PACT Festival 2010

APRIL 9-10-11, 2010
PTPA (Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts) Hazleton, PA

212 W Broad ST

Hazleton PA 18201

www.ptpashows.org

Click here to download and complete PACT-Fest Forms

What is the festival and who is it for?

The Pennsylvania Association of Community Theatre's PACTFest/Original Works 2010 is three days of competitive performance and networking opportunities for people engaged in non-professional theatre. The weekend is open to anyone interested in community theatre...actors, technicians, managers, directors, board members, designers, administrators, etc. This year's state festival is a predecessor to the Eastern States Theatre Association's ESTA/Original Works festival to be held May 7-9 in Newark, Delaware.

Where and when is the festival?

PACTFest/Original Works 2010 will be held April 9, 10 & 11 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, at Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts (PTPA).

Why should I attend?

It's a weekend designed for people like you...people who enjoy participating in the theatre avocationally. Enjoy workshops that cover artistic and administrative topics. View performances by theatre companies from throughout Pennsylvania and compare your impressions with the judges who adjudicate each entry immediately after their presentation. Meet like-minded community theatre buffs and make connections for the future.

What is included in the registration for the festival?

The basic registration for the PACTFest/Original Works 2010 is a SuperPass that includes...

1.     All performance sessions and adjudications
2.     Friday night opening reception
3.     Saturday lunch
4.  Saturday night post-performance party


What does it cost to attend the festival?

Cost of the PACTFest/Original Works 2010 SuperPass is...

$ 50 Participants Pass for actors, directors & staff members of competing productions

$ 75 Non-Participants - or $20 per performance sessions

What about accommodations?

The host hotel for the festival is the Comfort Inn, 58 State  Route 93, West Hazleton PA 18201 (GPS: use 25 Kiwanis Boulevard, West Hazleton PA  18201) $69.95 double occupancy, includes hot breakfast, high-speed internet. Call (570) 455-9300 and mention Pennsylvania Association of Community Theatres (PACT) when making your reservation to obtain the special rate.

The Comfort Inn is located approximately 10 minutes driving distance from PTPA.

Can we attend the festival without competing?

Certainly. Many participants register simply to take advantage of the workshops and networking opportunities and enjoy the performances without the pressure of "the competition" hanging over their heads.

Who may enter the competition?

The state event is open to any community theatre in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania interested in being judged for the opportunity to advance to the next level of competition, as long as the company...

1.     Has been organized as a community theatre for at least one year prior to the festival.

2.     Has produced at least two productions prior to the festival entry.

3.     Is governed by a decision-making board from the community.

4.     Does not cast active members of Actors Equity in its festival entry if they receive more than one-half of their annual income as actors.

Each theatre may enter two productions with at least one being an original work.  Each show will receive 80 minutes bare stage to bare stage.  If entering two original works the theatre is responsible for identifying which will be competing for the ESTA category.  All published works may only compete in the ESTA category, however Original Works (if only one is sent by a company will be eligible for either ESTA or Original Works).

PACT will send a total of four shows to ESTA/Original Works, two for ESTA and two for Original Works May 7-9, 2010 in Newark, DE, to compete against winners from Delaware, Maryland, DC and New York.

What is involved in entering a production in the competition?

Theatres entering a production must be a member of PACT or join when registering its production. The cost to register a production for the competition is...

$50 Production Registration Fee (Fee must accompany registration & is non-refundable if theatre later withdraws).

plus $50 Discounted SuperPass Registration for each actor and staff person working directly per person on your production or at minimum the $20 performance session fee (Anyone from your theatre attending as an observer or not directly involved in your competition entry must register at the regular SuperPass fee or may purchase individual performance session tickets). 

plus $30 PACT organizational membership dues if not already a member of PACT

In addition, all companies entering a production must provide...

1.     Proof the group has paid to the appropriate licensing firm the royalty fee required or permission from the playwright if the entry is an original work.

2.     Proof of permission to cut or alter the script if presenting a portion of a full-length work.

3.     Proof of permission to use any music (incidental or other) played during the performance.

4.     Four scripts (no photocopies unless an original work) for PACT to forward to the adjudicators in advance of the festival.

The registration deadline has been extended to:
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 

What may be presented as a competition entry?

The festival follows the rules established by the American Association of Community Theatre. Competing productions may be a one-act play or musical, a cutting of a full-length work or any performance of a theatrical nature excluding readers theatre. Original works are always welcome. The total length of the performance, including set-up, strike, any introductions and curtain calls, may not exceed 80 minutes. Each participating theatre is responsible for furnishing any sets, props or furniture needed for the production, and will be assigned off-stage storage space of approximately 10 feet by 10 feet. Pre-assembly of any portion of the set is permitted provided assembly does not exceed the allotted storage space.

IMPORTANT ...

Technical rehearsals for competing companies will be held during the day on FRIDAY, APRIL 9.

If your company members are not able to arrive in Hazleton until later, we will do our best to make arrangements but may not be able to accommodate your entry in the festival.

NOTE: FESTIVAL performance and scheduling subject to change based upon number of entries.

Please copy and use the enclosed registration and membership forms as needed
If you have any questions, contact PACTFest/Original Works 2010 Chairperson
or Marsha Amato-Greenspan at (302) 457-6206 (work), (302) 547-5998 (cell), email:
pactfest@earthlink.net