ACT Theatre Company

History:

ACT Theatre Company, formerly known as Auburn Community Theater, is evolving into a new entity. The organization began in the spring of 2007 as a group of friends who came together to do a children's show at the Auburn Community Center, using the Auburn stage at the end of the gym. The show was so much fun that the friends decided to put on another show in the summer of 2008, this time as an adult comedy. Both of these productions were paid for completely by the Auburn Community Center and all proceeds went back to them. The friends had so much fun that they decided to form an actual on-going organization.

To accomplish this goal, the group produced a fund raiser which was a musical review of Broadway show tunes. Admission was on a free-will donation basis and all of the money was reserved to pay origination fees which included incorporating as a not for profit community theater with the State of Kansas. ACT was born. In November of 2008. The arrangement that was made with ACCA (Auburn Community Center Association) was that ACCA would provide space (storage, office and performance) for ACT as well as allowing access to the facility for rehearsals, meetings, construction and performances. In return and to "pay the rent" ACT would sell tickets and dinners for the shows and split the profit (after expenses) with ACCA. ACT took on all financial responsibilities for paying for scenery, costumes, lighting, and royalties for the shows. ACCA took on responsibility for allowing ACT the use of the space and provided utilities (light, heat and water). ACCA still maintained their facility but ACT was responsible for cleaning up after a show (removing scenery and returning the facility back to the condition it was found in, or better). This partnership between the two organizations was originally a verbal agreement, but later put into a written contract. ACT's first actual production as the new organization was "For the Troops," a Veteran's Day, USO style show in November of 2008 featuring vintage comedy and music.