The Theater Association of New York State's annual TANYS Festival pools together more than 100 delegates from community-theater organizations across the state to perform and compete for outstanding actor, director, and production awards. The three-day event marks the 50th year of the festival, and this year, Daytime Emmy Award nominee Mark Park from "As the World Turns" (pictured) will be the celebrity chair. The festival combines performances with education, offering workshops and lectures dedicated to honing the craft of theatre.

The 2009 TANYS Festival runs Friday, November 20, through Sunday, November 22 at Genesee Community College in Batavia. For a full listing of events, check tanys.org.