Acacia Theatre Company

Branching Out with Acacia
Winter 2008

Keeping in Touch...

A big congratulations goes out to Sara & Adam York who gave birth to a beautiful baby, Kayla Faith ("crown of faith") in November. You may remember Sara (formerly Van Eerden) from Bonhoeffer. Both Mom & baby are healthy and happy.

Congratulations also to Drew & Erin Burgoyne: Noah Carl was born Feb. 8th. Erin (formerly York) was in our production of Joyful Noise. Everything went well and they are praising God for Noah's safe arrival.

We are very excited to announce that Stephanie & Gregg Smith are expecting again! This will be their third child. Stephanie was last seen on the Acacia stage in The Liar.

Alan & Mary Ellen Atwood are running Kenu Christian Artists' Camp (ages 15 - 24), located in northern Wisconsin, from June 15 through July 12, 2008. They have classes in voice, string instruments, acting, writing, film and dance. Check it out at www.kenuchristianartistscamp.com. Alan & Mary Ellen founded Acacia Theatre in the 1980s. Mary Ellen recently appeared in The Spitfire Grill and portrayed Corrie ten Boom in Acacia's production of The Hiding Place.

Anne Miller and Maureen Dornemann, both last seen in Enchanted April, are currently featured in the Boulevard Theatre ’s production Catholic School Girls by Casey Kurtti. The show runs February 20-March 16, and tickets are available by calling the Boulevard at (414) 744-5757.

Elizabeth Doll is still recovering from back surgery. She is doing well and sends her love to her Acacia family. She was most recently in Jane Eyre.

Brad & Lynn Winkler will be moving to Texas after this season. Brad was last in The Women of Lockerbie, and last directed Enchanted April. He has also created all Acacia’s season brochures and postcards for the last several seasons as well as creating all the ads you may have seen in various papers. Lynn Winkler has been Acacia’s business manager since September of 2002. They will miss Acacia very much, but look forward to warmer weather!

We continue to have a "Prayer Box" on the lobby table at each of our performances. If you have any prayer requests or praises please write them down on the cards provided and place them in the box. Members of Acacia meet monthly to pray, at which time we lay your requests before the Lord. Please take the time to share your prayer requests and praises with us by using this prayer box or through our online form. We would love to hear from you!

"True artists pursue greatness in craft in order to give the Lord the best fruit of the talent He has given them, not to build themselves up. They understand that true greatness is found in the heart of the servant." - Charlie Peacock

Digging Deeper

Though set in Mississippi during the turbulent Freedom Summer of 1964, “Blessed Assurance” addresses issues that Americans are still struggling with today. This powerful drama portrays the quiet heroes of the civil rights movement trying their best to overcome a world forcing them to make difficult decisions.

“This play deals with topics that are sensitive for people of all races and issues that we’re still wrestling with in Milwaukee and in American society,” said director Dustin J. Martin. “It’s ultimately a story about granting another human being the respect he or she is owed.”

At the outset of the play, Olivia, the black cook of the Whitehouse café, has shocked the residents of Sunflower County, Miss. by marching up the courthouse steps and demanding to register to vote. Her actions set off a firestorm in which Olivia and those closest to her are forced to confront the hatred, ignorance and injustice of the town.

Olivia’s love interest, Lewis, is a gentle spirit who represents the don’t-stir-up-trouble mentality of many in the town’s black community. Slick, a troubled young white man, shares the opinion held by many of the town’s white residents – that their black neighbors should not have the right to vote.

Harlan, the white owner of the café, is torn between his concern for the safety of the woman who is like a mother to him and his fear of how the town will perceive him if he supports her. He accuses her of listening to outside agitators and following along “like cows being led to slaughter.” This incites Olivia to challenge his beliefs, and his allegiance to her, by sitting at the counter of the café and asking to be served. When Harlan asks what she is doing, she responds, “I think they call it a sit-in!”

