AACT YouthFest 2025 | AACT
SEARCH

AACT YouthFest 2025

Plan now for YouthFest 2025
AACT YouthFest, June 22-24, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa

Six youth theatre companies will soon be selected to perform at the festival in Des Moines, Iowa. The productions by these youth groups from around the country will be adjudicated in an open forum that fosters a learning and educational experience for all. The festival week will also include workshops, activities, and social events just for them.

Thanks to the generous support of the Jack K. Ayre and Frank Lee Ayre Foundation, performing groups may apply for travel and housing funding.  Funding will be awarded based on need and scale.

[Photo: Meet Mr. Lincoln, Academy of Children's Theatre of Richland, Washington. YouthFest 2019]

  Photo from "Meet Mr. Lincoln," Academy of Children's Theatre of Richland, Washington
Graphic showing registration options. For details, call Karen at 817-732-3177
Square yellow box to mark each workshop titleNew for 2025

Map of United States with Des Moines highlightedPreviously, we've hosted YouthFest during AACTFest, our national festival, resulting in an extremely limited schedule with only a handful of performance opportunities.

For 2025, YouthFest will take place in the days leading into AACTFest and will be hosted by the Des Moines Playhouse. This means we have time for longer youth performances, room for additional youth performing companies, space for more youth-focused workshops, and even more YouthFest events and opportunities (Showtune Karaoke with a live pianist, anyone?).

All YouthFest registrants will also receive a special discount on AACTFest registrations, allowing for up to seven days filled with performances, workshops, keynotes, mentoring/networking, and lifelong memories for you and your students.

Square yellow box to mark each workshop titleFestival Dates & Locations
  • YouthFest: Sunday, June 22 - Tuesday, June 24 at Des Moines Playhouse, Des Moines, Iowa
  • AACTFest: Wednesday, June 25 - Saturday, June 28 at Hoyt Sherman Place  [more information here]
  • Des Moines Marriott Downtown is the official festival hotel for both YouthFest and AACTFest  [more information here]
  • Travel & Hotel Discounts are available [more information here]

Register Here starting Sept. 1

Square yellow box to mark each workshop titleApplying to Perform?

Important dates:

  1. Deadline to submit was July 31, 2024
  2. Notification of Acceptances will be sent no later than September 16, 2024
  3. Publicity and Marketing Materials are due to AACT no later than October 10, 2024 
  4. Selected Theatres are to complete their Funding Requests by October 10, 2024 
  5. Notifications of funding amounts will be sent by November 30, 2024 
  6. Theatre Companies must register by March 1, 2025 
  7. Submit AACT YouthFest Technical Form by March 1, 2025

    Inquiries can be sent to AACT YouthFest Chair, Chad-Alan Carr at [email protected].

 

Jack K. Ayre and Frank Ayre Lee Theatre FoundationYouthFest 2025 is made possible in part by a grant from the Jack K. Ayre and Frank Ayre Lee Theatre Foundation

 

 

  • Facebook
  • AACT on Instagram
  • AACT on LinkedIn
Authorize.Net Merchant - Click to Verify Credit Card Merchant Services