ASPEN COMMUNITY THEATRE
offers an opportunity to participate in, learn from and experience live theatre
ABOUT
Aspen Community Theatre was founded in 1975 and is one of the longest-running companies still doing live theatre in Aspen, Colorado. ACT seeks to enrich the lives of Roaring Fork valley residents, as both audience members and participants on both sides of the proscenium arch. We are also proud to participate in the vibrant local theater community alongside other arts organizations such as Theatre Aspen, Theater Masters, the Aspen Fringe Festival, Hudson Reed Ensemble, Thunder River Theater Company, the Glenwood Vaudeville Review, Defiance Community Players, and SOL Theatre among many others.
ACT is governed by a volunteer board of directors (see below) that oversees all aspects of our nonprofit’s business and productions. We have no paid officers nor staff. Each year we offer a variety of classes and workshops ranging from acting, voice, dance, and technical arts to audition skills. We produce an annual musical in the fall.
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Valley schools benefit from our programs through guest artists, instructors and reduced ticket prices as well as student participation in our productions. And each year our Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school students who plan to continue with involvement in the performing arts.
Although small honorariums are paid to a few of our professionals and orchestra members, the cast and crew are all volunteer. We believe that participation by thousands of locals over the years has met our goal of continued growth in providing educational enrichment of theatre arts and cultural awareness.
As a service to other local area theaters, ACT also loans costumes, props and set pieces. In the past, we have participated in the annual Colorado Community Theatre Coalition, an annual statewide theatre competition and festival for community theater companies from all over Colorado.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Aspen Community Theatre is governed by a volunteer board of directors that oversee all aspects of the business and production of live, nonprofit theatre. ACT has zero paid staff. We are an eclectic mix of locals from all corners of life in the Roaring Fork Valley who endeavor to further the mission of ACT. We’re always looking to grow our ranks. If joining our board is something that may interest you, please reach out to info@aspencommunitytheatre.org.
BRAD MOORE, president
Brad is the Theatre Operations Manager and an Adjunct Professor for Colorado Mountain College. Brad played the Tin Man in ACT’s very first production. Since then he has directed eight productions, acted in nine, and has been involved in nearly every aspect of ACT. Brad also serves on the boards of Aspen Stage, Aspen Fringe Festival, Dance Initiative, and the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition. Additionally, he is the Colorado State Representative and is on the Festival Commission for the American Association of Community Theatre.
CHRISTY GARFIELD, vice president
Christy Garfield has been connected to ACT since birth. The first show her mom Rita Hunter volunteered for occured the year Christy was born. The organization has been a thru line of Christy's life. She's been a performer (first in 1988, and then 10+ more shows over the decades), a board member, and the #1 supporter of her mom, who produced or co-produced more than 50 ACT productions. She is committed to helping ACT thrive in its next half-century as a treasured community asset.
CHARLIE FIELDS, secretary
Ever since he was plucked out of his second grade class to play a supporting role in the third grade operetta, Charlie has had a love for musical theater and performing. He has played in many musicals since then, but being on the ACT board is the first time he has worked behind the scenes in a theater company. His board duties include writing email newsletters, creating promotional content for social media, and taking minutes at meetings. He loves how ACT brings the town together, from the cast and crew to the audience and supporters.
HENSLEY FRADKIN, treasurer
Hensley grew up in New York City, where she developed a flair for the performing arts at a young age. Making her way west, she studied theater and geology at Whitman College, in Walla Walla, Washington. She has been in the Valley for over 10 years, building a career in hospitality with Aspen Skiing Company. She is excited to be part of ACT's wonderful organization and to contribute to bringing magical performances to our community.
TAMMY BAAR
Tammy Baar is an Aspen native, born and bred. She appeared in the first ever ACT production a LONG time ago and has enjoyed participating in many since. Favorite ACT roles include Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, and Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music. Her passion has been working with children throughout her life. Tammy directs countless productions with local children in the Aspen area. She clowns around locally as Buttons the Clown and other characters through her company, Kidtoons Productions, and also teaches children’s music classes with Aspen Music Together.
LAUREL CARINI FOX
After graduating from Aspen High School and being a part of ACT since she was fourteen years old —Laurel has ventured her way back to the valley after spending thirty two years in Los Angeles. She works as a SAG Voice-Over Actor, sometimes commuting back and forth; and is thrilled to be involved in ACT productions while being on the board.
KATRIONA HEMBURY
Katriona moved from the UK to the valley in 2000. In 2007, despite having lived in Aspen for 7 years, she'd not lost her accent, and Aspen still didn't feel quite like home. In joining her first production of "She Loves Me" with ACT that fall, things changed: She finally felt that she was part of the Aspen community and, since that time, she has been in a further 8 ACT shows. Some of her favorites have been "9 to 5", "Mary Poppins", and "Spamalot". In 2020 she joined the board as she felt it was time to start giving back to her adopted community through the organization that had given her so much. The accent? Well...that stuck around too.
TRAVIS McDIFFETT
Travis Lane came to the RFV to work for the Crystal Palace in 2002, but quickly got involved with ACT during his first off-season. Upon his return to the valley in 2014 to join the program team at the Aspen Historical society, he jumped at the chance to join the ACT board and help behind the scenes, as well as on stage, to bring the high quality, professional caliber performances to which the patrons have become accustomed. He feels truly lucky to have the opportunity to spend so much of his free time performing, both for ACT and for several of the professional theater companies in the area.