Natural disasters can strike without warning... how prepared is your theatre? Join us for an open discussion focused on emergency preparedness and response in the world of community theatre. We’ll explore practical steps you can take to protect your people, property, and productions, plus what to do when disaster hits. Whether it's storms, floods, fires, or other unexpected events, learn from others' experiences and share your own strategies to help build resilience in your organization.

Join the conversation on fundraising for community theatre! Share challenges, discover creative strategies, and explore new ways to build lasting support for your organization. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refresh your approach, this roundtable offers inspiration, ideas, and connection.

Discover strategies to improve your wellbeing, including setting and respecting boundaries, social support, mindfulness, and other ways to improve the work/life balance for yourself and your organization.

An open-topic discussion on all things technical theatre, including tips, tricks, cost-saving strategies, and more.

Get answers to all your festival-related questions by joining AACT staff and experienced AACTFest adjudicators, commissioners, and directors.

Connect with other all-volunteer theatres to discuss challenges, strategies, and recent successes specific to organizations without any paid staff.
 

Connect with other theatres to discuss challenges, strategies, and recent successes specific to organizations with paid staff.
 

Learn the best ways to identify and connect with community partners to further engage your audiences, increase your theatre’s presence within the life and culture of your community, provide greater cultural and/or sociopolitical context to the themes of your season, and build lasting relationships that support and further your mission.

Season tickets often provide a consistent and reliable stream of income, making them crucial to many community theatres. But how have audiences’ commitment and buying patterns shifted in recent years and how do organizations keep up? In this Roundtable, you’ll learn tips and tricks to increase your subscription base and give audiences what they’re looking for.

Who makes up the production team? How often should you hold production meetings? Is a chair considered set or props? What’s a dramaturg? Do you really need a fight or intimacy choreographer? You’ll get answers to these questions (and more) by unpacking the various production team positions and their responsibilities.

The US Department of Labor Overtime Final Rule is set to go into effect July 1, increasing the minimum salary employees must be paid to exempt them from overtime pay. But what does this mean for non-profit theatre organizations? Learn what the new law really means and how you can prepare.

Our esteemed panel will explore insights, hurdles, and effective strategies for fostering inclusivity and representation. Whether you're a seasoned professional or aspiring leader, this event guarantees valuable insights and inspiration. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and honor the contributions of BIPOC individuals in theatre leadership!

Hear what it takes to produce and/or improve your planning processes for your state community theatre festival. Topics include strategies in planning, AACT Festival rules and guidelines, resources, marketing, and budgeting. No prior experience or state theatre affiliation required to attend.

Learn more about the AACT NewPlayFest Playwright Experience, from script submission and review process to publication.

Learn: “What is AACTFest?”,  “How do we participate?”, and “How to be successful and move forward,” among other topics.  

A panel of accomplished leaders share insights, challenges, and strategies for fostering inclusivity in community theatre. Whether you're a seasoned professional or aspiring leader, this event promises inspiration and valuable insights. Don't miss the chance to connect and celebrate the contributions of women in theatre leadership!

Learn new strategies to better recruit, retain, and recognize the individuals that help your theatre thrive, from actors to front of house and everything in between.

Interested in presenting a world premiere as an AACT NewPlayFest Producing Theatre? Hear from previous Producing Theatres about their experiences and get your questions answered before the application deadline of Feb. 1, 2024.

Discover strategies to elevate your productions with new and exciting technology, out-of-the-box technical approaches, and affordable solutions to create theatre magic.

Best practices in providing multiple ways to reach donors.

Many community theatres have well-established education departments for youth, but what about educational opportunities for adults? Discover strategies to expand programming for both the young and young at heart.

Direct mail, posters, digital display, streaming and traditional video ads, radio/TV, billboards, email, SEO and SEM, social media…the list is endless! Learn which types of marketing will be most effective for your organization, which to improve, and which to say goodbye to. Moderated by Julie Nemitz, marketing consultant

Are Assistant Directors and Stage Managers the same thing? Is a chair considered set or props? What’s a dramaturg? Do we really need a fight choreographer? Get answers to these questions (and more).

Questions answered include how best to find things on the AACT website, standard pay rates for various theatre positions, how content warnings are written and used, tools for creating a strategic plan, season planning, and more.

What started in 2004 at just one Peoria theatre has evolved into a national organization with over fifty chapters across the country. Connect with Penguin Project administrators from across the country to learn tips for improving your chapter or launching your organization’s program.

Discuss challenges, strategies, and New Year’s resolutions specific to organizations with paid staff.