Theatre Partnership Announced

The recently-formed Actors Repertory Theatre (ART) will partner with the Central Lakes Community Performing Arts Center (CLCPAC) in the production of a series of plays. The partnership was announced by ART director Patrick Spradlin and CLCPAC director Joey Yow.

The partnership is the culmination of discussions between Yow, Spradlin, and ART’s two other founders, Beth Selinger and Curtis Jendro. “We’d initially looked into the idea of renting the Dryden for our upcoming production of ‘The Outgoing Tide,’” said Spradlin. During that discussion, Joey suggested a more engaged partnership.”

The arrangement allows ART to have a consistent home base for staging its works. “We were an itinerant, vagabond troupe when we formed this company,” said Selinger. “It really helps our actors and our audiences to have a recognizable, recurring theatre to perform in.”

The partnership allows ART to not only utilize the performance spaces at Central Lakes College, but also gives them access to the storehouse of properties and costumes there. In exchange, CLCPAC receives a percentage of the revenue generated by tickets sales. “Part of our mission at the CLCPAC is to invest in local performers and arts organizations so that the greater community prospers from a rich and diverse availability of artistic entertainment. We’re thrilled to be able to work with ART as they develop fantastic new opportunities for our local actors and audiences alike,” said Yow.

ART was created by Spradlin, Selinger and Jendro in early summer of 2022. The company produced its first production, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” in December. “We rented the Studio Stage at the Gichi-Ziibi Center for that

play,” said Jendro. “It worked well for that production. But we weren’t able to secure it for all of our planned productions. This arrangement gives us more flexibility.”

ART’s mission focuses on the work of actors, placing them at the center of all productions. The organization also is committed to giving back to the community. The theatre solicited donations for the Salvation Army Food Shelf and Toys for Kids as part of its Christmas offering. For ‘The Outgoing Tide’ they are working with local Alzheimers support groups to raise awareness and to encourage donations.

CLCPAC produces the Cultural Arts Series featuring visiting guest artists in music, dance and theatre. Brainerd Community Theatre (BCT) is one facet of CLCPAC. The two theatre producing companies are not merging, however.

“Both ART and BCT will maintain their autonomy in what they choose to produce, who is involved in the productions, and when each show is scheduled,” said Spradlin. “It’s important to both organizations that their individual identities be

maintained.”

ART will produce ‘The Outgoing Tide” by Bruce Graham in March, “God of Carnage” by Yazmina Reza in June, “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, in September, and “A Sherlock Carol” by Mark Shanahan in

December. The Christmas show will be produced in a more involved partnership than the other shows, and will include specially scheduled matinees for local public school students.

BCT will produce “Collected Stories” by Donald Margulies in April and Disney’s “High School Musical, Jr.” by David Simpatico and Matthew Gerrard and “Kinky Boots” by Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein as summer offerings. Their fall

production will be “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson.

Tickets for ACT productions are available through the company’ website: www.art4mn.org Tickets for BCT productions are available through the CLCPAC website: www.clcperformingarts.com