Recently released is the second short from Aoise Stratford offered by JAC, her first being TALK.  This time, Stratford brings us Population Growth - the story of book-smart but life-stupid Donna, who tricks her friend Charlotte into going on a blind double date in order to try and reconnect with her old flame, Malcolm. In this comedy of errors and manners, things go wrong from the outset. When the other blind date turns out to be Malcolm's brother, Donna has to rethink her views on human relationships, population growth, and our chances of finding love.  This play features a cast of four, 2 women and 2 men.

 

Next we have JAC debut from Ken Cook.  The Association is a one-act, humorous look at what happens to many people when they are given authority. It can be applied to organizations or even political office.  A retired couple moves into a community governed by absurd rules. The husband runs for office to change the policies and is elected. Now filled with self-importance, he makes the new rules even more restrictive.  This play features ten cast members, with the potential of ensemble additions.

 

Next we have two selections from another JAC debuting playwright - David-Matthew Barnes.  The first is a full-length play called Pensacola. This touching, humorous play explores the lives of four Southern women. Trudy has been a single mother since her husband went to work one day and never came home. She tries to find a cure for her loneliness working as a cocktail waitress. Charlotte is married and has two daughters. She suspects that her husband has been unfaithful and that their marriage is falling apart. Marie, a recent high school graduate, has had a difficult time deciding on the right career for herself and ponders over going to secretary school, competing for the title of Miss Florida or becoming the U.S. Ambassador to Cuba. Always armed with the best gossip in town, Trudy's best friend Berniece decides to end her affair with a younger man when a life-altering tragedy hits home. Look out 'Steel Magnolias', Pensacola is a powerful and heart-warming celebration of family, love and strength.  It features a cast of six, 2 men and 4 women. 

Next up from David-Matthew Barnes is a one-act play called CLEAN.  A vehicle for two strong actresses, CLEAN explores the life-long friendship between two women from different worlds. In this poignant piece dedicated by the playwright to Rita Hayworth, an elderly former movie star named Vivien is suffering from the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. At a bus stop in Beverly Hills, she develops a beautiful bond with her nurturing and very strong-willed housekeeper, Maria.

For more information about these or any of JAC's play selections, visit us online, or drop us an email!

The Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS) announced that AACTFest, the National Community Theatre Festival, will be held in Rochester in June 2011. TANYS worked with VisitRochester and was selected by the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) from an initial field of 30 applicants from all over the country.  The Geva Theatre Center, 75 Woodbury Boulevard will be the venue for the Festival.

AACTFest will involve hundreds of volunteers from Rochester's community theatre groups and TANYS member companies across New York State. Twelve performing companies, including the overseas military, will perform on the Geva Stage.  The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) is the national community theatre organization, representing the interests of community theatres across the U.S, and the individuals who support them.  AACTFest presents a forum for community theatres from the ten regions of AACT to enter productions for adjudication and advancement from the state level, to the regional level, and finally, to the national level. AACTFest culminates in odd-numbered years.

Over 500 people are expected to attend the event - hopefully many more!  The 2011 Festival will include a Technical Theatre Conference offering workshops on lighting, stage design, costume design and other technical disciplines. This will be hosted by The Roberts Cultural Life Center at Roberts Wesleyan College. This portion of the festival will draw participants from community theatres, college theatres, high school theatres as well as many churches that produce plays.

For more information, contact Michael H. Arve at (585) 234-1254 or AACT at info@aact.org.

 

 

Information on this Festival is also available through the following state Community theatre organizations in New England:

 

New Hampshire 

Would you like your production, event or cause featured here?  Email us for more information!

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