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.

Performances are open to the public. Buy a pass for one session or save with a pass to all six sessions. Click here to purchase.

Performance schedule. Note: These shows are performed at Hoyt Sherman Place.

• 1:00 PM, Wednesday, June 25
  • Tone Clusters – Tupelo Community Theatre (Tupelo, MS)
  • Avinash – Ebong Theatrix (Bethesda, MD)
• 7:30 PM, Wednesday, June 25
  • Love, Loss, and What I Wore – Verona Area Community Theater (Verona, WI)
  • Forever Plaid – Absolute Theatre (Rochester, MN)
• 1:00 PM, Thursday, June 26
  • Time Stands Still – Quannapowitt Players (Reading, MA)
  • Happy Hour at Pink Place – Highlands Lakeside Theatre (Sebring, FL)
• 1:00 PM, Friday, June 27
  • Silent Sky – Stagecrafters (Auburn Hills, MI)
  • Tuesdays with Morrie – Baytown Little Theater (Baytown, TX)
• 7:30 PM, Friday, June 27
  • Men on Boats – Des Moines Playhouse (Des Moines, IA)
  • Natural Shocks – Sopris Theatre Company (Glenwood Springs, CO)
• 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 28
  • The Way of All Fish – Sandy Spring Theatre Group (Gaithersburg, MD)
  • Constellations – Theatre33 (Bellevue, WA)
• 8:00 PM, Saturday, June 28
  • Awards

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. Click here for more about AACTFest including workshop information.

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