MACT
MACT*Fest ’25 performance session 2 will start at 7:00 pm on Friday night. It will feature 2 shows: “Forever Plaid“, presented by Absolute Theatre and “The Lost Souls of Ireland“, presented by Lamplighter Community Theatre.
Absolute Theatre
Forever Plaid
by Stuart Ross & James Raitt
Forever Plaid is set in present day.
“Once upon a time, there were 4 guys (Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie) who loved to sing. They all met in high school. Discovering they shared an affection for music and entertaining, they got together and dreamed of becoming like their idols – The Four Aces, The Four Freshman and The Crew Cuts. They rehearsed in the basement of Smudge’s family’s plumbing supply company. It was here they became Forever Plaid – a name that connects the continuation of a traditional values of family, home and harmony.” Stuart Ross
Absolute Theatre formed in 2016. Our mission is to hone the art and craft of theatre, and to present works, new and old, that entertain, challenge, and inspire our audiences and ourselves
Lamplighter Community Theater
The Lost Souls of Ireland
by Amy Hunter
The Lost Souls of Ireland explores the lives of people affected by the Magdalene Laundries, the Mother and Baby Homes, the Industrial Schools and Orphanages in Ireland. Unwed mothers were sent to either one of the Magdalene Laundries or Mother and Baby Homes and were treated like prisoners, toiling six days a week for 16 hours a day without pay to be punished for “their sins.” Being pregnant out of wedlock was considered a mortal sin, the same as committing murder. Mothers were not allowed to keep their babies. They were sent to orphanages, industrial schools to “Learn a Trade” or adopted out. The death rate for the women and children was two to four times higher than the general population. The last institution dealing with this issue closed in 1996.
The mission of Lamplighter Community Theater, located in Staples, is to promote better understanding of theater arts through productions and workshops, by endeavoring to create, cultivate, foster, sponsor, and develop interest and love of theater as we also build technical and performance skills. LCT began 33 years ago, shortly after the Centennial Auditorium in Staples was built. LCT does a variety of plays including comedies, musicals, children’s theater, and serious dramas. They also host Lamp Camp every summer for children 8-18 years of age, where they learn acting, Improv, ensemble work, pantomime, music and dance which culminates in a showcase for the public.
About MACT*Fest
MACT*Fest will be March 7-9 at the Depot Theatre in Duluth. It will feature 4 performance sessions, with 2 shows Friday afternoon, Friday night and Saturday night and 3 shows Saturday afternoon. Following each show’s performance there will be comments by each of the three adjudicators. There will also be 4 workshop sessions, 2 Friday morning and 2 Saturday morning, with a choice of 3 options in each session. Saturday, after the final adjudication, there will be an “afterglow” social at Incline Station, located across the street from the Radison Hotel. Sunday morning there will be an awards brunch at the Holiday Inn.
Full packages are available at a discounted price until February 28. After that they will cost a little more. Most of the events are also available al a carte. Visit the MACT*Fest 25 page on our website for more information. Full packages and al a carte items can be purchased on-line here.