Just because people choose theater over sports doesn't mean they lose their competitive edge.

And with the Missouri Association of Community Theatre State Festival this weekend, community theatre groups from across the Show Me State will get a chance to show they've got the dramatic goods.

"It does give you a point of reference," says Robidoux Resident Theatre business manager Jeff Haney. "When you have a ball team, you know whether you're good or not because you're winning games. In theater, it's hard to do that."

Part competition, part showcase and all theatrical, the bi-annual festival is an offshoot of the American Association of Community Theatre's festivals that have existed since the 1920s.

Six community theater groups from as far away as St. Louis, Jefferson City and Independence will be coming to perform at the festival, which will take place today, March 7 and 8 at the Missouri Theater.

RRT will also be competing. They competed two years ago and won acting and directing awards for their production of "My Left Breast." And since then, Haney has wanted to bring the theatrical fest to St. Joe.

"When we went two years ago, we thought it would be a great opportunity," he says.

Plus, having a performance facility like the Missouri Theatre was a convincing feature.

"It's pretty phenomenal space for a community theatre to be functioning out of," Haney says. "It was an easy sell."

RRT will be performing the piece "Talking With" by Jane Martin, with six individual monologues for an all-female cast. Given RRT's current male-dominated season with productions like "Peter Pan" and "Fiddler On The Roof," actress Connie Willis says it's a great opportunity to showcase the city's female thespians.

"This shows the individuality and strength of our local actresses," she says. "It's quite an honor to be on stage with these women."

The festival is open to the public and will feature workshops on community theater topics like auditioning, Shakespearian acting, first-time directing and fundraising. You can see one performance for $8 or $30 for three performances in a day. But since it's a judged competition, the doors will be locked while performances are taking place.

For more information and a full schedule of activities, contact RRT at 232-1778 or go to www.stjoelive.com.

Missouri Association Community Theatre Festival Schedule

Friday, March 6

8 to 10 a.m..: Registration - Missouri Theater lobby

8 to 9 a.m.: Technical Meetings - Ten Minutes Each - Arts Meeting Room, 128 S. Eighth St. 8 to 8:10 a.m., RRT; 8:10 to 8:20 a.m. Kearney-Holt; 8:20 to 8:30 a.m. Independence; 8:30 to 8:40 a.m. Mexico; 8:40 to 8:50 a.m. Jefferson City; 8:50 to 9 a.m. St. Louis

8 to 8:30 a.m.: Mexico load-in

10 to 11:20 a.m.: RRT rehearse

10 to 11 a.m.: Workshop 1: "Breaking Shakespeare's Code"

11 a.m. to noon: Workshop 2: "Teaching Fundraising"

11:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.: Kearney-Holt rehearse

noon to 1:30 p.m.: Lunch break

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Workshop 3: "First Time Directing"

1:30 to 2:50 p.m.: Independence rehearse

2:50 to 3 p.m.: Break

3 to 3:20 p.m.: Opening ceremony - Special performance by Merlynne Hughes

3:20 to 3:30 p.m.: RRT set-up

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: RRT performance

4:30 to 4:40 p.m.: RRT strike

4:40 to 5 p.m.: RRT adjudication

5 to 6 p.m.: Dinner break

6:10 to 6:20 p.m.: Kearney-Holt set-up

6:20 to 7:20 p.m.: Kearney-Holt performance

7:20 to 7:30 p.m.: Kearney-Holt strike

7:30 to 7:50 p.m.: Kearney-Holt adjudication

8 to 8:10 p.m.: Independence set-up

8:10 to 9:10 p.m.: Independence performance

9:10 to 9:20 p.m.: Independence strike

9:20 to 9:40 p.m.: Independence adjudication

10 p.m. to ?????: Wine reception at Robidoux Landing Playhouse

Saturday, March 7

7 to 8 a.m..: RRT and Kearney-Holt load-out

8 to 8:30 a.m.: Jefferson City load-in

8:30 to 9 a.m.: St. Louis load-in

10 to 10:20 a.m.: Mexico rehearse

9 to 10 a.m.: Workshop 1: "Breaking Shakespeare's Code"

10 to 11 a.m.: Workshop 2: "Teaching Fundraising"

10:20 to 11:40 a.m.: Jefferson City rehearse

noon to 12:30 p.m.: Lunch break

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: Workshop 3: "First Time Directing"

12:30 to 1:50 p.m.: St. Louis rehearse

2 to 2:10 p.m.: Mexico set-up

2:10 to 3:10 p.m.: Mexico performance

3:10 to 3:20 p.m.: Mexico strike

3:20 to 3:40 p.m.: Mexico adjudication

4 to 4:10 p.m.: Jefferson City set-up

4:10 to 5:10 p.m.: Jefferson City performance

5:10 to 5:20 p.m.: Jefferson City strike

5:20 to 5:40 p.m.: Jefferson City adjudication

6 to 7 p.m.: Dinner break

7:10 to 7:20 p.m.: St. Louis set-up

7:20 to 8:20 p.m.: St. Louis performance

8:20 to 8:30 p.m.: St. Louis strike

8:30 to 8:50 p.m.: St. Louis adjudication

9 to 11 p.m. Afterglow and special performance by Tad Hopkins and B.J. Talley at Robidoux Landing Playhouse

Sunday, March 8

7 to 8 a.m.: Independence and Mexico load-out

8 to 9 a.m.: Jefferson City and St. Louis load-out

10 a.m.: Brunch and annual meeting and awards ceremony at Robidoux Landing Playhouse