CTAM Webinars
Our webinars are currently free but we always welcome donations. Be on the lookout for our 2027 schedule, which will include webinars on Intimacy Directing, Sponsorship, Volunteer Management, Fundraising and more. Plus we will be scheduling meet and greets with our technical sponsors: Ludus and Associated Controls + Design.
In the meantime, don’t forget to register for our WEBINAR about AACTFest below!
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 @ 7 PM
AACTFest ’27 – What is AACTFest
Panelists: JR Bornemann, Emily Anderson, Winston Daniels, MJ DeNolf
Join our panelists as we talk about “What is AACTFest?” Learn what exactly it is, how to participate, how to be successful and so much more. AACTFest is not just simply about the competition but more about the networking, the education and finding like-minded folks who love theatre as much as you. Find out about the ins and outs of AACTFest and why you should attend – even if you are not a participating/competing theatre.
ABOUT OUR PANELISTS:
JR Bornemann: Completely self-taught, JR has been backstage for over 25 years. In that time, he worked in high school, community, and professional theatres. He has done everything from lighting design to prop making to stage managing. A longtime advocate of technical theatre and technical theatre education, he is currently the Auditorium Director for the Midland Public School system. There he helps mentor students about everything, technical theatre. He also travels the state teaching various tech classes to community theatres working with CTAM (Community Theaters Association of Michigan). He also serves as the Festival Co-Chair and AACTFest Technical director.
Emily Anderson: Emily has been “theatrical” since she was born (just ask her mom). She put her penchant for the dramatic to good use at the age of 13 and hasn’t looked back since. She has racked up a list of over 50 productions at her home theatre, Midland Center for the Arts, but has also enjoyed performing with Creative 360, Central Michigan University, and Six Eleven Theatre Company in Chicago. A self-described “double threat”, Emily’s primary passions are acting and singing but she also loves directing and has worked in props, costumes, and stage management (a role in which she failed miserably.) Emily has devoted her career to Arts Management, having served on the boards of Midland Center for the Arts, CTAM, Teenage Musicals Inc, and the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT), where she currently serves on the Board of Directors as a member-at-large. She is the Coordinator of Marketing and Outreach for the Department of Theatre and Dance at Central Michigan University where she spends her days pretending she’s still 20 years old. When she’s not at the theatre (ha!) Emily enjoys hanging out with her husband, Jason, and their four kids. She loves to travel, eat cheese, and cheer for the Green Bay Packers!
Winston Daniels: Winston Daniels is so grateful for the opportunity to share the room with you all. He serves as the Operations Coordinator for the American Association of Community Theatre. Having been with AACT for 11 years, his ultimate joy is witnessing the endless connections made by theatre lovers and practitioners, as well as seeing Community Theatres of all sizes succeed in this ever-changing world.
Mary Jo DeNolf: MJ is a woman who wears many hats in the theatre. Based out of Grand Rapids, she is a dedicated theatre practictioner who has worked with countless theatre organizations for many decades. In addition to being the heart and soul of CTAM programming as the CTAM Administrator she is also a past president of CTAM. She also currently serves AACT as the Festivals/Engagement Coordinator. In her role there she guides the festival program and coordinates the Festival Commissioners for all of the state and regional festivals as well as assisting with AACT’s educational programming and events.
