Albany Civic Theater is located at 235 Second Avenue in Albany, NY. The main entrance is around the side of the building on Sand St.
Parking: ACT is located in a residential area, on-street parking only is available, so we encourage arriving early. Please be considerate of residents and do not block driveways or residential entrances when parking.
From Albany: Take a hard left off Delaware Avenue to Second Avenue. ACT is on the left past the third traffic light.
From Delmar: Take Delaware Avenue into Albany and a right onto Second Avenue. ACT is on the left past the third traffic light.
From I-787: Proceed to the southern end of I-787, through the first intersection with traffic light and take a right at next traffic light onto Second Avenue. ACT is on the left after one more light.
From The Thruway: Take Exit 23, turn left on 9W, and right on to Hoffman Avenue. Take a right at the next traffic light at Second Avenue. ACT is on the left.
Thrilled about the snow day but not sure what to do?
It's the perfect day to read some plays and submit to direct at Albany Civic Theater!
More information can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1210826092450679/ ... See MoreSee Less
7 days ago ·
Hope everyone is having a happy and safe Thanksgiving! ... See MoreSee Less
1 week ago ·
Open call for directors!!
Albany Civic Theater is currently soliciting submissions from directors for their 66th Season. We are seeking directors for 4 main stage shows running three weekends each in September 2020, November 2020, February/March 2021 and May 2021.
Albany Civic likes to offer a balanced season and is seeking dramatic and comedic works, as well as small scale musicals. The committee strives to find balance in the season with cutting edge new works and classic revivals, and a season that provides a combination of artistic risks and commercial success. Please take into account the physical constraints of our cozy space. For example, musical submissions can accommodate no more than a three piece orchestra.
All submissions should include your current resume of directing experience. Each submission should also include a description of the play, any unique interpretations you will bring to the production and a list of production team members who have committed to your project.
Please note - we strongly recommend that you submit copies of the plays submitted as they will not be returned.
Directors must answer the following questions with their submission:
1) Cast Size, Male/Female breakdown, age or ethnic considerations.
2) The name of the licensing company.
3) Special tech considerations.
4) Special costuming considerations.
5) What can you as director bring to this play?
6) Why would this show appeal to an audience and what type of audience?
7) Please state which of the time slots you are interested in (September, November, February/March, May).
For submissions, here is what you need to do:
1. Put your submission in a clean, 8 ½ x 11 inch manila envelope
2. Mail a copy of the script of each submission (and music CDs if you have them) for up to three selections to:
Albany Civic Theater
attn: Adam Coons – Play Selection Committee Chairperson
235 Second Avenue
Albany, NY 12209
3. Include your name, address, email address and phone number on your résumé.
4. Enter your submissions by Friday, December 8, 2019. Submissions will be chosen by a committee and approved by the board of directors. No one on the selection committee may submit their own personal proposals. Please include any other information that you deem necessary in your proposal.
If you prefer, you may deliver your submissions in person to the theater. There is a mail slot located to the left of the entrance doors. Or you may submit via email to word_ness21@yahoo.com.
We look forward to receiving your submissions and beginning the selection process! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Adam Coons, Show Selection Chair at word_ness21@yahoo.com. ... See MoreSee Less
3 weeks ago ·
Sadly, we say good bye to Alabama Story with our final production at 3 pm. But we cannot forget Heather Sheridan playing Lily Whitfield and making her ACT debut!
1. What are you reading/watching/listening to these days?
I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately. I'm currently into My Favorite Murder and Life is Short.
2. What is your favorite book?
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime; Harry Potter series.
3. How do you take your coffee?
I love coffee and will drink it almost any way. In the morning I have espresso with cream and sugar as if it's coffee..
4. What is Alabama Story about?
Alabama Story touches on a lot of issues; Censorship, Civil Rights, family relationships. At the heart of it, each character has to look at how they see the world, and they fight for the world that they want to leave behind.
5. Tell us about your character.
Lily has lived quite a sheltered and privileged life. In Alabama Story she is forced to face her past, and she starts to open up to see the rest of the world outside of the bubble she has lived in for so long.
6. Why should people see Alabama Story?
It's a really beautiful story and I think everyone can find something they can relate to in each character.
