Many theatres are looking for directors and other production staff for upcoming shows. These include directors for two short play festivals, the 19th annual 10-Minute Play Festival at Lakeshore Players and the What She Said New Play Festival at Duluth Playhouse. These are a great way to expand your experience at directing with smaller commitments than a full-length show.
For anyone that might be considering attending the Region III AACTFest in Wisconsin, the dates and location have changed. (Note: this is NOT the region Minnesota is in.) The new dates are April 27 - 30 and the new location is at the Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre in Beaver Dam, WI - the same location that the Wisconsin state Festival, WACTFest, was at.
Don't forget that the deadline for entering your show in MACT*Fest '23 is February 6th. That's only a week away! Present your show to one of the most receptive and appreciative audiences you will ever face. And get feedback on your show from three adjudicators. And don't forget all the fun you, your cast and production staff will have with fellow thespians. (And that goes for attending the festival, even if you don't have a show in it!) Festivals provide the opportunity to see many great shows in a short period of time. Many theatres get ideas for their upcoming seasons from what they see and hear at festivals.
Putting on the state festivals, MACT*Fest and Fast*Fest, is getting harder each year. Finding a location that we can afford is one of the biggest challenges, and a significant part of the budget. Our budget for this year's MACT*Fest is over $21,000. That covers the costs of the facility, marketing, insurance, adjudicators, AACT Commissioner, workshop presenters, the socials and awards brunch, the certificates and plaques and the stipends we provide to the companies whose shows advance to the Region V AACTFest and the national AACTFest. None of the MACT staff that put on the festival are paid. In fact, they must each purchase a full package for the festival themselves.
History shows that we usually lose money on the festivals, but we do them because it is one of the primary services we provide and is one of the main components of our mission statement, which is:
MACT is a statewide, volunteer run organization which holds meetings, workshops, festivals and other events throughout the state of Minnesota. Its mission is:
to promote standards of excellence in theatrical endeavors in Minnesota communities;
to encourage, channel and facilitate the exchange of ideas among theatres to better foster their growth and improvement; and
to encourage the theatre arts through educational devices such as workshops, festivals, contests, conferences and other means.
Memberships are how we cover those losses. Your, and your theatre's, membership is vital to the long term survival of MACT. If your membership is due, please send in your payment. If you are not a member, please consider joining. Membership information is available on our website (click here). Member theatres receive free show and audition listings on our website and in this newsletter.
Our by-line is "We ARE Minnesota's Community Theatres.". What can MACT do for you and your theatre? We want to know what products and services you would like to see us provide. How can we help Minnesota's community theatres? What should we be doing for them? They are our reason for being and we want to help them in any way we can. Send any ideas you have to our President at AdmAsstMACT@gmail.com.
Please pass this newsletter along to anyone that you think might be interested. If you did not receive this newsletter directly, you can subscribe to this free weekly newsletter on the newsletters page of our website. MACT Member Events
Events for January 30 through February 12
Times are pm unless otherwise noted.
Due to the rapid changes with the COVID pandemic, you should check with the theatre before attending any event.
For a listing of MACT Member Events for the next 3 months, visit our website: www.MACT.net
Monday, January 30, 2023
Auditions for Junie B. Jones (Grades 6 - 12) - at 5:00 Davori Productions/Mankato Playhouse at Mankato Playhouse in Mankato
Auditions for Hound of the Baskervilles (Radio Drama) - at 7:00 Marshall Area Stage Company at MAFAC Arts Center in Marshall
Tuesday, January 31, 2023 Short Play Festival (10-Minute Play submission deadline) Minnesota Shorts On-Line submisisons Only
Thursday, February 2, 2023 One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Curtain: 7:00 Andria Theatre at Andria Theatre in Alexandria
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Curtain: 7:00 Bemidji Community Theater at BCT Performing Arts Center in Bemidji
Wait Until Dark - Curtain: 7:00 Barn Theatre at The Barn Theatre in Willmar
Friday, February 3, 2023 One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Curtain: 7:00 Andria Theatre at Andria Theatre in Alexandria
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Curtain: 7:00 Bemidji Community Theater at BCT Performing Arts Center in Bemidji
Saturday, February 4, 2023 Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! the Musical - Curtain: 11:00 am Appleseed Community Theatre at La Crescent HS Fine Arts Center in La Crescent
Glass Menagerie - Curtain: 2:00 Duluth Playhouse at NorShor Theatre in Duluth
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! the Musical - Curtain: 2:00 Appleseed Community Theatre at La Crescent HS Fine Arts Center in La Crescent
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Curtain: 7:00 Andria Theatre at Andria Theatre in Alexandria
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Curtain: 7:00 Bemidji Community Theater at BCT Performing Arts Center in Bemidji
Wait Until Dark - Curtain: 2:00 Barn Theatre at The Barn Theatre in Willmar
Monday, February 6, 2023
Auditions for Fiddler on the Roof - from 5:30 until 8:00 Thief River Falls Area Community Theater at Northland Comm & Tech College in Thief River Falls
Auditions for Alice in Wonderland (Grade 6 thru adult) - from 5:30 until 6:30 Grand Marais Playhouse at Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais
Noises Off - Curtain: 7:30 (Pay what you can) Lakeshore Players at Hanifl Performing Arts Center in White Bear Lake
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 10-Minute Play Festival (Call for Directors) application deadline: 4:00 Lakeshore Players at Hanifl Performing Arts Center in White Bear Lake
These Shining Lives - Curtain: 7:30 Calumet Players at Pipestone Performing Arts Center in Pipestone
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Auditions for Fiddler on the Roof - from 10:00 am until 12:00 Thief River Falls Area Community Theater at Northland Comm & Tech College in Thief River Falls