Here's a Heads Up for our Patrons and Friends

Our website has been in hibernation for a month or so, but the ASGT staff has not. There’s been a lot going on off-season behind the scene. We’re actually still a few days to a few weeks away from providing detail on important subjects and innovations. But we wanted to give you this preview of what’s to come along very soon -- and very continuously.

Directors for our 2010 Productions
Forever Plaid: Just twelve performances -- May 27 through June 13
Jerry Vess is back to again direct the sensational hit from our 2008 season. Jerry is a long-timer with ASGT, both acting and being in full charge. In addition to “Plaid,” his most recent directorial successes in the Summer Garden have been Copacabana in 2009 and Cabaret in 2006. And that’s just the short list.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: June 24 through July 25
A proven director who is new to our theatre, Darnell Morris comes well recommended – and well experienced – to bring you our presentation of “Spelling Bee.” Darnell, from Kensington, MD, won a Ruby Griffith award for Kensington Arts with his direction of Pippin.

Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story: August 5 through September 5
Two talented people, both ASGT veterans, talked to us about bringing Buddy’s story to our stage. Melissa Huston was chosen to direct. Melissa showed us her talents last year as Production/Stage Manager of Smokey Joe’s Café and Stage Manager for Copacabana. A graduate of U-Md, she directed/stage managed several university productions. Bob Rude will serve as Consulting Director. Bob’s resume includes many regional acting and directing roles; he has a long history with ASGT and has recently served as Prop Master over and over again.

Auditions scheduled for mid-March
Auditions for SPELLING BEE and BUDDY HOLLY will be on Thurs, March 18 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, March 20 at noon at West Annapolis Elementary School, 210 Annapolis Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. More specific information on the types of roles being cast can be found on our auditions page.

Online Ticketing
Starting in April, you will be able to reserve seats and pay for tickets for all ASGT productions online. For our first foray into “modern” ticketing, we will offer approximately 25% of the house via our website and continue to use the existing system of phone reservation/box office pickup for the balance. Patrons buying their tickets online will gain the advantage of not having to arrive early and not having to stand in the box office line – a separate will-call table will hold your tickets. For now, group and discount tickets will still require a call to the box office. Tickets purchased online will be exchangeable for any other date in the event of a performance cancellation. Stand by for more details.

Eats & Seats
Buy a ticket, save on your meal. Buy dinner, save on your theatre ticket. Our first year "Eats & Seats" program was very successful and promising. Now we are developing a new edition - bigger and better with more opportunities to save. We are currently signing agreements with old and new restaurants alike for the 2010 season. More news soon.

Stage/2
The building permits have been issued. The contract with the winning bidder, Colossal Contractors of Burtonsville, Maryland, has been inked for Phase 1. Colossal not only gave us the best bid, they stood up under rigorous scrutiny and bring the experience and artisans to handle old historic buildings like ours. They’ll be on site as soon as weather permits, and since their work is primarily outside, the show will go on!

And a Surprise Ending
The Summer Garden website will get a facelift this spring. You’ll still get all the features you’ve become accustom to, and they’ll be more graphic, quicker to read and updated more often. We’re proud of all our website has accomplished over the past two years, and its success has been because of your support. Thanks from the bottom of our hearts! Be sure to come back soon and often.