The National Community Theatre Festival, entitled AACTFest, kicks off June 23 – 27, at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. AACTFest, a program of the American Association of Community Theatre, includes twelve winning theatre productions from across the country and U.S. Armed Services, educational experiences, workshop opportunities and networking opportunities for theatre enthusiasts. Theatre productions will be presented at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre after advancing from previous state and regional festivals across the United States.
“The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is thrilled to be hosting AACTFest 2015,” says Bruce E. Tinker, Executive and Artistic Director with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. “Inviting theatres from all over the country and our Armed Forces abroad to join us and celebrate our art form in a city that supports so many local theatre companies is a wonderful opportunity.”
During AACTFest 2015, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts will be honored with the Diamond Crown Organizational Award from the American Association of Community Theatre, recognizing longevity and vitality of AACT member theatres that have expanded programming and/or facilities in the past ten years and have the administrative leadership to remain vital to their communities for the next ten years. Lou VanderHave, of Grand Rapids, will also be honored with the David C. Bryant Outstanding Service Award, honoring his significant, valuable and lasting service to the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.
All community theatre performances are open to the public and continue throughout ACCTFest. For a full schedule of performances and to purchase tickets, visit www.AACT.org. Nationally qualifying performances include:
- Orphans by Lyle Kessler – Spokane (WA) Civic Theatre, Spokane, Washington
- The 39 Steps by John Buchan and Patrick Barlow – Elkhart Civic Theatre, Bristol, Indiana
- God of Carnage by Yasmna Reza – The Lantern Theatre/CCAA, Conway, Arkansas
- The Romancers by Edmond Rostand – Dassel-Cokato (MN) Community Theatre
- Feeding the Moonfish by Barbara Wiechmann – Rochester’s (NY) Black Sheep Theatre
- Freud’s Last Session by Mark St. Germain – Kokomo (IN) Civic Theatre, Kokomo, Indiana
- The Nina Variations by Steven Dietz – Platte Valley Players Brighton, Colorado
- Winter Flowers by Lily Rusek – Warner Theatre Torrington, Connecticut
- Detachments by Colleen Dodson-Baker – SHAPE Performing Arts Centre Mons, Belgium
- The Lady of Larkspur Lotion by Tennessee Williams – Theatre Albany (GA)
- Lone Star by James McLure – Tupelo (MS) Community Theatre
- I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright – The New Group West Cardiff, California
WKTV will be taping the AACT awards ceremony.
