Theater Project Gives Students Opportunity to Shine

Angie Kane Ferrante’s love of theater has grown into The AKT Theatre Project in her hometown of Wyandotte.

The venture has given high school students the opportunity to work with professional actors and has helped Ferrante realize her own dreams for the future.

In 2006, Ferrante was nearly finished with her bachelor of arts degree from Wayne State University when she started directing and choreographing plays and musicals at . She said she saw the talent and potential in students and wanted to teach them everything she could about theater.

While in high school herself, Ferrante said, she didn't learn about theater history or theater as a career.

“I went to college not knowing anything about theater,” she said.

She wanted her students to have more knowledge about real world theater, so she started a workshop during the summer of 2008 at Roosevelt. She conducted the workshop herself, teaching the students everything she knew about theater, including history and acting techniques. She said she felt incredibly comfortable working with them.

When it came time to name her project, she had students help her brainstorm. They came up with AKT workshop, which stood for Angie Kane’s Thespians. The acronym also was a play on the word “act."

Ferrante watched the high school students grow from freshmen to seniors over the four years she spent at Roosevelt from 2006-2010. She said the desire they had to learn was amazing. She also said it was difficult to watch the seniors move on.

“I’ll never forget the look on the face of one of the students on the day of the last show,” Ferrante said. “It was heartbreaking.”

Last summer, Ferrante wanted to put on a production at Roosevelt. She was denied permission. Mayor Joseph Peterson and former Mayor James DeSana heard about her efforts and thought they could help. They told Ferrante the was available for two months during the summer.

Ferrante met with Peterson and DeSana on a Monday, applied for rights to the show Godspell on Tuesday, auditioned students on Wednesday and started practice on Friday. They used email, Facebook, fliers and word of mouth to announce auditions.

The AKT Theatre Project was born.

While some details easily fell in place, hurdles popped up continuously for Ferrante to jump over. A week after practice started, she received a phone call telling her there was a problem with her using the building. An elevator shaft was scheduled to be built over the summer. The city of Wyandotte and the Wyandotte Arts Center were able to come to an agreement so the show could go on.

They prepared for that first show in only five weeks. They practiced three hours, three times a week. The cast provided their own costumes. Harley Miah, a Roosevelt alumnus, volunteered his time and equipment to do the lighting for the show. Jim Zang of Bassnote Productions donated lighting and sound equipment. A fence had to be borrowed from one of the actor’s parents. Ferrante paid for yoga balls that were used during the show and then sold afterward as souvenirs. The group performed two shows and then extended to a third because of interest.

Ferrante said the show was performed in "115-degree" July heat with no air conditioning in the building and caution tape everywhere because of the elevator construction. Despite the obstacles, the show was a success.

“I couldn’t have been more proud,” Ferrante said. “It was amazing. We sold out every show.”

The AKT Theatre Project’s logo is a picture of Michigan with a heart around the city of Wyandotte. Part of their mission statement–“Spark new ideas and create an artistic home”–circles the mitten of Michigan. The other part of the group’s mission is to bring affordable, professional-quality theater Downriver.

AKT is currently performing a song cycle, . Ferrante said the show is doing really well. She said she loves everything about the production, but especially the ability to have professional actors working with high school students.

There are four current Roosevelt students involved in the production: Aaron Glenn, Jon Pigott and Jake Rickman are actors; Katey Meredith is a stage manager.

Ferrante said she loves working with them because of their talent, commitment and parental support.

“When you get them at that age, they haven’t been ruined by bad rehearsal practice,” she said.

Miah, who volunteers time to teach the tech crew at AKT, said they work with the students on making every aspect of the production as professional as possible. He said they cover everything from cable management to stage crew demeanor and even respect for the facility.

“They never cease to amaze me with how hard they are willing to work and eager they are to learn,” Miah said. “They are fearless. This work energizes me and makes my actual professional work that much more fun.”

Rickman, a senior, said being a part of AKT has allowed him to open up socially.

“My favorite thing about being involved with AKT Theatre is that everyone there has a sense of humor to some level and they know how to goof off and also be completely serious,” he said. “The people involved are very diverse and things just tend to click.”

Meredith, a junior, agrees, saying AKT is like one big, happy family.

“Everyone gets along so well and it just creates a really nice vibe and working relationship,” she said.

Meredith also said it is refreshing to work with professional actors who know what needs to be done. The theater has had a huge impact on her future, she said.

“I have learned so much about the technical and acting sides of theater,” Meredith said. “That’s really important to me because I see theater as something I possibly want to do once I graduate high school.”

AKT’s next project is a student production. Three students will each have a chance to produce their own one-act play. They will be responsible for everything, including applying for rights to the show and directing. The three shows will offer a variety of genres, both comedic and dramatic.

Glenn will oversee 'Dentity Crisis, Pigott will head up Frostbite and Sarah Mikota will direct And.

Miah said he is really excited for the upcoming student productions.

“This is my ultimate goal–for the students to become teachers to other students,” he said. “I’m really proud of them.”

Ferrante said she has simple, but high hopes for AKT.

“I hope to keep doing what we’re doing–performing shows people enjoy and can afford to go see,” she said.

Auditions are April 27 for the student production, which runs June 3-5.

Auditions for AKT's summer production, Children of Eden, are June 8. The show runs July 28-31.

For more information, visit the project's website.