ACTC theater's future remains on hold

Apparently the next season of shows at ACTC is facing some hurdles. According to this story in The Herald-Dispatch by David E. Malloy, there are shows in the works - but no schedule is set yet:

While there currently are no stage productions scheduled at Ashland Community and Technical College, there will be other plays and stage productions at the J.B. Sowards theater, college president Greg Adkins said Friday.

Adkins canceled the production of Sweeney Todd earlier this month after several people received minor injuries when a theater set collapsed while cast members posed for a photograph after a rehearsal. Several people were treated at King's Daughters Medical Center and released, and two more sought medical attention later for bumps and bruises.

Zach Davis, a Huntington resident attending the college, said in a letter to the editor of The Herald-Dispatch that he's concerned about future theatrical productions at the college.

"Ashland Community and Technical College is now in full session," Davis wrote. "However, the theatre students have nothing to look forward to. In fact, the faculty and students who attend the theatrical productions have only an empty stage to watch.

"I decided to go to ACTC because of what the theater has to offer," he said. "If the theater can't produce shows, then what's the purpose of continuing my education at ACTC? I'm not saying that the school has officially canceled all productions. I am just saying the future of the theater season is unknown."

Adkins said he told students there will be future stage productions and plays.

"It's not a matter of whether, it's a matter of when," Adkins said.

Because of the collapse of the set, school officials have to bring safety issues under review, he said. "I had to make a decision in favor of safety" in canceling the earlier performance, he said. "It was a decision I didn't take lightly."

You can read the rest of the story at the link above.

It's good to see the students getting involved in the effort to get things moving - and Zach, who's quoted in the article, is a local community theatre veteran, having appeared in a number of shows, including several of mine! (Hi, Zach!)

Hopefully the school will be able to overcome their difficulties and get their next season off the ground soon!