Aims Community Theatre Presents “Our Town” - November 17-19

Performances are free, open to the public, and held at Ed Beaty Hall Theater on the Aims Greeley Campus. Showtimes include: 

• Friday, November 17 | 7 p.m.
• Saturday, November 18 | 7 p.m.
• Sunday, November 19 | 1 p.m.

Space is limited and you can reserve free tickets by visiting aims.co/our-town-tickets.

ACT was formed in 2021 by Aims Theater Professor Benjamin Kessler. "Our Town" is the fourth play that the troupe has performed.  

"Our Town" Still Resonates Today

Written in 1938, "Our Town" is a three-act play. It presents the fictional American town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 through the everyday lives of its citizens. The themes in the play revolve around the universality of the human experience, the fleeting nature of time, and the significance of everyday life. While the play spotlights life in the early 20th century, the cast and crew see the story and characters as illuminating and relevant. 

"As I read the play and I think about the turbulence of our society today, it's super important to remember the connectivity we all have as humans," Kessler said. "There is a genuine part of the human experience that everyone can empathize with."

Aims student and aspiring teacher Cloe Dominguez-Schulte is co-directing the show. "Our Town" is the second ACT show that she has directed. She sees the content of the production that many people will draw people in. "It hits your heart more than anything while having some little comical things," she said. "I know as college students or, heck, as adults living in the world, we don't know what we're doing. You know, we are just taking it one step at a time." 

One of the lead actors in the play, Paco Friedly-Martinez, focuses on the relationships. "It's about a love story, but the relationships their families have with each other and the people within the small town and how well everybody gets to know one another."

Aims Community Theatre Group Provides Opportunities to All

Aims students and community members are welcome to join the group and participate in performances. Kessler encourages everyone to give theater a try. "I would say that no matter where you are in your life, where you are on your path, no matter what your hobbies or interests are, there's a place for your talents in theater and specifically in the ACT group," he said. We work really hard with ACT to make sure that it is an inclusive, safe space for anybody who wants to be there."

Friedly-Martinez is a first-year Aims student going into the Aims Aviation program. He got involved by enrolling in a general education theater appreciation course. Friedly-Martinez didn't expect to begin acting but was cast in "Our Town" in a lead role. He is enjoying how this experience is getting him out of his comfort zone. "It's very positive and uplifting," he said. "I think everybody should give it a shot. I had no expectations to do this and now I'm dedicated to it."

Mikayla Buckles is in her third ACT show. She recommends joining the group for anyone interested in acting. "It's a very open environment and we're looking for people to jump in and join," she said. "We walk you through things and it's not like we're throwing you off the deep end."

Only some of the people involved in the production perform on stage. Kim Spurny is the costume designer and makeup artist for the show. She advocates that "everyone has a place in theater" with positions in technical aspects of the production. 

The group members attribute much of the success to its leader, Benjamin Kessler, whom the student affectionately refer to as Mr. B. Cloe Dominguez-Schulte, who praised his positivity, good vibes and ability to provide a sense of teamwork. "He's been amazing. I love the atmosphere that Mr. B has brought to the group. He has made this a very accepting and welcoming place for anyone, whether you're brand new to theater, whether you've done theater for years or you're a community member, he accepts everyone and teaches them all the same." 

One of the community members in this production is Melissa Shulte, Cloe's mother, and she is amazed by seeing her daughter in a leadership role within ACT. "It is very cool to watch your kids grow up and become good at what they do."

This is Melissa's third ACT performance. Although family connections initially brought her to Aims theater, it is something that she is passionate about. She even enrolled in an acting class at Aims. "It's a low-stress environment in a good way, especially for community members who want to do something that you don't normally do; even if it's been 25 years since you've been on stage, you can just get involved and do it from any kind of skill level."  

In the spring, ACT is undertaking its first musical, Firebringer. Student and community auditions are scheduled for January 26-28 and performances are planned in April. Details will be announced on events.aims.edu soon.

The community can support ACT by donating to the Aims Foundation at aims.co/donate. To ensure the funds are appropriately allocated, type Aims Community Theatre (ACT) in the support another designation section of the form.