The cast of ACT II’s It’s a Wonderful Life Live Radio Play by Joe Landry
A Fine Arts Community
Performance and juried shows add quality of life STORY BY LONNA UPTON PHOTOS BY JAKE ARTHUR, KENNETH BOONE & COURTESY OF PARSONS LONGINEAU
The arts scene around Lake Martin is thriving. Advocates and patrons of the arts have prioritized creativity and expressive arts, creating a greater quality of life for residents. The arts educate, broaden horizons and provide endless hours of entertainment for both children and adults. Passionate about making a creative difference in the lives of Lake Martin area residents, many of the same advocates work together from different arenas to bring cultural events to the area. Since the incorporation of the Alexander City Arts in 1968, the goal of ACA has been to bring in professional talent to entertain the community. With one season each year, running from fall to spring, programs through the years have included music, dance, visual arts and theatre. Mary Perry, president of the ACA, believes the arts are important not just for entertainment and education but also for economic impact. “Having exposure to the arts broadens the education and enhances the quality of life of community members, but having artistic performances actually impacts economic development as well. Before a performance, many
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attendees go out to dinner locally. If they live out of town and come to Alexander City for a performance or a play, they may stay overnight. Families moving into the area always consider schools and the lake, but they also investigate quality of life, and that’s where the arts come in,” Perry said. Perry serves on the board of Alexander City Theatre II as well, alongside Karen Kison, president of ACT II and past-president Betsy Iler. “ACT II showcases the talents and abilities of our local townspeople through quality theatrical productions, offering another unique entertainment option for residents and lake area visitors. Theater expands our horizons and prompts conversation among friends and family. Our goal is to create fun, lively experiences for our audiences in front of the stage, as well as the cast and crew backstage,” Iler said. Iler believes being a part of the cast or crew for an ACT II production opens opportunities for creativity, whether on stage, designing and building sets, making costumes or creating period hairstyles for the actors. Fast friendships
WE MAKE IT GREAT HERE! | FEBRUARY 2022
