Ryan Pifher wakes up every morning with only one thing on his mind: Porch Light Productions.

"I don't want to sleep in. I don't want to get sick. I never want to miss a day of work," said Pifher, artistic director and co-owner of the Glen Rock-based company.

His passion and dedication certainly show. After just its first season, the small theater company, focusing on combining performing arts, visual arts and dance, grabbed three Perry Award nominations. "It's an absolute honor to be recognized," said Pifher, also a Ridgewood resident.  

The company started in 2005, when Pifher, after graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic academy in New York City and working on both the East and West coasts as an actor, decided to move to Ridgewood.

"We started by renting out churches, small theaters and studios, basically touring around to do different shows," Pifher said.

At the time, Pifher was also running the drama club at Orchard Elementary School.

"I fell in love with working with children, with teaching them all the amazing things that I have discovered through theater," said Pifher, who has been working with the drama club for nine years now.  

His passion for the arts, and his new love of teaching brought on an idea and in 2008, Pifher partnered with Jenn Boles to give Porch Light Productions a permanent home.

"Jenn and I are a great fit because she has a lot of experience in working with PR and design. We came up with the idea of opening a theater that could hold classes and performances," Pifher said. "Since I worked at Orchard, right around the corner was this perfect base in Glen Rock."  

The company's mission is to "leave the light on for artists of all ages," and it accomplishes just that. With adult classes, children programs, and professional performances, Porch Light covers it all. "You can take a private voice lesson, a playwriting class or even a tap lesson," Pifher said.

In its first season, Porch Light put on three professional performances, four children's performances and a variety of mini performances. Pifher and Co. also snagged their three Perry Away nominations.

Presented by the New Jersey Association of Community Theaters, the Perry Awards are chosen by a board of directors and more than 100 volunteers. The awards are given to identify and acknowledge outstanding achievement in community theaters across New Jersey.

The nominees for Porch Light Productions are Casey Kaufman in Play it Again Sam for best supporting a in a play, Daniel Krimer in Stage Fright for best youth actor in a play, and Pifher and Michel Edgerton (directors) for best production of an original play (Stage Fright).

"You aren't thinking about awards when you are in the moment," Pifher said. "But it is very thrilling to scroll through and see our name among all these really fantastic theaters."

Pifher is already planning expansions to the company. "We will be opening a dance studio attached to the theater, so we will be able to cater to more dance classes," he said.

The new studio will be open just in time for the second season to start in September 2010.

"The greatest thing about owning a production company is now I am able to try out my ideas in a place where anything is possible," Pifher said. "I am surrounded by people who inspire me, adults and children, and having freedom to create is probably one of the best feelings in the world."  

The Perry Awards will be announced at a ceremony Sept. 19 in Somerset, NJ. To learn more about Porch Light Productions visit its website.