From: The Wetumpka Depot Players
Wetumpka, Alabama
The Wetumpka Depot Players took top honors this weekend at the Alabama Conference of Theatre’s annual ACTFest, earning Best in Show for our production of Laundry and Bourbon. The Depot will now advance to the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) in March, where we will represent Alabama on the regional stage in Chattanooga alongside winning theatres from across the Southeast.
The Depot’s Laundry and Bourbon earned a sweep of accolades at the festival, including:
People’s Choice Award – Best Scenic Design
People’s Choice Award – Supporting Actor (Kaitlyn Lawless)
Achievement in Acting – Kaitlyn Lawless and Bethany Warman
Best Actor – Maggie Rowe
Best Scenic Design – John Mitchell
Spirit of the Road Award – Presented to the Entire Company
Directed by Depot Artistic Director Kristy Meanor, the production features Maggie Rowe, Kaitlyn Lawless, and Bethany Gunter Warman in the iconic Texas porch comedy by James McLure. The award-winning team also includes Tiffany Thompson Johnson (Stage Manager), Tony Davison (Light and Sound Design), Dara Alldredge (Crew), and John Mitchell (Scenic Design).
“This show is a celebration of friendship, resilience, and small-town life — themes that resonate deeply with our company and our audiences,” said Meanor. “We’re incredibly proud of every award our Laundry and Bourbon team received, but the Spirit of the Road Award means the most to me. It reflects the Depot’s enduring commitment to community, collaboration, and professionalism — the values that define who we strive to be, on and off the stage. We’re honored to bring that same Wetumpka spirit to the regional stage at SETC.”
The Wetumpka Depot Players have a long and decorated history of success at state, regional and national festivals. Previous award-winning productions include: The Glass Menagerie, The Fantasticks, and ’Night, Mother. Three of the Depot’s festival productions — Second Samuel, The Diviners, and A Storm Came Up — have advanced to national prominence, cementing the Depot’s reputation as one of Alabama’s most accomplished community theatres.
In preparation for SETC, the Depot will present a special weekend of performances for Laundry and Bourbon in early March.
