Tacoma Little Theatre to produce award-winning world premiere

The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) is pleased to announce Tacoma Little Theatre of Tacoma, Washington, has been selected to participate in AACT NewPlayFest as a Producing Theatre.

Keeping in line with the AACT mission of providing support and resources to community theatres, AACT NewPlayFest addresses the critical need for new, high-quality plays for community theatre audiences around the globe.

With AACT NewPlayFest the winning playwrights see their plays produced by an established theatre and published by Dramatic Publishing Company in an anthology. Tacoma Little Theatre is one of only six theatres in the nation recently selected to receive this honor. As a Producing Theatre, Tacoma Little Theatre will choose the play to produce from the final selected scripts. Playwrights have submitted their original scripts, and selected reviewers are currently choosing the finalists.

Founded in 1918, Tacoma Little Theatre (TLT) is a historic live theatre employing professional standards of excellence and has been at its present home in Tacoma’s Stadium District for over seventy years. TLT produces seven main stage productions, seven staged readings, youth productions, three four-night Murder Mystery Dinners, and other special events annually. Educational programs include three four-week summer camps, six after school programs, a home school theatre program, group dance lessons, and improv lessons. TLT also has a resident improv group and a resident burlesque group. A small professional staff and a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors manage the theatre. Tacoma Little Theatre is located at 210 N. I Street in Tacoma, Washington. Theatre and box office information can be found at tacomalittletheatre.com/

Few things are as satisfying as local live theater.  Photo: Morf Morford
Few things are as satisfying as local live theater. Photo: Morf Morford

Producing Theatres receive the recognition and publicity that come with premiering a national award-winning play, the experience of working directly with the playwright, the honor of introducing an award-winning playwright to their community, and the distinction of having a direct impact on the future of the play. In addition to Tacoma Little Theatre, the selected Producing Theatres for AACT NewPlayFest 2020: are Boise Little Theater in Boise, Idaho; Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton, Florida; Phoenix Stage Company in Oaksville, Connecticut; Rover Dramawerks in Plano, Texas; and The Sauk in Jonesville, Michigan. The winning plays will be produced by the Producing Theatres between February 2019 and July 2020.

AACT NewPlayFest 2020 is made possible in part by a grant from the Jack K. Ayre and Frank Ayre Lee Theatre Foundation. Producing Theatres receive funding from the Jack K. Ayre and Frank Ayre Lee Theatre Foundation to bring the playwright to the theatre for a work-shopping session and to attend the opening night, and to assist the theatre with production and marketing costs.

AACT NewPlayFest has proven to be a great success with original plays being produced as world premieres across the country: six in 2014, seven in 2016, and six plays currently being produced as part of AACT NewPlayFest 2018. Visit aact.org/newplayfest to see information on winning plays and their productions. The winning plays are available to be produced through Dramatic Publishing Company following the AACT NewPlayFest world premiere productions. Visit dramaticpublishing.com for information on producing these new works.

AACT’s mission is to Help Theatres Thrive by providing networking, resources, and support for America’s theatres. AACT represents the interests of more than 7,000 theatres across the United States and its territories, as well as theatre companies with the U.S. Military Services overseas.

   – American Association of Community Theatre