Spring 2024

President’s Letter
Kristi Quinn
AACT President
Recently, I was reading an article by
the insightful Garrison Keillor about
many wonderful things, but of course
what took my fancy was his focus
on food. In particular, he referenced
hot dogs and his love for a Minneapolis delicacy, Kramarczuk’s
bratwurst. Now, as despicable as it may be to some people, I
do love a good hot dog or brat, and while I’ve never tried Kramarczuk’s,
I have noticed that people are adamant about the best
way to indulge in these food items.
“Only mustard, never catsup!”
“Chili is the best, but chili without beans!”
“Give me everything, relish, onions, kraut—the works!”
People are insistent about which is best. But you know, I never
have seen anyone come to blows or call people names or ridicule
someone for their ideal hot dog. Now, in this election year, I only
wish politicians and the voting public could be more like hot dog
indulgers—and theatre folk.
One of the reasons I loved community theatre from the start,
many (many) years ago, was that no one judged you, and in many
cases never asked mundane questions, like what you did for a
living, where you went to school, who you loved, or how much
money you made. And they were kind. They cared about you as
a person—and that you learned your lines, came to rehearsal on
time, and respected your director and crew. These people were innovative
and imaginative. They wanted to learn, to educate themselves
about theatre and the world. They were accepting. It made
no difference to them that Cinderella was 20 pounds overweight
(she had the best voice and could act), that Hansel was Indonesian
and Gretel was Native American (their German accents
were impeccable), or that the kid playing Grandpa Jones was 23
with lines painted on his face (he was a better old man than the
62-year-old playing Tex).
In a recent interview, Emmy Award winner and Tony Award
nominee Colman Domingo touted the importance of community
theatre in his life, where he worked hard and then went on
to regional theatre and Broadway. “Many theatre professionals
would be lost without their community theatre ties,” said. Domingo,
who’s gained fame in the film Rustin.
Clearly, community theatre serves a broad spectrum of interests
and outcomes. As your own theatre looks to expand its horizons
and the imaginations of its volunteers and patrons, remember
that AACT supports your work with programs and resources for
solving problems, raising money, providing common-sense solutions
and a common fellowship.
AACT works to build community theatres into a thriving kinship.
Your membership helps AACT assist your theatre and the
thousands of community theatres around the country, and the
world.
So, eat a hot dog. Do theatre. Join AACT. Be imaginative, innovative,
and inclusive.
And kind.
The Celebration of Aging
No sad songs!
No f-bombs!
No Depends jokes!
A Member
of the Broadway Licensing Family
www.StageRights.com
Spring 2024 3