An official army family and MWR Site

Theatre

Page Cover Photo #1 v2.jpg    The U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Europe Entertainment Program is part the U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation program.

    For over 70 years, U.S. Army Entertainment has offered U.S. Service Members, Civilians and their Families opportunities to participate in and enjoy high-quality music and theater programs while serving overseas.

    Seven Army Europe Entertainment programs operate at U.S. Army Garrisons in Germany, Italy and Belgium. The program also supports and assists Army, Air Force and Navy theater groups in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the U.K.

    Army Europe Entertainment programs in Europe function as Community Theaters, offering complete seasons of comedies, dramas, musicals, special events and classes for all ages.      

   The programs also support Soldiers, Civilians and Family members with unique programs such as Anti-Bullying Workshops for community youth; Life Skills Workshops for the Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS) Program; and partnership programs with community libraries.

    Army Europe Entertainment programs are operated by one or two professional theater staff members supported by Soldiers, Civilians, Family Members, Retirees, Civilians and Local National Citizen volunteers. Army Entertainment is the only MWR program that relies on a volunteer work force to operate.

    Each year over 2,000 volunteers provide over 300,000 man hours putting on live shows and entertainment events in their European Garrison communities. They serve as actors, directors, designers, choreographers, technicians, costumers, stage hands, painters, builders, ushers and more. This volunteerism and community support equates to over $4 million a year given to European military communities. 

Follow the links below for more information.

Click for LATEST NEWS

LATEST NEWS:

1 March 2024:

Theatrix, our costume support facility, and Kimberly Stockton, Theatrix Manager, were recently featured on German TV:

Bavarian TV "Frankenschau" - Von Uniform bis Rüschenkleid: Der Kostüm-Fundus der U.S. Army | Frankenschau | BR Fernsehen | Fernsehen | BR.de

and also featured in an article from IMCOM Europe Public Affairs Office

From underwear to outerwear – Theatrix costume collection features 60 years of Army Entertainment | Article | The United States Army

 

18 Sept 2023:

     The Ansbach Terrace Playhouse Youth Troupe (USAG Ansbach) and the Amelia Earhart Playhouse (USAG Wiesbaden) are featured in the fall edition of the AACT SPOTLIGHT Magazine.

     The edition covers the results, awards and picture from the 2023 AACTFest and YouthFest.

      Along with awards, both companies did an exceptional job representing Army Entertainment and the US Army at this national event. 

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17 June 2023:   

         Congratulations to the Ansbach Terrace Playhouse Youth Troupe (USAG Ansbach) and the Amelia Earhart Playhouse (USAG Wiesbaden) for representing Army Europe Entertainment and the US Army in the 2023 AACT National Festival.   

         The Ansbach production of Death Takes a Train received two Outstanding Achievement in Acting Awards and an Outstanding Stage Picture Award. More information is HERE.

         The Amelia Earhart Playhouse (USAG Wiesbaden) competed in the 2023 AACTFest and presented the one act play MEDEA.

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23 May 2023:   

    The Soldiers' Theatre in Vicenza, Italy is partnering with Teatro Olympico, the world's oldest covered theater for a special world premiere of "Americans in Vicenza."
     Read more about this exciting and historic event HERE.
 
 
 

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18 Oct. 2022: 

It is with profound sadness, US Army Europe Entertainment announces the passing of Richard Roberts, the Stuttgart Theater Center Director.

Richard began working for Army Entertainment in 2001. He had a profound and lasting impact on the Entertainment staff & countless Soldier, Civilian & Family program volunteers.

A memorial service will be held at the Stuttgart Theater Center on 19 November at 4:00 pm. More information will be shared here. The memorial will be recorded and streamed later that day.

Army Europe Entertainment offers our sincere condolences to Richard's family and his friends across the world.

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10 Oct.  2022: US Army IMCOM Europe Army Entertainment was presented a special
 
American Association of Community Theatre (AACT)
SPOTLIGHT AWARD 
"in recognition of its dedication to outstanding and
innovative international theater."
 Presented at the 2022 One Act Play Festival and YouthFEST'22
on 10 October in Ansbach Germany.
 

