Rigging Workshop
2025-10-31 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | The Historic Mishler Theatre, 1208 12th Ave, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
Altoona Community Theatre and Blair County Arts Foundation are partnering to bring in Bill Sapsis for a full-day of training on Friday, October 31 for anyone who is interested in learning more about the stagecraft, particularly of the Mishler Theatre’s unique hemp fly system.
Expected class time is 9 am – 4 pm.
Only $20/person for ACT members and $30/person for non-ACT members.
Participation is limited. Minimum age is 18. There will be a lunch break, but food is not provided.
Register today! To register for the training, click here
Sapsis Rigging does the required periodic inspection on the Mishler’s fly system.
“For over 40 years Sapsis Rigging has led the effort to promote training and safety in the entertainment industry. Our programs are designed to address the rapidly changing technology in rigging and stay current with new standards and regulations. They feature a flexible curriculum, tailoring the sessions specifically to the needs and requirements of the attendees.”
Topics covered could include:

Hardware – How to choose and use the right materials.
Rope, Cable, & Slings – Matching gear to the application.
Rope Splicing – Traditional splicing for contemporary rope construction
Fittings – Keeping equipment connected safely.
Rigging Math – Basic skills for calculating forces

Facilitator:
Bill Sapsis: Bill Sapsis, President of Sapsis Rigging, Inc., began his career in 1972. His work on Broadway includes the original productions of A Chorus Line and The Runner Stumbles. Bill opened Sapsis Rigging in 1981 and has grown the company into a multi-faceted installation/production/service company with clients on six continents.
Bill’s articles and lectures on rigging and safety can be found in numerous publications worldwide. He has authored two books; Heads and Tales and Entertainment Rigging for the 21st Century. Bill is the chair of the ETCP Arena Subject Matter Experts and a member of the ETCP Council. He serves on ESTA’s Technical Standards Committee and is co-Chair of the ANSI accredited Rigging Working Group. Bill sits on the Board of Directors for the Behind the Scenes Charity.
Bill is a USITT Fellow and a member of ABTT. He is a founding member (retired) of the Long Reach Long Riders, an industry-based charity motorcycle group. He is the Executive Producer of BackStage Pass, a video interview series on YouTube and was one of the organizers of the New World Rigging Symposium. Bill is also the Executive Director, Emeritus, of the North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference (NATEAC).

Play Reading #1
2025-11-15 15:00 - 17:00 | ACT Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th St, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
Join the Artistic Committee for the first of two Play Reading events!
We will present a few titles to gauge membership interest as we prepare to propose the 2026-2027 Main Stage season slate. The plays presented are in consideration, but not necessarily indicative of the Artistic Committee’s opinions for the proposed season.
Play Reading #1:

November 15 starting at 3 PM until approximately 5 PM (giving you plenty of time to have dinner and come back to see Boeing Boeing in the Mishler!)
ACT Rehearsal Hall (1213 12th St. Altoona, PA)
Please enter through the back door of ACT, located behind Tom & Joe’s.

Light refreshments provided, but feel free to bring a snack to share!
This event is free for ACT Members. Suggested $5 donations for Non-Members.
We will ask for volunteers to read selections from:

Present Laughter
Betty’s Summer Vacation
Radium Girls

You can sign up for a membership or renew a membership at this link: https://altoonacommunitytheatre.com/membership/.

We will host a second play reading November 23 at 6 PM with selections from A Few Good Men, Turn of the Screw, Southern Fried Funeral, and Prelude to a Kiss.

Play Reading #2
2025-11-23 18:00 - 20:00 | ACT Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th St, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
Join the Artistic Committee for our second Play Reading event!
We will present a few titles to gauge membership interest as we prepare to propose the 2026-2027 Main Stage season slate. The plays presented are in consideration, but not necessarily indicative of the Artistic Committee’s opinions for the proposed season.
Play Reading #2:

November 23 starting at 6 PM until approximately 8 PM
ACT Rehearsal Hall (1213 12th St. Altoona, PA)
Please enter through the back door of ACT, located behind Tom & Joe’s.

Light refreshments provided, but feel free to bring a snack to share!
This event is free for ACT Members. Suggested $5 donations for Non-Members.
We will ask for volunteers to read selections from:

A Few Good Men
Turn of the Screw
Southern Fried Funeral
Prelude to a Kiss.

You can sign up for a membership or renew a membership at this link: https://altoonacommunitytheatre.com/membership/.

