Wisconsin AACTFest 2011!

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1 Wisconsin AACTFest 2011! Another Wisconsin AACTFest has been closed, struck, loaded out and stored away until As always, it was a weekend filled with opportunities to observe, to learn, to network, to socialize, and to just have fun. La Crosse Community Theatre Festivities began on Friday February 25, Participating companies spent the day loading in and preparing their shows for their performances the next day. As the day went on, the hotel lobby of the Kress Inn became the scene for meeting up with friends - both old and new. Later in the evening, people adjourned to the Hospitality Suite for the official opening reception to decompress from the day s travels and rehearsal travails. Saturday morning the festival began in earnest with the Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa leading off the day s performance with their production of In Juliet s Garden. Next up were the Redbud Players with their presentation of Chekhov s classic A Marriage Proposal. Rounding out the morning s performance session was Proof performed by the Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre. Having reached the maximum allowable time that theatre people can go without eating, the production schedule was paused for lunch. Participants gathered in the theatre lobby over box lunches, getting to know one another, discovering that everyone has pretty much the same problems. and sharing solutions. Hunger held at bay for the moment, it was time to return to the Walter Theatre for the afternoon performance session. Campbellsport s Kettle Moraine Players led off the afternoon with the day s first production of Almost, Maine. Next in line was a production of And the Winner Is from Green Bay s Evergreen Productions. Finishing up the afternoon s performance schedule was the Sauk Prairie Theatre Guild s production of Infancy. With lunch having worn off, people disseminated to various local restaurants for dinner and additional networking. Many people took the opportunity to sample local liquid delicacies. Their hunger sated for the moment, festival participants returned to the Kettle Moraine Players WACT News March, Page 1

2 St. Norbert College campus ready for the final performance session. The evening performances kicked off with the Verona Area Community Theater s performance of Mosquito Dirigible Aerosol Deodorant. Closing out the festival s production lineup was a second performance of Almost, Maine this one from the La Crosse Community Theatre. While the adjudicators cloistered themselves to decide which productions would move on to the Regional Festival, everyone else moved down the street to the Sports Corner. Once again it was time to socialize, to network, and to compare notes. And, of course, do more taste testing of liquid libations. As the evening wore on, it became more and more difficult to tell who belonged to which group. Always the sign of a good festival. Sunday morning the festival reconvened at the Bemis Conference Center for the last of the festival activities. Breakfast led off the morning and was followed by the ever exciting WACT Annual Meeting. After the meeting it was time to announce the awards and the productions that would be moving on to the Regional Festival in Columbus, Ohio. For the first time in Wisconsin history, the state will be sending two productions of the same show. Almost, Maine, one from the Kettle Moraine Players and one from the La Crosse Community Theatre. With breakfast consumed, the meeting adjourned and the awards awarded, it was time for everyone to head home. Once there they could brag to their friends about the great shows they saw, how much they learned, the friends they made, the fun they had and to begin planning for the next festival. WACT News is published quarterly by the Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre for its members and is annually distributed to an expanded list of known community theatre organizations and interested individuals. Publication dates are March, June, September (expanded list) and December. Volume 9, Number Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre Frank Peot Award Presented The Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre's Frank Peot Award for Individual Excellence is given to a community theatre participant who has displayed a commitment above and beyond what would normally be expected. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant, valuable, and lasting contributions to community theatre in the State of Wisconsin, and possibly beyond. On February 26, 2011 at the WACT Annual Meeting the Frank Peot award was presented to Bob Kafka. In addition to extensive local involvement, Bob has been extremely active at the state, regional and national levels. In addition to numerous years on the WACT Board of Directors (six as President) he also served on the boards of WACT s predecessor organizations; the Wisconsin Theatre Association (WTA), the Wisconsin Community Theatre Association (WCoTA), and the Theatre Association of Wisconsin (TAW). Over the years Bob has chaired/co-chaired festivals, served as a workshop leader and currently maintains the WACT website. At a regional level he has served as the Region III representative on the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) Board of Directors in addition to serving on the Region III Board of Directors. He has also taken workshops to other states within the region and developed and maintains the Region III website. On a national level Bob has served as Member at Large on the AACT Board of Directors in addition to his term as Regional Representative. He also serves on AACT s Governance Committee and has served numerous years as a Festival Commissioner including ten years the Commission Recorder. Please join us in congratulating Bob on receiving this award. WACT News March, Page 2

