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FTW First Venue Announcement

For the Whim Productions (FTW) is thrilled to announce that the Clare Rostan Appel Theatre at Appel Farm Arts & Music Center of Elmer, NJ will be the venue for FTW’s first staged production. Be on the lookout for more details regarding our first show!

Appel Farm Arts & Music Center began as a private summer arts camp in 1960 – the dream of Albert and Clare Appel. Albert and Clare were musicians and professional arts educators who wanted to create a summer camp where the local rural community (and their own artistically-inclined children) could learn about and participate in the arts and where they could interact with like-minded peers and mentors. For nearly 60 years, Appel Farm Arts & Music Center has been transforming lives through the arts and its mission has grown to include year-round programming. Through on-site arts education programs, outreach to schools and community-based partnerships, Appel Farm provides people of all ages, cultures and economic backgrounds with a supportive, cooperative environment in which to explore the fine and performing arts. The theatre seats over 200 patrons and is outfitted with state-of-the-art LED lighting.

“Appel Farm has such great facilities and seems like such a good fit with our current and future plans and our production ideas,” says FTW Artistic Director, Heidi Dugan. “We hope this is the beginning of a long relationship.”

FTW will soon announce its first production, cast and ticketing information. Like and follow our social media accounts for all our latest news.

Introducing our Artistic Director: Heidi Dugan

Heidi Headshot
Heidi Dugan, Artistic Director

Heidi Dugan has her BA in Communication Arts: Video Production from Allegheny College as well as her MA in English Literature from Rutgers University. She has over twenty years experience working on and around the stage, including production management, stage management, performance, and directing. She brings a strong technical background and a deep understanding of character and literary analysis to her theatrical productions. Directorial credits include shows such as The Crucible, Sweeney Todd, A Streetcar Named Desire, Spamalot (Asst. Dir.), Damn Yankees (Asst. Dir.). In 2018, she directed a production of Extremities to benefit Services Empowering the Rights of Victims, resulting in greater visibility as well as a sizable donation for the organization. Stage management and performance credits include Les Misérables, All in the Timing, Murder in the Cathedral, Grease, Rent, Inherit the Wind, Bye Bye Birdie, Hamlet, Moon Over Buffalo, The Wizard of Oz, The Addams Family, Annie, Mousetrap, Blithe Spirit, Steel Magnolias, August: Osage County, Our American Cousin, The Importance of Being Earnest, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Company, Scapin, and The Snow Queen. She is a wife, mother and works as a middle school technology teacher and debate team coach. She loves travel, planning events, hosting parties, knitting and playing board games.

 

Why Community Theatre is So Important

Lionheart Theatre of Norcross, Georgia explains some significant benefits of community theatre.

Some claim that the theatre and the art of performance is dying, but we couldn’t disagree more. There are many ways in which community theatre is important, ranging from furthering education to self-expression, introducing change and so much more. Even in the 21st century, society needs the theatre, maybe even more so than before.

There are many forms of knowledge that stem from theatre performances. For instance, self-knowledge is instilled in both the performer and the audience, as we have the opportunity to look inward. We are able to see our surroundings with new eyes and understand how we affect those around us. Whether this is a good or bad thing, there is always room for self-improvement.

The theatre is also a wonderful way to share knowledge pertaining to history. In community theatre, you can focus on the history of the area in which you live, or you can learn about the different cultures across the globe. Doing so can help us learn from the past, so that we may progress even further in the future.

Read more here