ACT Membership Holiday Party
2025-12-05 18:30 - 21:30 | ACT Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th St, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
All ACT Members and Active Volunteers are invited to a Holiday Party on December 5 in the ACT Rehearsal Hall.
Please join us for Pizza & Festivities to celebrate the season & our theatre family.
We ask that you please RSVP by December 3 to act@altoonacommunitytheatre.com

Pizza & Soda Provided
Bring a snack to share if you’re able
BYO Adult Beverages (Must Have ID)
The ACT Great Gift Give Away begins at 7:30PM
ACT Members or Volunteers from an 2025 show, event, etc. only, but you may bring a Non-Member Guest

Memberships run with our Theatre Season, July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Please make sure your membership dues for this season are paid.
Online Membership Registration (New members welcome!)

MORE INFORMATION:
The ACT Great Gift Give Away: Each guest who wants to participate brings one “White-Elephant” Gift. This gift can be a silly item, a random object cluttering up your house you want to get rid of, or, if you choose to purchase something, any gift under $30—just make sure whatever it is, you wrap it pretty! Rules will be explained at the party. You may walk away with a nice present, a useless trinket, or maybe nothing at all. It’s a game of chance, speed, and theft. Similar to paper bag awards, it’s an honor to play, but not always an honor to win.

Drinking Rules: All ACT functions that involve alcoholic beverages are served by a RAMP certified bartender. Even in the case of Bring Your Own Booze such as this party, you must turn your drinks over to the bartender and provide an ID. (We don’t care how old you look– No ID, no wristband, no drinking!) Your drinks will then be served to you in appropriate portions to make sure everyone is drinking responsibly. ACT pays for the bartender’s fee, but tips from our party guests are appreciated.

Possible other games & activities to follow the Gift Give Away. Bartender stops serving at 9:30PM & Party officially ends at 10:00PM
We hope too see you there!

Primanti Bros Dine to Donate
2026-01-27 11:00 - 23:00 | PA
Eat Delicious Food, Support Local Theatre!
Dine at or order to go from Primanti Bros in Altoona from 11 AM-11 PM on Tuesday January 27 to support Altoona Community Theatre!
All you have to do is show this flyer (digitally is fine) when dining in, or use code DINE2DONATE when ordering online.
20% of proceeds will come back to ACT!
SET A REMINDER: https://calget.com/0cdc7vmz

Membership Meeting
2026-01-30 19:00 - 21:00 | ACT Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th St, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
Friday, January 30 at 7 pm
ACT Rehearsal Hall
1213 12th St, Downtown Altoona

General Membership Meeting Agenda
– Vote on proposed slate for 2026-2027
– Elect new Artistic Committee members
– Plan to paint rehearsal hall to match the new floor!

Join as Member or to Renew Your Membership:
https://altoonacommunitytheatre.com/membership/

Your dues must be up-to-date in order to vote.

The season selections as presented by the Artistic Committee are:

September: Come From Away/ Cabaret

November: Murder on the Orient Express (Ludwig)/
The Outsiders (Sergel)

February: Pride & Prejudice (Jory)/ Radium Girls (Gregory)

May: Something Rotten/ Monty Python’s Spamalot

ARTISTIC COMMITTEE ELECTION:

Four Artistic Committee members are at the end of their terms and we will be voting on their replacements for new two-year terms. Thank you to Stephanie Curry, Christine Keppler, Kristin Franco, and Lucy Craig for their dedication & time. If you would like to put your name, or someone else’s name, on the ballot for a new two-year term, please send us an email! Nominations for the ballot will also be accepted from the floor. Each nominee will be given a couple of minutes to address the membership and share why they’d like to be on the Artist Committee.
If you are submitting someone else’s name for the ballot – check with them first and CC them on the email, please. Being on the Artistic Committee is a lot of fun, but it does require a larger time commitment, both in meetings and in reading or watching or listening to shows.

Theatrical Intimacy: Staging and Storytelling
2026-02-21 13:30 - 15:30 | ACT Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th St, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
Theatrical Intimacy: Staging and Storytelling

You can attend this workshop without having attended “Intro to Intimacy” last fall

In this workshop, we will explore storytelling techniques behind moments of intimacy on stage. We will begin by examining spatial relationships in staging—how the physical distance and positioning of actors can communicate a great deal about their relationships. We will then consider how specific details, such as the way characters hold hands, can alter the story being told. Next, we will explore different approaches to embraces and physical closeness, and how minor adjustments in blocking, timing, and intention can significantly shift meaning. Participants will then be divided into small groups to stage a specific moment between two characters using these principles. Intimacy in this context includes closeness between friends and family as well as romantic partners, and may encompass moments of comfort, connection, joy, and support—not only romance. All touch will be consensual and must remain within each participant’s stated boundaries. A willingness to give and receive respectful, non-sexual touch is encouraged but not required in order to participate.
Saturday February 21
1:30PM – 3:30 PM
ACT Rehearsal Hall
1213 12th St
Altoona PA 16601
LIMITED SPACE: Only 26 spots available. Participants must be aged 18+
$15 for ACT Members
$30 for Non-members (option to sign up as a member with your registration to save on future workshops)

