About us
Our mission -
Motivated by love for the art of theatre, the Anthony Aston Players are dedicated to the promotion of the theatre arts at Wake Forest University. To this end, we seek to function as a service organization to the University Theatre, to provide students opportunities to develop skills, to participate in the production of theatre, and to promote high standards of theatre arts by recognizing outstanding work and dedication in the Wake Forest University Theatre.
What We Do
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The Anthony Aston Players meets weekly at 4:00pm on Mondays in The Ring Theatre of Lower Scales Fine Arts Center; this doubles as the departmental faculty meeting, and serves as an opportunity for everyone involved with University Theatre to share ideas, promote events, and voice concerns. Interested individuals can join our listserv for regular email updates by contacting our Secretary.
Our members also serve the Wake Forest University Theatre and Dance Program throughout the school year in a variety of ways, including but not limited to
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Work calls and strikes of all Tedford Stage shows
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Serving on production crews for Tedford Stage shows
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Poster calls
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Public relations
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Fundraising
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Selling concessions
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Serving as ushers
AAP also produces one show per year as a supplement to the University Theatre Tedford Stage season. This production is entirely student-run, and provides additional opportunities for involvement in every facet of the production process. To learn about past AAP Shows, click here. AAP also produces Haunted Tunnels in the Fall semester and LaughTracks in the Spring semester for organization fundraising,
THE SOCIAL ELEMENT
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Anthony Aston Players is deeply committed to serving both the theatre and our campus and local communities, but we are also a big, beautiful, , and vibrant family. Our Social Committee, led by our Historian, facilitates events throughout the year aimed at fostering love and connection among our membership.
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AAP consistently places high in the Deacon Cup, a competition between student organizations that demonstrates school spirit through attendance at all athletic events. The Social Committee also puts on everything from an annual Halloween pumpkin carving gathering and Oscar Viewing Party to trips to local productions and outrageously themed dances.
A major hub for these social gatherings is the Theatre House, located at 109-111 Rosedale Circle. The house is home to thirteen students all interested in the performing arts, and is provided through the Office of Residence Life and Housing as a co-educational, interest-based alternative to dormitory housing. A big pink flamingo named Felicia serves as a landmark, mascot and a guardian over the house. Re-finishing her beautiful pink feathers has become an annual tradition for AAP.
All one really has to do to recognize the connectedness of the WFU theatre population is visit the lobby of Scales Fine Arts Center.
We hope you'll join us for some craziness.
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PRO HUMANITATE
SERVICE OUTSIDE THE THEATRE
The Anthony Aston Players' primary purpose is to support the initiatives of the Wake Forest University Theatre and Dance Department, but we also focus on the Wake Forest University motto - "Pro Humanitate" - by participating in a number of service events throughout the year.
Every Halloween, The Anthony Aston Players also participate in the annual service event, "Project Pumpkin." The event provides a safe and fun venue for local children to trick-or-treat on Halloween when their local community might lack the capacity to do so. AAP has handled puppetry and several games stations at Project Pumpkin for a number of years.
Anthony Aston Players proudly participates in Hit the Bricks, a campus-wide event that raises funds for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, in the fall semester of each year. In addition, with Winston Salem Pride being postponed due to the pandemic, AAP hosted a pride dance party to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride in a new way.