about ACTT

Mission Statement

Arch City Theater Troupe encourages young people to become involved in community service through offering fun outlets.  We harness passion, existing talent, and pleasure to foster positive feelings that make giving back fun and something members will want to continue to do.  By raising money for JDRF, ACTT enriches the broader community, especially the recipients of the funds, as well as the lives of its members.

Our Story

The Arch City Theater Troupe was started in 2004 after Turner Rapp was diagnosed with type one diabetes and Helen Rapp was looking for a way to help.  Helen and her friends were already involved in St. Louis theater, and putting on a show was the best way they could think of to make a difference.  After several months of rehearsing songs in the Rapps’ playroom, Helen decided in June to put together a musical revue.  She met with Rossman School about using the theater, set the show dates for late August, and got thirteen friends to commit to joining her.  The goal in 2005 was to raise $1,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Admission to come to the show was free from the beginning, encouraging the audience to give whatever made them comfortable.  The show, entitled Dancing Through Life and featuring fourteen songs, raised $4,000 in two nights. 

By 2006, Helen and her friends were ready to go again.  Pleased with the results of the last year, they decided to stick fairly closely to the previous model.  Lullaby of Broadway was organized with nineteen cast members and concluded with the number “Lullaby of Broadway” from 42nd Street.  Once again the cast worked hard throughout the summer to be ready for the show in the middle of August.  The cast was flabbergasted to perform to two overflowing houses both nights at Rossman, and even more surprised by the total funds raised for JDRF: $8,000.

Due to the full house at Rossman in 2006, ACTT was lucky to be able to move its performance space to Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS) in 2007.  With the help of Anthony Chivetta, Chris Franklin, and Carly Lowe, ACTT was able to produce its biggest show yet with an actual lighting plan.  MICDS also had access to more space, allowing ACTT to expand their bake sale (organized by members of the National Charity League), raffle, and blind bid auction, which raised about $2,000 in 2007.  Once again, ACTT’s profits doubled.  In 2007, the Arch City Theater Troupe donated $16,500 raised during Heart and Music to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Magic to Do in 2008 returned ACTT to the MICDS stage.  The show was organized around the various forms of magic found in everyday life-- the magic of growing up, the magic of family, the magic of love, etc.  Two performances featuring a larger cast and new technical director Josh Bromberg raised more than $21,000 for JDRF in ACTT’s fourth year.  

In 2009, Arch City Theater Troupe’s fifth anniversary show Why We Tell the Story's three performances brought about 1,000 people and $25,000. ACTT became a club at John Burroughs and MICDS.

Last year's show was titled Ain't Life Fine and was performed at COCA. The show focused on appreciating life and not taking anything for granted. Three shows were performed by 35 performers from over 25 different St. Louis Schools, and with the profit made the total sum reached $100,000! Helen went to Vanderbilt and passed the leadership on to Sally Lemkemeier, previously assistant director.


Sally directed Bring on Tomorrow!  in 2011 with the help of musical director Alex Prakken and choreographers Jack Ciapciak, Monica Machecca, Helen Rapp, and Julia Sinks. 37 kids from 20 different schools performed the musical revue at Nerinx Hall and raised over $25,000 for the Artificial Pancreas Research Project, a major research project at JDRF. They continue to perform throughout the year at different events and venues in St. Louis.