Letter from the President – A Scene In Between

Hello,

As you’ve already read in our newsletter, we continue to stay true to our mission with our next production, Frozen by Bryony Lavery.  The cast of Frozen includes familiar faces to Actors’: Kitty Carpenter, Rebecca Monterusso and Ralph Lister. We are also happy to welcome new to our stage, Steve VanderZee. Be sure and check out the interview with the director and some of the cast members, here.

Don’t forget – “A Scene in Between”, our partnership with Schuler Books Downtown, continues on Monday December 7th at 6pm.  Replacing our Friday Night Talkbacks, this is an opportunity to speak with the director and casts of Actors’ shows and learn more about the process and the plays.  Those who joined us for the Scene in Between for TopDog/Underdog in September can tell you that it is a fascinating look behind the play. The evening is appropriate if you have already seen the play, are just considering, or if you just want to come down and see what we are all about!

Director Fred Sebulske and actor Marcus Woodswelch during the Scene in Between for "TopDog/UnderDog"

We invite you to join us at Schuler Books Downtown 40 Fountain St. NW on Monday December 7th at 6pm.  As an added incentive, the Café now serves beer and wine.  So, come grab a glass of wine and join us for a wonderful discussion!

I encourage you to read Managing Director Kyle Dutkiewicz’s letter in this issue of the newsletter.  As everyone knows, these are hard times for nonprofit organizations in Michigan.  In fact,we’ll even take your spare change!  Look for our “Mr. Peanut” change jar in the lobby.  Lighten your load by depositing that heavy change into the jar.

Finally, always keep in mind:  What would Grand Rapids be without Actors’ Theatre-The Off-Broadway of Grand Rapids?

Thank you so much for your continuing support.
Lisa Baars
President of the Board
Actors’ Theatre

From the President

A Scene in Between at Schuler Books Downtown

Welcome to our 29th season of “meaty” theatre.  This year sees a return to truly thought provoking works that can be produced with an eye towards the bottom line of our budget.  Fiscal responsibility and belt tightening are the way of the world, especially for non-profit arts organizations such as Actors’.

We are opening the season with Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize.  This play tells the story of two brothers and the back and forth competition between them played masterfully by two GRCC Alumni, Sammy Publes and Marcus Woodswelch, both familiar faces from past seasons at Actors’. We are grateful for the support of the Bob and Alicia Woodrick Diversity Learning Center at GRCC who are sponsoring this production. Without their support we would be unable to continue providing our community with such innovative theatre.

We are also very excited to be partnering with Schuler Books & Music this season for a series we are calling “A Scene in Between”.  This will replace our Friday Night Talkbacks and take place at Schuler Books Downtown store at 40 Fountain NW, on the Monday between our two performance weekends. The first mid-Monday in the series will be September 28th at 6:00pm and will feature a scene and/or discussion of the current production Topdog/Underdog which coincides with “Banned Books Week”.  As you may remember it was suggested to Grand Rapids Public Schools that this play be ripped out of a textbook being used by City High.  Thankfully cooler heads prevailed and this did not happen.

Notice in the lobby we have placed a “loose change jar”, just to relieve you of all those noisy rattling coins.

Always keep in mind:  “What would Grand Rapids be without Actors’ Theatre-The Off-Broadway of Grand Rapids?”

Thank you so much for your continuing support of Actors’.

Lisa Baars
President of the Board of Actors’ Theatre