The “Act Me a Story” Program

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“Act Me a Story” is a joint initiative created and supported by two nonprofits: Washtenaw Promise, an organization that supports young, under-resourced children in Greater Ypsilanti, MI, and PlayZoomers, Inc. an international, online theatre company, based in Boston, MA. The idea is for actors to read/perform and make professionally edited, online videos of picture books for preschoolers, most of whom don't have access to books or adults to read to them. The videos begin and end with a lively musical theme by Christine Barton.

Some of the storybooks

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Production Team

Washtenaw Promise Founder & Executive Director

Tim Wilson founded Washtenaw Promise in 2017 and has steered it toward making a significant difference in the lives of under-resourced children and families, as well as the teachers who work with them. In addition to “Act Me a Story,” Washtenaw Promise initiatives include one-on-one volunteer mentoring, teacher wellness programs, work with The Imagination Library, and partnerships with other local organizations that support preschoolers. During a 35-year career in education, Tim taught children of all grades in all subject areas, specializing in the sciences, was Head of School for Emerson independent school, Ann Arbor, MI, and received many awards and honors.

PlayZoomers Producer & Executive Director

Jan Carpman, PhD is a founding producer and Executive Director of PlayZoomers and a Senior Advisor to Washtenaw Promise since its inception. The idea for “Act Me a Story” came to her as a way to use the talents of PlayZoomers actors while contributing to the literacy mission of Washtenaw Promise. Producing these videos enables her to re-visit the magical children’s literature she enjoyed so much when her kids were young. Previously, she founded, led the Board of Directors, and performed with a Michigan song-and-dance troupe (and its smaller offshoot) for nearly 25 years. She was also a director, producer, actor, rainmaker, set & prop designer, and tireless cheerleader for several community theatre companies. With her co-producer, Mary Ann Nichols Hubbard, she has produced scores of plays for PlayZoomers, cast many, written two, directed several, and acted in a handful. In her other life, she is an architectural sociologist, inclusive wayfinding expert, and author of two, award-winning books.

Producer/Video Editor

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Matt Mancour entered the film/TV world in 2001 and has worked in many aspects of the industry. Before making his home in Michigan, he served as a Location Coordinator for the Nevada Film Office, procuring filming locations for producers and directors including Michael Bay (“Transformers,” “Armageddon”), Sean Penn (“Into the Wild”), and Robert Luketic (“21,” “Legally Blonde”). Matt has received numerous awards from the Michigan Press Association related to visual production and storytelling.

Early Childhood Education Experts

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Barbara Hall is a retired Speech-Language Pathologist who worked with children with developmental disabilities. She appreciates the opportunity to apply her experience with children’s literature and language development. As a teacher and grandmother, she finds it especially gratifying to help children find joy in stories.

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Sara Ptomey, PhD held many positions during her 30-year public education career in Houston, TX, including Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction; Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction; Program Director for Intermediate, Middle, and Secondary Mathematics; and classroom teacher. She has also been on the board of the Rice University School Mathematics Project and the Texas Association for Supervisors of Curriculum Development.

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Kathryn Watson is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan. She is an advocate for the mental and social-emotional health of children. She gets great joy working in Early Childhood Education in a preschool as their Behavioral Specialist.

Washtenaw Promise Executive Assistant

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Amanda James-Bennett, the Executive Assistant for Washtenaw Promise, secures publisher permissions for “Act Me a Story.” She is excited to be working with this program and looks forward to seeing its positive impact on young children and teachers.