About afO

  

THERE IS SO MUCH TO TELL HERE.  FOR NOW, PLEASE ACCEPT THAT THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS… THANKS, THE MANAGEMENT.

It all started around a kitchen table at the juncture of Packard and South Wayne Avenues in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  It was 1992.  Five folks with a passion for theatre and collective experience in acting, sound, lighting and writing, had a “what if” discussion about their shared desire to launch a faith-based theatre company that would perform outside any church, in the heart of the arts community.

With two original scripts and no name for this newly conceived work, the group decided to pray and give it nine months (a reasonable gestation period) to see if God would birth a new theatre company.  In two weeks, both scripts were booked for different venues.

In March of 1993, all for One productions, inc. was incorporated as a 501 (c) 3.  The two scripts grew to 4 and 6 and 10 and all for One began touring NE Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois as a repertory theatre company performing in a variety of settings.  The corps of actors, directors and technicians increased to meet the performance demands year to year.

 

Cydney (Townsend) Boze as Felicity Webb in 'A Sentimental Journey'

In 2002, all for One recalibrated it’s mission to focus all of its resources at home, in the Greater Fort Wayne area.  The company moved from touring as a rep company, to producing its own shows.  Home Stage Productions  were launched as one facet of their commitment to the mission.  Original and published material would be carefully chosen to provide the community with excellent,  thought-provoking, family-friendly plays, seldom if ever seen on any other Fort Wayne stage.  Past productions have included: a reprise of A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, THE CURIOUS SAVAGE, I REMEMBER MAMA, AN INSPECTOR CALLS, OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, RADIUM GIRLS and the Fort Wayne premiere of AMERICAN PRIMITIVE by William Gibson, the author of THE MIRACLE WORKER.

Prior to 2007, Home Stage Productions were performed on any available stage and were limited to one or two productions a year, each performed over just one one weekend.  In 2007, a partnership with the new Allen County Public Library Auditorium provided afO with a “home” in the heart of the arts community where an annual season is performed over multiple weekends.  Slowly but surely, the community is awakening to afO’s presence.

Dennis Nichols and Michael Wilhelm in afO's 2006 production of 'An Inspector Calls'

In addition to Home Stage Productions, since 2005, afO has invested its resources in the lives of children in the Greater Fort Wayne area.  The Character Counts Series provides educational dramas targeting K-5 students in public and private school assembly settings.  These 45-minute dramas are performed by a team of home-schooled students who receive training  from afO in performing arts, communications, public relations and all aspects of theatre for a year at a time.  The power of “kids reaching kids”  with dramas that address current social issues and positive character traits is evident in the excellent response of students and educators in Allen, Huntington and Wells counties.

Story-telling has long been the source of providing culture with an understanding of the past, as a compass for the future.  In 2008, afO launched its newest outreach to youth in our community: The Annual Young Playwrights Festival (YPF).  The YPF is intended to draw out, engage and equip the next generation of great story-tellers. 

At the close of the first annual YPF (May 2009), seven plays were celebrated representing students in Gr. 2-11 from public, private and home-schooled settings.  Each play was performed by area professionals at the Allen County Public Library Auditorium with the playwrights receiving personal feedback from the judges, $50-$100 gift certificates for new books and scholarships to writer’s workshops with nationally known and local published playwrights. 

2008-2009 Young Playwrights

As all for One has grown and expanded its work in the community it has been privileged to work with many community guest artists, homeschooled students, educators and sponsors.  With a continued commitment to bettering the community in which we live and nurturing creativity, afO is seeking to produce new plays by area playwrights as part of each Home Stage season.  In 2009, Ruth Tyndall Baker’s A CHRISTMAS KEY was produced.  In 2010, Michael Wilhelm’s TURTLE SOUP, an hysterical and historical account of the infamous Churubusco turtle story, was produced.

MORE TO COME. . .