ACTF REGION VII NEWSLETTER
December 10, 2025
CONFERENCE 58 DETAILS
WE’RE BACK in 2026!!!
Dates – February 17-21, 2026
Tuesday, February 17 | Conference Check-in begins at 1:00 PM at the Red Lion Hotel
Tuesday, February 17 | Opening Ceremony 7:00 PM
Friday, February 20 | Conference Events Conclude by 11:00 PM
Location – Columbia Basin College – Pasco, WA
Early Bird Registration Is Live Until December 26, 2025: Register Now on Whova
Festival Hotel: Red Lion Pasco is providing special discount pricing (2 queen beds $130/night) for festival attendees, and we highly encourage you to stay with them. Staying at the host hotel allows the region to receive use of banquet facilities for free. *Book your room before January 20.
CALL FOR WORKSHOPS
We invite you to submit your dynamic workshop proposals for Conference 58 and share your innovative ideas, techniques, and experiences with students, fellow artists and educators. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work, inspire creativity, and enhance your promotion and tenure files.
Submit your workshop proposals here and be a part of this exciting celebration!
Workshop submission deadline – January 10, 2026.
IRENE RYAN REGISTRATION IS LIVE!
Deadline for submission: January 31st at 11:59 PM.
The following changes have been enacted for Festival 58 (2026).
- All rounds of the Ryans will be held in person at the regional conferences.
- All three rounds will be the same with a total package of 4 minutes to present one monologue and one scene.
- Self-submissions are still allowed and there will be no difference between nominations and self-submissions. To be guaranteed that your nomination or submission is seen you must complete the region-specific entry process by the date established in each region. Individual regions may elect to enact a maximum number on entries that will be clearly communicated before submission deadlines.
- Ryan participants will still be able to partner with one other Ryan participant and must use a different scene for each package.
- More Details Click HERE
Questions? Contact Jason Pasqua @ jpasqua@lccc.wy.edu
MUSICAL THEATRE INITIATIVE REGISTRATION IS LIVE!
Deadline for MTI Registration – 11:59 pm Wed, December 31, 2025
Please click on this registration link to secure an Audition Slot for the 2026 Region 7 Musical Theatre Initiative (MTI) competition. You will NOT need to submit your song title(s) at this time. You WILL need to let us know what other ACTF activities you plan to be a part of (including the Irene Ryan Competition, an Invited Production, etc.). You will also need to be registered for the 2026 Region 7 Conference (Festival) in Pasco, WA. We will only schedule the first 90 students who complete this MTI Registration on time. After that, students will be placed on a wait list and notified of their options.
More Details CLICK HERE
Questions? Contact Tracy Martin – martint@arc.losrios.edu
DESIGN, TECH, MANAGEMENT (DTM) EXPO REGISTRATION OPEN
WHY PARTICPATE INTHE DTM EXPO? Why go to all this work anyway?
The DTM Expo is a wonderful way to showcase your work to hundreds of festival participants, professional theatre practitioners, and schools. You will receive a response to your presentation from a professional designer or technician; potentially creating professional connections that will help you find future work placement.
Participating in the festival can be valuable to students as they collect and curate portfolio materials and begin interviews for summer work or theatre careers. Participants may approach creating portfolio and showcasing materials differently after a professional response.
More Information or Contact Erin Carignan – e.carignan@colostate.edu
JOIN OUR TEAM!
BOLD CHAIR – Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion within the ACTF festival. This role involves advocating for diverse voices in selection processes, encouraging equitable representation in productions and awards, and ensuring that all participants feel valued and supported. The Red Chair works to create an inclusive environment that celebrates a variety of perspectives and artistic expressions throughout the regional festival.
REGION CO-CHAIRS 2027 – Lead the planning and coordination of Region VII activities, fostering collaboration and strategic direction for the regional festival.
SCHOLARLY PAPERS VICE CHAIR – Manages the submission, review, and selection of scholarly papers to showcase academic research related to theatre arts.
DRAMATURGY – Supports and evaluates dramaturgical work, providing feedback and guidance to enhance theatrical productions and educational programs.
CA/NV RESPONDENT COORDINATOR – Coordinates the response process for representatives from California and Nevada, facilitating constructive feedback and engagement.
