MACT
MACT*Fest ’25 workshop session 2 will start at 8:30 am on Friday morning. It will give attendees a choice of 3 topics: Make a Scene, Swashbuckling & Penguin Project.
How to Make a Scene
Dramatic Archeology: Intuition, Excavation, and Dramaturgy
presented by Michelle Schwantes
In this engaging, interactive workshop participants will approach scene work through intuition, excavation, and dramaturgical lenses providing them with dynamic tools and actionable insight to expand their theatrical practice and deepen their connection to dramatic text.
They will explore the joys of character through play and collaboration while embracing the beauty of their unique artistic voice.
For over twenty years, Michelle has worked professionally as a freelance director, playwright, choreographer, theatre educator, and evaluator. During this period, she has worked regularly with community, educational, and professional theatres of various structures, budgetary restrictions, and organizational approaches.
She has a deep respect and understanding for the expertise, artistry, and spirit that is required to produce any theatrical production.
She works as a Performance, Technical, and Pre-Show Evaluator for Hennepin Arts (Formerly Hennepin Theatre Trust.) in their Spotlight Program. This work allows her to provide an outside perspective for productions to acknowledge and award the excellent work being done in educational theatre within Minnesota. She provides professional insight and feedback to encourage growth, instruct and engage with students, and direct financial and educational resources to where they can best be utilized.
Swashbuckling 101—Part 2
presented by Dave Metcalf
This workshop will span both workshop sessions on Friday morning.
This fun and informative workshop is intended for a group/director planning to perform any show requiring staged combat – with an emphasis on swordplay. It will focus upon: 1) safety; 2) basics of choreographed fencing movement, attack and defense; 3) incorporation of falls, hand-to-hand techniques and “dirty tricks”; 4) a notation system for recording fight choreography move by move, as reminders for on-going rehearsals. Attendees should wear loose, comfortable clothing. While chair bound auditing is welcome, agile participants are encouraged to physically interact during instruction.
David Metcalf studied under B.H. Barry, the only professional fight choreographer to have won a TONY award. A graduate of Augsburg College, he taught Theatre Arts and directed High School shows for his entire teaching career. He directed 12 One Act plays that advanced to MSHSL State Competition, where nine earned top honors. Dave has choreographed fight scenes for high school and community theatre productions.
The Penguin Project
Theatre for individuals with Disabilities
presented by Paula Anderson
Learn what makes ‘The Penguin Project’ successful and how you too can work with this programming.
Paula Anderson is the Co-Director of Penguin Project Programming for Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts.
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.