MIDLAND, MI - When the American Association of Community Theatre state finals in Owosso came to a close in late March, the troupe from the Midland Center for the Arts' Center Stage Theatre's "The Sugar Bean Sisters" came to the end of its run.
But that hasn't kept the competition's 2011 national runner-up from joining the party this coming weekend as it hosts Re3AACTion, the Region 3 finals sporting community theater groups from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
And this isn't just any production. The troupes can only use the set and prop pieces that they can fit in a 10'-by-10' box and assemble in 10 minutes. Then they have 60 minutes to present plays that typically run about twice that long, calling for some careful editing to present before a panel of well-seasoned judges.
It's all open to the public, with performances at 1:10, 2:50, 4:30, 7:30 and 9:10 p.m. Friday, April 17, and 11:30 a.m., 1:10, 2:50, 5:50 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Midland Center for the Arts. Admission costs $8 for a single play, $30 for five and $50 for all 10. An all-access pass costs $120 and includes workshops on topics such as children's theater, comedic acting and unrehearsed Shakespeare and the parties that follow each day's performances.
"What's really great is the adjudicators share their feedback on each play with the audience at the end of the play," said Dexter Brigham, managing director of Center Stage Theatre. "You can listen in and learn as they let the cast know what worked and what didn't."
And the fact that they're not competing in the regional says volumes about the level of talent this year, he added.
"We had eight companies competing in Owosso and the two that advanced deserved to be here. The quality is very high and there are a lot of really strong productions."
The regional winners, announced Sunday morning, will advance to the state finals, held June 23-28 in Grand Rapids.
In the end, Brigham said, the competition isn't really what it's all about.
"The community spirit of community theater keeps everyone coming back," he said. "We get to see new plays and experience them in new ways. With more than 200 people coming in to compete, we have a great chance to hang out and learn from people who feel the same way as we do about theater."
"They're as passionate as we are about community theater," said Emily Anderson, chair of this year's planning committee. "It's been a lot of work but we learned so much in 2011, when we went through the whole process. That really helped bring this to fruition."
She's still spend most of the weekend putting out fires, she said, but with the right people on the team, from technicians to office help, the center is well equipped to make the companies feel right to home.
"They're all going through an incredible amount of stress at this level and it's our job to make everything as easy as possible. They're putting their heart and soul into this and we're doing the same."
And those in community theater will find a great opportunity to network with others, too, as they plan their upcoming seasons. She suggests the all-access pass for those who can swing it, which includes admission to the workshops and parties.
"The more you see, the better you get," said Anderson, whose husband Bill directed the Midland production. "It's a bummer that we're not in the chain this year but I'll be glad if I can catch them all here. That's my goal."
Brigham has a few favorites, too. A Eugene O'Neill fan, he's eager to see the Players de Noc of Escanaba's production of "The Hairy Ape." But each of the titles bring up more reasons to check them out.
"This is really compelling stuff," he said. "It's going to be great fun."
Here is the weekend's schedule, featuring theater groups from Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. Tickets are available at the box office at 1801 W. St. Andrews, by calling 800-523-7649 and online at mcfta.org.
Friday, April 17
1:10 p.m. - "Talley's Folly" by Playhouse on the Square, Jacksonville, Illinois
2:10 p.m. - "The Hairy Ape" by Players de Noc, Escanaba, Michigan
4:30 p.m. - "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" by Baraboo Theatre Guild, Baraboo, Wisconsin
7:30 p.m. - "Revival at Possum Kingdom Community Church" by Holland Civic Theatre, Holland, Michigan
9:10 p.m. - "Ring of Fire" by Byron Civic Theatre, Byron Illinois
Saturday, April 18
11:30 a.m. - "Freud's Last Season" at Kokomo Civic Theatre, Kokomo, Indiana
1:10 p.m. - "The Coal Diamond" at Sun Prairie Civic Theatre, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
2:50 p.m. - "Proof" by Williams County Community Theatre in Bryan, Ohio
5:50 p.m. - "Angel Street" by Troy Civic Theatre, Inc., Troy, Ohio
7:30 p.m. - "The 39 Steps" by Elkhart Civic Theatre, Elkhart, Indiana