All of Auburn's a stage, and all the community members, players.
Auburn Area Community Theater has existed in the Auburn area for more than 30 years, but officially became the AACT in 2003 when the group gained nonprofit status.
Steve Bice, artistic director of AACT, has been with AACT since its inception.
"We are filling a void," Bice said. "There is a need and want for the performing arts in this area."
Andrea Holliday, artistic director for AACT, said involvement with AACT can be as collaborative or individualized as someone wants.
People are always needed to build sets, pass out lemonade during intermission and watch actors' children during rehearsals.
"So many people need a creative outlet," Holliday said.
AACT provides that outlet, whether as a break from the stress of work and school or as an activity the whole family can enjoy.
Phillip Beard, an Auburn University English professor, has performed on stage since childhood and immediately involved himself with AACT when he moved to Auburn in 2004.
"There are these multiple opportunities for a lot of people to get involved in the theatre," Beard, who played the lead in AACT's recent production, "Funny Money," said.
From children getting their first taste of the theatre to seasoned leaders like Beard, Bice and Holliday, many people have found their place at AACT.
"It's a very open and warm environment," Beard said.
According to Beard, that environment is extended to Auburn students wishing to get more involved in community theatre and those searching for leadership roles or hands-on experience outside of collegiate theatre.
AACT saw an influx of student involvement when they produced "Hairspray" a couple of years ago.
Younger people were needed to fill roles, and the University was focusing on a genre of play that had a limited number of parts to be cast.
According to Bice, students of all majors had the opportunity to do things in the "real world" with AACT.
The "real world" refers to a world where money is limited and creativity is magnified.
Costumes come from thrift shops and furniture is from community members' homes.
"It really warms my heart to see Auburn University students involved in community theatre," Beard said.
One way to test the waters of community theatre involvement is through their summer workshop called Sceneworks, which starts Monday, June 2.
Participants are paired with a director and work on a 10-minute excerpt from a scene for the summer show.
Holliday said this allows people to explore without committing to a large acting production.
"The only way to learn acting is by acting," Holliday said.
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