MARCH / APRIL 2016
Bimonthly Newsletter of Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.
CONTENTS SETC Convention
2016 SETC Convention
www.setc.org
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March 2-6
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Greensboro, NC
Logistics/Registration Page 2
Food/Entertainment Page 3
Announcements Pages 4 - 5 Above: Peter Schumann. Left: The Bread and Puppet Museum, founded by Schumann in 1974, is a massive accumulation of the puppets, masks, paintings and graphics of the Bread and Puppet Theater. Photos by Massimo Schuster.
Theatre Festivals Page 6
Design Competition Page 7
Professionals Pages 8 - 9
Interest Groups Pages 10 - 12
Columns Pages 13 - 15
Miscellaneous News Page 16
Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.
F R I D A Y Artist Peter Schumann, KEYNOTE Founder of Bread and Puppet Theater
Join us at 2:30 p.m. Friday to hear internationally acclaimed artist and dancer Peter Schumann share his story in a keynote presentation. Born in Germany, Schumann came to the U.S. in 1961 and, two years later, founded Bread and More on 2016 Puppet Theater in New York. The theatre soon became known puppet focus, not just for its engaging shows for children, but also for the role Page 4 its life-size puppets played in protests against the Vietnam War. Bread and Puppet has been based since 1970 in Vermont, where Schumann has continued to build puppets, create giant outdoor spectacles and develop shows that tour locally, nationally and internationally. His theatre has achieved worldwide recognition and won numerous awards, including an Obie Award, the Erasmus Award from Amsterdam, the Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Puppeteers of America Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and ribbons in parades in Hardwick and Barton, VT. More info: breadandpuppet.org Registration: setc.org/convention
2016 SETC CONVENTION
LOGISTICS/REGISTRATION
Connecting You to Opportunities in Theatre
Executive Committee President: Tiza Garland VP of Administration: Steve Bayless VP of Services: Pat Gagliano VP of Finance: John Spiegel Secretary: Adanma Onyedike Barton Past President: David Wohl VP of States: Mike Hudson Acting VP of Divisions: Amie Kisling
Central Office Betsey Horth Executive Director SETC 1175 Revolution Mill Dr. Studio 14 Greensboro NC 27405 336-272-3645 info@setc.org
News Submissions Deanna Thompson, Editor deanna@setc.org
WHERE CAN I GET A PROGRAM? You don’t have to wait until you’re in Greensboro to get your convention program! Visit 2016setcconvention.sched. org now to view events and chart out your personal schedule, accessible via smartphone, tablet, laptop or the SETC mobile app.
WHERE CAN I GET SETC’S MOBILE APP? The SETC mobile app is available now in the Google Play Store (Android phone and tablet); in the Apple App Store (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch); and online, allowing you to access info directly from your laptop. The app is powered by Sched and sponsored by Arts People, software for the performing arts.
WHERE IS REGISTRATION? Go to the Sheraton Greensboro/Koury Convention Center’s Guilford Ballroom Prefunction Area on the first floor. This is where you’ll pick up your convention packet, get answers at the Info Hub, buy convention gear, and place Silent Auction bids.
WHERE CAN I PARK MY CAR? Parking is free for all SETC Convention attendees at the Sheraton Koury Center.
WHY CAN’T I FIND GATE CITY BOULEVARD ON GPS? The name of Gate City Boulevard, the street where the Sheraton Koury Center is located, was recently changed. It may be noted as High Point Road or Lee Street on your GPS.
CAN I REGISTER ON-SITE FOR THE JOB FAIR? Yes. You will find 97 theatres hiring for more than 1,200 jobs at SETC’s Theatre Job Fair. Details on how to register on-site are here: www.setc.org/images/theatre-jobs/ TheatreJobFairONSITE-RegGuidelines.pdf More info: setc.org/convention www.setc.org
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2016 SETC CONVENTION
FOOD/ENTERTAINMENT
SETC 2016 March 2 - 6, 2016 Greensboro, NC
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS JIM WARREN American Shakespeare Center 7 p.m., Wednesday BILL OBERST JR. Actor, Theatre/Film/TV 2:30 p.m., Thursday PETER SCHUMANN Bread and Puppet Theater 2:30 p.m., Friday PEARL CLEAGE SETC 2016 Distinguished Career Award Winner 2:30 p.m., Saturday
SPECIAL PRESENTATION ARETTA BAUMGARTNER Puppetry Arts Center “Puppetry Is Theatre” 7 p.m., Wednesday
WHERE CAN I GET FOOD/DRINK IN THE SHERATON KOURY CENTER? • • • • • •
Café Expresso - Starbucks coffee, grab-n-go lunch, continental breakfast, desserts. Joseph’s Restaurant - Classic American restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner. Skylite Café - Hot brick oven pizza, wraps, sandwiches, salads. Bar Down Under - Enjoy drinks, wine, craft beer, small plate pairings. Brass Bar - Great place to unwind with your colleagues and friends. Connection Martini Bar - Relax with a martini after a day of meetings.
