Artists' Ensemble Theater

09/01/2026

Mayor Meekly believes he is walking into a motel room for an ordinary meeting.

In the room next door, the police are watching and waiting for him to say something incriminating.

Meet David A. Gingerich, who plays the well-meaning mayor at the center of the sting in Unnecessary Farce.

David A. Gingerich appeared last season at AET as Senator Joe McCarthy in Conscience, and as Paul in Misery where he enjoyed reclining in bed for most of the play. An Ensemble member, Dave is probably best known for playing Bertie Wooster in five Jeeves and Wooster comedies. AET credits include: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Alabama Story, Julie & Jane, Annabella in July, The Lifespan of a Fact, The Outsider, The Fox and the Fairway, Sherlock Holmes & the Precarious Position, The Woman in Black, Outside Mullingar, God of Carnage, The Mystery of Irma Vep, The 39 Steps and more.

See David in Unnecessary Farce, September 10 through 27.

09/01/2026

Last time we checked in, the doors were up. Now our two adjoining motel rooms are taking shape, complete with beds, phones, surveillance equipment, and plenty of places for the cast to hide, listen, and narrowly miss one another.

We are getting closer to opening night! Have you grabbed your tickets for Unnecessary Farce yet? www.artistsensemble.org/tickets

08/31/2026

Karen has agreed to help expose corruption at City Hall.

All she has to do is meet the mayor in a motel room, get him to say something incriminating and ignore the detective watching from next door.

That last part may be harder than expected.

Meet Elizabeth Bushell, who plays Karen in Unnecessary Farce.

Elizabeth Bushell is thrilled to make her Artists’ Ensemble Theatre debut! Recent theatre credits: Ruthless!, Misery, Dames at Sea, The Cottage (Citadel); Company (DUPAC); Unnecessary Farce (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble); Chicago: The Play (Redtwist); Immersion (The Beautiful City Project); Red and the Wolf (Songbird); The Mad Ones (Towle). In addition to performing, Elizabeth serves as Executive Producer of The Beautiful City Project - a charitable theatre organization, and works as an independent finance & strategy consultant. www.elizabethbushell.com

Unnecessary Farce opens September 10.

08/29/2026

The trouble with adjoining motel rooms?

The walls have ears. And apparently, so do the doors.

A police sting is underway in one room while Mayor Meekly and a nervous accountant meet in the next. Unfortunately, far more people are listening than either of them realizes.

Unnecessary Farce opens September 10.

Tickets are available at the link in our bio.

08/29/2026

Billie may be new to police work, but what she lacks in experience, she makes up for with incredibly misplaced confidence.

Meet Myriah Saunders, who plays the enthusiastic rookie at the center of the chaos in Unnecessary Farce.

Myriah is ecstatic to be making her Artists’ Ensemble debut! Recent works include Lizzie in California with West Side Show Room and Julia Sullivan in The Wedding Singer with Starlight Theatre. In addition to WSSR and Starlight Theatre, Myriah has performed with Theatre 121 and other Woodstock Opera House musical revues and holiday cabarets. She would like to thank AET for the excitement in a new theatrical endeavor. And thank her wife, Becca, for giving constant love, encouragement, and motivation to pursue dreams!

See Myriah in Unnecessary Farce, September 10 through 27.

08/28/2026

Welcome to Season 23!

This season, we’re bringing four very different stories to the AET stage.

A carefully planned police sting that goes spectacularly wrong.

A disagreement between neighbors that grows into an all out war.

A love story unfolding in the uncertain years following the Civil War.

And a world premiere adaptation featuring two of Agatha Christie’s most charming sleuths.

Unnecessary Farce
September 10 through 27

Native Gardens
November 5 through 22

Last Drive to Dodge
March 11 through 28

Partners in Crime
May 13 through 30

Four productions. One season of locally produced professional theatre.

So tell us.... which show are you most excited to see!?

08/26/2026

The plan is simple: set up surveillance, catch a corrupt mayor and make a clean arrest.

Detective Eric Sheridan is smart, capable and completely prepared. At least, that’s how things begin.

Meet Charlie Rasmann, who plays Eric in Unnecessary Farce.

Charlie Rasmann is a local actor/director/producer. He previously appeared with AET in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Angel Next Door, The Tin Woman, Cry It Out, It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, and Silent Sky. Charlie is the Producing Artistic Director of Rockford Players Guild, which focuses on “reviving the classics” in the Rockford Area. Stephanie and Ariel, I love you the world!

Unnecessary Farce runs September 10 through 27.

08/25/2026

Our ushers do a lot more than help you find your seat.

A wonderful group of volunteers recently spent the day giving our theatre a much needed refresh. They deep cleaned, painted the concession stand, tackled the landscaping and helped get our space ready to welcome audiences back for Season 23.

A very special thank you to Becky, Tom, Tammy, Katie, Cheri and Emmarie, along with Marilyn, who isn’t pictured but did a tremendous amount of work on the landscaping.

The work that happens onstage may get the applause, but we could not do any of it without the people working behind the scenes.

Thank you for showing up and caring for our theatre. ❤️

08/19/2026

Nothing says farce like multiple doors.

Set construction is underway for Unnecessary Farce, where two adjoining motel rooms become the setting for a police sting, a corrupt mayor, a whistleblower, a suspicious security agent, the mayor’s wandering wife and a Highland hitman who has been hired to take out… someone.

With doors connecting hallways, closets, bathrooms and the rooms themselves, there will be plenty of hiding, accidental lock-ins, close calls and even a few door-related injuries.

The “door-eography” alone is going to be worth the price of admission.

Opening night: September 10th

08/15/2026

LAST CALL! Don't forget to take advantage of this promo before the clock strikes midnight. You're in for a wonderful season of shows!

EXPERIENCE LIVE THEATER FOR $81.50: Artists' Ensemble Theater is celebrating Rockford Day with a special online-only offer! The 815 Flex Pass gives you 4 tickets for just $81.50 to use at any of the four shows in the 2026–2027 season.

Choose the performances you want, bring your friends or family, and enjoy the creativity, storytelling, and connection that live theater brings to our community.

Celebrate Rockford Day by supporting local arts and taking advantage of this limited-time deal!

🎟️ 815 Flex Pass: $81.50
💻 Online only
🎭 Includes 4 tickets valid for any of the 4 shows in the 2026–2027 season