Welcome! This year the Anthony Bean Community Theater and Acting School celebrates15 years of excellence in the performing arts.

The Anthony Bean Community Theater (ABCT) was established in Spring 2000 to meet the growing demands of New Orleans area residents seeking a quality, culturally diverse, performing arts venue. The theater also met the needs of individuals seeking to learn the art of acting, set design and theatre management. In recent years, ABCT has become a vehicle to enter New Orleans' booming "Hollywood South" film industry.

ABCT is unique in that it is not only a major theater production company, but a year-round, open enrollment acting school serving both adults and children with an eclectic group of courses designed to meet the basic needs of individuals seeking careers in stage and screen acting, set design and theatre management.  

ABCT believes that the arts have the power to transform people's lives. Our Mission is simple: "to inspire those we serve through the magic of the arts."  The Hallmark of ABCT and that which separates us from "all the rest" is - diversity.  ABCT proudly presents the most diverse theater schedule in the New Orleans area.  Our programing fare includes, the classics; Shakespeare, August Wilson and Tennessee Williams as well as popular drama (Reflections and Misery), comedy (Jar the Floor, Steal Away), and musicals (The Color Purple, Simply Irma and The Phyllis Hyman Story). Most importantly, ABCT mounts original plays such as I'd Rather Be Rich and Say Amen, and showcases our talented kids in perennial favorites: Cats, The Wiz, High School Musical and 504.  

The goal of the ABCT Acting School is to provide an intense, high quality learning and performing opportunity in an atmosphere where young people are encouraged to set goals, take risks and view mistakes as an avenue for learning. ABCT opens students up to the greatness that lies within them and creates an awareness that the Arts are a constructive vehicle of personal expression.

Anthony Bean Community Theater boasts a full professional portfolio including video DVD Productions and an ABCT clothing line. In addition to children and adult acting classes, ABCT offers a youth theater, an after-school program, and the Anthony Bean Community Theater City Choir.  During the summer months, working in conjunction with the New Orleans Recreation Department Commission - ABCT also operates a summer day camp.

We at ABCT wish to express our sincere gratitude for your ongoing support over the past 15 years and we urge you to purchase your PASS for the upcoming season. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to seeing you at our next production.

Come and celebrate our Anniversary and you will agree.

"ABCT IS MORE THAN THEATER

IT'S CULTURE!"

Back ABCT! Be a part of the Anthony Bean Community Theater and Acting School! ABCT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all contributions are tax deductible. Donate today and keep the arts alive and exciting in our community!

2009-06-05 00:00:00.0

By Regina Taylor Directed by Anthony Bean Choreographed by Arieuna McGee

New Orleans, LA. May 22, 2009…The Anthony Bean Community Theater presents an encore production of the musical, “Crowns” by Regina Taylor. It made its Louisiana premiere at ABCT in 2004. “Crowns” is directed by Anthony Bean. Musical director is organist, songwriter, producer and arranger Joel Britton. Currently, Britton serves as the Musical Director of BET’s nationally syndicated television show –Sunday Best. The show is choreographed by Kesha McKey. Kesha has choreographed for both stage and film. Special Note: There will be a Special Gala Premier Performance of “CROWNS”. Thursday, June 4, 2009. Reception begins at 6:00 pm. Music by: The Cabiran Jazz Quartet. Food and drinks provided and performance begins at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $40.00 per person. All proceeds will aid ABCT and its youth programs. To RSVP, call Sheryl Williams at 504-569-2481.

“Crowns” is a moving and celebratory musical play in which hats become a springboard for an exploration of black history and identity as seen through the eyes of a young black woman who has come down South to stay with her grandmother after her brother is killed in Brooklyn. Hats are everywhere, in exquisite variety, and the characters use the hats to tell tales concerning everything from the etiquette of hats to their historical and contemporary social use. There is a hat for every occasion, from flirting to churchgoing to funerals to baptisms, and the tradition of hats is traced back to African rituals and slavery and forward to the New Testament and current fashion. Some rap but predominantly gospel music and dance underscore and support the narratives. The conclusion finds the standoffish young woman, whose cultural identity as a young black Brooklyn woman has been so at odds with the more traditional and older Southern blacks, embracing hats and their cultural significance as a part of her own fiercely independent identity.

The company includes veteran actress and an original cast member of Crowns, Pat McGuire Hill, in the lead role as Mother Shaw. Pat is a 40 year veteran of New Orleans stages, and she was a founding member of the fabled Dashiki Theatre. She has received Big Easy nominations for Best Actress and won an Ambie for the same. Playing Yolanda will be Leah Rouege, one the students who grew up on ABCT’s Stage. Donna King, another original member of “Crowns”, reprises her role as Jeanette. Loretta Petit, who is AM940 WYLD Program Director, will portray the role of Mabel. Sandra Butler-Navarre portrays Wanda, Sybil Williams portrays Velma and veteran actor, Ed Bishop, portrays many male roles.

Starring
Pat McGuire Hill and Gail Glapion

The Cast of 'Crowns'

(L) Sandra Butler Navarre & Leah Rouege in 'Crowns'

Sandra Butler Navarre as Wanda

Donna King, Pat McGuire Hill and Leah Rouege

Ed Bishop and Donna King

Pat McGuire Hill and Leah Rouege

Loretta Petit as Mabel

Pat McGuire Hill as Mother Shaw

Sybil Williams as Velma

Leah Rouege as Yolanda

Ed Bishop as Man

Donna King as Jeanette