Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! This was the ringing word heard after the performance by The Wetumpka Depot Players of Second Samuel. The location was in Rochester, NY at the American Association of Community Theater Festival during the week of June 20-26, 2011. There were only 12 groups competing. Our theatre group was the winning representative for the entire Southeast US region. After the performance the full house of over 500 people rose to their feet in appreciative and enthusiastic applause. The spontaneous reception was so strong that it literally took our breath away.

Many are to be thanked for making this experience possible. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival made available its beautiful facilities in early June for a fund raiser. Local governments and organizations provided much needed funding. Longtime supporters gave generously to make this project happen. There seemed to be a 100% “buy in” from people in Central Alabama for the Wetumpka Depot Players to be ambassadors from our state at the national competition. Even the support of Second Samuel author, Pamela Parker, testified to the quality of this production. The result of our broad based support was an overwhelming success!

The people of Rochester, NY welcomed us with open arms and we in turn responded accordingly. With the new friendships made at the festival, our mutual admiration and respect will undoubtedly grow in the future between theatre lovers from all over the nation.

Individual recognition for our group was made to Sherida Black for a meritorious award for costume design, Steve Mitchell nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Brad Moon nominated for Featured Actor and Jonathan Conner, nominated for Best Actor… all well deserved. But the main mission and desire for the whole troupe was to be a tightly knit unit and to collectively present a heartwarming and entertaining message of love and human understanding. Mission accomplished in a most compelling way.

We as a group gained from the experience a renewed dedication to provide the very best community theatre possible within our means and to “push the envelope” to the very edge as it relates to the quality of performances that would be acceptable for our family audiences.

Thank you again for all you have done to support our mission and activities. Here’s to many more happy theatre hours for all of us in the future.

Respectfully and sincerely submitted on behalf of the board of directors,

Watt Jones, Jr.

President, Wetumpka Depot Players, Inc.