ASF serves as a cultural hub for community interaction and provides unique avenues for personal and collective discovery.
Join us as we share insights on theatre-making, storytelling, and creating community through art.
ASF Insights
This series provides a thought-provoking and behind-the-scenes look at the work on the stage and the art of theatre. Held on select Saturdays:
December 8: The Cultural Impact of Rodgers & Hammerstein
December 15: Bringing The Gospel of Luke to Life
February 2: A Conversation with Playwright Christina Ham
February 23: From Grover’s Corners to Verona: Designing in Rep
March 30: Finding Your Light: The Impact of Community Theatre
September 14: Summer Repertory: Innovative Theatre Makers
Talkbacks
Audience members at select performances are led in a postshow discussion about the themes of the play.
Talkbacks are scheduled after Saturday matinee performances for the following shows:
Narrated Changeover
During our spring repertory, multiple productions use the same performance spaces. Join us as our teams of craftspeople changeover the sets. You’ll hear firsthand how our designers and artists create sets that easily transition from one show to the next.
March 30: Romeo & Juliet → Our Town
April 20: Into the Breeches → Steel Magnolias
Conversations at Kress
Using the plays as inspiration, our facilitators will lead community town halls about current issues in our region. Guest panelists will include local elected officials, school board members, students, thought leaders, community members, and artists. Light refreshments will be provided. Select Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Hosted by Kress on Dexter.
Sponsored by Alabama State Council on the Arts and AARP. This programming is made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
February 2: Civil Rights: Stories from the Movement
March 2: It Takes a Village: Building Community
April 6: Agents of Change
Bard Talk
30 minutes before each public performance of a Shakespeare play, join us for a brief summary of the production’s themes, plot points, and story. Led by Resident Dramaturg Dr. Susan Willis.
Romeo & Juliet
As You Like It
Hamlet
Marathon Dates
Looking for a binge-worthy experience? Put down the remote and come to the theatre! During one of our Marathon Weekends, you have the opportunity to see at least two paired productions, plus a community engagement event.
March 2 and 30; April 6: Our Town/Romeo & Juliet
April 20: Into the Breeches/Steel Magnolias
September 14: Buzz/Hamlet/Saint Joan
Shakespeare-in-Depth
April 13: Romeo & Juliet
Join Dr. Susan Willis for a morning of deep exploration into Romeo & Juliet.
The class is from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Boxed lunch is provided.
Tickets to the 2:00 p.m. matinee may be purchased separately.
Garden Talks
Join Master Gardener Karen Weber as she shares insights on the plants and flowers mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays, such as roses from Romeo & Juliet, narcissus from Anthony and Cleopatra, and lavender from The Winter’s Tale.
April 6: Birding in the Shakespeare Garden
For more information on ASF’s community engagement initiatives, please contact Betsy Anne Huggins at bhuggins@asf.net.
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