Warner Stage Company's 'WINTER FLOWERS' Heads to AACTFest 2015 This June; Set for Special 4/11 Show

The Warner Stage Company is excited to announce their production of Winter Flowers will be representing New England (Region 1) in the National Festival (AACTFest 2015) held in Grand Rapids, Michigan this June! The AACTFest 2015 will occur June 23-28 and will showcase 12 community theatre productions from across the United States. It will cost approximately $12,000-$15,000 to get our cast, crew and set to Michigan.

On April 11th a special performance of the winning production, Winter Flowers, will be held in the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre beginning at 8:15 pm. Tickets are $25 each and all proceeds will go towards funding the trip. A pre-show reception will begin at 7:30 with hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine included. Come down and show your support - meet the team and playwright Lily Rusek, learn how the AACTFest cycle works and see the production that received the awards for Overall Outstanding Production (Winter Flowers), Best Actress (Lea Dmytryck and Jane Coughlin [tie]) and Best Director (Sharon A. Wilcox), at the New England Regional Theatre Festival.

Tickets for the performance are $25. To purchase tickets, call the Box Office at (860) 489-7180 or visit warnertheatre.org. If you cannot attend the event, but would like to make a donation to support the Warner Stage Company's trip, visit the Warner Theatre website at warnertheatre.org.

Built by Warner Brothers Studios and opened in 1931 as a movie palace (1,772 seats), the Warner Theatre was described then as "Connecticut's Most Beautiful Theatre." Damaged extensively in a flood, the Warner was slated for demolition in the early 1980s until the non-profit Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts (NCAA) was founded and purchased the theatre. The Warner reopened as a performing arts center in 1983, and restoration of the main lobbies and auditorium was completed in November 2002. In 2008, the new 50,000 square foot Carole and Ray Neag Performing Arts Center, which houses a 300 seat studio theatre, 200 seat restaurant and expansive school for the arts, was completed. Today, the Warner is in operation year-round with more than 160 performances and 100,000 patrons passing through its doors each season. Over 10,000 students, pre K-adult, participate in arts education programs and classes. Together, with the support of the community, the Warner has raised close to $17 million to revitalize its facilities. NCAA's mission is to preserve the Warner Theatre as an historic landmark, enhance its reputation as a center of artistic excellence and a focal point of community involvement, and satisfy the diverse cultural needs of the region.