullivan, Bookkeeper
Maria-Ines Tripodi
Julie Wolf, Associate Artist

301-879-9305 - info@interactstory.com
© 2009 InterAct Story Theatre Corporation all rights reserved.