The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) has selected Hickory Community Theatre (HCT) to participate in AACT NewPlayFest 2024 as a Producing Theatre.
HCT is one of only six theatres in the nation to receive this honor, along with Cottage Theatre in Oregon, Lincoln Community Playhouse in Nebraska, Stage Left Theatre in Washington, The Sauk in Michigan, and Verona Area Community Theatre in Wisconsin.
Over 300 playwrights submitted original works this summer, and reviewers are now in the process of choosing the finalists. Each Producing Theatre will select one of these scripts to produce, which will be announced as AACT NewPlayFest 2024 award winners.
“We are thrilled to have been selected for this honor,” said Eric Seale, HCT Artistic Director. “It’s even more special because this will commemorate a double anniversary. Our 2023-2024 season will be our 75th, and HCT was part of the very first AACT NewPlayFest in 2014.” The title of the selected play will be part of HCT's Season 75 reveal next spring.
AACT’s mission is to help theatres thrive by providing them with networking, resources, and support. It represents the interests of thousands of theatres across the United States, its territories and overseas U.S. Military Services.
AACT NewPlayFest, which takes place every two years, addresses the critical need for new, high-quality plays for community theatre audiences around the globe. This AACT playwriting competition is unique in its guarantee that winning scripts will be produced as a world premiere at an established theatre, and will be published by Dramatic Publishing Company in an AACT NewPlayFest anthology.
Visit aact.org/newplayfest for information on past winning plays and their productions. Past winning plays are available to be produced through Dramatic Publishing Company. Visit dramaticpublishing.com for more information.