April Monthly Meeting
Special Guest Richie Whitehead & More!
Our April monthly meeting was full of energy, inspiration, and exciting updates! We were thrilled to be joined (virtually!) by a very special guest—Richie Whitehead, known for his captivating performance of Breadcrumb at IndyFringe. Richie FaceTimed in from Chicago and shared some incredible insights into his unique journey as a clown and physical theatre performer.
Being Present and Genuine on Stage
Richie spoke about his training over the years and emphasized the importance of being genuine and in the moment while performing. Whether it’s a dramatic monologue or a comedic bit, staying present and connecting truthfully with the audience is key. Student officers Willa and Teagan led the conversation and absolutely crushed it with thoughtful questions and warm energy.
One standout moment was when a student asked how to avoid breaking character on stage. Richie’s advice? Return to the moment. “When you’re fully present and genuine, the temptation to break disappears,” he said. And of course, he reminded us all: practice, practice, practice.
Workshop Fun!
Richie didn’t just talk! He got everyone on their feet with some workshop-style activities! The students had a blast learning new theatre games. Amanda and Rai will be stashing those games in their “director toolkits” for future rehearsals!
Officer Announcements
After we said goodbye to Richie, our student officers took the lead to share updates and plans for the coming months:
Bomber Jackets Are Coming! The officers are working on a custom AFL bomber jacket design. These will be available for purchase soon—stay tuned!
Summer Kickoff Social Event – Officers are planning a fun event to welcome in summer. More details coming soon.
Strawberry Festival – Thursday, June 12
We’ll need both volunteers and performers for this awesome event. Keep an eye out for signup sheets!AFL Summer Camp – June 23–27
Planning is kicking off soon, and we’ll be reaching out for help.ArtsJam Fundraiser – Sunday, July 20
Amanda and Rai shared details about ArtsJam, our 1st annual 3v3 basketball tournament fundraiser. Mark your calendars—it’s going to be a BLAST!! Early signups of $75 a team ends May 1
Click Here to Sign UpIndyFringe Show: The Sandbox
Audition information has officially dropped! Auditions will be held
Wednesday, June 25 at 6:00p at Arts for Lawrence
Don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of this summer’s show.
Click Here for Show Audition & Show Packet
May Meeting – Field Trip!
Reminder: We will NOT be meeting at AFL for May. Instead, we’re heading to Beef & Boards for a free preview performance of The Little Mermaid! Come support Asher, who’s been cast as Flounder! Be sure to RSVP on GroupMe so we know you're coming!
Thanks to everyone who joined us for such a meaningful and fun April meeting. From learning how to be present on stage to planning future events, it’s clear we’ve got an exciting few months ahead. Keep bringing the energy, and we’ll see you at Beef & Boards in May!