WHAT OTHER DINING OPTIONS ARE NEARBY? • Four Seasons Town Centre - Located a quick walk across the parking lot, this mall has three full-service restaurants and a large food court. • Want to discover more? Check out the Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau Dining Guide at visitgreensboronc.com/dining.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE EVENING? Check your convention schedule for times and locations of the many festival performances, social events, staged readings and workshops happening at the convention!
WHERE CAN I SEE A LIST OF SOCIAL EVENTS AT THE CONVENTION? Check your program. Social events range from the opening night Design-Tech Mixer to Saturday’s SETC Awards Banquet, Gala and Celebration Dance.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS TO DO IN GREENSBORO? • Greensboro is home to a number of theatres, including Triad Stage, named “one of the top 10 most promising theatres in the country” by American Theatre Wing. It is presenting Radiunt Abundunt by Preston Lane, music by Laurelyn Dossett. Mention SETC for 20 percent off tickets. Box office: 336-944-5500. More info: triadstage.org. • The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, located downtown, is housed in the Woolworth’s where students from North Carolina A&T State University helped launch the sit-in movement. Phone: 336-274-9199. More info: sitinmovement.org. More info: setc.org/convention
www.setc.org
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2016 SETC CONVENTION
SHORT TAKES Frankie Day Remembered At 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 4. the national theatre honorary societies Alpha Psi Omega/Delta Psi Omega will celebrate the life of North Carolina A&T State University professor Frankie Day, who was their national president at the time of her 2015 death. Ready to Publish You’ve heard of SETC’s Ready to Work Award for designers. Now there’s also a Ready to Publish Award, sponsored by Stage Rights. Playwrights will vie for the opportunity to have their play published in the Stage Rights catalog, receive a $300 royalty advance, and have their play read at next year’s convention. Hear playwrights’ pitches in a workshop at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 5. All-State Meeting This year all states will gather together for one big All-State Meeting at 4 p.m. Friday, March 4. You’re from a state. Join us! Cash bar. www.setc.org
Pumped for Puppets? It’s a good bet that puppets will be the talk of the convention this year, with life-size puppets roaming the halls and renowned puppet artists sharing their skills in the Teachers Institute, the Friday keynote (see Page 1) and several workshops as well. The puppets at right were created by Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Burger, cofounders of Paperhand Puppet Intervention, based in central North Carolina. You’ll meet some of their larger-than-life puppets Thursday, Puppets from Paperhand Puppet Intervention. when they escort convention attendees from Photo by Kara Stewart. the keynote address to the Exhibit Hall for the Commercial Exhibitor Hour and Connecting the Dots Raffle. You’ll get an opportunity to mingle with more of them at Saturday’s Awards Banquet and Gala. Learn about Zimmerman’s artistic techniques in a workshop at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 3. Also, Teachers Institute presenter Aretta Baumgartner of the Center for Puppetry Arts presents a workshop at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 3. Search “puppet” in your mobile app to locate all of the puppet-related events at this year’s convention.