3 2011 Board of Directors wealthy, has come to seek the hand of marriage of Tschubukov's twenty-five year-old daughter, Natalia Stepanovna. Lomov and Stepanovna are bickerers at heart and fight throughout the play until the end, when they get married, only, presumably, to argue more after. On Sunday February 26, 2011 the Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre held elections for the Board of Directors in conjunction with their annual meeting. Elected to new three year terms on the Board were John Brandl, Brad Toberman. Following the Annual Meeting, the new Board of Directors met and elected officers for the next year. Darrell Wagner was elected President, Brad Toberman was elected Vice-President, John Brandl was elected Secretary and Dee Baldock was elected Treasurer Wisconsin AACTFest Shows Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa In Juliet s Garden by Judy Elliot McDonald Juliet Capulet invites four other heroines of Shakespeare s classics (Katharina, Portia, Ophelia and Desdemona) to lunch in her favorite garden in Verona to discuss issues they all have with their plots. All the ladies have suggestions how these issues might be remedied. Shakespeare has also been invited, but instead sends an envoy, his literary agent and editor Jacqueline de Boys, who attempts to save the day with the help of Juliet s Nurse. Redbud Players A Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekhov English version by Hilmar Baukhage and Barrett H. Clark Ivan Vassiliyitch Lomov, the long time wealthy neighbor of Stepan Stepanovitch Tschubukov, also WACT News March, Page 3 Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre Proof by David Auburn Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister and the attentions of a former student of her father's who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all. Kettle Moraine Players Almost, Maine by John Cariani On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost's residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend almost in this delightful midwinter night's dream. Evergreen Productions And the Winner Is by Mitch Albom The comic story of Tyler Johnes, a self-obsessed movie star, is finally nominated for an Oscar, then dies the night before the awards. Outraged at his bad luck and determined to know if he wins (even though he's dead), he bargains with a heavenly gatekeeper to return to earth for the big night. Along the way, he drags his agent, his acting rival, his bombshell girlfriend and his ex-wife into the journey, in a wildly twisting tale of Hollywood, the afterlife, and how we are judged.

4 Sauk Prairie Theatre Guild Infancy by Thornton Wilder Millie the nursemaid brings baby Tommy to Central Park in the hopes of a rendezvous with the handsome Patrolman Avonzino. Mrs. Boker soon arrives with baby Moe, and as the two ladies trade snacks and advice on child rearing, the infants compare notes on their parents' bad behavior and pitiful lack of understanding. Verona Area Community Theater Mosquito Dirigible Aerosol Deodorant by Conrad E. Davidson Dr. Ballone, a professor of literature, is highly susceptible to suggestion. His mind snaps at the mere mention of a possibility or the sight of a picture. When he spotted a photograph of the Hindenburg on his classroom wall, he instantly thought he was a dirigible. Mrs. Ballone, who wants her husband back, brings him to a psychiatrist. During his therapy session, Dr. Ballone undergoes two more transformations: first into a mosquito and then into a can of aerosol deodorant. La Crosse Community Theatre Almost, Maine by John Cariani On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost's residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are bro. wait, this is really déjà vu. Upcoming Events AACTFest Awards Shows Proceeding to the Regional Festival Almost, Maine Kettle Moraine Players Almost, Maine La Crosse Community Theatre Regional Festival Alternate Production Mosquito Dirigible Aerosol Deodorant Verona Area Community Theater Backstage Award Kettle Moraine Players - Almost, Maine Outstanding Achievement in Lighting La Crosse Community Theater - Almost, Maine Best Set Design John Brandl Kettle Moraine Players - Almost, Maine Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Chris Scheuermann La Crosse Community Theater - Almost, Maine Best Costume Design Jean Daniewicz Sauk Prairie Theatre Guild - Infancy Special Award for use of an Accent Marita Kelter Sauk Prairie Theatre Guild - Infancy Best Ensemble Acting La Crosse Community Theatre - Almost, Maine Best Supporting Actress Jodi Garvey Almost, Maine - Kettle Moraine Players Best Supporting Actor Thomas Bakken Almost, Maine - Kettle Moraine Players Best Lead Actress Kelley Manson Almost, Maine - La Crosse Community Theatre March 31 April 3, 2011 Iowa AACTFest Newton, Iowa April 20-May1, 2011 Region III AACTFest Columbus, Ohio Best Lead Actor Dan Radtke Almost, Maine - La Crosse Community Theatre June 18-27, 2011 National AACTFest Rochester, New York Best Director Casem AbuLughod Mosquito Dirigible Aerosol Deodorant Verona Area Community Theater WACT News March, Page 4

