Selected from more than 65 national groups in local and regional festivals, 12 community theaters will meet today in Tacoma for workshops, forums and social events in venues around the city, as well as public productions at the Pantages Theater beginning Wednesday.

That’s around 600 theater enthusiasts. It’s the biggest national theater event in Tacoma since 1926, say organizers, and the first time in 25 years the festival has come to the West Coast.

Hosting the event are Tacoma Musical Playhouse and the Washington State Community Theater Association.

“This is a really big thing,” says Judy Cullen, American Association of Community Theaters Festival (AACTFest) co-chairwoman and one of the Tacoma organizers behind the event. “It’s taken 10 years to pull off.”

No Tacoma theaters will participate. As the host company, the Tacoma Musical Playhouse is exempt; others either didn’t make the cut or didn’t attempt it. Region IX, Washington state, will be represented by Edmonds’ Driftwood Players. Participation in the festival is a good sign that community theater is alive and well across America.

“Theater is community building. It’s a communal act. It brings people together in a dynamic situation ... where we look each other in the face. It’s an investment in humanity,” says Cullen.

Here is AACTFest’s schedule:

WEDNESDAY

1:30 p.m.

“Lemonade” by A.R.T.S., Inc., Topeka, Kan.: A tense mystery drama about family relationships.

“Scooter Thomas Makes It to the Top of the World” by Chino, Calif., Community Theatre, Chino: A friend’s funeral exposes childhood dreams, adult realities.

7:30 p.m.

“How I Learned To Drive” by Arlington Friends of the Drama, Arlington, Mass.: A disturbing drama about incest and rape.

“Amawalk Gornisht” by M&M Productions Acting Company, Inc., N.Y.: A set of four short original plays.

THURSDAY

1:30 p.m.

“Eleemosynary” by Main Street Players, Littleton, Colo.: A relationship drama spanning three generations of women.

“How to Talk Minnesotan: The Musical” by Aberdeen Community Theatre, Aberdeen, S.D.: Minnesota’s homegrown musical spoof.

FRIDAY

1:30 p.m.

“Nine” by Theatre A La Carte, Tallahassee, Fla.: A musical inspired by Fellini’s film “Eight and a Half.”

“Catfish Moon” by Starkville Community Theatre, Starkville, Miss.: A comedy between three former childhood friends.

7:30 p.m.

“Minnesota Moon” by Driftwood Players, Edmonds: Drama about two high school buddies drinking, sharing stories and saying good-bye before Vietnam.

“Intimate Apparel” by South Bend Civic Theatre, South Bend, Ind.: Period drama about theater ladies in lacy underwear.

SATURDAY

7:30 p.m.

“John and Jen” by Poteet Theatre – Arts @ St. Luke’s, Oklahoma City, Okla.: A musical drama about husband and wife and wife and son.

“Hold Me” by SHAPE Performing Arts Centre, Belgium: A comedy based on cartoons by Jules Feiffer.

Rosemary Ponnekanti: 253-597-8568

rosemary.ponnekanti@thenewstribune.com

Theater festival

What: American Association of Community Theaters Festival

When: June 24-27

Where: Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma

Tickets: single tickets $7, all-session pass $32

Information: 253-591-5894, www.broadwaycenter.org, www.aactfest09.org