Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe White.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Joe White. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I always wanted to be part of the theater, acting, and film. I feel I am a storyteller. I started as a theater and writing major in college back in the 80’s, but I needed to make money so I went into the finance business. I am still doing that today and I feel it has afforded me the opportunity to balance out my creative side.
When I turned 50 I wanted to go back into my first career passion: theater, acting, and writing, So with the encouragement of my wife Laura and great friend Mauro Ciccirelli I started taking acting classes again. I met my acting teaching Kelly Fey and told her of my dreams and passions and she helped me along the way.
So late 2013 I started Ashland Community Theater. Our first show “Relationships A-Z” had 14 short scenes, 11 different actors and many first timers on stage, I didn’t know what would come of it; but I know I wanted to put on theater productions. I also knew I wanted to do film work. and since 2014 we have done 8 theater shows mostly all “original” material by local writers. We have filmed two 2 mini-series with my TV producer partner Barbara Chisholm from WACA-TV in Ashland. One of the mini-series “Therapy Sessions” has actually won a couple of awards for best Comedy production from “The Home Town Media Awards” and “The Mass Creator Awards”.
But more importantly, I have met and worked with some fantastic people along the way; Katy Shander-Reynolds who has been my creative partner on many of our shows, Rich Greaves who has been our technical and lead set design guru since inception, Heidi Hanson our actress, writer and marketing director, and many many more people whom I consider all part of the ACT family. It has truly been a blessing to meet such wonderful people and I am glad we have a product that can facilitate theater and film products, that enables people to participate and tap into their creative side of their personalities.
Has it been a smooth road?
If the road was smooth the path would not have been as enjoyable. I think the biggest issue we had was getting the word out that we existed, we are a small town and I wanted to let everyone know of our existence, but we had a small budget and even a smaller number of people helping. Also scheduling venues for us to hold our shows.
Now we have core sponsors and a large group of actors and a new venue to hold our show. The Ashland VFW.
We held our first 7 shows at the local schools in town and while a good venue it was difficult getting dates and schedules to align. I feel that partnering with Kim Walbridge of Marconi’s company and the VFW we are in for a long-term relationship.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ashland Community Theater – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
2 things that I feel sets us apart from other theater groups.
1-The majority of our shows are “original material”, while we have done and will do some known shows our core business is the original themed play. Some of the themes we have done were stories about relationships “Relationships A-Z”, Halloween theme “Daymares on Oak Street”, stores about family “Parents Day”. A group of family Therapist in “Therapy Sessions”, things that happen at a restaurant “Dinner Conversations” and at an airport Terminal “Gate 19. While we have done some known work Plaza Suite and 39 Steps and The Connection. Our aim to getting writers involved to write scenes of a play.
2- Collaboration, while I produce all the shows I feel I afford all the people in our ACT troupe the opportunity to collaborate on the final product. I encourage people to come up with ideas on how to make the show better, funnier, and more enjoyable to the audience. I feel its a Community Theater and the community should participate.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Boston and Ashland. Maybe too much snow.
Pricing:
- Our Online tickets are $12 per show or $15 at the door.
Contact Info:
- Website: Ashlandcommunitytheater.com
- Email: Ashlandcommunitytheater@gmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/AshlandCommunityTheater19
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