Mission
ACT’s mission is to promote quality theatrical and film experiences for and by the greater Aberdeen region in order to reach as many people as possible by introducing everyone, youth to senior citizen, to all aspects of quality theater and film arts onstage, on screen, backstage, behind-the-scenes or as audience members to enhance their lives and as economic development for the region.
ACT meets this mission by locally producing and presenting live theatrical productions, sponsoring touring productions and special events, holding theater classes and workshops for adults and children through its adult and Young People’s Theatre programming.
It also meets this mission by presenting films, producing film festivals and holding film classes and workshops through its Capitol Cinema programming.
History
Movie Theater Becomes Community Theatre
In January of 1927, the glorious, french art deco theater that is now our home, Capitol Theatre, was opened. Our marquee was lit for the first time later that month. A stage performance called, “The Green Hat: A Play with a Punch”, was included in the opening ceremonies of this new downtown attraction. That was followed by the theater’s first silent, motion picture screening: “Kid Boots”. A year later, the Capitol was outfitted with a Vita-Phone sound system for the widely popular “talkies.”
The Capitol was Aberdeen’s premiere movie house until the late 1980’s, when it began to wind down and a new duplex theater was built in eastern Aberdeen. The last movie, “Robocop 2”, played at the Capitol in 1990.
In early 1990’s , a need arose for a permanent home of the Aberdeen Community Theatre which had incorporated in 1980. ACT, as they were known, used any theater space, or make-shift theater space, they could find to bring local live theater to Aberdeen. It wasn’t until 1992 that they would move permanently into the Capitol Theatre, which was converted from a movie house to a fully functional stage-production and movie facility. Since then, ongoing renovations and modifications have been enhancing the performance space as well as the theatre-going experience.
Local Aberdeen Quester’s groups started their own fundraising campaign to renovate the theater’s marquee. The magnificent Capitol Theatre marquee was dismantled and shipped off for complete restoration in 1997. A year later it was re-lit with great fanfare.
