Friday, June 26
Blogger: Kim Martin [Click on any photo to enlarge]
A Grand Welcome to Grand Rapids
One of the joys of attending AACTFest is the chance to travel to an American city that you would perhaps not have another occasion to visit. Admittedly, Grand Rapids is not exactly New York City, San Francisco, or New Orleans, but it is such a welcoming and interesting place for this year's theatre conference. Just right for a bunch of lowlife theatre-types. First, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is a gorgeous, classic opera house style, with its ornate decor, balcony, intimate audience-to-stage relationship, and an architectural facade second to none. The downtown part of the city is emminently walkable (and I mean walkable for 62-year-old flat feet and weak knees carrying more weight than should be allowed). Getting to a number of art and historical venues, as well as cozy parks and memorials is so easy, and intermingled throughout this accessible downtown neighborhood are plentiful dining options for any taste preference. Our favorite has been the salad and juice bar Freshii's (we really want to take this one home with us) but GR Brewing Company, San Chez Tapas Bistro, and Grand Central Market, were equally appealing. We're looking for a few more to try before we have to get to the airport.
Specialty of the House
And, speaking of brew, we are told that Grand Rapids earned the title Beer City USA two years running, in 2012 and 2013, in recognition of its booming craft brewing industry. So it is appropriate that one of the sponsors for the AACTFest this year is Founders Brewing Company. It is perhaps unfortunate that, so far, this writer has been able to sample only one of their unique offerings, at the Opening Night reception at the Civic Theatre. We'll be looking for more before we get out of town.
 Waking Up to Elegance
The conference hotel is really an unequalled attraction. We awake in an intimate but elegant room reminiscent of the most charming European boutique hotels, but exploring the full Amway Grand Plaza Hotel reveals a truly "grand" experience of the finest common spaces, from the old-world attraction of the historic neoclassical Pantlind Building [photo, left], to the more modern elegance of the Glass Tower on the river side of the common registration lobby. This hotel would be hard to beat in any city for its unique ambience.
River City
Speaking of the river, the city gets its name from its location on the Grand River which flows from eastern Michigan westward into Lake Michigan, 30 miles beyond Grand Rapids. The snows must have been heavy this year, because parts of the river walk area are under a bit of water, but a footbridge behind the convention center crosses over to the beautiful grounds of the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum. We're saving this one for our last day here, but we don't want to miss it.
Friday Evening
 Workshops
The many workshops are a major benefit AACTFest, as this one (photo, right), led by AACT members Sal Jones and Susan Harrington, titled "When Color Casting Does Matter."
Performances of the Day
Friday is a busy day for watching the shows. My personal favorites are plays I have never seen before, especially if they are gems from authors I have heard of and perhaps not experienced. The companies have such performances ready for us during the afternoon and evening sessions. We began with The Nina Variations, Steven Dietz’s homage to Anton Chekov’s The Seagull. This intimate two-person piece gave variety to our examination of the well-known final scene, presented by the Platte Valley Players from Brighton, Colorado. Warner Theatre/Warner Stage Company closed the pre-dinner session with Lily Rusek’s Winter Flowers, another two-person play examining end-of-life struggles of what remains of a sweet Southern family. The evening is capped off by Detachments by Colleen Dodson-Baker, a comedy of physical and relational “detachments" from SHAPE Performing Arts Company representing Region X. And we will finish with Tennessee Williams’ The Lady of Larkspur Lotion presented by Theatre Albany, revisiting Williams’ penchant for lonely women who struggle to live with their fantasies.
Video: Between Shows, in the lobby and in the theatre
Curtains
We'll close the evening with discount beer & wine in the lobby of the Civic. That's the way to finish off a Friday. Tomorrow will be even better. Have fun, theatre peeps!
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