Playhouse keeps busy in summer7/19/2008 10:16 PM 
1
By RACHEL JOHNSON
Staff writer
There is hardly a dull moment at the Aiken Community Playhouse (ACP) these days as performers, directors and crew are putting the finishing touches on performances, constructing sets, auditioning for upcoming events and preparing speeches for awards night.
Kicking off the inaugural summer season and currently featured on the Bechtel Experimental stage at the ACP is the production "Medea." Directed by Jennifer Cudworth Greer, this timeless tragedy lends a step out of the ordinary for theater lovers in Aiken. The play opened Friday and will continue with performances today at 3 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, the cast and crew of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare," directed by Nathan Greer, is preparing for opening night. The production offers snippets of 37 Shakespeare plays in one evening. Juliet, Hamlet, Rosalind, Othello and Polixenes are all ready to entertain in this wildly irreverent comedy. The play hits the stage in a Black Box Production on Friday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. with performances to follow on Aug. 9, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 10 at 3 p.m.
On Thursday, Aug. 14, it's time to dress to the nines and recognize actors, directors and crew who made the 2007-08 a smash hit. Voting is currently being conducted at www.aikencommunityplayhouse.com for the audience's favorite show. Vote today and attend the annual Awards Night to cheer on your favorites. This year will be the first time the "Community Choice for Favorite Show" award is presented. Entertainment for the evening will include numbers from "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," the opening show for the 2008-09 season. A small reception will follow the ceremony; admission is free and the event starts at 7 p.m.
The summer season winds to an end with the debut of "Tick, Tick ... Boom!" Directed by Danny Lee, the production offers a musical look at the courage it takes to follow your dreams. This production is set to open on the main stage on Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. with performances on Aug. 23, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. and a matinee on Aug. 24 at 3 p.m.
Aspiring performers are encouraged to mark their calendars for Aug. 31 at 3 p.m. and Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. for auditions for "Over the River and Through the Woods" to be directed by Thurmond Whatley. Anyone interested may fill out a pre-audition form at www.aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
The Aiken Community Playhouse is housed at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts located at 126 Newberry St. in downtown Aiken. Season tickets are currently on sale.
<Caption>c_</Caption>