Night on Broadway: ACTAndover founder says that's how you'll feel at premiere
By Judy Wakefield
Staff Writer
Community theater in Andover is a lot like finding a parking space on Main Street on a Saturday morning. You just don't. And residents looking for an in-town community theater group just don't find that, either. Drama types looking to satisfy an acting or singing or dancing bug must go out of town for a fix.
"I was stunned when I found out that a town like Andover has no community theater," said local Realtor and veteran stage performer Charles Gracy. "There's so many people in Andover who enjoy the arts, and to find out there is no community theater just stunned me."
But as they say in Hollywood, that was so yesterday, as Gracy spent a long time seriously thinking about starting what he called a much-needed community theater group in Andover. And, now he's done it.
Gracy has launched a new local community theater group that premieres next month. Called ACTAndover, the group is rehearsing for three shows. "Spotlight on Broadway" is the group's premiere show and a salute to Broadway through song, dance and narration. When the curtain goes up, attendees can expect lots of toe-tapping fun, Gracy said. Broadway hit songs of yesteryear along with contemporary tunes will be performed.
"We're focusing on musicals in the Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein days up through today's shows on Broadway, like 'Spamalot,' 'Hairspray' and 'Avenue Q,'" Gracy said.
Rehearsals are underway for the cast of about 35, and there's a lot of excitement about the shows being staged in July at the Tewksbury Senior Center, he said.
Gracy was also stunned — this time happily — by the turnout at auditions for the show, which were held in May at a Tewksbury church and attracted adults and children. There are no roles for kids in the premiere show, but there will be plenty in the group's fall production, "The Wiz." ACTAndover is now working on the date for that show at the Collins Center at Andover High School.
Gracy said the turnout was a good indication that people in the Andover would enjoy a local community theater group. It's a comeback of sorts as Gracy said his research found out there was an ACTAndover theater group in town in 2000. It eventually closed, he said.
"The interest is here. I'm very excited about this," said Gracy, who lives in Peabody and works on the Gracy team for Keller Williams Realty and sells homes in the Andover area.
Initially, he had hoped to book the Old Town House for the premiere show, but it didn't work out. The Tewksbury Senior Center has a brand new stage, which he said is perfect for the show.
If you go
What: ACTAndover, a new community theater group
What: "Spotlight on Broadway"; song, dance narration to various Broadway hits
Where: Tewksbury Senior Center, 175 Chandler St., Tewksbury
When: Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, July 20, 2 p.m.
Cost: $18, $15 seniors, students; 978-289-4123
Info: www.ACTAndover.com
