2026 Theatre Conference

Hosted by Stage III
Community Theatre

 Mary Jo DeNolf: Festivals/Engagement Coordinator
from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Meet Mary Jo DeNolf, AACT’s Festivals/Engagement Coordinator!
She works with theatre lovers across the country (and beyond!)
to help bring the magic of AACT festivals to life.

Mary Jo guides the festival program and coordinates the
Festival Commissioners for state and regional festivals. She also
assists with AACT's educational programming and events.

Her Favorite Thing About AACT:

"Being part of AACT as the Festival Coordinator allows me to talk
to theatre lovers all over the US and Europe. Festival and the joy
it brings to all who attend makes my heart happy."

 2026 Workshops Special AACT Guest Speaker
 2026 Workshops Show Me The Money! Presented by Jude Dodd
from Gillette Community Theater

What if the businesses in your community could help put
your next show on stage? In this practical, hands-on workshop,
Jude will show you how to confidently approach local businesses
and banks, what to say when you walk through the door, how to
present your advertising opportunity, and, most importantly, how to
ask for the sale! You’ll also discover creative fundraising ideas that
may be missing from your theatre’s current playbook.

Come ready to take notes, because you may walk out with ideas
that can put real dollars behind your next production. Turning Local Businesses into Theatre Sponsors 2026 Workshops Think Small, Dream Big: The Art of Minimal Set Design Presented by Kris Kontour
from Stage III Community Theater

A great set doesn't have to be elaborate, expensive, or complicated
to make an impact. Kris Kontour will take you behind the scenes of
minimalist set design and show you how to create effective
theatrical environments while working with limited space, time, and
resources. You’ll explore the unique challenges of black box and
theatre-in-the-round productions, learn how these two formats
differ, and discover practical ways to turn those challenges into
creative opportunities.

Think creatively. Build simply. Make a big impact. 2026 Workshops Creating Props with Artistry Presented by Dennis Brenner
From Cheyenne Little Theatre Players

Dennis will take you behind the scenes of creative prop design, showing how a little imagination and the right materials can transform an ordinary idea into something unique, functional, and fun! Explore how to think through a prop from concept to stage, discover materials and techniques that can bring your ideas to life, and learn the little tricks that make a prop both workable and theatrical. Dennis will also share photos of some of his own creations, giving you a firsthand look at the artistry, ingenuity, and creativity that can go into making memorable stage props. Come ready to see everyday materials in a whole new way! 2026 Workshops AACT Unlocked: Discover the Benefits You Didn't Know You Had Presented by Mary Jo DeNolf
AACT Special Guest Speaker

You joined AACT… but are you getting everything your membership has to offer?
There’s a lot more waiting for you than you might realize! Mary Jo will uncover
the hidden benefits of AACT membership, from workshops, webinars, and
roundtables to conferences, member discounts, educational opportunities,
and more. She’ll also give you an inside look at AACTFest 2027 in Rochester,
so you can start thinking about why this exciting national theatre event
should be on your radar.

Come discover what your AACT membership
can really do for you and your theatre!
 Monologue Competition Entry Fee: $5 for members
                 $10 for non-members

Following the rules as set forth by AACT, actors will compete by performing a monologue between 2 to 5 minutes, which will be judged by an appointed adjudicator.

Featured Shows

Current Shows

Vanessa Redgrave

Of course we all come to the theatre with baggage. The baggage of our daily lives, the baggage of our problems, the baggage of our tragedies, the baggage of being tired. It doesn’t matter what age you are. But if our hearts get opened and released — well that is what theatre can do, and does sometimes, and everyone is thankful when that happens.
DAME VANESSA REDGRAVE, ACTRESS