Announcing our 2015 Living On The Edge XII Theme

Announcing Our 2015 LIVING ON THE EDGE XII – “Should Have Said” 10 Minute Play Series

June 4, 5 & 6, 2015

2015 marks the twelfth installment of the Actors’ Theatre annual 10 minute play festival, Living on the Edge. We cordially extend an invitation to interested Michigan writers to submit a script for consideration.

The deadline for scripts will be March 13, 2015. Actors’ Living on the Edge committee will read all scripts. From the initial submission, ten semi-finalists will be selected for a public reading, to be held in April of 2015. All writers whose work is not selected for public reading will receive written feedback on their work by May 4th, 2015.

The reading of the fifteen scripts presented on a Saturday in April (Date/Time TBA) at Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain Street. At the public reading playwrights will receive verbal and written feedback on their piece. Based on audience response and feedback, the Living on the Edge committee will choose five finalists from the scripts read at the public reading. These finalists will receive full production from June 4-6, 2015 in the “black box” performance space (Room 201 – Spectrum Theater Building).

The writers whose scripts are chosen for final production will receive $100.

The theme this year that writers are asked to respond to is
“Should Have Said”.

We encourage playwrights to consider the following as they craft their submission:

· The five scripts chosen will be performed before an audience. We always encourage writers to create pieces that will be dynamic and engaging when presented by performers on stage.

· We’re excited to read your submission so choose any direction that is exciting and productive for you as a writer. If you’re excited about the direction, it’s more likely that we will see that in your submission as well.

· Craft a 10 minute play highlighting an aspect of the chosen theme. It can tie in broadly or very specifically, but relevance to the theme is a key consideration in selection.

Submit your play, including a brief synopsis, by email to: script_submissions@atgr.org and include “LOTE XII” in the subject line. Submissions will also be accepted via U.S. mail to

Actors’ Theatre
Attn: LOTE XII
143 Bostwick NE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49503

on or before March 13, 2015.

To be considered, the playwright must currently reside in the state of Michigan, or have resided within the last twelve months. All submissions must include a cover page that lists your name, address, phone number, email, title of play, total number of actors, and a brief synopsis of the work. Please do not list your name on any page other than your cover page so that all plays may be read with anonymity by the committee. Final production decisions will be based on originality, ability to cast and produce, and the way the plays chosen fit together for an evening of theatre.

December 5th “Chess” Talk Back at Actors’ Theatre

Join us Friday, December 5th, for a talk-back after the performance with Professor Robert Hendershot, Ph.D, and Robert Tolbert as they discuss the Cold War, Russian and American relations today, and the game of chess; including its symbolism in the production of CHESS. Meet our talk-back panelists:

Robert M. Hendershot, Ph.D. is the Associate Professor of World History at Grand Rapids Community College.  An expert on the history of American international relations, the Cold war, and the influence of culture on foreign policy formulation, he has multiple published works and is a very active scholar in the field of transatlantic studies.  At GRCC, he regularly offers specialized seminar classes and teaches surveys of world history and Latin American history each year.

Robert Tolbert traversed many states between Grand Rapids, Michigan, his hometown, and New York City. He was a small business counselor and assistant to the director of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Small Business Development Center in Lansing for four years, a supply chain specialist at FedEx in Memphis, Tenn., then a manager of sourcing and procurement at the Walt Disney Co. in New York before becoming sourcing manager for media powerhouse Time Warner Inc. At Time Warner he was responsible for identifying and implementing cost-saving opportunities for the company’s business units, as well as developing strategies to leverage corporate buying power. He was named one of the “Top 40-Under-Forty” as a top achiever by the Network Journal (TNJ), a New York City-based magazine that focuses on African-American professionals and small business news.

Tolbert decided to return to Grand Rapids in 2011, where he now works as a consultant for the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, a non-profit organization that works to develop opportunities for minority owned businesses to obtain contracts with large corporations. He heads a group of area corporate executives from leading corporations specifically targeting supplier diversity strategy for West Michigan minority owned firms.

Tolbert has played chess since childhood, and continues to be fascinated by the game. As a business professional, he uses chess to relax and remain alert. He is a fan of playing speed games and loves to take time to play outdoors. He enjoyed playing games in the city parks of New York and continues to play daily online with players from around the world.

Make ticket reservations for Chess today at www.atgr.org

Auditions for “Water by the Spoonful” this Weekend!

Auditions for Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegra Hudes, will be Saturday & Sunday November 22nd and 23rd from Noon – 3pm both days. Individuals auditioning need to register by 1pm to audition.

Director, Michelle Urbane, is excited about the opportunity for a diverse cast for this production: Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, African American, and Caucasian

Casting:
3 Men ages 21-40,
1 African American man age 30-50,
3 Females age 28-40.
*multi-ethnic casting desired – Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, African American, and Caucasian

Show Run Dates: January 29-31 & February 5-7, 2015

Rehearsals Begin: December 1st, 2015 (* There is a period fromDecember 22nd–January 4th that there will be no rehearsals.)

Synopsis:
Elliot, an Iraq war veteran, joins an internet chatroom in an effort to deal with the after-effects of war. An intimate portrait of both a family and the members of an online recovery community is unlocked as they struggle with the harrowing consequences of addiction. Covering the distance between the virtual world to the physical, Water by the Spoonful ties together the lives of a host of unforgettable characters in a play of genuine warmth about forgiveness and redemption.

Visit our www.atgr.org for more information!

 

Great Article about the New Ambrosia Theater!

Actors’ Theatre is excited about all the fantastic independent theatre happing in Grand Rapids! The amount of entertainment our fair city has to offer is just staggering. Check out this great article on the rapidian about Ambrosia theatre that opened this summer!

Here’s an excerpt, then hop over to rapidian.org to read the full article and see some photos of the theater:

Ambrosia Theater works to provide small, intimate, flexible performance space
by Holly Bechiri (Holly)

Sarah Mayne has been running Bellydance Grand Rapids (959 Lake Drive SE) in the Blackport Building on Lake Drive for 10 years starting on the first floor until seven years ago when she moved to a larger space upstairs. But as her dance business grew, so did her need for a performance space to accompany it.

Not finding many options already available, Mayne openedAmbrosia Theater this summer on the second floor of the Blackport building, right next door to the bellydance class space.

“All of my dancers needed a performance venue, and we were lacking in someplace intimate and small,” says Mayne. “So I took on the crazy endeavor to build one.”

The entire space, which seats 72, is newly created, from the hardwood floors to the handmade sconces to customized doors made locally. She designed the space to be fully configurable, which makes it able to house multiple kinds of meetings and performances.

(Click here to read the full article.)

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Presents “Mary Poppins”!

From Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s website:

Everyone’s favorite practically perfect nanny takes the stage in this Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical adventure.

One of the most popular Disney movies of all time is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a practically perfect musical! Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film. Mary Poppins has received nominations for nine Olivier and seven TONY Awards, including Best Musical.

Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones she has a profound effect upon. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that “Anything can happen if you let it.”

Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, and breathtaking dance numbers.

November 14 – December 14, 2014

Original Music and Lyrics by: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Book by: Julian Fellowes
New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by: George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
Co-Created by: Cameron Mackintosh

More information and ticket reservations are available at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre website