November 1-2, 2019, Bean-Brown Theatre, Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Theatre Tuscaloosa enjoyed hosting the Alabama Community Theatre Festival (ACTFest) November 1-2, 2019. This was the third consecutive year they we’ve worked with the Alabama Conference of Theatre to bring ACTFest to Tuscaloosa. This statewide event featured performances from community theatres from across Alabama.

Participating Companies

The following companies presented the listed shows during ACTFest ’19 in the order listed.

• Theatre Tuscaloosa: God of Carnage
• Spark Theatre Company, Inc. (Dothan): The Theory of Relativity
• The Actor’s Charitable Theatre (Tuscaloosa): Of Mice & Men
• Auburn Area Community Theatre: Silent Sky
• South City Theatre (Pelham): Love, Loss, and What I Wore
• Wetumpka Depot Theatre: The Diviners
• ACE Performing Arts Center (Loxley): Little Women
• Prattville’s Way Off Broadway Theatre: Driving Miss Daisy

Participating companies represented seven Alabama cities: Tuscaloosa, Dothan, Auburn, Pelham, Wetumpka, Loxley, and Prattville.  Approximately 100 theatre artists participated in the production and presentation of these shows.

Adjudicator Responses

ACTFest ’19 was adjudicated by Kimberly Frick-Welker (actress, director, scenic designer with Cookville (Tennessee) Performing Arts Center); Gabe Smith (Chief Administrative Officer at Starkville (Mississippi) Community Theatre); and Mike Winkleman (Professor, Auburn University Montgomery). Bill Anderson, Jr. (Center Stage Theatre, Midland, Michigan) served as the AACT Festival Commissioner, and AACT Division IV was represented by Lynn Harper Nelson.

Overall, adjudicator responses were very positive, and it was mentioned more than once that Alabama’s festival demonstrated an unusually high standard of excellence in the shows that were presented.

Best of Show (Moving forward to SETC)

• The Gulf, South City Theatre
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spark Theater Company

Alternate Show (May go to SETC if either Best of Show winner cannot)

Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Theatre Tuscaloosa

Best Actor in a Lead Performance

Josh Kauffman for “Macbeth”, Macbeth, Self Express Productions

Best Actress in a Lead Performance

Autumn Brown for “Betty”, The Gulf, South City Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Directing

• Lisa Ponder, The Gulf, South City Theatre
• Caleb Brooks, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spark Theater Company

Outstanding Featured Ensemble

The Witches (Kendall Wakefield, Angela Proffitt, Kasey Kauffman), Macbeth, Self Express Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Acting

• Harvey Lipscomb for “Dodge” in Buried Child, The Actor’s Charitable Theatre
• Lauren Norris for “Shelley” in Buried Child, The Actor’s Charitable Theatre
• Madison Richards for “She” in An Ongonig Examination of the True Meaning of Life, Auburn Area Community Theatre
• Andrew Rasnake for “McDuff” in Macbeth, Self Express Productions
• Rachael Pike for “Kendra” in The Gulf, South City Theatre
• John Caleb Davis for “Chip” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spark Theater Company
• Cassidy Ryan as “Rona” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spark Theater Company
• Dawson “Pate” Spencer as “Mr. Panch” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spark Theater Company
• Riley Turberville as “Olive” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spark Theater Company
• Faith Bonitz in Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Theatre Tuscaloosa
• Carol DeVelice in Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Theatre Tuscaloosa
• NorQuina Rieves in Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Theatre Tuscaloosa

Outstanding Achievement in Design

• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spark Theater Company
• The Gulf, South City Theatre

Spirit of the Road

An Ongoing Examination of the True Meaning of Life, Auburn Area Community Theatre