Cast and crew photo from “Pride@Prejudice.” Photo by Ken Kemp.
ROCKVILLE, MD – Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to compete in the American Association of Community Theatre Festival, a week-long event that stretched from June 12 – 17, 2023. The performances were held at the very impressive Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts in the Bomhard Theatre (619 seats). RLT performed a 55-minute cutting of their January 2023 production of “Pride@Prejudice” by Daniel Elihu Kramer to a nearly full house on Wednesday, June 14 at 8:15 p.m. Twelve companies from all over the United States, including a drama club from a military base in Germany, competed for several awards.
The ensemble cast included Niranjali Amerasinghe, Lena Winter, Meghan Williams Elkins, Ian Swank and Joseph Coracle. The Festival production Team included Laura W. Andruski (Director), Aaron Skolnik (Production Stage Manager/Asst. Director) and Teresa Gillcrist (Producer/Asst. Stage Manager).
Immediately following their performance the cast and festival production team were adjudicated by a three-person panel: Jeff Calhoun, a Tony nominee for Disney’s Newsies and Deaf West Theatre’s Big River; Faye M. Price, former Co-Artistic Producing Director of Pillsbury House Theatre (Minneapolis); and Rick St. Peter, director and educator in professional, academic and community theater for 25 years. Adjudicator Price stated, “At the end of the play, I felt like I watched a cast of thousands”…“Beautiful ensemble work!”
RLT President Laura Andruski (right) with Pride@Prejudice producer Teresa Gillcrist.
At the completion of AACT Fest 2023, an award ceremony, sponsored by Music Theatre International, was held on Saturday, June 17 in the Bomhard Theatre. RLT actor Joseph Coracle was recognized for his performance with an acting award for Outstanding Achievement in a Featured Role. Additionally, the Broadway Licensing Group, a festival sponsor, awarded RLT a Certificate of Achievement for “their exceptional talent and creativity”.
In its 76th season, Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) was founded in 1948 and is the oldest continuously-operating, award-winning, 501(c)3 nonprofit live theater in the Rockville area. RLT provides high quality performances at reasonable prices. We strive to entertain, enlighten and educate all who attend our theatrical events. RLT offers an opportunity for community members to step out of their everyday lives and to assume new roles as playwrights, actors, directors, costume designers, set designers, and audiences. Join us at rlt-online.org.