RESPONDENTS – Are you passionate about college theatre and eager to contribute to the growth of our vibrant artistic community? ACTF Region VII is seeking dedicated show respondents to help celebrate and explore the theatrical process through the feedback of a reasonable, objective college peer.
As a show respondent, you will play a vital role in recognizing excellence in college theatre by providing valuable feedback and support to both student and faculty theatre artists. Your insights will help foster a culture of excellence, encouraging showcases, commendations, fellowships, and competitions that highlight incredible talent within our region.
If you’re interested in joining us in any of these capacities, please email vanessa.ballam@usu.edu.
Together, let’s elevate the college theater experience in Region VII!
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October 12, 2025
CONFERENCE 58 DETAILS
Dates – February 17-21, 2026
Location – Columbia Basin College – Pasco, WA
Register Now on Whova
Hotel – Red Lion Pasco
CONFERENCE HOTEL
To book online, click the link above and follow these steps:
- Adjust the Check-in and Check-out dates to fit your stay.
- Enter the PROMO Code: KCAM0217 (if you click the link above, the promo code should automatically be applied)
- Select your room type.
- Proceed to check-out.
To book by Phone, please call 509-547-0701 ext. 0
- Ask the front desk agent to make a reservation at the Pasco Red Lion
- Let them know you are with a group in KC American College Theater Festival
- Give them the group block code KCAM0217
- Complete individual reservation with agent.
BOLD
BUILDING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT | BOLD
The American College Theater Festival is dedicated to nurturing artistry across all theater disciplines, guided by merit, achievement, and a spirit of collaboration.
We recognize that a broad range of experiences and perspectives strengthens our organization, enriches the educational mission, and prepares the next generation of creative leaders in American theater.
We affirm our commitment to programming, policies, and practices that uphold excellence in theater education and artistic development for student participants, teaching artists, and organizational leadership at both regional and national levels.
We encourage the growth of confident and capable student leaders who meet the challenges of the field with creativity, resilience, and integrity. We expect discourse and pedagogy that fosters positive change in the representation of all communities, both onstage and off. We reject practices that perpetuate harmful stereotypes or cultural appropriation.
We expect production respondents to engage with respect, avoid discriminatory comments, and embrace the wide spectrum of artistic choices found on college campuses across the country.
We support collegial exploration of new ideas, grounded in respect for long-held artistic practices and the communicated intentions of the playwright.
Through these commitments, we affirm our role in advancing the highest standards of theater education, creative expression, and leadership—honoring the complexity of our collective historical legacies, engaging fully with the present, and reimagining a future for the American theater that reflects and represents us all.
JOIN OUR TEAM!
RED CHAIR – Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion within the ACTF festival. This role involves advocating for diverse voices in selection processes, encouraging equitable representation in productions and awards, and ensuring that all participants feel valued and supported. The Red Chair works to create an inclusive environment that celebrates a variety of perspectives and artistic expressions throughout the regional festival.
REGION CO-CHAIRS 2027 – Lead the planning and coordination of Region VII activities, fostering collaboration and strategic direction for the regional festival.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT (DTM) VICE CHAIR – Supports the planning and coordination of regional ACTF events, overseeing aspects of design, tech, and management. Serve as a liaison, recruiting, mentoring, and representing students and faculty across regions to promote participation and recognition.
SCHOLARLY PAPERS VICE CHAIR – Manages the submission, review, and selection of scholarly papers to showcase academic research related to theatre arts.
DRAMATURGY – Supports and evaluates dramaturgical work, providing feedback and guidance to enhance theatrical productions and educational programs.
CA/NV RESPONDENT COORDINATOR – Coordinates the response process for representatives from California and Nevada, facilitating constructive feedback and engagement.
RESPONDENTS – Are you passionate about college theatre and eager to contribute to the growth of our vibrant artistic community? ACTF Region VII is seeking dedicated show respondents to help celebrate and explore the theatrical process through the feedback of a reasonable, objective college peer.
Why Become a Respondent?
- Engage with emerging theater artists and contribute to their development.
- Enhance your own understanding of the theatrical process through thoughtful reflection.
- Be part of a supportive community committed to celebrating artistic achievement.
If you’re interested in joining us in any of these capacities, please email vanessa.ballam@usu.edu. Together, let’s elevate the college theater experience in Region VII!
