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!

2009-04-17 00:00:00.0

The musical based on the novel by Gloria Naylor Directed by Tommye Myrick

For years the two well-known and respected directors have worked independently of one another until now. Myrick, who has won several “Big Easy Awards, including best director for August Wilson’s “Fences” at Le Petit and "FlyinWest" written by Pearl Cleage at Southern Repertory Theatre is delighted with the collaboration. “This is just the beginning, I hope” she said. “ It is a wonderful space”, she continues ‘… that is intimate and comfortable”. “ I am honored to be working with Anthony”. Bean is also very well known, respected and revered in the community. ABCT has also been nominated for several awards and was the winner of a Big Easy honor in 2003 for its production of John Henry Redwood’s “No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs” as Best Drama, directed by its founder, Anthony Bean. “ It’s a wonderful union “, says Bean. “No muss and no fuss”. “Tommye is quite the professional. I am very pleased with our collaboration”.

First written in 1982, The Women of Brewster Place- the novel, was adapted into a miniseries starring Oprah Winfrey in 1990. The novel addresses the lives of several women all trapped inside an urban city in a small community called Brewster Place. It examines the lives and relationships developed between African American women. It explores unwedded motherhood, single parenthood, unrequited love, friendships and homosexuality.

The cast is also compiled of some of New Orleans’ finest actresses, singers and dancers. All women, the cast is led by Pastor Fran Love – first lady and pastor of Greater Antioch Church – The City of Love. Fran plays the matriarch of this community of women – Mattie Michaels. This is her acting debut. Nicole James-Francois plays the sultry seductress and Mattie’s best friend – Etta Mae. Award winning actress and singer Idella Johnson portrays the role of Kiswana Brown – the revolutionary and community activist. Idella won the Big Easy Award and the Ambie as best actress in a musical for her portrayal of Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins in Ossie Davis’ play Purlie directed by Tommye Myrick. Cora Lee, the unwed mother of 7 children ,is played by another award winning actress and singer and nominee – Brittany James. Samantha Beaulieu plays the role of the young mother waiting for her wandering husband to return to Brewster Place. Well known jazz vocalist Michaela Harrison and Chase Kamata (daughter of famed jazz vocalist Leah Case and granddaughter of restaurateur Leah Chase Senior –owner and master chef of Dooky Chase) play the lesbian couple committed to pursuing a life of contentment and happiness within the walls of Brewster Place. Tomeka Bob as Sophie is the nosey, nasty neighbor and her inquisitive posse is played by Kirsten Charbonnet as Mavis and Cherlyn Rainey-Luna as Wanda.

Starring

The Women of Brewster Place

The-Cast-of-The-Women-of-Brewster Place

Nicole-James-Francois,-Idella-Johnson-&-Fran-Love

Micheala-Harrisson-&-Chase-Kamata

Fran-Love-&-Nicole-James-Francois