October 24-26, 2014 at the Whole Backstage Theatre in Guntersville

The festival was led by Festival Chair Kristy Meanor and Vice Chair Mary Anne Garrett.

Congratulations to the following for their awards at ACTFest’15. What an awesome weekend of theatre!!!!

• Excellence in Ensemble – Millbrook Community Players the “Marvelous Wonderettes ’58”
• Excellence in Acting – Whole Backstage Theatre – Christopher Carter & John Barrow – “1984”
• Excellence in Acting – Leeds Theatre & Arts Center – Cliff Keen Jr. & Ashley Richarson – “ Echos”
• Excellence in Acting – Wetumpka Depot Players & South City Theatre – Sue Ellen Gerrells & Kristy Meanor – “Night Mother”

Representing Alabama at SETC in the Community Theatre Festival in Chattanooga, TN, March 4-7, 2015:
Leeds Theatre & Arts Center – “Echoes”
Wetumpka Depot Players & South City Theatre – “Night, Mother”

ACT Announces ACTFest  2014-15 AWARDS

ACT congratulates this year’s winners for their talent, dedication, and commitment! Led by Festival Chair Cliff Keen, Jr. and Vice Chair Kristy Meanor, this year’s festival drew entries from across the state to witness four shows and participate in workshops and parties.

SPIRIT OF THE ROAD AWARD –  “The Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda” and “The Big Bang” – Theatre Downtown

Given to the company that demonstrates the most professionalism and cooperation during the rehearsal, load-in and load-out. The Spirit award is chosen by the backstage crew, led this year by Stage Manager Mike Gerrells (South City Theatre) and Technical Director Tom Salter (Wetumpka Depot Theatre).

Adjudicators Brenda Caradine (Mississippi), Stephen Krempasky (Kentucky) and Fulton Burns (Alabama) chose the following awards for this year’s festival:

• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSICAL DIRECTION:  Marilyn Swears-”The Fantasticks” – Wetumpka Depot Theatre
• BEST TECHNICAL PRODUCTION:  ”The Fantasticks” – Wetumpka Depot Theatre
• BEST DIRECTION: Kristy Meanor: ”The Fantasticks” – Wetumpka Depot Theatre
• BEST ENSEMBLE: “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” – Whole Backstage Theatre

ALL STAR CAST:

• Lexie Scarborough & Nicholas DiPrima — Whole Backstage Theatre
• Howard Green & Jane Caswell — Theatre Downtown
• Lee Bridges — Wetumpka Depot Theatre
• Bill Allen — Leeds Theatre and Arts Center
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Patty Holley -”The Fantasticks” – Wetumpka Depot Theatre
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Bill Nowell – ”The Fantasticks” – Wetumpka Depot Theatre
• BEST ACTRESS: Ashley Richardson – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” – Leeds Theatre & Arts Center
• BEST ACTOR: Jared Max Wright – “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” – Whole Backstage Theatre

BEST IN SHOW — Advancing to SETC in March, 2014 to represent Alabama:

“I Don’t Want To Talk About It” — Whole Backstage Theatre
“The Fantasticks” — Wetumpka Depot Theatre