AACTFest 2025 brought together outstanding productions from across the country for a national celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community.

From powerful performances and innovative design to impactful direction and backstage excellence, these honorees exemplify the best of community theatre. Recognized by a panel of adjudicators and chosen by audience vote, the following individuals and companies were celebrated for their achievements during the festival in Des Moines, Iowa.

Join us in congratulating the 2025 award recipients!

Baytown Little Theatre
For outstanding collaboration and communication under festival pressure
🏆 Recipient of the coveted Spike Tape Ball

Mike McTeague – Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies (Quannapowitt Players – Reading, MA)
For outstanding service rendered in torrential conditions during load-out

Outstanding Achievement in Prop Design

• Image

  

  Lo Stone – Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus (Des Moines Playhouse – Des Moines, IA)

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design

• Ruth Neeman – Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies (Quannapowitt Players – Reading, MA)

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design

• Rhonda Hendrickson – Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson (Stagecrafters – Auburn Hills, MI)

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design

• Mark Hansen – Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross, Musical arrangements by James Raitt (Absolute Theatre – Rochester, MN)

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design

• Marianna Chebotaryova – Constellations by Nick Payne (Theatre33 – Bellevue, WA)

Winner:
Ms. Latrice P. Young

Image

Outstanding Achievement in a Featured Role
• Jessie Worden as Bradley – Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus (Des Moines Playhouse – Des Moines, IA)
• Jennifer Westergom as Drew – Happy Hour at Pink Place by Laura Byron Wade (Highlands Lakeside Theatre – Sebring, FL)

Outstanding Achievement in a Supporting Role
• Margaret Macbeth as Alice – Happy Hour at Pink Place by Laura Byron Wade (Highlands Lakeside Theatre – Sebring, FL)
• Jim Barton as Richard Ehrlich – Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies (Quannapowitt Players – Reading, MA)

Outstanding Achievement in a Leading Role
• Bostyn Elswick as Angela – Natural Shocks by Lauren Gunderson (Sopris Theatre – Glenwood Springs, CO)
• Jamie Fair as Frank Gulick – Tone Clusters by Joyce Carol Oates (Tupelo Community Theatre – Tupelo, MS)

Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Performance
• Love, Loss, and What I Wore by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, based on the book by Ilene Beckerman (Verona Area Community Theatre – Verona, WI)

Image

Favorite Performer
• Jim Wadzinski as Morrie – Tuesdays with Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom (Baytown Little Theatre – Baytown, TX)

Favorite Moment
• Bostyn Elswick for her interaction with “the bat” – Natural Shocks by Lauren Gunderson (Sopris Theatre – Glenwood Springs, CO)

Favorite Show
• Tuesdays with Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom – Baytown Little Theatre (Baytown, TX)

Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Jonathan W. Martin – Tone Clusters by Joyce Carol Oates (Tupelo Community Theatre – Tupelo, MS)

Image

Overall Outstanding Production Nominees
• Tone Clusters by Joyce Carol Oates – Tupelo Community Theatre (Tupelo, MS)
• Love, Loss, and What I Wore by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, based on the book by Ilene Beckerman – Verona Area Community Theatre (Verona, WI)
• Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies – Quannapowitt Players (Reading, MA)
• Natural Shocks by Lauren Gunderson – Sopris Theatre (Glenwood Springs, CO)

Overall Outstanding Production
🏆 Tone Clusters by Joyce Carol Oates – Tupelo Community Theatre (Tupelo, MS)