5 Reasons We Love Great Plains Theatre
Professional theatre, cinema, and education in one location, here are five reasons we love Abilene's Great Plains Theatre!
1. Professional Live Theatre
Great Plains Theatre is the only professional live theatre between Denver and Kansas City on I-70. What's that mean? In a professional theatre like Great Plains Theatre, actors, directors, technicians, and designers are paid for sharing their time and talents. Great Plains Theatre is a member of the Actors' Equity Association and, as a result, the talent you see on stage is top-notch.
2. Stage Right Readers Theatre
In addition to its Main Stage performances, Great Plains Theatre also offers Stage Right Reader's Theatre. Reader's Theatre is a special type of performance in which actors do not memorize lines, rather the show is wholly experienced through vocal expression. The dialogue and stage directions are all read by the actors, without the extra visual components of set, costume, or movement. While Reader’s Theatre may be new for some audience members, these performances offer a unique theatre experience. Great Plains Theatre Academy will be presenting four different Reader’s Theatre pieces as a Stage Right series, a series of shows with adult content intended for mature audiences.
3. Cinema
Bonus: Great Plains Theatre also shows first-run movies! Its concession also features all of the traditional movie-goer treats, as well as popcorn with real butter!
4. Education
We would be remiss if we didn't mention the Great Plains Theatre's robust education program. Where else can students act alongside professional actors in Kansas? Education programs including Great Plains Theatre Academy, Plain Great Players, Best Medicine Comedy Improv, as well as summer camps, offer five-star theatre education and experiences to students.
5. Community Support
With 25 seasons, Great Plains Theatre continues to receive great community support from the Community Foundation of Dickinson County, Jeffcoat Memorial Foundation and hundreds of other patrons. While Great Plains Theatre suffered a loss of its building in 2014, it rose from the ashes and continues to be an integral part of not only the Abilene community but also the region.