Fall 2023

President’s Letter
Kristi Quinn
AACT President
During AACTFest 2023 in Louisville, I was on my way back to
my hotel room in a very crowded elevator. A woman entered and
looked at several of us AACTFest attendees and asked,
“You do theatre, right?”
We all smiled and said, yes, we did.
Theatre in some form has been part of
my life since I was a stage-struck girl.
It has never mattered to me that I did
not have a huge talent. What mattered
was that I could share the joy with
those who did. Or help educate an audience.
Or guide students toward heights greater than I could
achieve myself.
Fortunately, I am not the only one who feels this way—made
obvious at AACTFest 2023 in Louisville this June. From the
keynote speaker and workshops, to the vendors and networking
opportunities, to the fantastic performances, it was fabulous!
AACT staff were tireless in their quest to make the festival a
success. Bob Frame, Eugene Irby, JR Bornemann, and John
Eppert spent an immense amount of time in the wings during
performances. Everyone who worked on educational opportunities—including
Chad Alan Carr with the Community Theatre
Management Conference—shared their expertise with us. And
there are many, many more like them. Thank you, each and every
one of you.
Quite unexpectedly, she said, “Thank you, thank you all!”
Strange, I thought. Why would she be thanking a group from a
community theatre festival? I soon found out.
As individuals cycled off the elevator, I continued with her up to
the top floor and then back down as she told her story. Community
theatre had saved her son’s life, she said. He was autistic and
had been non-verbal for many years. Then she heard about a local
community theatre program designed for special needs youth,
and decided to enroll her son. To her delight (and his), he blossomed
in the program and loved being on stage, especially singing.
She ended her story by showing me a video on her phone of
him in a performance. She was proud and happy, but most of all,
grateful. Because of community theatre.
And that, my dear friends, is an answer to the “why.” It is just
one of the myriad of ways that community theatre can make a
difference in the lives of those we serve.
Just one reason, but in my mind, a once-silent boy who now
speaks and sings is reason enough.
Bringing this marvelous event to fruition is a huge undertaking.
State and regional festivals involve countless unsung volunteers
who work tirelessly—casts, crews, technicians all giving their
time and money to make the AACTFest process work so well.
Why do they do it? Because their efforts make a real difference
in people’s lives.
The Celebration of Aging
No sad songs!
No f-bombs!
No Depends jokes!
A Member
of the Broadway Licensing Family
www.StageRights.com
FALL 2023 3