A.C.T.'s Sky Festival

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By A.C.T. Publications Staff

There is drumming on the roof of A.C.T.’s administrative offices at 30 Grant Avenue. For seasoned A.C.T. staff, that sound means only one thing: Sky Festival. This annual festival of plays, one-man shows, and collaborative productions are put together by the Master of Fine Arts Program actors. Last year’s festival included Annie Baker’s The Aliens, a brand new work called 2.5 Asians, and a comic smorgasbord entitled 25 Plays in 50 Minutes.

M.F.A. Program Actors Stephen Wattrus, Alan Littlehales, and
Patrick Andrew Jones in The Aliens. Sky Festival 2016. Photo by Jay Yamada.
For these hard-working actors, it is a unique opportunity. “Sky Festival gives us the opportunity to create art that we are truly passionate about,” says third-year M.F.A. Program actor Albert Rubio. “It provides us a space where we can—as Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus would say—‘take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!’”

Sky Festival is not just an exciting time in the Conservatory; it is a hotly anticipated event for everyone at A.C.T. “Sky Festival is one of the most exciting times of the year at A.C.T.,” says Curriculum & Training Specialist Jasmin Hoo. “It’s a whirlwind of creativity, passion, and community. It’s a chance for the M.F.A. Program actors to truly express their own unique artistic voices. For me, it was very meaningful to share about the Asian American experience in theater through our Sky Festival project last year, since our point of view is often underrepresented on the stage. Likewise, I learned so much about the M.F.A. Program actors by watching their pieces, hearing their stories, witnessing their aesthetic, and seeing their artistic passions come to life.”

Jasmin Hoo, Narea Kang, and Christina Liang in 2.5 Asians.
Sky Festival 2016. Photo by Jay Yamada.
This year's shows range from newly created one-man shows to classics of the modern American stage. To everyone involved in the festival, break a leg!

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