Spotlight Magazine
Dive into AACT's official publication, featuring the latest news, trends, and stories from the world of community theatre. Access current and recent issues, available in print for members and online for all. Stay informed and inspired!
Spotlight Magazine
Informative, insightful, indispensable
Spotlight is the official publication of the American Association of Community Theatre, mailed to organizational & individual members, and also available to members and non-members for viewing online.
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Current Issue
Spring 2025
Contents: Contributed Income Survey; New Friends, New Funds; Community Theatre to Broadway; Building a Safety Committee; Breaking Barriers and Bringing Stories to Life; Friends We'll Miss - Norm McPhee; AACTFest 2025; AACT YouthFest 2025; Community Theatre Management Conference; 2025 Adjudication Seminar.
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Recent Issues
Winter 2024-25
Contents: AACTFest 2025; AACT YouthFest; New York Theatre Adventure; NewPlayFest; Adjudication Seminar; Break a Leg, Not the Bank (A guide to effective show promotion and advertising); Turning Adversity into Opportunity; A Tradition of Fiddler; Community Theatre to Broadway Star; "Pay What You Will" Performances; Federal Employment Regulations; Valparaiso's Memorial Opera House.
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Fall 2024
Contents: From Page to Stage: AACT NewPlayFest 2024; Survey: What's On Stage in 2025; Make the Most of Your Theatre's Anniversary; Virtual Masterclasses and Member-Only Roundtables; AACTFest 2025; AACTFest 2025 Workshop Proposals; So, You're Burned Out... Now What?; Hosting a Touring Company is a Golden Opportunity; New AACT Membership Year.
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Summer 2024
Contents: Venice Theatre Rebuilds; AACT NewPlayFest 2026 Theatres; AACT National Awards; Disaster Planning; Curtain Up on Safety; AACTFest 2025 Handbook; Out and About in Des Moines; Network, Educate, and Save With Your AACT Membership.
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Spring 2024
Contents: The State of Community Theatre Today; National Directors Conference; Virtual Community Theatre Management Conference (CTMC); The Penguin Project Celebrates 20 Years of Producing Magic; The AACT Advantage; ‘Telling Real Truths’— The Adjudicator’s Art; Member Hub - Ten Fifteen Productions; Advocacy Matters; AACT Milestone Anniversaries; AACT Century Club; The Resource Center.
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Winter 2023-2024
Contents: Embracing Neurodiversity in "Mockingbird"; Ben Cameron Brings Star Power to AACTFest 2023; A Decade of World Premieres--NewPlayFest Turns 10; Become a NewPlayFest 2026 Producing Theatre; Advocacy Matters; Inclusivity in Theatre; Securing AACT’s Future; The AACT Advantage; National Award Nominations; World Theatre Day.
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Fall 2023
Contents: Ten Most-Produced Shows; The intertwined history of AACT and Iowa’s Des Moines Community Playhouse; the development of VROOM! Mobile Sensory Theatre; photos from AACTFest 2023 and AACT YouthFest National Companies; National Directors Conference; AACT NewPlayFest 2024; AACT Member Benefits; Spotlight Goes Quarterly; ASCAP/BMI.
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Summer 2023
Contents: AACTFest 2023 edition of Spotlight with the official program of America's National Community Theatre Festival, held in Louisville, Kentucky, June 12-17, 2023.
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May-June 2023
Contents: AACTFest 2023; Community Theatre Management Conference (CTMC); Selecting Your Season; Friends We’ll Miss – Darlene DeLorenzo; Church Mutual Insurance; AACT Member Stories; AACT Silent Auction; Youth Theatre Conference; AACT 2023 Design Competition; AACTFest 2023 Workshops; World Theatre Day 2023.
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March-April 2023
Contents: Countdown to AACTFest 2023; Youth Theatre Conference; Community Theatre ManagementConference (CTMC); YouthFest 2023 National Adjudicators; Adjudication Seminar; AACTFest 2023 in Louisville; Creating Ongoing Revenue; AACT Board Nominations; Friends We’ll Miss – John Davis and Tom Booth; AACT Century Club; Spotlight Award.
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January-February 2023
Contents: AACTFest 2023, AACTFest 2023 National Adjudicators, YouthFest 2023, Youth Theatre Conference, Community Theatre Management Conference. NewPlayFest Openings, Storytelling Through Design, National Awards, Donate to the AACT Silent, Monologue Competition, Design Competition, Adjudication Seminar, Moving On to AACTFest 2023, New AACT Region Representative.
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Back Issues
Previous issues in PDF format are available to AACT Members here (you must be signed in to view).