AACT World Fest

06/19/2026

Hear from Maria Fokina Rakotonarivo, Director of "Sweet Addictions" - Switzerland's show at aactWorldFest 2026 🌏

We loved speaking with Maria on topics about her show, countries showing support for each other, and so much more!

Did you catch Switzerland's show and their workshop? Comment below!

06/18/2026

Last night, Sharky's on the Pier went global! 🌏 We brought aactWorldFest to a Venice favorite as we celebrated seeing old friends, making new friends, and enjoying a special midweek gathering during the festival.

We want to take a moment to thank the incredible volunteers who have opened their homes and dedicated their time to making this festival possible. We also want to thank all of the countries for traveling to Venice and making this week so impactful, creating meaningful connections and unforgettable memories that truly showcase the power of theatre to bring people together.

Here's to the last few days of aactWorldFest! 🎭

06/18/2026

Thank you to our AACT World Fest volunteer bloggers! (Tom Erb Liz VanPatten, Logan Schultz and Nancy Huffaker) The first three posts are up. Follow along with their reactions at

Venice Theatre

06/17/2026

06/15/2026

Let’s welcome the final spotlight before the festival begins tonight, Ghana 🇬🇭

A one-woman award-winning multimodal performance piece that generates fresh perspectives on the experiences of the nameless African women, men, and children who once languished in the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle and suffered the agony of the Middle Passage. Based on original, firsthand research in the Ghana dungeons for African captives, Walking with My Ancestors takes the audience on a ritual journey that leads to revelation, reconciliation, and rebirth.

Through live drumming, singing, dancing, and acting, the performer explores how our national and cultural climates connect with truths of our shared and painful pasts. Each performance ends with a discussion about histories, repair, affirmations, and futurities. Ultimately, it is a story we share about triumph over adversity, resilience, and survival.

Register before the festival begins tonight! https://venicetheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/instances/a0FUQ000004iGQ92AM

Learn more about Walking with My Ancestors: Cape Coast Castle here: https://venicetheatre.org/events/ghana/

06/15/2026

Introducing VOCES from the CreArte Latino Cultural Center!

VOCES is an original project that seeks to foster an open conversation about relevant topics for the community. These oral testimonies allow us to share the true story and experiences of those around us. Based on conversations with people from the Hispanic community in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, these stories are woven together to create a space where these testimonials are read and performed in English by actors.

This theatrical experience also provides the opportunity for a “talkback” at the end of each show, where the audience, director, people who have shared their testimonies, and actors can discuss the impact of these monologues.

This edition will focus on adolescence, exploring the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of young people in this crucial stage of life.

There is still time to register! AACT World Fest 2026 begins tonight! Register at https://venicetheatre.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/instances/a0FUQ000004iGQ92AM

Learn more about VOCES here: https://venicetheatre.org/events/us-latino/

06/15/2026

Next up for our spotlight: Ukraine and Russia 🇺🇦 🇷🇺

Presenting... Common Air:

Olga was born in Moscow. Iryna was born in Ukraine. They both live in the U.S. now. What do they have in common with each other? What do they have in common with us? Even in a time of war, we all breathe common air. Through movement and improvisational music, Olga and Iryna will share their stories – their common air – with us.

Register for AACTWorldFest, there's still time! https://aact.org/worldfest

06/14/2026

Introducing the Mandi Theater, presenting: "Kathputli"

The story follows Sugni, a young woman married to an older, disabled man. Just as she begins to find stability in her fragile world with her two children, her past lover returns like a storm — and the village demands an agni pareeksha (trial by fire). Will Sugni endure this ultimate test of dignity and faith?

Nestled in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Mandi Theater stands as a testament to the enduring power of community-driven art. As a not-for-profit (NFP) organization, it has carved a niche for itself by championing traditional Hindi theater and serving as a vibrant cultural hub for the South Asian diaspora in the Chicago area!

See Kathputli at AACTWorldFest! Register & discover more before the festival begins on Monday: https://aact.org/worldfest

06/14/2026

🇮🇹 Italy in the spotlight: The Sky in a Room ☁️

A man and woman find themselves locked in a room, isolated from the world, unable to leave. Suddenly, as they are confined within these walls, the Room becomes the setting of their lives. The scene is transformed and different points of view open up, as the protagonists’ souls are changed. The usual patterns and habits vanish, perspectives change, their lives transform and intertwine.

Forced into solitude, they begin to question the world out there, themselves, their relationships, social roles, and identities. In an absurd scenario, between reality and imagination, He and She witness the shattering of their certainties, to find themselves – through memories, dreams, and hopes – discovering unexpected implications of life together....

This play is a Comedy, suspended between doubts and expectations, that investigates the paradoxes of the contemporary era. 🎭

The Sky in a Room will be presented in its English version*

Who else is excited? Register now by visiting https://aact.org/worldfest 🔗