New Theatre Company Creating Space For Actors In ‘Third Act Of Life’
SAINT JOHN — A group of Saint John performers is hoping to create a space for actors, singers and dancers in their “third act of life.”
Act III Productions was founded by Jo-Anne MacDonald, who caught the “theatre bug” as a teenager appearing in musicals at Kennebecasis Valley High School. She later produced and performed in shows for the KV Players in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
“Then my career and life took over,” said MacDonald, adding she spent a part of her career as the CEO of ARAG, an insurance agency in British Columbia. “I really did want to retire as the CEO and that’s what happened.”
MacDonald returned to Saint John days before the pandemic forced the world into lockdown in March 2020. When she came home, MacDonald had a renewed desire to be reunited with people from her theatre life. However, with the region in lockdown, it couldn’t happen right away.
Once the Atlantic Bubble opened in July 2020, MacDonald invited her old theatre friends to her house to spend time catching up. What started as a few hours of reminiscing turned into a two-and-a-half-hour night of music.
That was the birth of Act III Productions.
“When they left that night, I said to my husband, ‘oh, my God, I have got to provide an outlet for people in their third act of life,’” said MacDonald. “I had to ensure that audiences get to see what I just experienced in our living room.”
After that summer night, MacDonald approached Rosy Maloney, Theresa Patterson and Dan Mackay about joining forces to start Act III Productions. The company appeals to performers in their “third act of life,” which MacDonald describes as people in their fifties and sixties.
“Before I even got the sentences out for each of them, they all said, ‘yes, I’m in,’” said MacDonald. “We spent the whole winter meeting via Zoom — we created a name for ourselves, a logo, a mission statement and then we started to write a show together.”
“It’s been the most fulfilling, joyful, positive, energetic, lovely experience.”
Act III’s first production is a musical called “The Last Word,” which will be staged at the Fundy Fringe Festival in August. MacDonald says the story follows a man who moves in with his children after the death of his wife. The goal is to show how connected — or rather disconnected — people are, told through five Broadway show tunes.
“Technology has connected all of us,” said MacDonald. “We have 1000 Facebook friends, Twitter followers, Instagram followers and TikTok likes, but how connected are we? Is there a sense of disconnectedness that we’re not really thinking about?”
The show’s cast hasn’t been solidified just yet, but MacDonald hopes it leaves an impression for people so they can be involved with Act III Productions — on stage or off. She also hopes New Brunswickers will come out to Fundy Fringe and support homegrown talent in the local arts community.
“This is just one of many projects that we’re going to continue to do,” said MacDonald. “We really do want people of all ages to put their hand up and to say that they want to be part of future projects.”
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Aaron Sousa is a summer intern for Huddle. Send him story suggestions: [email protected].