"MoACT's Theatre on the Fly" by J. Lee

This article appeared in the August 2010 issue of KC Stage

Putting a theatrical production together normally takes a lot of time: time spent on obtaining the script, selecting the director, auditioning the actors, weeks (sometimes months) of rehearsals and the time to add in all the tech work. This month, you can throw all that out the window. The Missouri Association of Community Theatres (MoACT) will be doing all of this in one weekend—but not for one play, but six of them.

Theatre On The Fly: 2010 is a playwright festival and fundraiser for MoACT.  MoACT secretary Donna Kennedy put it this way, “Theatre on the Fly is an event where actors from across Missouri can come together and enjoy their craft for theatre. This is a fun-filled weekend in Missouri to have fun and network with other theatre loving folks.” The festival takes place Aug 27-29 in Mexico, Mo, and is designed to give new works by Missouri playwrights a public reading before an audience in a rather unique, fun and entertaining fashion.

“We had writers from all over the state send in their scripts and the MoACT board then decided on a final six to be presented at the festival,” says MoACT president Jack McCord. Six directors for these shows are currently being selected from MoACT member theatres.

The festival runs for one weekend. The actors and directors show up on a Friday evening and, after short introductions, the auditions begin. “Any actor above the age of 16 from any state that wants to come and that wishes to audition will be able to,” says McCord. “They will take turns going across the stage and reading an excerpt from one of the plays”. Once all of the actors have read, the directors—in a predetermined order—will hold a draft and select the performers that they want in their shows. This provides an opportunity for actors to perform and work with fellow performers from all over the state, an opportunity to make new friends and network with others that they may not have had before.

Early Saturday morning, the rehearsals begin. The director and actors for each show are provided a secluded place to get together and block the show and work on their timing and characters. Saturday afternoon, the performances begin. There is no need for memorization though: the performances will be an altered reader’s theatre, script in hand but with blocking.

Each performance will be adjudicated and each adjudicator will give a two-minute critique to the directors, actors, and playwrights following each show. Audience members are also be given comment cards to pass along to the playwrights. The adjudicators will then gather following the last performance and decide on such things as best play, best interpretation of a script, and outstanding performances and directing. An audience choice award for best show will also be awarded. The festival concludes on Sunday morning at an awards brunch when the winning entries and performances will be announced and awards presented.

Theatre On The Fly is hosted by the Mexico Area Community Theatre and will be held at the Presser Hall in Mexico. The festival is open to anyone that wishes to attend. Tickets for the shows are $10 and the Sunday brunch is $15. There is a discounted host hotel, and the festival will also hold meet and greet and afterglow parties. For the schedule of events or to register for the festival, purchase tickets, or for more information visit the MoACT website at www.moact.com.

MoACT plays being performed:
Best Friends (an adult drama) by Jim Meady
Caldwell’s Bomb (an adult comedy/drama) by Bill Rogers
Cold Herring (a comedy/farce) by Jason Slavik
Open Sundays, All Makes Repaired (a drama with comedy) by Gerry Mandel
Perspectives (a comedy with some drama) by Cathy Zinkel
The Liberation of Aunt Jo Mama (comedy) by Gregory S. Carr