Be Our Fan!ACTFest ’10 Wrapup
After completing two full days (and one night) of enlightening workshops, inspiring performances, a scrumptious reception and a brief divisional meeting, participants at ACTFest ’10 agreed the event was a success! It was wonderful to see folks from so many different community theatres across the state, such as:
- Down Home Theatre (Leeds)
- Millbrook Players (Millbrook)
- Montevallo Main Street Players (Montevallo)
- Pell City Players (Pell City)
- SCT (Alabaster)
- SEACT (Dothan)
- Seasoned Performers (Birmingham)
- Theatre Downtown (Birmingham)
- Wetumpa Depot Players (Wetumpka)
- WIT (Walker)
Thanks to all who made it possible: Kathy McCoy and David Keefer of the Pell City Center, the gracious volunteers from Pell City Players, Chris Rich and his Troy University students: Whitney Keefer, Charlie Gwaltney, and Ashlee Eaton, Bill Richardson, Mike Gerrells, Yvette Daniel, and our adjudicators: Steve Burch (University of Alabama and The Rude Mechanicals), Michael P. Howley (ALASU), and Tom Booth, Executive Director of Tupelo Community Theatre.)And a big shout out to Bill Hereford, Mayor of Pell City who couldn’t have been more welcoming or charming; he presented ACT with the key to the city of Pell City and enthusiastically invited us back next year.
The Pell City Center includes a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility, and participants were especially appreciative of the opportunity to perform on and/or tour such a wonderful stage and backstage area. Thanks to all who attended and shared their vision of theatre. Many folks reported that the workshop idea exchanges and performances were highlights of the festival, encouraging them to raise the bar at their own theatres.
The Community Division Meeting elected a new Division Chair—Clay Boyce (Park Players) and Vice Chair—Kevin Garrett (Theatre Downtown). Welcome to ACT’s Board of Directors, gentlemen! I’ll be in touch in the coming weeks to set up a meeting.
Congratulations to all our talented competitors: Pell City Players, Wetumpka Depot Players, and Theatre Downtown. ACT honors each of you and your work!
The following awards were chosen by the adjudicators and presented by Festival Chair, Sue Ellen Gerrells and ACT Vice President Katie Pearson:
- Outstanding Production: “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” Wetumpka Depot Players will represent Alabama at the SETC Regional competition in March, 2010
- Best Actress : Kelsey Sherrer, “The Crucible,” Theatre Downtown
- Best Actor: Bill Nowell, “Kindergarten”
- Best Supporting: Actor Jack Williamson, “Crucible”
- Best Supporting Actress: Wendy Dewberry, “Dearly Beloved,” Pell City Players
- Outstanding Achievement in Direction, “Kindergarten”
- Outstanding Ensemble, “Kindergarten”