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14 April 2022: 2022 TOPPERs Awards Show Press Release

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The Ansbach Terrace Playhouse staged an all Soldier production using a script not seen in over 75 years. Click on the title and read about a truly historic and remarkable Army Entertainment production
 

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4 March 2022:  "Try to Remember: ‘The Fantasticks’ in a Warzone". Army Entertainment's mission is based on "Soldiers Entertaining Soldiers" - including in a war zone. American Theatre published a wonderful memory of this during the Vietnam Conflict.

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12 August 2021:  Over the years, Army Entertainment has inspired service members to find their true callings in theatre. Bruce Jackson was a young soldier stationed in Vicenza, Italy, in 1963. His experience volunteering at the Soldiers' Theater led him to an over 50-year career as a professional theatre artist. Read about his experience HERE. 

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3 July 2021: The 2022 TOPPERs Adjudication will begin 12 Feb., 2022. The TOPPERs Awards Show and Ceremony will be held 20 April 2022 in Wiesbaden, Germany. Check back for more information and details. 

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2 July 2021: The latest AACT Spotlight Magazine is available HERE.

    Features all the 2021 AACTFest Outstanding Awards.

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20 June 2021: 2021 AACTFest "Outstanding Achievement"  Awards:

    The USAG Benelux SHAPE Performing Arts Center's production of "Holy Days" represented the US Army and Army Entertainment at the 2021 AACTFest virtual national festival, held 13-20 June, 2021. The production received two "Outstanding Achievement Awards" - for Set Design and Original Music. Congratulations to the cast and crew of SHAPE's "Holy Days."

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20 May 2021: We regret to announce, due to ongoing pandemic restrictions in Europe, the 2021 TOPPERs Awards have been cancelled. The 61st TOPPERs Awards will be celebrated at the 2022 TOPPERs Awards. Tournament adjudication will begin in February, 2022, with TOPPERs Awards presented in a live, musical event in April, 2022. Please check back for more news and updates.
 
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27 April 2021: Great news! Covid 19 restriction have changed
and  The Stuttgart TheJerry's Girls.jpgatre Center is now able to holding auditions and rehearsals for their next production! Live and onstage, its Jerry's Girls. Read more about it HERE. 
 
 
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23 April 2021: The Vicenza, Italy Military Community is celebrating the ​​​​​​extraordinary contributions of the volunteers at Vicenza's Soldiers' Theatre. Read more about their awards and their exceptional support of the Soldiers' Theatre and their community HERE. 
 
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22 April 2021:  Congratulations for KMC Onstage volunteer, Cheryl Navo on being invited to be part of the American Association of Community Theater AACTFest 2021 "Playwrights' Pitch Room."
      Cheryl's script Tight Stitches is one of 13 new, unpublished full-length plays from playwrights across the US selected for an invitational new play forum. 
      Each playwright will pitch their unpublished play to theatrical producers, industry professionals and script publishers in a two-minute video. Producers and publishers will then have the option of bidding on these new plays.
      Good luck, Cheryl, and we hope Tight Stitches is picked up, published and produced.
 
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16 April 2021:  Congratulations to ten Volunteers from Vicenza's Soldiers' Theater for being recognized nationally and in their communities. Their generous volunteerism at the Soldiers' Theater is being honored during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
 
       The following invaluable Soldiers' Theater volunteers are 2021 President Award Recipients and will receive Volunteer Service Award pins and certificates signed by the President of the United States.
 
MAJ Brian AndriesVicenza Volunteers 2.jpg
Marissa E. Blake
Johnniecia Corwise
Memphis Diana Jones
Michael Leahy
Alicia Mangers
Alphonso Ortiz
SGT Martin Julio Sinlao
Chance Wilson
and
Grace Yeuell
 
 
Marissa E. Blake and Vicenza Volunteers 1.jpgJohnniecia Corwise 
were also recognized by the USAG Italy/Vicenza Community for more than 500 hours of volunteer service.
 
