PACE — The Panhandle Community Theatre is celebrating 10 years of laughter, tears and, well, drama.
GALLERY: Photos from performers on stage and behind the scenes>
The PCT presents original productions, such as “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!” and renowned plays, like “The Importance of Being Earnest” or “Lost in Yonkers,” to its Pace stage. The volunteer-based group is open to all, with audition opportunities regularly posted on its website.
That’s good, said Dave Cook, who acts, directs and manages the stage, because acting has several benefits.
“Acting strengthens a multitude of areas in one’s life and opens the doors to one’s abilities to accomplish things we’ve only dreamed of, and gives hope to those who seek a better life,” he said. “I think it can be used to help people act out things and get things out of their system.”
Playing a character unlike themselves allows actors to understand different personalities and backgrounds, which helps them relate to people in life.
In addition, Jennifer Emerson, PCT’s treasurer, said actors can make their presence known to the attending audience.
“People may think we are too small to impact an audience …. that is farther from the truth than the east is from the west,” she said. “In fact, the actors are right in the audience's lap. They see and feel everything the actors see and feel, and it doesn't take much to portray even the subtlest of emotion.”
It also helps to have great directors, Emerson said.
“Our directors know how to overcome our close environment and they embrace the challenge of teaching those skills to anyone new to our stage.
“It is exhilarating, and brings the audience in all the more.”
WANT TO GO?
The Panhandle Community Theatre is celebrating its 10th anniversary 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at 4646 Woodbine Road in Pace. The Italian vineyard-themed setting will feature hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, games, door prizes and a 2017 season preview. Attendees also can participate in a murder mystery.
ONLINE
See www.srpressgazette.com for photos from some of Panhandle Community Theatre’s previous performances at the Imogene Theatre and their location on Woodbine Road in Pace
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Panhandle Community Theatre celebrates 10 years (PHOTOS)