GLENS FALLS, N.Y. - Seeing a show here on Glen Street gives people in the North Country a chance to enjoy, professional theatre without traveling to New York City or the Berkshires.

Now in its 14th season, there are some changes being made to the Adirondack Theatre Festival. One is the new director Mark Fleischer - chosen from a pool of 130 people.

Theatre Festival Founding Member and Board President David King said, "The ability now with professional, constant direction by our new director is to fill more seats and to have people witness what we've always known as the miracle on Glen Street. That is, the Theatre Festival."

Producing Artistic Director Mark Fleischer said, "There's a desire in this town to have culture. They value what's beyond buildings and roads."

Now Fleischer is trying to engage the community. After each show, he, the actors and the audience can stay to discuss the performance.

Fleischer said, "It's so great to see the audience talking to each other. It's not unlike talking at the bar or the restaurant but it's widening that circle."

There are two other programs put in place this summer. One is the online box office, and the other is for young adults under 25. They can show up the day of the show and get tickets for under $10. And there's something else helping the theatre. You may not have guessed it, but gas prices are actually helping the local theatre.

Fleischer said, "This gas situation is forcing people to find what's going on in their own backyards."

Fleischer said sales are actually up and he's gotten letters from people saying they don't want to travel as far to see live shows, and that's just the reason the Festival started to begin with.