Abilene Community Theater
In November 1954 the Abilene Community Theatre presented its first play, The Apple of His Eye, in the Fair Park Municipal Auditorium.The park is now named Oscar Rose Park and the cavernous old building has been razed - replaced by Safety City.And less than one block away stands the present ACT building.
For four years ACT bounced from one borrowed stage to another - the Little Theatre at McMurry, Abilene High School, an exhibits building at the West Texas Fairgrounds,even a courtroom in the Taylor County Courthouse for The Caine Mutiny Court Martial - until 1958 when ACT built a permanent home in its current location.
It was also in 1958 that ACT was chartered by the State of Texas.
During its first 11 years, ACT plays were directed by volunteers form the community - sixteen directors in all - but a large portion of them were directed by two people: Mrs Frank Sublett and Ernest Sublett.
SInce 1965 the Theatre has employed a professional managing director, and the staff has grown to include a technical director, a box office manager, and maintenance man. There have been six managing directors: Dr. W. A. Gregory,Gary Eldridge. Rosalie Robinson, Robert Foard,John A. Robinson, and our current director, Robert James Barton.
The main theatre building was remodeled and expanded in 1970 to provide badly needed space for offices, concessions, storage, dressing rooms and setconstruction.
Some of Abilene's most outstanding citizens have served as ACT President and on its Board of Directors. Under their leadership it has grown into a healthy mature theatre of which Abilene can be genuinely proud.So many have done so much to assure ACT's success that all the names would be an unmanageably long list here, but they are and will be always remembered and honored here.

 
On Stage This Week

Arsenic & Old Lace
Comedy by Joseph Kesselring

Perhaps the classic American comedy.Abby and Martha Brewster are the sweetest little old ladies you would ever meet.They inhabit one of the most popular plays ever written. The ladies are pleased to offer their elderberry wine to sad and lonely men, driving nephew Mortimer crazy.Cast of 11 men and 3 women. Play dates are September 18 through Oct. 4

Plaid Tidings
Musical by Stuart Ross and James Raitt

This is the eagerly awaited sequel to Forever Plaid.Francis, Sparky, Smudge and Jinx are back at Christmas time with all their quirks and sweet harmony.Play dates are Nov. 20 through Oct. 6th.
Auditions will be September 22,23 & 29,30
Cast of 4 men age 20- 40.