MACT

The Region V AACTFest 2025 was held April 4 & 5 at Newton Community Theatre in Newton, Iowa. There were 6 shows from 4 states presented. Aberdeen Community Theatre represented South Dakota with their production of “Uncanny Valley“. Kansas was represented by the Theatre Salina production of “The Revolutionists“. Iowa had two entries, Ankeny Community Theatre presented “Bauer” and Des Moines Playhouse presented “Men on Boats“. And, of course, Northern Starz’s production of “26 Pebbles” and Absolute Theatre’s “Forever Plaid” represented Minnesota.

The adjudicators were Kay Armstrong, Jamie Peterson and Kristy Meanor, all of whom did a great job with insightful and helpful comments. There were 6 well presented shows. I didn’t envy them for their having to select award recipients.

First up on Friday afternoon was “Forever Plaid” from Absolute Theatre of Rochester, Minnesota. This is the music I grew up on, so I ate it right up. The four “boys” were in great harmony and the show went well.

Next came Theatre Salina of Salina, Kansas, with their production of “The Revolutionists“. This piece was about several women of the French Revolution, who were all beheaded. This was the quality theatre that we have come to expect from Theatre Salina.

Friday evening brought us “Bauer” presented by Ankeny Community Theatre of Ankeny, Iowa . This show is about a once famous, but aging, painter in the 1950’s. Their production brought the time and characters to life for us.

Saturday afternoon was kicked off by “Men on Boats“, presented by Des Moines Playhouse of Des Moines, Iowa. This is the tale of the treacherous journey down the Colorado River in 1869 led by John Wesley Powell.

Next up on Saturday was a story about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 were 20 children and 6 adults were killed. “26 Pebbles” was presented by Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts of Ramsey Minnesota.

The final show, late Saturday afternoon, was “Uncanny Valley“, a thought provoking show about creating a “nonbiological human”. This show was presented by Aberdeen Community Theatre of Aberdeen, South Dakota.

After a supper break, giving the adjudicators time to make what I’m sure were some very difficult decisions, we reconvened at 9:00 pm for the awards ceremony. The awards presented are listed below.

Outstanding Achievement as:

• Ensemble: Absolute Theatre – “Forever Plaid”
• Ensemble: Des Moines Playhouse – “Men on Boats”
• Costumes: Colette Rice – Absolute Theatre – “Forever Plaid”
• Sound Design: Mark Hansen – Absolute Theatre – “Forever Plaid”
• Sound Design: Des Moines Playhouse – “Men on Boats”
• Lighting” Des Moines Playhouse – “Men on Boats”
• Scenic Design: Des Moines Playhouse – “Men on Boats”
• Scenic Design: Aberdeen Community Theatre – “Uncanny Valley”
• Props: Des Moines Playhouse – “Men on Boats”
• Original Music: Joe Nicola – Northern Starz – “26 Pebbles”
• Backstage Award: Northern Starz – “26 Pebbles”
• Acting: Matthew Sather - Absolute Theatre - "Forever Plaid"
• Acting: Brady Helget - Absolute Theatre - "Forever Plaid"
• Acting: Taylor Hartzell - Theatre Salina - "The Revolutionists"
• Acting: Gin Hofmann - Theatre Salina - "The Revolutionists"
• Acting: Jessie Worden - Des Moines Playhouse - "Men on Boats"
• Acting: Michael Beasley - Des Moines Playhouse - "Men on Boats"
• Acting: Amy McGrew - Ankeny Community Theatre - "Bauer"
• Directing: Suzie Hansen – Absolute Theatre – “Forever Plaid”

First Alternate: Theatre Salina – “The Revolutionists”

Due to Region 10 (the military region) having their funding to attend AACTFest cut, Two regions will be allowed to advance two shows to AACTFest 2025. Due to Region V having the second largest number of theatres participating in their state festivals, Region V will also be sending two shows to AACTFest 2025 in Des Moines.

Those shows are (in no particular order):

Des Moines Playhouse – “Men on Boats”
Absolute Theatre – “Forever Plaid”