About the Facilitator

Jessica Morgan (she/her) is the Head of Graduate Acting and Associate Professor of Stage Movement for BFA/MFA Acting at West Virginia University. Recent highlights of her production work at WVU include Dracula, a feminist revenge fantasy, really., Phoebe in Winter, 9 to 5: The Musical, Cinderella, Into the Woods, and Indecent. She is in her fifth season as an Intimacy and Fight Director with The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio where her work includes POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, Big Fish, Indecent, Head Over Heels, and Alice By Heart. She has also worked professionally for Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Vintage Theatre Company, Cumberland Theatre Company, Shepherd University, and The Contemporary American Theatre Festival doing intimacy and violence. She teaches workshops on consent and intimacy practices for theatre training programs and companies. Jessica is a Certified Intimacy Director with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC) and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA).

Register Now

Red Robin Fundraiser
2026-05-06 11:00 - 21:00 | Red Robin, Altoona
Altoona Community Theatre will receive 20% of fundraiser sales at Red Robin on May 6, 2026!

Show the flyer above or simply mentioned the fundraiser to your server at Red Robin (Altoona) when you dine in to count your meal!
You can also contribute by ordering online at redrobin.com or on the Red Robin mobile app. For online and mobile app orders you must add the fundraiser to your cart before you check out for the sales to count towards the fundraiser.

Curtain Call Celebration: End of Season Party
2026-06-13 18:00 - 21:00 | ACT Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th St, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
2026 ACT Curtain Call Celebration: End-of-Season Party

Date/Time: June 13, 2026 @ 6-9 pm

Location: ACT Rehearsal Hall

As Altoona Community Theatre wraps up another successful season and begins preparing for the next, we can’t help but reflect that it is all possible because of YOU- our dedicated members and volunteers. And what’s one thing that everyone at ACT loves? A good party! We’re proud to host our third annual Curtain Call Celebration to honor YOU.
RSVP to join us in the ACT Rehearsal Hall on Saturday, June 13th from 6-9 pm for food, beverages, Broadway karaoke, dancing, awards & recognitions! This event is open to ACT Members AND anyone who volunteered with ACT in any capacity for the 2025-2026 season (including all shows, fundraisers, committees, office workdays, clean-ups, and more.)
PLEASE RSVP ON THIS FORM: https://forms.gle/MW7uug9x3BNHvS5r5
RSVPs on the Facebook event will not be counted.
Potluck Sign-Up:
This will be a Potluck event. Please sign up to bring something if you are able when you RSVP at the link above. See what others are bringing here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BsAxj3OvRtfy3YxjUZvDjr0P_ThBZWwPNq1zhiX18tY/edit?usp=sharing
You will NOT be able to edit this form. If you need to update your potluck info after you’ve RSVPed, please email act@altoonacommunitytheatre.com
Beverages:
The event will be BYOB- you must provide ID (proof of age) when entering the Rehearsal Hall to receive a 21+ wristband, and all alcoholic beverages must be given to the bartender who will serve you. Absolutely no exceptions will be made.
We’ve had so much fun the last two years, and we hope to see you at the Curtain
Call Celebration 2026!

Panera Fundraiser
2026-08-28 08:00 - 20:00 | Red Robin, Altoona
Altoona Community Theatre will receive 20% of fundraiser sales at Panera Bread on August 28, 2026!

Show the flyer below or simply mentioned the fundraiser (Altoona) when you dine in to count your meal, or use code FUND4U at panerabread.com, in the Panera App, or at the kiosk in-cafe.

SAVE IT TO YOUR CALENDAR: https://calget.com/od9xqpi9

General Membership Meeting
2026-08-28 18:00 - 19:00 | ACT Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th St, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
Join us for a General Membership Meeting Friday August 28 at 6PM in the ACT Rehearsal Hall.

ARE YOU TEAM SWEET OR SOUR? Bring your favorite kind of candy or other treat to represent which side you’re on!
Let’s touch base on recent and upcoming events and look to the upcoming season.

EAT AT PANERA BREAD BEFORE OR AFTER – ACT gets 20% profits from those that mention our fundraiser ALL DAY!https://altoonacommunitytheatre.com/event/panerafund/

The meeting is open to Non-Members! Come meet us and let us know your interests.

Join as Member or Renew Your Membership:https://altoonacommunitytheatre.com/membership/
