The IMAX theater in Jordan’s Furniture reopened on May 27, and so Natick Report took it upon itself to check out the larger-than-life screen (76×55 -foot, to be precise).

When buying tickets I was a bit disappointed to see that the only available movie for the weekend was Jurassic World Dominion, the third entry in the popular dinosaur series. I’d seen the first movie years ago, but I had skipped the second one. On top of that, I hadn’t heard very good things about this one, and the sci-fi/adventure flick clocked in at 2h 26min. Hmmm—well, no one said that reporting Natick news would be cushy.

I bought two tickets ($18.50 each), and prepared to go to the theater. Driving to Jordan’s is dramatic in its own right, as it is perched on top of a hill overlooking route 9. After summiting the hill, parking was an easy affair. The entrance to Jordan’s promotes IMAX theater prominently, but once inside I was a bit lost as to where to go. If you were wondering, Jordan’s no longer hands out bead necklaces when you walk in; the Mardi Gras theme has been thoroughly exterminated.

In all likelihood I missed a sign, but I decided to guess which way to go, which resulted in some wandering until I found a helpful employee who pointed me in the right direction. When you first enter the store what you should do is walk straight to the back and then turn right into the leather section. From there, follow signs until you see an escalator.

The escalator gives the proper red-carpet treatment to IMAX movie-goers. The paparazzi mural, famous in its own right, is on both sides as you ascend, cameras flashing, making the entrance feel extra-special.

 

After the excitement of the escalator, the theater entrance is pretty basic: black walls, movie posters, and a snack bar with expensive popcorn. You come in at the back of the theater, with it sloping down from the entrance. The screen is truly big, and the seats are fairly comfortable, but they’re not miniature beds like in the nearby AMC theater.

Immersed in the experience

The movie itself was not very good, but if there was anywhere I would have wanted to see it, it would be in an IMAX theater. It was slightly too loud at some points, but the surround sound and giant screen made the dinosaurs and the action feel immersive.

The audience was a challenge at times. A gaggle of middle schoolers began a full volume conversation about halfway through the movie, and needed shushing from the rest of the crowd before they quieted down.

After the movie ended several audience member attempted to leave the way we had come in, before being herded to a second door on the opposite side of the theater. From there it was a quick exit through some more furniture galleries before heading home.

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If two shows at once sounds like a lot for The Actors Company of Natick (ACON) to juggle at once, well, it is. Founder and Artistic and Executive Director Patrick Conaway, a Natick High School graduate and a dorm parent at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, says the only way for one company to manage overlapping shows is through teamwork. “We have an amazing group of artistically gifted people with an amazing work ethic and the drive to get it done,” Conaway says.

Community to the very core

Conaway makes clear that the mission of ACON is to consistently focus its efforts toward the greater good. “What we’re doing is producing theater with a purpose. With each production, we’re celebrating our community heroes.” The Julius Caesar production will honor veterans of the United States Armed Forces, while You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown will recognize all the educators who go above and beyond every day.

Conaway and his team have been preparing to bring equitable, professional and accessible productions to Natick for a long time. But it wasn’t until the theater-loving community turned out in force to attend the first ACON fundraiser, last month’s Night of Stars event at Natick’s AMVETS Post #79, that Conaway allowed himself to actually believe that everything might really, truly, come together.

The event included amazing performances from those with local ties to others who performed in Natick for the first time. Natick High School graduate Jordan McLaughlin, a rising Junior at Hofstra University studying drama with a minor in musical theatre, sang an original song that she wrote; and the 15+ members of Scalestorm, a NHS student-led a cappella group entertained the crowd with perfectly melded harmonies. Jacob Conley from Atlanta, a rising senior at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, brought a high-energy, audience-driven performance piece, then slowed things down with a slower, jazzier number. And top-15 finisher of BroadwayWorld’s “Next on Stage” competition, Talia Cutulle, belted out a tune.

The crowd, both in-person and virtual, was moved to help the 501(c)(3) organization exceed its $10K donations goal, giving ACON a much-needed infusion of funding. Between the Night of Stars event and sponsorship from Act Two—Share Our Stage, a digital content producer for creative endeavors, the financial piece of ACON came together. First on the list of disbursements—paying everybody in the company equitably. “Our company is made up of all non-union actors, but all our actors are getting paid a generous salary,” Patrick says.

The core values of the group—community, creativity, equity, joy, and teamwork—inform every move that ACON makes.

As it gets closer to show time, Patrick says the excitement has intensified. Fortunately, theater types are used to the feverish pace of rehearsals leading up to the immovable deadline of showtime. It’s kind of what they live for. “I’m so proud of everybody in involved in this dream that I’m pinching myself,” Patrick says, “But there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

Bring the arts into your home

Host an ACON artist this summer. It’s an incredible way to share the Natick community with theater professionals and gain insight into the world of the arts. Host families are asked to provide housing and potentially a parking space for an artist, June 26-Aug. 1, 2022. No transportation responsibilities are required.

Contact Patrick Conaway at patrickconaway@actorscompanyofnatick.com

Julius Caesar performances

DATES/TIMES: July 22nd 7pm; 23rd 7pm; 24th 2pm; 28th 7pm; and 30th 7pm
LOCATION: Kennedy Middle School, 165 Mill Street, Natick

Director: Josh Telepman
Assistant Director: Christopher Rowe
Stage Manager: Chelsea Sutherland
Fight Director: Amanda O’Donnell

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown performances

DATES/TIMES: July 23rd 2pm; 24th 7pm; 28th 10:30am; 29th 7pm; 30th 2pm; and 31st 2pm
LOCATION: Kennedy Middle School, 165 Mill Street, Natick

Director: Holly Yvonne Hill
Music Director: Josh Karam
Choreographer: Sarah McQuiston

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