Fast Fest '16

Fast Fest ’16

MACT’s biennial short play festival, Fast Fest, was held August 19 & 20 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center in Pipestone, MN, hosted by The Calumet Players and the Pipestone Performing Arts Center.

Click here to view the Fast Fest 2016 program as a PDF file.

Click here for photos from FastFest 2017

Friday night there was a welcome social at the Performing Arts Center.  This was a chance to socialize with old friends, make new friends and to see the theatre.  It was a great time to "talk shop" with fellow theatre people.  MACT provided snacks and there was a cash bar.

Saturday morning kicked off at 9:30 with the first workshop session.  You had a choice between "Scenic Painting" presented by Tammy Grubs and "MACT Events, Who, What, Why and How" presented by Bill Muchow.  Following that, at 10:45, was a second workshop session on "Directing" presented by Julianna Skluzacek.

Saturday afternoon started off at 1:00 with the first performance session.  We hadfive shows for this session:

• "Time’s Up" presented by Minnesota Short Play Club and Minnesota Short Play Company of Minneapolis.
• Pipestone’s own Calumet Players production of "Loverboy".
• Ole Olson Onstage from Stillwater with their original play "The Trumpedillo Triplets of Pipestone County". 
• Mankato’s Minnesota Shorts will follow that with "A Little Pick-Me-Up".
• "Buffalo Child" from the Park Theatre Company of St Louis Park. 

Saturday evening’s session kicks off at 6:30 with:

• Dassel-Cokato Community Theatre’s production of "Arabian Nights".
• "Day One" presented by Theatre Refound of Minneapolis.
• Richmond Players presenting "Syd and the Farl".
• "Abstain" from Marshall Area Stage Company.

The evening, and festival, were topped off with another social event at the Pipestone Golf and Country Club where we talked about the shows we’ve just seen with fellow thespians.  Food and a cash bar were available for everyone’s enjoyment.

Register for individual sessions was available or you could purchase a full package that included everything.

Event                                                       before Aug. 12               on/after Aug. 12

Friday Welcome Party                                Free with any other regsitration
Saturday morning workshops                     $10.00                                 $15.00
Saturday afternoon performance session      $10.00                                 $15.00
Saturday evening performance session        $10.00                                  $15.00
Saturday evening afterglow social               $10.00                                  $15.00
FULL PACKAGE (best buy!)                       $25.00                                 $35.00

Click here for a registration form in pdf format.

Registration for the festival was available on-line at:

Or you could have mailed your registration with your check to:

Fast Fest ’16
c/o Larry Pint
704 Main St W
New Prague, MN  56071-2340

Please include your name, address, phone number and which option(s) you are choosing.

Hotel Information

Hotel selection was limited.

The Calumet Inn (507-825-5871) is located across the street from the PAC.  It is an old historic inn.  The MACT rate is $77 per night.

The GrandStay Crossings (507-562-1100) is a newer hotel with very limited room availability.  The MACT rate is $99 per night.

RULES: Each peformance will have 5 minutes to setup, 20 minutes to perform and 5 minutes to strike.  We provided a table and four chairs.  Performing companies can bring in one additional set piece and costumes and props as needed.  There are no rehearsals on the stage before the performances.  There are NO LIGHTING SPECIALS allowed, a standard plot of 4 areas of warm and cool wash will be provided.

There will be a short, moderator led colloquy after each performance.

The festival is open to community theatres, high school and college theatre programs and ad hoc groups.  No professional theatres.  Registration for performing companies is free to MACT members.  Non-MACT-members will be charged a $20 registration fee which includes a 6 month MACT membership (July through December).  Use registration form below or in the PDF link above.  Registration deadline for performing companies is June 20th (received by us date - not postmarked).  Performance order will be by random drawing from entries received by the deadline, filling the last performance slot first and working backwards.

Click here for a theatre information sheet and registration form in PDF format.