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

MACT is seeking locations for future festivals

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.

With Fast*Fest ’24 behind us and MACT*Fest ’25 well into preparations, MACT is looking forward to the next festival cycle. We are trying to get ahead of the curve. To that end, we have started our search for host locations for the next two festivals in our cycle.

It’s pretty easy to slip hosting a festival into your season. Just reserve one week (for MACT*Fest) or weekend (for Fast*Fest) for us at your facility between the end of one show and the start of on-stage rehearsals/set building for your next show.

We’ve been doing MACT*Fests for over 50 years (27 festivals) and Fast*Fests for over 20 years (10 festivals). We have plenty of experience putting on festivals and try to keep it fun for everybody involved.

We look forward to working with you to present a fun, entertaining and educational festival.

Fast*Fest 2026

Fast*Fest is a 1 day, 2 night festival of 20-minute (max) plays. This festival is normally held in August on the weekend between the Fringe Festival and the State Fair.

  • There is usually a Friday night welcome social at the facility where presenting theatres (and anyone else that’s interested) can view the facility as well as socialize with with fellow theatre enthusiasts.
  • The main part of the festival kicks off on Saturday morning with either workshops or performances, depending on the number of shows being presented at the festival.
  • Saturday afternoon and evening offers more shows for your enjoyment. After each performance there is a short discussion of the show we just saw.
  • Saturday night is capped off with a social where attendees can mingle with friends, old and new.
  • The facility should be available Friday night and all day Saturday.
  • Ideally, the host will be able to serve adult refreshments at the socials (for their own profit).
  • The host should provide ushers/ticket checkers and possibly other volunteers
  • Stage requirements are minimal.
    • The host should provide one table and four chairs,
    • A light plot of six areas of separately controllable warm and cool areas (shows cannot use any specials),
    • sound playback capabilities
  • We’d like a house of at least 100, preferably at least 150.
  • Nearby hotels should be available to handle 20 to 40 rooms, Friday and Saturday night.

Any costs associated with our use of the facility will be a major consideration in selecting the host facility. If you are interested in hosting Fast*Fest 2026, or if you have any questions, please contact AdmAsstMACT@gmail.com or WebmasterMACT@gmail.com.

MACT*Fest 2027

MACT*Fest is our multi-day, adjudicated festival of 60-minute (max) shows. It is part of the AACTFest cycle and follows the rules set by AACT (American Association of Community Theatre). Due to AACT deadline changes, this festival should be held in February or early March.

  • This festival is limited to 12 shows, though we have not hit that limit in several cycles.
  • The festival may start as early as Wednesday with light plot review/setup and possibly rehearsals (depending on the number of presenting shows).
  • Thursday will be rehearsals, along with Friday and Saturday mornings.
  • The public portion of the festival would normally start on Friday with possible morning workshops and afternoon and evening performance sessions.
  • There is also a welcome social on Friday night, following the last performance and adjudication.
  • On Saturday will be morning workshops and afternoon and evening performances.
  • An afterglow social is held after the final show and adjudication on Saturday evening.
  • Sunday morning offers the awards ceremony.
  • The facility (auditorium/stage) must be available for our exclusive use from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday night.
  • Each of these days may start as early as 6:00 am and run through 10:00 pm or later.
  • In addition to the auditorium,
    • we’d like an area to hold our silent auction and wine grab (Friday & Saturday),
    • 2 or 3 spaces in which workshops can be held (Friday & Saturday mornings)
    • a room where the adjudicators can meet and relax (Friday & Saturday)
  • The house should hold a minimum of 150 to 200 people.
  • In addition to the performance area of the stage, there should be room on or adjacent to the stage to hold a minimum of three 10′ by 10′ set storage areas.
  • The host should provide ushers, ticket checkers and possibly other volunteers.
  • The facility should also provide a tech person to assist with the festival. This person may be requested to run lighting or sound for some of the shows. (Most shows will provide their own light and sound operators.) This does not have to be the same person for the entire festival, but whoever serves in this capacity for the rehearsal of a show must be the tech for the performance of that show.
  • The lighting plot includes six areas of separately controlled warm and cool lights
  • Extra light fixtures/circuits/dimmers (each show can have up to 6 specials)
  • The area should have 30 – 50 hotel room available for the weekend of the festival
  • The area should have locations to hold the Friday and Saturday night socials and the Sunday awards brunch

While we are willing to, and generally expect to, pay rent for use of the facility and possibly some personnel, the costs of using the facility will be a major consideration when selecting the locations for MACT*Fest.

If you are interested in discussing the possibility of your facility hosting MACT*Fest 2027, or if you have any questions, please contact AdmAsstMACT@gmail.com or WebmasterMACT@gmail.com.