7. What is your favorite soda?
Root Beer
8. The toughest part of Alabama Story so far? The accent!
We're still waiting on a Harry Potter play of the original novels but someone may be doing a production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime 😉 ... See MoreSee Less
3 weeks ago ·
Alabama Story has an incredible story about the real life of Emily Wheelock Reed. It's a pleasure to introduce Lucy Breyer making her debut at ACT as Miss Reed!
1. What are you reading/watching/listening to these days?
Like the characters in Alabama Story, I love it when someone tells me a story. I am an insatiable and not terribly discriminating reader of fiction, new and old. I am especially addicted to audiobooks: Eudora Welty reading her own work, Jason Robards reading William Kennedy, Lorelei King reading Janet Evanovich, the exotic (to me) accents of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the Shetland series by Ann Cleeves, Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad, and, of course, the plays brought to life by LA Theatre Works. As to reading with my eyes, I always have a stack of plays, recently 17th and 18th century farce: Aphra Behn, Moliere, Richard Sheridan, Carlo Goldoni... And, inspired by Alabama Story, I just checked MLK's Stride to Freedom out of the library.
Oh, yes, libraries: I carry (and use) library cards for 5 different collections/systems, plus active accounts at openlibrary and gutenberg.org. I started volunteering at my local public library when I was 10, and had paying library jobs through most of high school, college and graduate school. I even started a library science degree once, but in those pre-internet days I lived too far from a library that had the reference books I needed for my homework. [Funny how your local library doesn't have the published Library of Congress catalogs!] Now, of course, it's all about multimedia, internet access and "information science."
2. Tell us about your character.
I am so honored to play Emily, a real person and a real champion of the Freedom to Read, a cause dear to my heart. It was reading Emily Reed's obituary, published in the New York Times, that drew Alabama Story playwright, Kenneth Jones, to her and to his many years of research into the history of her place and time. As presented to us by Jones, Emily conforms to the spinster librarian stereotype--dignified, formal, workaholic--but she also has a witty, playful side and is intensely idealistic. It is an interesting challenge for the actor to present Emily as she wants to be seen--professional and unflappable--while hinting at the dramatic depths lurking beneath the surface.
3. The toughest part of Alabama Story so far?
I am struggling with Emily's diction, both her wording, which is quite formal--she uses no contractions, asks "is it not?", says "seek" rather than "try"--and at the same time ordinary--"very," "should," "wrong" where she could use fancier words--and her enunciation, which has to stand out from the Southern accents surrounding her onstage. As a native Alabamian, I am easily seduced into the drawl and have to stay on alert not to soften my R's, glide my vowels, or lilt my intonation.
4. Why should people see Alabama Story?
Lots of reasons, but start with this one: Banned Books Week.
The show begins tonight at 7:30! ... See MoreSee Less
3 weeks ago ·
We return (sadly) for our last weekend but it's been a fantastic adventure as we were able to speak to Kenneth Jones, the playwright of Alabama Story!
What followed was a QA led by President Kevin McNamara with Kenneth Jones, director Barbara Davis, and the cast.
Afterwards, Kenneth Jones gifted the cast a leaf from a magnolia tree in Alabama.
Many thanks to Kenneth Jones for visiting and spending time with us! You can find out more about his works at: https://www.bykennethjones.com/
The show returns tonight at 7:30 pm! ... See MoreSee Less
3 weeks ago ·
Happy Saturday! We back at it tonight at 7:30 but before, let's get to know someone behind the scenes. You may have seen them as Amanda in 4,000 Miles. It's Justine Pascual, our Assistant Director!
1. What are you reading/watching/listening to these days? Right now I’m watching as many horror/Halloween movies as possible before the best holiday ever! Currently binge-listening to the true crime podcast “My Favorite Murder” which I highly recommend!
2. Halloween is just around the corner; what has been your favorite costume you have worn?
Probably Jake Peralta from Brooklyn Nine-Nine
3. What is your favorite book?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (similar themes to this play!)
4. How do you take your coffee?
Black
5. Why should people see Alabama Story?
It’s a play about circumstances that happened decades ago, yet are still relevant today. If people want a good story (pun intended) about how a local librarian changed the way America perceives certain books, they should come see Alabama Story.
Thank you Justine! (The holiday you speak of is Christmas right?) We have a special guest tomorrow after the matinee tomorrow and we STILL have one more weekend of shows! ... See MoreSee Less
4 weeks ago ·