Three Events You Won’t Want to Miss at SETC SETC’s Silent Auction, Wednesday-Saturday Support SETC’s scholarships by bidding on a treasure trove of theatre items and memorabilia in SETC’s annual Silent Auction. Items include the vintage Russian ballet tutu/costume at left; an antique long rifle; a souvenir program from the original Finian’s Rainbow production; a script published in 1759; and numerous show tickets donated by theatres. View the items in the Sheraton Koury Center’s Guilford Ballroom Prefunction Area. Bill Oberst Jr., Ray Bradbury’s Pillar of Fire, 9 p.m. Friday Stage and horror film actor Bill Oberst Jr. performs his latest one-man show for SETC Convention attendees Friday evening. You also can join Bill for a casual chat-back following his keynote presentation Thursday at 4:30 p.m., and he will lead an open masterclass on Friday at 10:30 a.m. DJ Ya Boi Boi, Celebration Dance, 10 p.m. Saturday Robert Lewis, AKA Ya Boi Boi, returns for the fifth year to deejay the Celebration Dance following Saturday’s Awards Banquet. A disc jockey since 2008 in Huntsville, AL, Lewis is also a theatre geek who says, “Some of the greatest moments of my life included doing shows at my school.” More info: setc.org/convention March / April 2016
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2016 SETC CONVENTION
Get Social with SETC Join SETC on social media to connect with fellow convention attendees, receive live updates, and share your own photos and experiences. Follow SETC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and use the hashtag #SETC2016 to join the conversation. This year’s SETC mobile app, powered by Sched and sponsored by Arts People, makes networking easier than ever. Create your own profile to see who else is attending the sessions you’re interested in. Download the app and join the SETC community at 2016setcconvention. sched.org.
Submit Your Workshop for SETC 2017 Now! SETC will open the 2017 Workshop Proposal Online Application during this year’s convention. Build and capture your great ideas and collaborations during your time in Greensboro. To submit a proposal for the 2017 convention or to learn more about submission requirements and guidelines, visit setc.org/workshop-proposals. SETC seeks innovative, cutting-edge proposals as well as successful ideas from past conventions. We also hope to expand our professional development series next year, so get your proposals together. We look forward to hearing your ideas for 2017!
CONVENTION GEAR:
Don’t Go Home without It! Look for lots of new items this year in Convention Gear, including notebooks, sweatshirts, tank tops and caps, as well T-shirts bearing quotes from William Shakespeare to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his death. Convention Gear will be on display in the Sheraton Koury Center’s Guilford Ballroom Prefunction Area on the first floor near Registration.
Share your posts and pictures:
facebook.com/setc.org
twitter.com/setctweet
instagram.com/setc
More info: setc.org/convention www.setc.org
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2016 SETC CONVENTION
Community Theatre Festival Adjudicators
FESTIVAL
TRANSPORTATION Driving to the CT Festival? Individuals driving to UNC Greensboro’s Taylor Theatre for the Community Theatre Festival may park in one of three on-campus parking decks. All three are $2 for the first hour and $1 for each consecutive hour, with a $7 day/entry maximum. Details: parking.uncg.edu/parkingoperations/visitors In addition, the Weatherspoon Art Museum parking lot will be available after 5 p.m. Driving to the HS Festival? Individuals driving to Greensboro College’s Huggins Theatre for the High School Theatre Festival may park in the Reynolds Center parking lot. Huggins Auditorium is in the Odell Building. Prefer to take a shuttle? Park at the Sheraton Greensboro/Koury Convention Center and catch the shuttle at Entrance F in the Sheraton. The shuttle goes to Taylor Theatre (CT Festival site), then to Huggins Theatre (HS Festival site), and then returns to the Sheraton to begin again. Note: Be at the stop 5-10 minutes prior to the “Depart from Sheraton” time. Please help us stay on schedule by being on time. View the schedule here.
Art Nemitz
Tammy Killian
Kristi Quinn
Actor/Director, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
Chair, Department of Theatre, Western Illinois University
Artistic Director, Pioneer Valley Players
High School Theatre Festival Adjudicators
Michael J. Bobbitt
Moses Goldberg
Debby Gibbs
Producing Artistic Director, Adventure Theatre MTC
Retired Producing Director, Greensboro, NC
Retired Theatre Educator, Tupelo, MS
Theatre for Youth Festival Respondents
Scot Copeland
Mary Rose Lloyd
Producing Artistic Director, Nashville Children’s Theatre
Director, Artistic Programming, New Victory Theater
More info: setc.org/festivals-convention www.setc.org
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2016 SETC CONVENTION: DESIGN-TECH
2016 Design Competition Adjudicators Offer Advice
Jeremy J. Lee Sound Design
Stan Pressner Lighting Design
Todd Rosenthal Scene Design
Fabio Toblini Costume Design
A frequent off-Broadway and regional theatre designer, he also created sound for Nilo Cruz’s Pais de Bicicleta in Bogota and was associate designer for the Bridge Project’s 2010 World Tour.