“I hope this play will lead audience members to examine how they feel and think about people outside their race and, hopefully, discover that all people are due respect and ought to be loved,” Martin said. “In the play, that love and respect are represented as the right to vote, but it goes deeper than that. It’s about equality and not having fear.”

“The play tackles racial issues in a respectful manner,” he added. “It’s important to have works of art like this. They’re a kind of mirror, helping all of us look at our attitudes and why we feel the way we do, and then forcing us to talk about what we can do to fix things that need to be fixed.”

-- Jennifer Neighbors

Lending a hand...

Support Acacia Theatre Company with a gift of time! Our needs are many and various; perhaps there is something you would enjoy doing. Please email () or call (414-744-5995) us if you would like to be part of the group of generous people who help us.

Bakers for concessions during productions
Ushers for shows
House managers for performances
Concession volunteers to help set up and take down concessions during productions
Preparing mailings
Organizing the storage area
Data entry
Carpenters & Painters –call now for opportunities to help create “The Women of Lockerbie” and earn free tickets.
Internet surfers

Wishing for…

Season subscribers
A Portable CD player that we may use during rehearsals.
Someone to scan pictures to add to our website.
Bookcases that are 5-6’ tall

Prayer Requests...

The Bible verse for this year's season is "Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Please pray that we allow Christ into all situations, good and bad, so that we may be overcomers.
For the health and safety of the cast and crew of Blessed Assurance.
That our casts, crews, and audiences would continue to be blessed by what we do.
For many people to experience Blessed Assurance.
That God would continue to guide us in all decisions that need to be made.
For all our Acacia family who are struggling.
That God would provide the people that Acacia needs so that we may continue serving Him.
Pray that we continue to lay everything that we do, on stage and off, at the feet of Jesus and to His glory.
That God would continue to provide our theatre company a place to rehearse and perform.
To walk uprightly, to keep the words of our mouth in check and committed to only the Truth, to be unified, and to be firm in who we are in Him, that we may never be shaken (based on Psalm 15).
That our financial needs would continue to be met.

Members of Acacia meet monthly to pray, at which time we lay your requests before the Lord. Please take the time to share your prayer requests and praises with us by emailing us at .

Praise and Thanksgiving

We thank God for all those who are working so hard on our current production, Blessed Assurance.
We continue to praise God for all those who have donated countless hours volunteering to keep Acacia going.
We thank God for all those who have donated financially to Acacia theatre.
We praise God for all those who support Acacia by being Season Subscribers.
We thank God that many who were struggling with health issues are on the road to recovery.
We praise God for Concordia University and their willingness to let us use their space.
We thank God for the generosity of Church In The City in allowing us to rehearse in their basement.

More opportunities to support Acacia Theatre Company...

Subscribe so that you can attend all our shows and save money in the process!
Consider bringing a group to our next production. This is a wonderful way to use our ministry to enhance yours or to just get together with friends. Descriptions of these shows are available on our website, www.acaciatheatre.com.
If you can't bring a group to a show, consider bringing us to your group! We have a variety of touring dramas available. Please visit our website, www.acaciatheatre.com, to see a listing and description of the shows. We also have brochures available in the lobby.
Although Acacia Theatre Company has been serving the Milwaukee community for twenty-five years, there are still many people that don't know about us! We have brochures and flyers on the lobby table for you to take and pass on to family, friends, pastors and neighbors. Please spread the word.
Save money AND have a percentage of your on-line purchases go to Acacia. You can even renew your magazine subscriptions at reduced rates. When shopping on the Internet, simply go through the www.iGive.com site or www.BuyForCharity.com and a percentage of your purchases will be donated to Acacia Theatre Company!
Add Acacia Theatre Company (#012900) to your "We Care" card at Pick N’ Save and a percentage of your purchases will be donated to Acacia.
Donate financially. All donations are tax-deductible. Consider donating money or stocks in honor of or in memory of someone special. A truly unique birthday or anniversary gift to the person who already has everything!
Pray for Acacia, all those who are involved with us and all who attend our productions.