AACTFest 2025
This June, Des Moines becomes the center stage for community theatre across the country as the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) presents not one, but two incredible national festivals: YouthFest 2025 (June 22–24) and AACTFest 2025 (June 25–28).
AACTFest 2025 at Hoyt Sherman Place
AACTFest 2025 is the culmination of a two-year national cycle of state and regional festivals, bringing together 12 of the top community theatre productions from across the country and U.S. military bases overseas. Performances will take place at the historic Hoyt Sherman Place, with workshops, competitions, and events centered at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, the official Festival HQ.
AACT National Company Selections:
- Time Stands Still – Quannapowitt Players (Reading, MA)
- Avinash – Ebong Theatrix (Bethesda, MD)
- The Way of All Fish – Sandy Spring Theatre Group (Gaithersburg, MD)
- Silent Sky – Stagecrafters (Auburn Hills, MI)
- Love, Loss, and What I Wore – Verona Area Community Theater (Verona, WI)
- Happy Hour at Pink Place – Highlands Lakeside Theatre (Sebring, FL)
- Tone Clusters – Tupelo Community Theatre (Tupelo, MS)
- Forever Plaid – Absolute Theatre (Rochester, MN)
- Men on Boats – Des Moines Playhouse (Des Moines, IA)
- Tuesdays with Morrie – Baytown Little Theater (Baytown, TX)
- Natural Shocks – Sopris Theatre Company (Glenwood Springs, CO)
- Constellations – Theatre33 (Bellevue, WA)
Beyond performances, AACTFest offers a Theatre Management pre-conference, interactive workshops, design and monologue competitions, top-tier exhibitors, and networking events—culminating in a grand awards ceremony celebrating excellence in community theatre.
About AACT: The American Association of Community Theatre serves more than 7,000 theatres across the United States and territories, including U.S. military bases overseas. AACT helps theatres thrive by providing resources, education, networking, and national recognition.
- Theatre:
- Special Event offsite
