Lake Plains Players joins alliance of community theaters in WNY
Press Release, Lake Plains Players
MIDDLEPORT – Lake Plains Players are proud to announce our membership in the Western New York Alliance of Community Theaters or “WNY ACTS!”
The organization was formed in 2023 with just three community theaters – Aurora Players, Inclusive Theater of WNY and Rocking Horse Productions – and has expanded to include 12 theaters in communities located in Erie, Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties.
WNY ACTS! is focused on elevating and promoting community theatre as a cultural destination. The group meets regularly to share knowledge, success stories and discuss common challenges. The goal is to leave each meeting with steps every member can make toward improving their theater – including the experience for their audiences and the participants who make theatre.
Outside experts are also brought in to talk about improving not only productions, but also the operational aspects of running a theater such as marketing, selecting ticketing software vendors and encouraging volunteerism. The group has shared resources ranging from props and set furnishings to costumes and advertising space.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Lake Plains Players do a full-length musical every fall, as well as other productions, including a children’s theater program in the summer. This photo from November 2022 shows a scene from Mamma Mia. Here three long-time close friends – in front from left: Rosie (Eden Villanueva), Donna (Jennifer Neroni-Trupo) and Tanya (Sarah Geer) – perform “Super Trouper.” The Lake Plains Players will be performing Seussical from Nov. 8-10.
Founding member, Laurie Oravec of Aurora Players said, “Our theaters don’t have the high profile of professional Buffalo beltway theaters like Shea’s, Alleyway and Kavinoky, for example. But there is a lot of high-quality, very entertaining and deeply moving theatre being performed by community theaters. We want audiences to know about it.”
She also noted that community theater tickets are usually more affordable than theaters downtown and parking is accessible as well as free.
Explained Gabrielle Montgomery of Lake Plains Players: “For us, WNY ACTS! provides a place to work together and build a powerful community for passionate local artists and audiences. While community theaters often operate on shoestring budgets, we know that working together, we are stronger than we could be on our own.”
Members range from theaters that are just opening to theaters having over 90 years of history, and include: Lake Plains Players, Aurora Players, Evangola Community Theater, Inclusive Theatre of WNY, Main St. 56 Theater, Open Door Productions, Opera-Lytes, Raiders of Niagara, Rocking Horse Productions, Towne Players of Ken-Ton, Unique Theatre and Western Door Playhouse.
“Community theaters are often the starting point for professional actors and directors,” said Douglas Kern of Rocking Horse Productions, another founding member. “We’ve had people work with our theater and go on to be ARTIE award winners and even perform on Broadway. In fact, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) has said he started in community theater. If you haven’t already been to one of our theaters, maybe it’s time to give one a try.”
Aimee Levesque of Inclusive Theater of WNY, another founding member, points out that “there are over 6,000 community theaters in the U.S. and they involve more participants, present more performances and play to more people than any other performing art in the country. Community theaters provide an outlet for actors and creatives of differing experiences and abilities. That’s important to the cultural fabric of a community.”
Lake Plains Players next production, “Seussical the Musical”, plays November 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m. and November 10 and 2 p.m. at Royalton-Hartland High School Auditorium, located at 54 State St., Middleport, NY 14105. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
For more information about WNY ACTS!, click here.