5 Wisconsin AACTFest 2011

6 Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre Board of Directors Darrell Wagner President P.O. Box Green Bay, WI Brad Toberman Vice President 105 9th Street Prairie du Sac, WI John Brandl Secretary P.O. Box 610 Campbellsport, WI Dee Baldock -- Treasurer 6394 Grandview Road Verona, WI Allen Ebert Member at Large 4606 Hamlet Pl Madison, WI Bob Kafka Member at Large 2418 North 111 th Street #2 Wauwatosa, WI Greg Parmenter Member at Large 118 Fifth Avenue N. La Crosse, WI Fred Wahls -- Member at Large Hwy M Tomah, WI FWahls@wact.org Carla Woebbeking Member at Large P.O. Box 507 Fox Lake, WI CWoebbeking@wact.org New Alcohol Warnings Due to increasing products liability litigation, American liquor manufacturers have accepted the FDA's suggestion that the following warning labels be placed immediately on all containers: WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what happened to your underwear. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you have mystical Kung Fu powers, resulting in your getting your butt kicked. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to roll over in the morning and see something really scary. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe you are invisible. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause a disturbance in the time-space continuum, whereby gaps of time may seem to literally disappear. WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy. WACT News March, Page 6

7 Help! WACT is attempting to obtain photos from this year s AACTFest cycle for our archives. If you have photos from the festivals in Verona, Schaumburg and/or Charlotte that you would be willing to let us have or let us duplicate, please send a note to info@wact.org. We would also like to have photos of past festivals. Upcoming WACT Member Productions Is your show not listed here??? All organizations who are WACT members can have their show listed on the WACT website and in WACT News. Just send your schedule to webmaster@wact.org March 31 - April 3, 2011 The Neverending Story Eau Claire Children's Theatre April 1-9, Victoria's House Plymouth Arts Center Theatre Company April 1-17, 2011 Bull in a China Shop Racine Theatre Guild April 7-17, 2011 Vintage Hitchcock Portage Area Community Theatre April 7-17, 2011 The Affections of May Green Bay Community Theater April 7-17, 2011 A Nice Family Gathering Barron Spotlighters April 8-16, 2011 Pinkalicious Eau Claire Children's Theatre April 15-17, 2011 L'il Abner Lomira Community Theatre May 5-8, 2011 The Producers Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild May 6-14, 2011 The Curious Savage Evergreen Productions May 6-22, 2011 Chicago La Crosse Community Theatre May 13-21, 2011 Shakespeare in Hollywood Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre May 13-29, 2011 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Racine Theatre Guild June 3-18, th Annual Original One Act Festival for Wisconsin Playwrights WACT News March, Page 7 Village Playhouse. of Wauwatosa June 17-25, 2011 The Wizard of Oz Verona Area Community Theater June 17-26, 2011 James and the Giant Peach La Crosse Community Theatre June 23-26, 2011 The King and I Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild June 23-26, 2011 Smokey Joe's Cafe Wausau Community Theatre July 15-23, 2011 Hello Dolly Hartford Players, LTD July 15-24, 2011 The Music Man Viroqua Community Theatre

8 Theatre & Theatrics Food & Fun Learning & Libations 2013 Start planning now for Region III AACTFest Wisconsin has already started getting ready for the lucky 13 festival. Don t miss what is sure to be THE theatrical event of the year. Want to stay up to date on all the exciting news from Wisconsin? Join WACT now and receive every issue of our quarterly newsletter. WACT Membership Form Return form to: WACT P. O. Box Verona, WI Name Contact Name (Organizational Members) Address Mailing Address City Telephone Web Site (Organizational Members) State Zip Code Individual $15.00 Organizational $50.00 Additional Donation to WACT (Donations to WACT are tax deductible) TOTAL Please make checks payable to WACT -- All memberships run from August 1 to July 31