A Trip to the Top
Tupelo (MS) Community Theatre (TCT) fulfilled a long-held dream in June 2025 when its production of Tone Clusters by Joyce Carol Oates was honored as the Outstanding Overall Production at the American Association of Community Theatre AACTFest in Des Moines, Iowa. Director Jonathan Martin received the Outstanding Achievement in Direction award, and Jamie Fair was recognized with the Outstanding Achievement in Acting award.
How did a small theatre in a town with 40,000 residents do this? TCT has been involved in the festival process since 1993, using it as a learning tool to grow and improve. The process may be costly, but the benefits, while not instantly monetary, are genuine and measurable.
TCT was founded in 1969 as a traveling troupe, performing in schools and other found spaces. In 1984, they acquired an abandoned opera house that had been converted into a movie theater. Community support and generous donors helped them restore the historic Lyric building, fortuitously located on Broadway Street in downtown Tupelo. They offered a five-show season and a summer youth production for several years.
In 1993, TCT decided to test the waters by taking one act from a regular season show to the Mississippi Theatre Association festival. The Ponder Heart involved more than 20 actors and an elaborate unit set. Since TCT won no awards, the TCT Board decided to no longer participate in the state festival. However, many lessons were learned. Seeing the other productions and listening to the adjudications provided a valuable learning experience for the actors and the director from The Ponder Heart.
Production values and quality began to improve, and audiences took notice. In January 1996, the company took a leap of faith and entered a one act of “Shadowlands” in the state festival. Not only did it win a few awards, but a stunning set piece built by one of the show’s scenic designers was admired—and rented—by several theaters in the state.
Over the next 10 years, the TCT executive director and a few board members attended SETC to observe and learn. They watched the productions and carefully listened to the adjudicators' comments. They participated in workshops. TCT continued to be involved in the state festival and kept improving. The theatre’s patron base noticed and grew even more. Following a significant rise in season ticket holders, Tupelo Community Theatre added a matinee performance to its season schedule, and many shows went on to have sold-out runs. Marketing efforts included the phrase "the award-winning TCT."
In January 2007, TCT’s production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane won the state festival and advanced to SETC for the first time! It was quite an experience. Although TCT only received a few minor awards, they gained much more—peers at that festival came from all over the Southeast region, and the lessons learned were priceless.
After that, TCT continued participating in the state festival and advanced to SETC multiple times. Their patrons continued to be very supportive in fundraising, and corporate sponsors were also eager to help. In 2015, TCT’s production of Lonestar won at SETC and moved on to national AACTFest. A community theatre from a small southern rural town made it to a national stage. That production was thrilled to receive the People's Choice award. Once again, it was a valuable learning experience.
In 2013, TCT opened an "off-Broadway" black box theater in a storefront a few blocks from the Lyric. With 100 seats, they could now produce shows that weren't feasible in the mainstage season but were more intimate and drew additional actors, directors, and patrons.
For the state festival entry in January 2025, TCT decided to stage Tone Clusters, a lesser-known work by Joyce Carol Oates. More famous for her novels, Ms. Oates enthusiastically agreed to let director Jonathan Martin update the 1990 play to 2021. Tone Clusters featured a stellar three-person cast and an excellent tech crew. It won Best Production at the state festival in January 2025, Best Production at SETC in March 2025, and advanced to AACTFest in June.
TCT is thrilled to have represented the state and region so well by winning Outstanding Overall Production at AACTFest. This small community theatre has gained national acclaim for being THE BEST.
What's next? Continuing participation in the festival process. Learning. Improving. Growing.