ProductionHistory-Simply Irma

Welcome! This year the Anthony Bean Community Theater and Acting School celebrates15 years of excellence in the performing arts.

The Anthony Bean Community Theater (ABCT) was established in Spring 2000 to meet the growing demands of New Orleans area residents seeking a quality, culturally diverse, performing arts venue. The theater also met the needs of individuals seeking to learn the art of acting, set design and theatre management. In recent years, ABCT has become a vehicle to enter New Orleans' booming "Hollywood South" film industry.

ABCT is unique in that it is not only a major theater production company, but a year-round, open enrollment acting school serving both adults and children with an eclectic group of courses designed to meet the basic needs of individuals seeking careers in stage and screen acting, set design and theatre management.

ABCT believes that the arts have the power to transform people's lives. Our Mission is simple: "to inspire those we serve through the magic of the arts." The Hallmark of ABCT and that which separates us from "all the rest" is - diversity. ABCT proudly presents the most diverse theater schedule in the New Orleans area. Our programing fare includes, the classics; Shakespeare, August Wilson and Tennessee Williams as well as popular drama (Reflections and Misery), comedy (Jar the Floor, Steal Away), and musicals (The Color Purple, Simply Irma and The Phyllis Hyman Story). Most importantly, ABCT mounts original plays such as I'd Rather Be Rich and Say Amen, and showcases our talented kids in perennial favorites: Cats, The Wiz, High School Musical and 504.

The goal of the ABCT Acting School is to provide an intense, high quality learning and performing opportunity in an atmosphere where young people are encouraged to set goals, take risks and view mistakes as an avenue for learning. ABCT opens students up to the greatness that lies within them and creates an awareness that the Arts are a constructive vehicle of personal expression.

Anthony Bean Community Theater boasts a full professional portfolio including video DVD Productions and an ABCT clothing line. In addition to children and adult acting classes, ABCT offers a youth theater, an after-school program, and the Anthony Bean Community Theater City Choir. During the summer months, working in conjunction with the New Orleans Recreation Department Commission - ABCT also operates a summer day camp.

We at ABCT wish to express our sincere gratitude for your ongoing support over the past 15 years and we urge you to purchase your PASS for the upcoming season. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to seeing you at our next production.

Come and celebrate our Anniversary and you will agree.

"ABCT IS MORE THAN THEATER

IT'S CULTURE!"

Anthony Bean

Back ABCT!
Be a part of the Anthony Bean Community Theater and Acting School! ABCT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all contributions are tax deductible. Donate today and keep the arts alive and exciting in our community!

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Simply Irma creative team includes: Anthony Bean (Co writer, director), Giselle Nakhid (Choreographer), Steve Burke Sr. (Vocal Directions) John Grimsley (Scenic), Lyn Caliva (Lighting) Ms. B (Costumes), Yolanda Cephus (Hair and makeup) Staci Tolliver (Stage Manager), and Michelle Briscoe-Long (Production Manager).

Anthony Bean Community Theater is excited to present New Orleans Queen of Soul and Grammy Award Winner, Irma Thomas as she plays herself in this musical production that documents the pitfalls and successes of her dramatic music career. A large cast of singers/dancers and actors will have you singing and dancing in the aisles to her many hits, such as, Its Raining, You Can Have My Husband, Ruler of My Heart, I Wish Someone Would Care, Hip Shaking Mama, and many, many more!

The unrivaled Soul Queen of New Orleans -- a title officially bestowed by local officials is New Orleans' most enduring musical ambassador. "She remains one of America's most distinctive and classic singers, a treasure from the golden age of soul music who remains as compelling and powerful as ever..." says Rounder Records. HistoryMakers reports, "Blues vocalist Irma Thomas was born Irma Lee on February 18, 1941, in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. She was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended New Orleans' McDonald 41 public school. Thomas displayed her early vocal talents as a teen. She sang with a Baptist church choir and a gospel quartet at Home Mission Baptist Church. Her very first recording was a school song, which was recorded at Cosmo's studio with fellow classmates. At the age of eleven, Thomas won The Ritz Theater's talent night and two years later, she auditioned for Specialty Records. Her comeback as a recording artist started in 1986 when she produced an album, The New Rules, with Scott Billington of Rounder Records. Thomas received her first Grammy nomination in 1991. She received her second Grammy nomination in 1998 along with Marcia Ball and Tracy Nelson. In 2006, she received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album, for After the Rain, 2006; Blues Music Awards, Soul Blues Album of the Year, for After the Rain, 2007; recipient of numerous humanitarian awards for public service work in New Orleans. She has continued to maintain an active recording and touring schedule since. Thomas married her manager, Emile Jackson, in 1977. Thomas has a total of seven children.

The Ensemble Najua Cook Walter Dixson lV Madyson Barbain Jean-Marck Charles Jewel Mart Allieta Blue Nechele Francis Kiersten Moore Sheleta Burke-Manuel Sierra Green Immanuel Simon Myia Carter Polanco Jones, Jr. Nina Tauriac

Starring
Anthony Bean Irma Thomas