DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — Southeast Alabama Community Theatre’s production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow won Best of Show at ACTFest, earning a place at a regional theatre festival next spring, SEACT announced.
The Dothan theatre company competed at the Alabama Conference of Theatre’s community theatre festival, held Oct. 16–18 at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur. The event was presented in partnership with Athens State University and Calhoun Community College.
SEACT said the win gives its production a berth at the SETC Community Theatre Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, in March 2027. The Southeastern Theatre Conference’s annual convention is scheduled for March 3–6.
The production also received Outstanding Featured Ensemble recognition, along with honors for featured acting, acting achievement, costuming, choreography, sound design and set design, according to SEACT.
In the festival’s individual events for participants ages 18 and older, Katie Ash placed first in monologue and Amanda O’Ferrall placed second. Eli Fanchette earned Superior Scores in monologue, and Press Sekeres placed second in musical theatre solo, the company said.
Directed by Ash, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was first staged as a SEACT Education production at Dothan’s Cultural Arts Center. The show is based on Washington Irving’s tale of schoolteacher Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.
Local audiences will have a chance to see part of the award-winning production before the regional trip. SEACT said it will perform a 15-minute excerpt at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, during Boo Fest in downtown Dothan.
The city’s Boo Fest calendar lists the festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Porter Park Events Plaza. Admission is free, with some paid offerings available.
SEACT is seeking donations to help support its trip to the regional festival. Information is available at SEACT.com.