NEWS

Pierre Players to Hold Acting Without Anxiety Workshop

Pierre Players will hold Acting Without Anxiety: A Low-Pressure Workshop for Aspiring Actors on Saturday, June 1, 2024, 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. CDT at the Grand Opera House. 

Led by J.D. Ackman, professor and director of theatre emeritus at South Dakota State University, this workshop offers a safe and supportive environment where you can dip your toes into the world of acting without the pressure of auditions or commitments. Our aim is to provide you with low-pressure activities and immersive experiences that will help build your confidence and introduce you to the basics of acting.

Throughout the workshop, you'll engage in a variety of exercises and games designed to unlock your creativity, develop your stage presence, and sharpen your communication skills. Whether you're a complete novice or have some previous experience, there's something for everyone in this workshop.

Curious about how auditions typically work? We'll provide insights into the audition process, drawing from the practices of Pierre Players and other theater groups. While audition processes may vary from one director to another, we'll offer general guidance to help demystify the experience and ease any apprehensions you may have.

Most importantly, "Acting Without Anxiety" is a low-pressure, no-commitment event. You're free to explore, experiment, and discover the joy of acting at your own pace, without any expectation of long-term commitment. Whether you're looking to overcome stage fright, boost your self-confidence, or simply try something new, this workshop is your chance to take the first step toward unleashing your inner performer.

Don't let fear hold you back any longer. Join us for "Acting Without Anxiety" and embark on an exciting journey of self-expression and discovery!

J.D. Ackman, is professor and director of theatre at South Dakota State University. He has been on the faculty since 1993. J.D. holds an MFA in acting from the University of Montana (1984). He currently oversees SDSU’s State University Theatre program and serves as managing/artistic director for SDSU’s Prairie Repertory Theatre. J.D. has performed in or directed over 150 theatre productions. He has taught more than a dozen different courses during his tenure at SDSU. While he enjoys his administrative duties, he most enjoys working with his students in rehearsals and in the classroom/studio and interacting with theatre patrons. J.D. lives in Brookings with his wife and son.

The fee for this workshop is $25. Register for the workshop. 

Donate to Pierre Players' Sound, Service & Stage Fundraising Campaign

For over half a century, Pierre Players Community Theatre has been a beacon of joy, connection, and artistic expression within our community. Live theater encourages community and connection which studies show relieves depression and anxiety. Our recent patron survey revealed a profound truth: over 80% of our audience identified being part of a collective, transformative experience as an important aspect of Pierre Players’ performances.

Yet, imagine the disconnection of missing a punchline, the whisper of confusion in the dark, the sense of isolation when the collective laughter of the audience doesn’t reach your ears. This isn't just a hypothetical scenario—for 35% of our season members, predominantly seniors, this is a reality that prompts them to reserve seats as close to the stage as possible, all in a bid to capture every word, every nuance.

With the professional assistance of Oahe Light and Sound in Pierre and Haggerty’s in Rapid City, we’re planning to install a new sound board and acquire microphones for the actors. This isn’t merely an upgrade; it's a transformation ensuring that every audience member—regardless of their hearing abilities—can fully immerse themselves in the magic of live theatre.

Your contribution to our 2024 “Sound, Service & Stage” fund doesn’t just buy equipment; it buys moments of joy, connection, and collective experience. It ensures that the laughter, gasps, and post-show chatter continue to resonate, not just in the Grand Opera House, but in the hearts of all who enter.

Your donation today is more than a gift; it's an investment that ensures that every voice is heard, every laugh shared, and every moment cherished. Thank you in advance, for helping ensure that the Pierre Players Community Theatre remains a vibrant center of community and connection for generations to come.

Make a donation

New Seat Numbers at Grand Opera House

Pierre Players will be implementing a new online ticketing system in the fall of 2024. Part of that process includes upgrading our credit card intake as well as seat numbering. For our loyal patrons, never fear—your seats are still there, but now with a slightly different number. See new seat numbering chart.  

PPCT Thanks Michele Beeler for Dedicated Service, New Face in Pierre Players Box Office

When you purchased your tickets for Clue: On Stage, you may have noticed that Business Manager Michele Beeler's smiling face was missing from the box office. On the day box office opened for Clue, Michele was unexpectedly airlifted to Minneapolis and underwent open-heart surgery.

Michele is home recovering and doing remarkably. She is focusing on therapy and getting her strength back, returning to her job full time in the training office of the South Dakota Department of Transportation, and continuing her volunteer work with Little Players Children’s Theatre. She is also focusing on her family: husband, Brad, and four-legged child, Nellie.