 
 
 
 
Vicenza Volunteers 3.jpg
Alicia Mangers was also named the Civilian Spouse Volunteer of the Year in the USAG Italy/Vicenza Community.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Congratulations to these outstanding US Army Europe Entertainment volunteers and thank you for your support of the Soldiers' Theater.
 
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28 March 2021:  After being part of US Army Europe Entertainment, many participants go on to full careers or lifelong advocations in the performing arts. Two Roadside Theater participants have continued their passion for performing.

       Constance Howard, recently performed in the Lincoln (NE) Community Playhouse production of the radio drama, "The Whistler." Listen HERE.

        Ellis Hamilton, recently graduated from Berklee School of Music (Boston), just scored his first movie. You can see it HERE 

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4 Feb. 2021:    Star Quest Talent Showcase - a new Army Europe Entertainment program.

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8 Dec. 2020: The 60th annual US Army IMCOM Europe Entertainment Tournament of Plays (TOPPERs) will be presented in a virtual presentation online on 19 Dec. 2020. More information is available HERE. 

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11 Oct. 2020: The 2020 US Army One Act Play Festival and YouthFest was held at KMC Onstage in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The complete list of awards and photos can be found HERE.

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21 Sept. 2020: Vicenza's Soldiers' Theatre was one of the first Army Entertainment programs to recover from Covid restrictions and serve their community in a creative and safe way. Read the Army.mil article here. Congratulations to the cast, crew and staff on your creativity and community service.

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21 May 2020: The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) just announced the 2020 AACT National Recognition Awards. US Army Europe Entertainment (AACT Region X) was honored with four awards for staff and volunteers. See them here.

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20 May 2020: New photos from the first 1995 US Army One Act Play Festival have been discovered and loaded in our US Army Historic Photo Gallery.

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12 May 2020: In response to the global Covid crises, Army Entertainment programs have expanded their community service with increased online Entertainment programming. Check out free dance, music, dramaturge and youth workshops, including on-camera acting workshops with professional Los Angeles actors. All links can be found at the Army Entertainment LIVE! Facebook page.

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13 April 2020: The Ansbach Terrace Playhouse and the Theatrix Costume Staff reached out to their community in a creative way to promote physical distancing as featured on the Ansbach Community Facebook page.

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9 April 2020: Hundreds of historic Army Entertainment program photos have been added to the Entertainment History Photo Album. Check them out.

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7 April 2020: SGT Terry Schappert started his theatrical experience with the Stuttgart Theatre Center. He has gone on to a long career on stage, TV and film including his own show on the History Channel.  

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2 April 2020: Army Entertainment programs continue to serve their communities and volunteers with on-line rehearsals, workshops, classes and events. Check the Army Entertainment Facebook page, the Army Entertainment LIVE! Facebook page or the links to each theatre under "Army Entertainment Events & Theatres" above.

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13 Mar 2020: Due to the Corona virus health crisis, the 2020 US Army Tournament of Plays (TOPPERs) have been postponed. The annual awards will be presented at a future date to be announced. Find the latest news and updates on the 2020 TOPPERs MWR Page.

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5 Nov 2019: Congratulations to Stuttgart Entertainment Director, Alan Buxkemper, for 30 years of outstanding community service. View the USAG Stuttgart Garrison video celebrating his ongoing devotion and professionalism.

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28 Oct 2019: Army Entertainment is featured in the Nov/Dec 2019 Issue of AACT's Newsletter "Spotlight."

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24 Aug 2018: SGT Mason Brown, USAG Bavaria, explains what the Army Entertainment mission means to Soldiers stationed overseas in his blog, "SGT. Theater Geek."

 
For more information, contact:
Dane Winters - IMCOM Europe Army Entertainment Program Manager
Bldg 151. Room 113. Sembach Kaserne
Kaiserslautern, Germany
DSN: (314)544-9656