The Maryland Community Theatre Festival Association is a member of the Eastern States Theatre Association and The American Association of Community Theatres, and this festival is fully sanctioned by the AACT as the official Maryland State Festival. The winning production(s) will be automatically invited to compete in the E.S.T.A. regional tournament later that year.

Who May Enter
Any community-based amateur theatre organization in Maryland may enter one  production provided,

• It has been organized in Maryland for at least one year prior to the   tournament and has produced at least two shows for public performance, and
• It has a decision-making board from the community.

An organization may enter a second production provided,

• One of the two productions is an original, unpublished work, and
• Space permits.

One of the two productions must be presented as a "Showcase," and will be eligible for all awards except Best Production. Participating organizations must be members of the Maryland One Act  Tournament Association, Inc. and must have paid their registration and  membership dues prior to the start of the tournament. Participating organizations are encouraged to become members of the American  Association of Community Theatre. Participating organizations shall either furnish  proof of membership in A.A.C.T. or pay the A.A.C.T. imposed surcharge.

Eligibility
Once a play is in rehearsal for the tournament, actors and technicians may not be  paid, directly or indirectly, to rehearse or perform in that production. Directors and designers may receive normal remuneration, though not  for any "hands-on"  participation in the tournament. Actors who are active members of Actors Equity and any other persons regardless of affiliation who receive more than half their annual income from work as actors, shall not be permitted to perform.

What May Be Presented
Productions entered may be a cutting of a full-length play or musical, a one act  play, or any other performance of a theatrical nature. If you are intending to do a cutting of a full-length production, you must furnish  proof of permission from the author or leasing agent to perform the script as cut.
 
The total length of the production may not exceed 60 minutes. If a company  elects to have a curtain call, it must be concluded within the allotted performance  time. In addition, each company will be allowed a maximum of 10 minutes to set  up and ten minutes to strike.
 
Performance, set-up and strike will be timed by the stage manager. If a  production is disqualified by exceeding the performance time limit, that  disqualification will be passed on to those participants and to the adjudicators confidentially after the last adjudication, so as not to interfere with the performance or critique. The adjudicators will be advised that that production will not be eligible  for award. The performance is deemed to begin with the first lighting change, sound, (recorded or live,) or movement onstage other than to a preset position. If  the set-up exceeds 10 minutes, the excess will be deducted from the performance  time. If the strike exceeds 10 minutes, the production will be disqualified.

Other Production Rules
Tech-in and rehearsal time onstage, order of performance, time limits on  critiques, sequestering of adjudicators and methods of scoring and award  presentation will be determined by the tournament coordinators, and will depend on the number of participants, the running times of the productions and the time and space constraints on the use of the facility.
 
The critiques by the adjudicators will begin immediately after the production is struck. The critiques will be done publicly, with each adjudicator addressing the participants in such a way as to be heard by the audience. The adjudicators will be sequestered until called upon individually and will rotate the order of their critiques. They will not be allowed to hear the other critiques, or discuss their evaluations with each other or anyone else until after the awards are are given. Each adjudicator will be given the same amount of time, and will be asked to be positive and instructional in their critiques. (See Guidelines for Adjudication.)

Awards
Awards shall be determined by the adjudicators. At a minimum, the adjudicators shall determine the following:

• Best Production
• Runnerup for Best Production
• Best Director (The Cliff Smith Memorial Award)
• Technical Excellence (The Ed-Ro-Char Award)
• Outstanding Performance Awards (minimum of 4 to be presented)

The David S. Schroeder Award for the Spirit and Pursuit of Excellence in Acting will be presented by the Association and chosen from nominations by the participating groups. If there are more than ten entries, the adjudicators will select two equal co-winners and one runner up for Best Production.

What Is Required To Participate
A participating organization must provide:

• Payment of non-refundable entry fee/membership dues, (as determined by the Association.)
• Proof of permission from the author or leasing agent to perform the play as it will be presented, (i.e. including cuts or other alterations.)
• Proof of payment of royalty for the festival performance.
• Proof of membership in AACT or payment of the non-member surcharge.
• Entry information and technical requirements as requested by the festival staff.
• Three copies of the play as it is to be performed. (These are for the adjudicators to prepare for the festival.)

Please contact the Festival Association for current membership/entry fees.