Behind the Curtains - A Closer Look at Athens' Theatres

by Lindsey Epperly| photos by Renee Aylworth

While most people know Athens for its strong reputation of discovering, fostering and showcasing musicians, many have yet to encounter the town's more discrete artistic side: theatre. A quick look in the calendar section of any local newspaper provides several choices for an avid drama spectator... Each theatre has a story to tell, from the humble beginnings of the established Town and Gown Players, to the wildest dreams of the free spirited Uzupis Theatre Company to the new face of the classic Athens Creative Theatre.

Uzupis Theatre Company

Since its 2007 launch, Uzupis Theatre Company has proven itself to be a trendy and innovative component of the Athens theatre scene. Producing artistic director Brandon Deyette pours his thoughts out over Hot Corner Coffee's Too-Cool Townie, an appropriate drink for this spunky, radical thinker. He requested to meet at Hot Corner since the company currently does not have a permanent home. Also, Hot Corner seems to provide a home-like atmosphere for him, as he began his endeavors here. Before deciding on his first production, he posted a sound-off board in Hot Corner in order to gain individual feedback on the community's needs.

He begins the story of Uzupis with a personal anecdote, the reason why he left a high-paying job in Atlanta in order to pioneer social change through theatre. He tearfully describes the tragic death of his best friend, Letha. The two had talked for years about founding a theatre company, although no action had been taken until after her death. "Tragedy," says Deyette, "inspires people to make changes when things should be fixed. To me, the theatre needed to be fixed and [her death] inspired me to do something about it."

Deyette's changes include bringing in unknown playwrights, fresh talent and hot-off-the-press shows with messages relevant to today's concerns. Athens' residents cried in unison for topics such as poverty, depression and domestic abuse. "I'm not an expert on any of these subjects," admits Deyette, "but I am an expert on resources and that's what I want to do: to use art as a resource." To raise poverty awareness, , Deyette partnered with One Athens, a nonprofit organization geared toward poverty, to pull together Uzupis's first show, "Nickel and Dimed." Currently, Deyette has set his sights on tackling the problem of depression. The company, along with Barrow County Safety Zone, is touring local schools and putting on short plays, providing messages of hope to help others survive difficult times.

Uzupis has three goals: educate, inspire and create. "We have to educate with the subject of the play, inspire the audience to do something, and leave them to create their own way of responding," Deyette elaborates. "

Athens Creative Theatre

Founded by the county nearly 20 years ago, Athens Creative Theatre, ACT, recently underwent an internal restoration, according to Terry Powell, the managing and artistic director.

"How do we give [the theatre] back to the people who bring in the magic?" she thought aloud as she discussed her process of reestablishing the theatre. According to Powell, the answer rests in the hands of the purely-volunteer members, composed mainly of families. The children hold the key to bringing this component back, touching the audience with an element of wonder that adults simply cannot grasp. Upon this realization, Powell began implementing more family-friendly shows, such as their spring 2008 showing of "Peter Pan".

Powell also recently created an all-female repertory company composed of women varying in ages from teens to adults. This group prevents women from being typecast in stereotypical roles and provides a creative outlet for ladies who have not acted since high school.

Perhaps the most community-friendly aspect of Athens Creative Theatre is its hospitality. ACT provides an open-armed welcome to fledgling theatre companies that do not have an established home. This kind of generosity goes a long way, and Powell believes that networking with one another offers a vital aspect to the community.

Town and Gown Players, Inc.

Believed to be the oldest community theatre in the state of Georgia, Town and Gown Players has been in continuous production for over half a century. With such a prestigious history, Town and Gown draws the majority of its support from the longevity of the theatre and a consistent flux of cast, crew and viewers. This is especially helpful since the company runs purely on a volunteer basis. "We truly have built an infrastructure," says Marie Bruce, president of Town and Gown's volunteer board of directors.

Like most non-profit theatre companies, Town and Gown implements a community outreach through their shows and resources. Recently, the company partnered with Boybutante and AIDS Athens to produce a highly successful performance of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," splitting the proceeds and raising AIDS awareness. According to Bruce, community outreach is simply one of the many facets in the individuality of Town and Gown. The main ingredient to this time-honored company is entertainment.

"People do this for the love of theatre," Bruce says, "because performing and watching [theatre] are purely based on entertainment." Bruce believes that above all else, this is the reason volunteers continuously return to Town and Gown. The actors never expect pay or recognition; they are simply doing what they love.

While these are only a few of the many theatre companies around Athens, they provide a unique glimpse into the dedication and individuality that every company should possess. Next time, when you're choosing what to do for the weekend, try not to neglect the theatre scene.