On this final episode, we start of by talking to Jim Walker, the Artistic Director of Aberdeen Community Theatre from Aberdeen, SD, whose entry "How to Talk Minnesotan: The Musical" will be one of the two shows representing Region V at AACTFest '09.

Also in this episode, we talk to Pam Clifton, the director of "Eleemosynary", the festival entry of Main Street Players from Littleton, CO which will represent Region VII at the national festival.

Running time: 23 mins

On this episode We start off by talking with Karen Hastings, the President of ARTS, Inc. from Topeka, kansas and a member of the cast of "Lemonade" which will be one of two shows representing Region V at AACTFest '09.

Also in this episode, we talk to Sara Phoenix, the director of "John & Jen", the festival entry of the Poteet Theatre from Oklahoma City, OK which will represent Region VI at the national festival.

Running time: 23 mins

We continue our look at the companies selected to participate in AACTFest '09. We start off by talking with Melodie Henderson, the Director of "Scooter Thomas Makes It to the Top of the World" for the Chino Community Theatre in Chino, CA. "Scooter Thomas Makes It to the Top of the World" will be representing Region VIII at AACTFest '09.

Also in this episode, we chat with Dana Vagg, the director of "Intimate Apparel", the festival entry of South Bend Civic Theatre from South Bend, Indiana, which will represent Region III at the national festival.

Running time: 24 mins

We start off this episode with information about the festival overflow hotel, La Quinta Inn and Suites. We also interview two more of the companies participating in AACTFest '09. First, we spend some time with Zanne Gerrard, the Director of "Minnesota Moon", the festival entry of the Driftwood Players from Edmonds, Washington. "Minnesota Moon" will be representing Region IX at AACTFest '09.

Also in this episode, we talk to Albi Gorn, the director and author of "Gornischt", the festival entry of M & M Productions and Yorktown Community Players from Yorktown, NY, which will represent Region II at the national festival.

Running time: 20 mins

This episode contains interviews with two more of the companies participating in AACTFest '09. First, we spend some time with Krista Vowell, the President of Starkville Community Theatre from Starkville MS., and Kris Lee, the Director of their festival entry, "Catfish Moon", which will be one of two productions representing Region IV at AACTFest '09.

Also in this episode, we talk to Celia Couture, the Director of "How I Learned to Drive", the festival entry of Arlington Friends of the Drama from Arlington, MA, which will represent Region I at the national festival.

Running time: 24 mins

This episode contains interviews with two of the companies participating in AACTFest '09. First we spend some time with Eric Hurst, the President and Artistic Director of Theatre A La Carte from Tallahassee, FL. Their production of the musical "Nine" was one of two productions selected to represent Region IV at AACTFest '09.

Also in this episode, we talk to Dan LaMorte, the Entertainment Director for SHAPE Entertainment in Mons, Belgium. Their production of "Hold Me!" will represent Region X at the national festival.

Running time: 25 mins

In this episode of AACTFest Update, 2009 Edition we spend time with all three of the AACTFest '09 Co-Chairs. Co-Chair Lark Moore, who is a Past-President of the Washington State Community Theatre Association and a Board Member at Tacoma Musical Playhouse fills us in on the transportation options for the festival and then gives us an in-depth look at the workshops being planned. Co-Chair Jon Douglas Rake, who is the Managing Artistic Director of Tacoma Musical Playhouse and is also the AACT Region IX Representative, gives us an overview of the festival hotel and tells us about some of social events being planned. Co-Chair Judy Cullen, the current president of the Washington State Community Theatre Association the Production Stage Manager for the Broadway Center for the performing arts, gives us a brief description of Union Station, the site of the banquet. Also listen for Judy in the two bonus material cuts for this episode: the walk from the hotel to Freighthouse Square, and the ride-along on the Link Train.

Running time: 23 mins

In this special bonus material cut, podcast host Chris Laning and Festival Co-Chair, Judy Cullen, narrate a walk from the festival hotel, Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel to Freighthouse Square (site of the shopping, a food court, and access to the Link Train).

Running time: 10 mins

In this special bonus material cut, podcast host Chris Laning and Festival Co-Chair, Judy Cullen, narrate the train ride from Freighthouse Square (near the festival hotel, Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel) to the station near the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. Along the way they point out some of the important cultural sites (like museums) and the even more important locations for restaurants and Starbucks!

Running time: 11 mins

We kick off AACTFest Update 2009 Edition with a look at the main performance venue, the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. We spend some time with David Fischer, Executive Director of the Broadway Center who fills us in on the history of theatre in Tacoma, and how Tacoma became involved in being a host city for this festival. We also talk with Scott Painter, the Operations Director of the Broadway Center. Scott lays out the specifics of the Pantages theatre for us: dimensions, lights, sound, acoustics...you name it.

To wrap up this episode we have the pleasure of sitting down with the Honorable Bill Baarsma, the mayor of Tacoma, to find out more about the City of Destiny and the role the arts play in it.

Running time: 25 mins