MACT Logo. Upper portion is comedy/drama masks with comedy mask in yellow and drama mask in blue. Lower portion has the acronym "MACT" and below it the description MN Association of Community Theatres.MACT

MACT

Minnesota Association of Community Theatres

We are Minnesota’s Community Theatres

Seeking shows for MACT*Fest 2025

MACT is currently seeking shows for MACT*Fest 2025, which will be held at the Depot Theatre in Duluth, March 7-9, 2025. After having hosted the very successful Fast*Fest ’24 earlier this year, County Seat Theater Company of Cloquet will act as our host theatre for MACT*Fest ’25. Rehearsals may begin as early as Wednesday,, March 5, depending on the number of theatres entering shows. Performances will likely be Friday and Saturday afternoons and evening. The awards ceremony will be held Sunday morning.

We invite your theatre company to present a show at MACT*Fest ’25. The deadline for registering is December 16, 2024. (This is a received by deadline, not a postmarked deadline.) The registration fee for entering a show is $250, but if you have not presented a show at MACT*Fest in the last 5 festival cycles (2023, 2021, 2019, 2017 & 2015), we are offering a $100 discount to give MACT*Fest a try. Each registration includes one full festival package (a $150 value).

As part of the AACTFest cycle, this festival will follow the rules in the AACTFest 2025 Handbook (available at https://mn-act.net/index.php/about-us/mact-events/mactfest-2025/).  Entering theatre companies must agree to follow these rules.

Some of the more important festival rules are:

  • Any non-professional theatre company is eligible if:
    • Its principal venue has been in Minnesota for at least one year and it has produced at least two shows prior to the state festival.
    • It is a 2024 & 2025 member of MACT.
    • It is a 2025 member of AACT (or pay an AACT entry fee)
  • Maximum time limits are 60 minutes to perform, 10 minutes for set-up, and 10 minutes for strike.
  • All sets, props, costumes not worn by the cast when the show starts, etc., (everything utilized to present the production) must fit into a 10’ by 10’ on-deck area.
  • Each participating theatre must send a technical representative to a Technical Meeting at The Depot Theatre on Saturday, January 11, 2025 (tentative) from noon to 2:00 pm (alternative date, if needed, TBA).
  • Return a completed Entry Form (from the MACT website) and all applicable fees by December 16, 2024.  Send to: 
    • MACT Fest 2025 Entry, c/o Larry Pint, 704 Main St W,  New Prague, MN  56071-2340 or e-mail to WebmasterMACT@gmail.com 
  • Each participating theatre must submit the following to Larry Pint (contact info above), by Saturday, February 1, 2025 (though we suggest you bring them to the Technical Meeting):
  • Seven copies of the script as it is to be performed.  (for adjudicators, AACT Rep, ASL & AD)
  • A signed AACT Fest Warranty of Company Compliance (AACT Form T2).
  • Affidavits of Actor Eligibility (AACT Form T3) signed by each actor.
  • A completed Technical Information Form must be submitted to Larry Pint (contact info above) by February 1, 2025.

NOTE:  For links to AACT Forms T2 and T3, go to www.MACT.net.

(For more details regarding entry requirements, including rule exceptions and the completion of AACT Forms, see MACT*Fest 2025 Supplemental Entry Information, available at www.MACT.net.)

MACT*Fest 2025 is an adjudicated festival.  Two shows will be named ‘Best of Festival.’  In addition, there will be a first alternate and a second alternate show and awards for artistic achievement.  The two ‘Best of Festival’ shows will advance to the Region V festival to be held April 4-6 in Newton, Iowa.  At least one show from the Region V festival will advance to the national festival to be held June 25-28 in Des Moines, Iowa.

In addition to the registration fee, which includes ONE full festival package (a $150 value), all cast members and production crew will be required to at least purchase a ticket to the performance session that they are performing in.  Of course, we hope that everyone will purchase a full festival package, which includes all performance sessions, all workshop sessions and all socials – including the Sunday Awards Brunch.  A full festival package is the best value.  Each attendee is also responsible for any travel, lodging and food expenses that they may incur.

It’s not too early to register. In fact, we received out first show registration this morning! Act now. Registration is limited to 12 shows. If more than 12 shows register by the deadline, there will be a random drawing to choose the 12 presenting theatres and their performance order.

We look forward to seeing your work, networking with you, being in workshops and socials with you, and celebrating our common love of theatre at MACT*Fest ‘25.  Feel free to contact the festival co-chairs with any questions.

Festival Co-Chairs:

Joel Soukkala,  218-451-0715  3035 Hwy 33 S,  Cloquet, MN  55720 (CountySeatGM@aol.com)
Larry Pint,        612-598-4782  704 Main St W,  New Prague, MN  56071-2340  (WebmasterMACT@gmail.com)
Carol Pint,        952-212-2141  704 Main St W,  New Prague, MN  56071-2340

Festival Technical Directors:  

John Justad and Larry Pint