To learn more about the Asante Children's Theatre, its programming or the upcoming season, feel free to contact us as follows:
Ms. Keesha Dixon, Executive Director
Ms. Deborah Asante, Founder/Artistic Director
Mr. Vincent Howard, Musical Director
Ms. Diane L. Lewis, Executive Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
 |
Executive Director Ms. Keesha Dixon is the Executive Director of Asante Children's Theatre. Ms. Dixon has been associated with ACT since 1993, first as a parent of a young participant, John L. |
Buckley, III, then volunteering her talents and other resources to serve as the Costume Designer. Recently, she has taken on more and more administrative responsibilities working along side Ms. Asante to strengthen the internal workings of the organization. In 2003, she was instrumental in the attainment of a significant grant from the Central Indiana Community Foundation which was used for program development and capacity building initiatives. She was also the lead person for securing 501c3 not-for-profit status for the organization.
Ms. Dixon has over 28 years of knowledge and experience in business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, management information systems and coordination of people and resources.
Among her accomplishments, she is the CEO of Queen Diva's Performing Arts Services, Inc. dba Kostumes by Keesha, co-owner of D & D Construction Company, and Secretary to the Board of Directors for the Gaiters-Williams Family Investment Group, Inc.
Ms. Dixon also is a performer with Drums of West Africa where, under the tutelage of Prince Julius Adeniyi, she has taught the culture of the Yoruba people to school children throughout the US and Canada. She was the first Musical Director for the Freetown Village Singers, has appeared as Carolina Lee in "The Blues Divas" directed by Deborah Asante, and appeared in "Do Lord Remember Me" directed by Tom Byrd.
Additionally, she has held executive and management level positions in the workforce development industry and served ten years in the USAF Reserves as a Medical Specialist.
Back to Top
 |
Founder/Artistic Director Deborah Asante is Founder and Artistic Director of the Asante Children's Theatre. She has dedicated her life to teaching and sharing the value of culture and heritage through the performing arts. Deborah is an Actress, Writer, Director and award winning Storyteller. Her directing credits include Producing Director of |
the Inner City Cultural Center at San Francisco Reader's Theatre, Director of the San Francisco Children's Radio Theatre, Director and Producer of the Bay Area's Production of "Blue Jazz Cabaret". She has also directed the Touring Productions for Freetown Village and "Black Nativity" for the Walker Theatre. As a writer and director, she is responsible for several of ACT's biggest hits; "Motown Story", "The Middle Passage" (with Crystal V. Rhodes), "Zora Tales", "The Step And Stand Tall Blues" and her favorite "Abena and the Python".
Throughout her career she has received numerous awards and recognition which include Aesop Cup for Tall Tales from the National Association of Black Storytellers, Youth Investment award from the Indiana Youth Institute, and the Achievement in Arts/Music/Theatre Award from the Center for Leadership Development. Deborah was honored as a Creative Renewal Arts Fellow by the Arts Council of Indianapolis. She has been recognized by the LINKS Inc. with its Civic Award for community service, and she was named a Breakthrough Woman in Arts and Culture by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
Of her many accomplishments as a creative artist she is most proud of founding the Asante Children's Theatre. In 1990 Deborah was a single mother who had recently moved to Indianapolis from San Francisco with her son Terrance Asante-Doyle. She came here to direct a season of shows for writer/producer Crystal V. Rhodes' company, Performances Plus. In an effort to supplement her income she took on a theatre project that called for her to work with a group of local youth. This work inspired her and she found it very rewarding. It was evident that using the performing arts to explore history and culture was not only enhancing the lives of the children involved, it also encouraged and inspired hope and pride in the families that viewed the children's work. As an artist Deborah was excited, as a parent she was overjoyed. Seeing the children, including her son, Terrance, responding to the creative challenges with growing self confidence and a deepening sense of self, it struck Deborah how important this work was. Her commitment deepened and from that commitment the Asante Children's Theatre was born.
Back to Top
 |
Musical Director |
|
Originally from Chicago, Illinois where he took piano lessons from the Earl Bedford School Of Music, he learned to play various genres of music including gospel, jazz, blues, funk, R&B, hip-hop, country/western, pop, and classical. He plays the piano, organ, synthesizer, bass guitar, clarinet, and drums. His ability to read, write and produce music has been a valued asset to the musical portion of our shows. Mr. Howard has served as music director for the past 3 seasons of ACT and is always looking forward to new musical challenges. | |
 |
Executive Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator Ms. Diane Lewis brings more than 18 years of experience working as an administrative assistant in various fields including legal, medical, education and not-for-profit environments. She has served as production |
manager and executive assistant for ACT for the past five years. As a volunteer, in this capacity, she has been responsible for assisting with day-to-day operations within the organization as well as coordinating volunteers who serve in roles associated with each season's main stage performances. Her responsibilities include providing administrative support to the staff, the board of directors, youth performers and their parents and overseeing volunteer recruitment and orientation. Ms. Lewis also coordinates ticket sales and maintains the electronic distribution list and mailing list database. She works closely with Ms. Dixon, the Executive Director, on projects ranging from technology for the organization, to marketing and public relations to resource development. She is most proud of her work with the monthly e-newsletter--The Village Griot--as co-editor with Ms. Dixon.
Ms. Lewis is the founder and owner of her own publishing company--Alpha & Omega Imaging Company. She is working on a series of short stories and greatly enjoys poetry. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, writing, and listening to all types of music. She also enjoys playing with her pets and engaging in home improvement projects. She is a native of Los Angeles, California and has one son, Christopher Weaver.
All written correspondence may be addressed and sent to:
Asante Children's Theatre of Indianapolis, Inc.
P. O. Box 22344
Indianapolis, IN 46222-0344
Back to Top
