ACT Receives Grant For Gettysburg Trip

The Academy of Children’s Theatre recently received a $15,000 travel expense grant to take its upcoming production of “Keeping Mr. Lincoln” to a Gettysburg theatre festival in June. The American Association of Community Theatre and the Jack K. Ayre and Frank Ayre Lee Theatre Foundation jointly funded the grant.

A group of 25 participants, including 21 members of the cast and crew, as well as four adult chaperones, will travel to Gettysburg June 20-23 to perform the play just miles from where Lincoln delivered his infamous Gettysburg address.

Members of the cast and crew have been fundraising to supplement covering the travel costs, and the $15,000 grant ensures their participation. This is the first time ACT has taken a production on the road. ACT was one of only six youth theatre group’s invited to participate in the American Association of Community Theatre’s annual festival.

Locally “Keeping Mr. Lincoln” opens the weekend of February 15 at the ACT Theatre located at 223 Wellsian Way. It is an engaging production featuring four youth actors in the role of Lincoln during different time periods of his life. The play is provocative for its focus on the relevance of Lincoln’s legacy to issues of today’s youth. Performances are February 15 and 22 at 7 p.m.; February 16, 17, 18, 23, and 24 at 3 p.m. The February 18th show is scheduled in honor of President’s Day. Tickets are $16 for general admission; $13 for students and seniors; and $10 for ages 12 and under. Tickets are available in advance at www.academyofchildrenstheatre.org and at the door. The show is recommended for ages 8 and older.