Festival Cycle

AACTFest, the festival process that culminates in a national theatre festival, is sponsored by AACT and is held in odd-numbered years. AACTFest presents a forum for community theatres from AACT's 10 regions to enter productions for adjudication at the national level.

National Theatre Festivals

Note: The information below reflects the traditional organization of the national festival.  However, in response to health concerns in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, AACT presented its 2021 festival in a virtual format, with appropriate changes in the process.  For more information, visit the 2021 Invitational page.

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 info@aact.org