STUDENT PARTICIPATION
Ready to take your passion to the next level? At the ACTF Festival let your talent shine! Celebrate excellence in theatre production and performance and gain recognition through awards and scholarships that can propel your future. Connect with industry professionals, build your network, and showcase your work on a national stage—this is your chance to stand out and set yourself apart.
Disciplines:
- Arts Leadership
- Design, Technology, and Management
- Directing
- Dramaturgy
- Performance
- Playwriting
- Theatre Journalism and Advocacy
- Theatre Research and Scholarship
PRODUCTION RESPONSE
It’s not too late to register your production for response- ACTF Production Registration Link.
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August 18, 2025
CONFERENCE 58 DETAILS
🎉 Exciting News from ACTF Region VII! 🎉
We’re Back in 2026!!!
Dates: February 17-21, 2026
Location: Columbia Basin College, Pasco, WA
Hotel: Red Lion Pasco – (hotel discounts coming soon)
Stay tuned for more details coming soon. We look forward to seeing everyone there! Save the dates for an incredible week of performances, workshops, networking and more at Conference 58!
A MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dear ACTF Community,
The American College Theater Festival supports, uplifts, and celebrates the creative work of theatre artists—students and faculty—in higher education institutions across the nation.
Your involvement in ACTF directly supports vital programs and helps foster a thriving theatre community dedicated to excellence and innovation. We deeply appreciate your commitment and support as we continue to celebrate and elevate the outstanding work of theatre in higher education.
The goals of the American College Theater Festival are ingrained in our mission:
- Encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs.
- Provide opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills and insights and achieve professionalism.
- Improve the quality of college and university theater in the United States.
- Encourage colleges and universities to present distinguished productions of new plays, especially those written by students, as well as revitalized classics and experimental works.
Your participation in ACTF is also essential for sustaining our regional programming and operations. Production registration fees cover necessary costs such as respondent travel expenses and programming for students. In order for the Region to effectively prepare for the Festival year, schedule respondents, and plan for the upcoming regional conference, it would be helpful to have your productions registered for the upcoming festival year as soon as your academic calendar allows. ACTF Production Registration Link
Thank you for your engagement in the American College Theater Festival.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Ballam & Ashley DeMoville
REGION 7 Co-Chairs on behalf of the ACTF National Committee
JOIN OUR TEAM! – We are looking for the following:
RED CHAIR – Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion within the ACTF festival. This role involves advocating for diverse voices in selection processes, encouraging equitable representation in productions and awards, and ensuring that all participants feel valued and supported. The Red Chair works to create an inclusive environment that celebrates a variety of perspectives and artistic expressions throughout the regional festival.
REGION CO-CHAIRS 2027 – Lead the planning and coordination of Region VII activities, fostering collaboration and strategic direction for the regional festival.
SCHOLARLY PAPERS VICE CHAIR – Manages the submission, review, and selection of scholarly papers to showcase academic research related to theatre arts.
DRAMATURGY – Supports and evaluates dramaturgical work, providing feedback and guidance to enhance theatrical productions and educational programs.
CA/NV RESPONDENT COORDINATOR – Coordinates the response process for representatives from California and Nevada, facilitating constructive feedback and engagement.
RESPONDENTS – Are you passionate about college theatre and eager to contribute to the growth of our vibrant artistic community? ACTF Region VII is seeking dedicated show respondents to help celebrate and explore the theatrical process through the feedback of a reasonable, objective college peer.
As a show respondent, you will play a vital role in recognizing excellence in college theatre by providing valuable feedback and support to both student and faculty theatre artists. Your insights will help foster a culture of excellence, encouraging showcases, commendations, fellowships, and competitions that highlight incredible talent within our region.
Why Become a Respondent?
- Engage with emerging theater artists and contribute to their development.
- Enhance your own understanding of the theatrical process through thoughtful reflection.
- Be part of a supportive community committed to celebrating artistic achievement.
If you’re interested in joining us in this rewarding role, please email vanessa.ballam@usu.edu. Together, let’s elevate the college theater experience in Region VII!
ACTF ALIGHNMENT WITH NAST EXPECTATIONS
Faculty, looking for ways to encourage departmental and university support of ACTF?
Take a look at this marvelous ACTF Alignment with NAST Document for a Comprehensive Accreditation and Programmatic Alignment Report.
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