Blog: 3 reasons we're excited APT is opening the Touchstone Theatre

We have to admit, we weren’t totally sure what to think when we heard the outdoor American Players Theatre was planning to christen the new, indoor Touchstone Theatre in July. It wasn’t so much we were worried there’d be a drop in quality. It was more an issue of what we knew would be missing: dealing with the elements, trudging up that killer hill, and fighting off the hummingbird-sized mosquitoes—all of the APT-iness that’s so much a part of the experience as any of the performances. But we’re big fans, so we decided to withhold our reservations until we had a chat with John Langs. He’s the director of In Acting Shakespeare, the one-man play that’ll officially open the space on July 10. (Though, preview performances will begin on July 2.) And from what he told us, it sounds like we have nothing to worry about.

First off, Langs said APT’s worked hard to create something new in the Touchstone, while at the same time preserving as much of the outdoor experience as possible. He told us the Touchstone feels a little bit like an old barn without any of new-car smell, and the lobby’s been designed with a ton of glass, so it seems like you’re standing outside. That sounds good to us because as much as we like to think we’re badasses for watching classical theater in the woods, in reality, we’re just pasty nerds who like to be comfortable. Score one for the Touchstone.

Second, as far as the performances go, Langs said they’re still going to concentrate on creating a connection between the ideas in the plays and the people in the audiences. “You’ll see every flick of the actor’s eyeballs,” Langs said. “We’re inventing a new experience with all the power of a whispered secret.” Cool turns of phrase to be sure. But more than that, after numerous trips to Spring Green, we still haven’t quite figured out how APT makes Shakespeare palatable, let alone something we actually get excited to watch. So whatever pixie dust they’re using, we’re happy to have another handful thrown in our face—whether we're indoor or outside.

And lastly, the plays they’re producing this year all have been written in this century, like Long Day's Journey Into Night and Old Times. Huzzah! In Acting Shakespeare was originally written by Sir Ian McKellen, who we remember from the X-Men and Lord Of The Rings movies, but theater types know him as one of the most respected Shakespearean actors of our time. Who would have guessed? Anyway, McKellen originally wrote In Acting Shakespeare as a peek behind the curtain of his craft, as well as to tell the story of how he became a classical actor. Longtime APT vet James DeVita has adapted the play (with McKellen’s blessing) to tell his own story of going from the docks in Long Island to classical theater. The coolest part, however, is how DeVita’s adaptation recounts one of the seminal moments in his odd journey: seeing McKellen perform In Acting Shakespeare. Since we’ve always been suckers for sappy serendipity—especially when it’s true—we’re thinking pretty much everything about the Touchstone sounds like a winner.