Known internationally for his work in theatre and dance, he recently designed lighting for Broadway’s Twelfth Night and Richard III and Carnegie Hall’s Sacred Ellington.
A Tony Award winner for August Osage County, he also has worked in regional theatre and on international stages and is the only American set designer to win England’s Laurence Olivier Award.
An award-winning designer, he created the costumes for Broadway’s 2013 Romeo and Juliet. His credits also include off-Broadway plays and numerous regional theatre productions.
His advice for young designers: In order to sing, you have to hear the note in your head first. In order to design a sound, you have to learn to listen to your mind’s ear. Your mind’s ear, once you train yourself to listen to it, is your secret weapon.
His advice for young designers: The community you choose to engage with will be your greatest treasure. Gather to yourself people whose opinion and creativity you respect, listen to them, offer them your honest opinion, and engage in fruitful discussion with them. The questions are always: What were we attempting to convey? How did we succeed? How did we fail?
His advice for young designers: Before learning the computer, learn how to draw by hand. Computers limit the happy accident. The serendipitous mishap with the brush and the pencil, the line gone astray, the wash gone awry often leads to compelling discoveries.
His advice for young designers: Directors, fellow designers, musicians and technicians of all sorts – all contribute to materialize worlds that writers create on a blank page. We watch actors take on the souls of people that otherwise would be lost or simply have never existed. Costume designers give them a body that allows them to become those people.
Practice by listening to the rhythms and tones of the world around you. How is your aural environment affecting your mood, your day, your lunch? Babies learn to talk by listening. Learn how to listen like a baby, and decipher the language of sound. But don’t forget to have some fun along the way!
It is a big world out there. Engage with ALL of it. Work with joy, respect and grace, keep your ears and eyes open, and remember that EVERYONE working with you is as essential to the production as you.
Include rough drawings in your portfolio. They show how you think through ideas. These purely original marks tell me more about you as an artist than a printout of a computer file. The computer is a useful tool, but, for young designers, it often documents ideas better than it assists in discovering them.
Costume design is a great journey from the most abstract to the most physical and tangible aspects of life. It’s the ultimate art of collaboration.
More info: setc.org/design-competition www.setc.org
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PROFESSIONAL COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
Hiring through SETC: Sight & Sound Theatres ‘We have attended SETC’s Spring Professional Auditions for over 10 years now, seeking out the highest caliber of trained, professional and experienced talent. April J’C Marshall and her team always run an efficient and effective week of auditions.’ - Courtney Ell-Suders and Josh Enck SETC recently caught up with Courtney Ell-Suders, casting director, and Josh Enck, co-president, at Sight & Sound Theatres.
Tell us about your theatre. What was the first show you produced? And when? A Land of Our Own was the first performance in 1976. It was slides of landscape photography taken by our founder Glenn Eshelman and set to music. Live actors were eventually added and, in 1987, Behold the Lamb debuted as the first full-length live stage production. Today, Sight & Sound Theatres is the largest faith-based live theatre in the country and has been described as “Christian Broadway.”
What is your mission? What types of shows do you produce? Moses premieres March 6 at Sight & Sound’s theatre in Branson, MO. Image courtesy of Sight & Sound Theatres.
In a nutshell, our purpose is to bring the Bible to life through who we are and what we do. We are known for producing family-friendly, epic biblical productions. We are storytellers, and the best stories known to man are found in the Bible.
What type of theatre do you have? And what are you producing? We have two theatres: one in Strasburg, PA, and one in Branson, MO. Each of these theatres has a 300-foot, wrap-around stage and roughly 2,000 seats. Our audiences are surrounded by and immersed in the stories that play out each day. In the spring of 2016, we are excited to premiere Samson in our Strasburg, PA, theatre, and Moses in our Branson, MO, theatre.