Pierre Players Board of Governors has regretfully accepted Michele’s resignation as interim business manager and thanks her for her dedicated service to the position since September 2020. Michele brought many improvements to the box office and PPCT's accounting/financial structure. Whenever something needed to be done at the theater, she made sure it got done.

Michele has been involved in Pierre Players since 2008 as a director, actress, costumer, props master, house manager and producer for numerous productions. Michele also helped develop and helps lead PPCT’s Little Players Children’s Theatre program. Michele previously served two, three-year terms on PPCT’s Board of Governors and was serving her third term when she took the role of interim business manager.

Pierre Players wishes Michele a speedy recovery and hopes to see her on stage again soon.

Pierre Players Board of Governors is excited to announce our new interim box office manager, Brenda Sharkey. Throughout her career, Brenda has worked as a USDA inspector, group home and hotel manager, and an inspector/assistant director for Inspections and Weights & Measures. Brenda’s diverse professional background led her to her current role as a procurement specialist at the South Dakota Department of Transportation, Air, Rail and Transit Division.

Brenda and her husband, Dennis, have four sons (Chad, Donald, Adam and Michael) and five granddaughters. In her free time, Brenda enjoys crafting at home, camping, fishing and spending quality time outdoors with her grandchildren. Brenda's passion for arts and entertainment has led her to work at Pierre Players to contribute to enhancing the community through cultural experiences.

Please help welcome Brenda to Pierre Players the next time you are in the box office. Box office for Love, Loss and What I Wore opens on Monday, April 8, 2024.

2024 Scholarship Deadline March 31

Whodunit Comes Alive – Buy Your Tickets Today for 'Clue: On Stage'

Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 12, for Pierre Players Community Theatre's production of “Clue: On Stage,” a comedy adapted from the Paramount Pictures film written by Jonathan Lynn and the board game from Hasbro, Inc., written by Sandy Rustin. Shows will run Feb. 23-25 and Feb. 29-March 2, 2024, at the Grand Opera House in Pierre.

It's a dark and stormy night, and you've been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well...dead. So whodunit? Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, "Clue: On Stage" is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist.

Doors open at 7 p.m. CST, with performance at 7:30 p.m. CST. Sunday matinee doors open at 1:30 p.m. CST, with performance at 2 p.m. CST.

A preview performance will be held Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. CST. Preview tickets are $5 at the door.

Please note, PPCT is increasing the cost of individual ticket prices (something which hasn't happened in nearly 20 years). This change will allow us to further our mission of enriching, educating, and entertaining central South Dakota through providing quality theater. The increase reflects trends across the state, but will also allow us to enhance patrons' experiences, with benefits like the soon-to-come online ticketing system.

Tickets are $20 in advance for adults and $15 in advance for senior citizens (age 62 and older) and students (high school and under). Tickets at the door are $25 per person.

Learn more about purchasing your season membership online. This option is the best value, as season ticket holders get tickets at a discount and postcard reminders so they never miss a show. 2024 season memberships are still available!

Learn more.

2024 Season Kickoff & Annual Meeting

Inconsequential Dreams Reception at Waterfront Gallery for the Arts

Join Pierre Players at Waterfront Gallery for the Arts on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at 1 p.m., for a behind-the-scenes look at its latest production, “Inconsequential Dreams.”

Playwright Michelle Schaunaman from Aberdeen will discuss her process in writing the script, and the show’s director, Alisa Bousa, will talk about staging an original production on Pierre Players’ stage. The cast will give a glimpse into their characters and perform a scene from the show.

In addition to the discussion on “Inconsequential Dreams,” Waterfront Gallery for the Arts will host an artist reception and show by Alisha Erickson from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 16. Waterfront Gallery for the Arts is located at 207 E. Missouri Ave. Suite 1A in Pierre.

Alisha, who is originally from Pierre and now resides in Sioux Falls, is a nurse and self-taught abstract artist. Alisha uses both watercolors and acrylics to create colorful interpretations of nature and flowers. Art has always been her passion, and over the last few years she has perused making art a daily part of her life.

Show dates for Pierre Players’ “Inconsequential Dreams” are Sept. 15-16 and Sept. 21-23, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sept. 17, 2023.

Storybook Land Theatre to Present 'The Perfect Dog' at Grand Opera House

Little Players to Present ‘Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS’