AACT National Directors Conference

National Community Theatre Managing Directors Conference 2019

Community theatre managing directors gather at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to stories of challenges and solutions, learn about other theatre operations, and meet colleagues from across the country. This 3-day, biennial conference is held exclusively for individuals employed full-time in an administrative or artistic position in a community theatre organization. 

John Viars will again facilitate the conference guiding the group through managed but vibrant discussions of various topics including marketing strategies, fundraising challenges, staffing issues, outreach activities, and systems for selecting a season. All who wish to contribute may do so by asking questions, identifying specific problems, or providing other useful input.

For more information and to register go to aact.org/20th-anniv-national-community-theatre-directors-conference or contact Contact the AACT office at [email protected] or 817-732-3177.

John Viars has been Executive Director of the Des Moines Playhouse since 1982, where he has directed and produced over 200 plays and hosted AACT's first-ever International Community Theatre Festival. He is a charter member of the American Association of Community Theatre and has been its president. He is a frequent workshop leader, consultant and a national adjudicator of theatre festivals. He is recipient of the David C. Bryant and Art Cole Awards from the American Association of Community Theatre. He has facilitated this conference since "Who shot J.R?"