How does SETC assist you in your operations? Due to the epic stories and production level of our shows, every cast member must be at the utmost level of talent and tenacity to keep up with both the demanding rehearsal process and the run of each show. Like most theatres, we’re looking for the triple-threat performers. But, we’re also a theatre that propels the gospel of Jesus Christ, so we’re also looking for performers who share our beliefs. SETC is one of only two major audition conferences we attend each year and has proven to be a fruitful casting resource for our theatre. More info: sight-sound.com www.setc.org
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PROFESSIONAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Getting a Job through SETC: Savannah Relos
Attending the 2016 Job Fair or Pro Auditions? Break a Leg Network is sponsoring a help station this year for those participating in the SETC Job Fair and Professional Auditions. Volunteers at the station in the Torrey Pines room will answer questions and give directions. They also will have snacks! Show your auditionee or job fair badge for entry.
Savannah Relos started stage managing at 15 for community theatres and graduated to professional work at 17. Since earning a BFA in drama with an emphasis in technical direction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2015, she has landed work as a carpenter, performer fly crew chief and stage management apprentice in professional theatres. How did you get your first professional job? I began working professionally as a stage manager when people I worked with in community theatres introduced me to professional theatres in the area. As a carpenter, I got my start in a very similar manner, knowing someone who introduced me to someone else.
What type of shows do you like to work on most? I like to build/TD and stage manage musicals best. They tend to have larger and more fantastical sets, which are fun to build. They also have the potential to utilize automation and other technically interesting elements. I was first exposed to opera when working at The Santa Fe Opera in 2014, and those sets were incredible as well.
Where have you landed jobs since graduating? I am currently working with the Dallas Theater Center as their stage management apprentice. We just finished their annual production of A Christmas Carol in December and are in previews for Romeo and Juliet. I worked last summer with the Berkshire Theatre Group in Massachusetts as one of their carpenters, as well as the performer fly crew chief for their production of Mary Poppins. I will be returning to the Berkshire Theatre Group this summer as their assistant technical director.
How has SETC assisted you as a theatre professional? SETC helped me secure my summer internship in 2014 with The Santa Fe Opera, which was a degree requirement for my major. I also got my summer job at Berkshire Theatre Group through the SETC Job Fair in 2015. I have since utilized and will continue to utilize SETC as a great way to interview for jobs and scope out potential graduate school options. I will be attending this year’s SETC Convention, looking for full-time jobs while there.
More info: setc.org/spring-professional www.setc.org
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2016 SETC CONVENTION: THEATRE DISCIPLINES
What’s Happening in Your Interest Area? ACTING/ DIRECTING
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
DESIGN/ TECHNOLOGY
Trent Blanton Chair
Kristofer Geddie Chair
Michael Smith Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: Make sure you catch Bill Oberst Jr.’s keynote on Thursday, March 3. You also don’t want to miss his master class and solo performance of Ray Bradbury’s Pillar of Fire on Friday, March 4. In addition, we have some exciting workshops on bicoastal acting careers and making great iPhone video auditions, plus career tips from Actors’ Equity. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional, you’ll find plenty of learning opportunities. Workshops in Chekhov, Meisner, Adler, practical aesthetics,improv and devised theatre led by experienced teachers can help you develop your actor “toolbox.” We have a little bit of everything, no matter your experience level! OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: Don’t miss Pearl Cleage’s keynote on Saturday afternoon and her acceptance of SETC’s Distinguished Career Award on Saturday night, March 5. OUR MEETING: Our interest group meeting is at 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 2. We will announce some exciting changes for the committee. See you there!
DON’T MISS THIS: Be sure to attend SETC Distinguished Career Award recipient Pearl Cleage’s keynote presentation, “Drawings on a Dry Cave Wall,” at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 5. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Cultural Diversity workshops are indeed for all. Topics range from “Problematic Portrayals” to “Acknowledging Autism: Adapting Conventions to Bridge the Gap” to tips for promoting a partnership with formerly incarcerated citizens. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: Gender parity is a discussion topic at two workshops on Friday, March 4: “What the Dramatists Guild Does and Why” at 10:30 a.m. and “Forum Theatre: Creating Gender Parity” at 5:30 p.m. OUR MEETING: Please plan to attend our interest group meeting at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 5. We will wrap up discussions and explore any growing needs in the area of cultural diversity.
