From the desk of - ALUMNI | Academy Theatre

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Dear Alumni of the Academy Theatre,

I am hoping this memo finds you in the best of health, spirits, and peace. As of late, I have been experiencing such reminiscent thoughts; how far the Academy Theatre has come, where we've come from, and most especially how I am missing all of you. When I think about where you are in your life and what you have accomplished, a feeling of pride overwhelms me and makes me smile.

For those who may not know, I have been sick for most of 2021 and 2022, with having a stroke, a couple of blood transfusions, and iron infusions, I kept the Academy Theatre going as best as I could. Today, with God's grace, and the help of my great physicians' I am back to myself and feeling great.

Last year 2022 I had planned on having a 10-year reunion for the first Alumni of 2012. Due to my illness and the world slowly coming back from the pandemic, it was not possible to do. But, I have been thinking about this since and thinking about the future direction of the Academy Theatre. We have done some great things at the Academy Theatre and to have seen many youths come and go in the past 15 years is a feeling of great accomplishment as we have also done some worthwhile activities for the community and plan on continuing to do so.

There are 2 reasons for this memo that I would like for you to seriously consider. Firstly, you all know me and know that whatever comes out of this, I will completely understand. With that said, I am wanting to do an ALL-ALUMNI cast for a special production. To work with you on stage again would be such a treat for me and what a way to celebrate a reunion. It will consist of alumni from the years 2012, 2017, 2018 & 2021. I am looking to start rehearsals this year in mid-September 2023, Wednesdays from 7:30 pm-9 pm with a production date approximately in March 2024. Of course, I would need to know who would even consider or can even do this. Please, think it over and let me know as soon as you can if you are interested and or even able to commit to this. I can't proceed until I get a response from you to know if you would be interested.

The list of alumni is Benton, Eliotte, Noah, & Zane - 2012, Jakob & Kelton - 2017, Jackie, Starr & Deja - 2018 and David - 2021.

2nd thing. As you may not be aware, in the last couple of years, I have lost both John to retirement and Bob to relocation to another state, and I find myself feeling like I am running the Academy Theatre on my own. I have temporary people on my Admin board but it's not enough. You are all in what our bylaws call the Alumni Board and so basically, I am asking if there are any of you who could help me with in any capability, it would be great. It's not a full-time thing, I just need more people to handle some things as we have grown from the tent in the backyard and from the old liquor store on 7th. avenue. I would be so appreciative if you have the time and willingness. Please think about it and let me know. I'm not a spring chicken anymore. Haha.

Please let me know either way about these two thoughts of mine just as soon as you can. And remember, I will understand if you are not interested or cannot either way, but I do have incriminating badge pictures for each and every one of you, just saying... :)

Love you, guys, hope to see you soon,

Angel