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AACTFest: Where Community Theatre Shines on the National Stage

Celebrating the Art of Community Theatre Across America!

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AACTFest 2025 Logo

Spotlight on AACTFest 2025

June 25-28, 2025 | Des Moines, Iowa
Get ready for a four-day festival filled with top-notch community theatre productions from across the country! AACTFest 2025 will take place in Des Moines, Iowa, at the historic Hoyt Sherman Place Theater. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to witness the magic of theatre, connect with fellow theatre lovers, and be part of workshops, adjudications, and more.

What is AACTFest?

AACTFest is a biennial celebration of the best in American community theatre, featuring performances, workshops, adjudications, and networking events. Each cycle showcases productions from across the country, with theatre companies competing at the state, regional, and national levels. But AACTFest is more than just a competition—it’s a vibrant community experience that encourages growth, creativity, and lifelong connections.

Festival Highlights

  • National theatre productions
  • Adjudicated performances
  • Expert-led workshops and masterclasses
  • Networking opportunities with theatre professionals
  • Awards and recognitions for excellence in performance, direction, and technical achievement

 

A Look Back: Past AACTFest Celebrations

AACTFest has a rich history of bringing community theatre to the forefront of national recognition. Learn about The History of AACTFest.

AACTFest 2023 | Louisville, Kentucky
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AACTFest 2021 Poster
Virtual AACTFest 2021
AACTFest 2019 | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
AACTFest 2017 | Rochester, Minnesota

And many more! For a complete history of AACTFest, explore our History of AACTFest.

How Does AACTFest Work?

AACTFest is structured around a festival cycle that starts at the state level and culminates in a national event. Here’s how the process works:

Note: The information below reflects the traditional organization of the national festival.

Festival Process

  • The festival process is conducted and guided by AACT through the Vice President for Festivals, the Festival Commission Chair, the Festival Commission and assigned staff.
  • AACT staff provide information and certificates, and confirms membership and/or fee payment status for all entering companies.

Festival Goals

  • To provide an optimum learning experience through festival entry, which affirms, supports, and nurtures community theatre companies as they strive toward excellence in theatrical productions.
  • To stimulate and inspire community theatre companies to strive for the best work possible and to recognize them for their achievement through an appropriate adjudication process.
  • To provide a learning experience in artistic, technical, and management areas for people in attendance through performances, adjudication, and workshops.
  • To develop enlightened and discerning audiences for community theatre.

Many criteria are in place to achieve the aforementioned goals. Among the most significant are:

  • All theatre companies must meet the same eligibility standards and requirements.
  • Maximum time limits are 60 minutes performance time; 10 minutes set-up time and 10 minutes strike time.
  • Qualified and impartial adjudicators are essential to the success and fairness of the festival process.
  • A production must be performed in the same form as previously adjudicated.
  • The house must be closed during each performance.
  • The Festival Commission Representative will make the final determination in all matters of dispute during a festival.

More Information

  • The AACTFest Handbook and related forms are available in Acrobat/PDF form from the AACTFest Handbook page.
  • Questions about the festival process may be addressed to the AACT Office at [email protected]