A.C.T. Studio Theatre — Attraction in Stuart

As the negative review I posted with the hopes this business would reconsider their actions and treatment of patrons of other businesses has become unaccessible through Facebook I am reposting it here for the world to see. I hope this will help them see their actions have left me feeling like a subhuman.

It strange writing this review as I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have to. I am a local musician and patron of many arts on the treasure coast area and located next door to this establishment is the ONLY all ages music venue in three counties that will allow young bands playing original music. If that doesn’t seem like an important thing it is because I can imagine this very theater was opened because a group of artists felt the need to express themselves but didn’t have a venue to accomplish it. They wanted their own space to tell their own stories. So the amount of disdain and utter contempt we have felt from the management of this business is heartbreaking. I would imagine you think a bunch of kids yelling doesn’t matter but if you don’t give people a safe space to express their art where are they to go?

This last Friday was especially heartbreaking as it was one of my best friend’s birthday party show. No one was fighting, no one was breaking stuff, no one was being rude we were just a large group of 18-34-year-old humans having a good time. So it boggles the mind as to why the police were called? Why pictures were taking of the patrons? Why time and time again shows have to be pushed till late hours out of respect but no respect is given back? But most of all why I have never seen an employee or an actor leaving a show hand any of us a flyer to talk up a show as if there was no chance we could love theatre. You have unfettered access to a young demographic of artists and art lovers even if 10% of us were interested that is new patrons but never once have felt that we even mattered. That we could even be someone you would want in your establishment.

So I write this not to create more aggression. I write this not to start a fight but to say how would it make you feel if the shoe was on the other foot? How would it make your patrons feel if management took pictures of them? How would it make your actors and directors feel if they kept pushing shows back to later and later times out of respect and never felt that same respect returned? Consider, these things and then consider how hard it is to be an artist and how much the theatre means to you. Apply all of those feelings and then ask if your actions are right or just? I would argue it may put things into perspective.

If it doesn’t that breaks my...

Smallest venue I've ever seen for theater. Seats about 40 people on tiers, in bridge chairs, but the theater doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is: a small, intimate community theater where you go to see good live theater at reasonable prices. Of course, there is the problem of the one-seat toilet, so there could be a wait. But I've learned to "go" always before leaving home. Acting can range from OK to great, just like when you go to any show. The volunteers are wonderful and oddly enough, there were no prima donnas in the audience who thought that what they had to say was more important than the actor's lines. That impressed me. I'm so tired of paying for any venue and being harassed by the public and it's private conversations on my dime. Go to ACT. It's...

I run shows next door that are designated "safer spaces" as all-ages havens for marginalized individuals and victims of abuse to be able to take part in the music scene without fear of being harassed or having prior trauma brought up. After consistent and elevating harassment from the management of ACT they resorted to sending out an older man to film, indiscriminately, the crowd that was minding their own business outside of venue.

Is it technically legal to film minors and victims of abuse without their consent in public? Absolutely.

Is it ethically okay to do this as a form of coercion or retaliation because you don't like the fact that live music is happening next door?...