lovesong program

April 14 - 22, 2023

126 Newberry Street SW Aiken, SC 29801

Written by Abi Morgan

Directed by Peg Tribert

A C T M I S S I O N

Aiken Community Theatre (ACT) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to entertain, educate, and enrich our community by providing a quality theatre experience.

Kyle Seconi - Executive Director

JC Crider - Artistic Director

Thurmond Whatley - Facilities Director

Chrissey Morton - Secretary

Jimmy Moore - Treasurer

Dustin Turner - Marketing Director

Marcia Harris Cory Herbst

Wedny Dietzel Jeff Mastromonico

Jim Schroeder Anrenee Tucker-Brown

Ellen Williams

Jerry West

Angie Galan Frances Fields

Collette Miller

Theatre Operator - Whitney McDonald

presents Lovesong

Written by Abi Morgan

Directed by Peg Tribert

F R O M A C T ' S

E X E C U T I V E

D I R E C T O R

I cannot express what a pleasure it has been to serve our community as a member of the ACT Board of Directors these past 6 years, and as Executive Director for the past three. It is truly difficult to be stepping down from an organization that has such amazing support from donors, volunteers, and audience members. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to contribute to this fine theatre and confident that ACT will continue to grow and flourish in its 71st season. Until we meet again, break a leg!

Kyle Seconi, Executive Director

C O M I N G S O O N

A N O T

F R O M L O V E S O N G ' S D I R E C T O R

Traditionally, directors find a script they love and hope ACT's Play Selection Committee loves it, too. But, occasionally, a script comes along that sells itself. ACT chose Lovesong without an attached director. When I read the script, I knew I had to make a pitch. The scenes are, to put it simply, so honest. To our great luck, the talented actors in these roles leapt in. Everyone, including the stage manager, choreographer, lighting and sound crews came in committed to this production. It hasn't been easy, and we were flying without a net. Abi Morgan has written a lot for film, but we didn't have a lot to go on by way of stage notes or set design. All we knew was that, like a marriage that lasts, the play had to keep moving. This play is seamless, as the action needed to be. Like T. S. Eliot's poem, this is a cobble of small moments that make a life; there are very few big scenes in the show. It has been sweet, between those of us married for decades, to see our love lives in this production. Love is not always proclaimed from a mountain top. A long love is made of thousands of "good mornings" and midnight snacks. It is "decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse... for (we) have known them already, known them all; (we) have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, (we) have measured out (our) lives with coffee spoons."

Peg Tribert, Director

Abi Morgan's Lovesong is the engaging story of one couple, told from two different points in their lives - as young lovers in their 20s and as worldly companions looking back on their relationship. Their past and present lives collide on stage in this beautifully choreographed tale. All relationships have their ups and downs, and the optimism of youth becomes the wisdom of experience. Lovesong shows that love is a leap of faith, and when the human body begins to fail, love does not.

T H E C R E W

Director - Peg Tribert

Stage Manager - Jim Schroeder

Props Mistress/Floor Manager - Ashlee Taylor

Set Designers - Duane Berning, Peg Tribert

Lighting Design - Cory Herbst, based on a lighting plot by Chet Longley

Sound Design - David Skeen

Costumer - Wendy Dietzel

Choreography - Korilyn Hendricks

Lighboard Operator - Hal Lynch

Sound Operator - Caroline Seawell

Microphones - Thurmond Whatley

Stagehands - Laura Murphy, Natalie Matthewson

B A Y L O R S H U L L

as Margaret

Baylor was last seen on the ACT stage in Blithe Spirit (Mrs. Bradham). Other credits include Move over Mrs. Markham (Mrs. Wilkerson), Alice in Wonderland (the doormouse), and Little Women (Jo). With a BA in Theatre from College of Charleston, Baylor is grateful to still be doing what she loves. She is happy to bring Margaret to life and to have been taught by the character that there is always more to say.

as Billy

D A V E E N G L E M A N

Dave is pleased to be returning to the ACT Stage. He has appeared in such diverse shows at Lend Me a Tenor, Twelfth Night, Frost/Nixon, The Merchant of Venice, and Some Place Called Mayor's Income, Tennessee. In addition, he has acted and directed for other venues in the CSRA. As a believer in community theatre, Dave always encourages others to get involved, whether on stage or behind the scenes.

J A S O N

L A T I M E R

as William

Since moving to the area in 2016, Jason has been a part of dozens of shows with multiple companies in the CSRA, including ACT, Paladin Productions, and Le Chat Noir. He most recently appeared in LCN's production of American Son (Officer Larkin). Jason is the Operations Director for LCN's improv troupe, Schrodinger's Cat, and regularly appears in their First Friday showing. Jason holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN and is a process engineer with Bridgestone.

N A N C Y H A N S E N

as Maggie

Nancy Gamba Hansen is a long-time ACT participant. Her primary area for many years was ACT's Youth Wing as a leader, a teacher, and a director, mainly with the high school aged Cole Group. Among her directing credits are The Crucible, Antigone, Tale of Two Cities, Bang! Bang! You're Dead, and Sense and Sensibility. More recent acting credits include roles in All My Sons, A Few Good Men, Silent Sky, and Gibson & Sons. She also had the great honor of directing the Smithsonian-sponsored show Voices and Votes. Nancy has been an instructor at the Weeks Center for decades, is married to Jerry, and is a grateful mother and grandmother.