DON’T MISS THIS: Be sure to attend the Distinguished Designers’ keynote address by top Broadway and professional designers Stan Pressner, Todd Rosenthal, Jeremy Lee and Todd Rosenthal. It should be a great presentation, with time for a Q&A afterward. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: We have a wide range of workshops covering all disciplines and areas of interest. Check out the Media Lab. Get a group together and join the fun of the Stage Management Games. Check out the Design South Series to see what professional designers in our area are up to. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: The Design Competition viewing is open to all, displaying the work of student designers in Scenic, Lighting, Costume, Costume Crafts Technology, Sound and Properties design categories. Come and check out the juried responses and support your school’s designers as they discuss their work with our esteemed guest designers and adjudicators. OUR MEETING: Students, faculty and other professionals are invited to join us for the DesignTech interest group meeting at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 5.
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More info: 2016setcconvention.sched.org www.setc.org
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2016 SETC CONVENTION: THEATRE DISCIPLINES
What’s Happening in Your Interest Area? HIST/THEORY/ CRIT/LIT
PLAYWRITING
RELIGION & THEATRE
Sarah McCarroll Chair
Todd Ristau Chair
Mark Paladini Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: Start your convention with a bang! Join us at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 2, for the keynote address by Jim Warren, cofounder and artistic director of the American Shakespeare Center. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: The fourth year of our “Key Plays” roundtable discussion highlights plays from the 21st century. Join us to talk about your favorite new scripts. If something a bit more historical is your cup of tea, join Tony Haigh and Rick St. Peter for a discussion of Shakespeare’s London on Thursday morning. A number of workshops feature a “hands-on” approach to theatre history and literature. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: The Young Scholars Award winners present their papers at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 5: Nick Richardson of Florida State University, “Does the Boot Fit: Understanding Race and Sexuality Representations in the Musical Kinky Boots”; and MFA candidate Emily Plonski of the University of North Carolina, “A Historical Analysis of Costume: Madam C. J. Walker.” OUR MEETING: The Theatre History, Theory, Criticism and Literature interest group meets at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 5.
DON’T MISS THIS: The staged reading of this year’s winner of the Charles M. Getchell New Play Award, Another Man’s Treasure by Ben Gierhart, will take place at 7 p.m., Friday, March 4. The reading, directed by Steve Burch, will be followed by a discussion. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: There are lots of playwriting workshops being led by some of the true leaders in new play development. Workshop topics include: how to involve playwriting across the high school curriculum, how to help your submission stand out from the stack of other plays, how to get the first 15 minutes of your play working effectively, new play dramaturgy, what the Dramatists Guild does for playwrights, and, believe it or not, storytelling in professional wrestling! OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: Playwright Pearl Cleage will be honored with SETC’s 2016 Distinguished Career Award. You won’t want to miss her keynote at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 5. OUR MEETING: Attend the playwriting interest group meeting at 9 a.m., Friday, March 4, to make suggestions for playwriting options next year.
DON’T MISS THIS: Join us for the Christians in Theatre Arts (CITA) networking meeting at 7 p.m., Friday, March 4. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: We have a diverse array of workshops, ranging from “Biblical Ten-Minute Plays: Adapting Texts for Performance” at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 3 to “Safe Spaces: Spiritual Awareness through Applied Theatre Techniques” at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 5. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: Don’t miss the popular “Quo Vadis – Educating the Christian Actor in the 21st Century,” an ongoing conversation discussing the challenges of training professionals in conjunction with the integration of faith and art. OUR MEETING: The Religion & Theatre interest group meeting will be held at noon, Friday, March 4.
Check your program at the link below for locations of meetings and workshops
More info: 2016setcconvention.sched.org www.setc.org
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2016 SETC CONVENTION: THEATRE DISCIPLINES
What’s Happening in Your Interest Area? STAGE MANAGEMENT
STAGE MOVEMENT
VOICE/ SPEECH
Shawn Paul Evans Chair
Chris Beaulieu Chair
Georgia Martin Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: Everyone is encouraged to participate in – or watch – the Stage Management Games on Thursday, March 3. Up to 25 participants will compete in six events testing their stage management skills. Sign-up starts Thursday at 6 p.m., and the event begins at 7 p.m. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: We have a plethora of workshops this year, including sessions on stage management teamwork, festival management, the business side of being a freelance stage manager, and advice on becoming an Equity stage manager. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: Don’t miss the sessions on tuning up your stage management interview or how Qlab can be a stage manager’s friend. OUR MEETING: Our interest group meeting is at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 5. In this meeting, the committee decides most of the topics and sessions for the next convention. Attend this meeting and become a member of the SETC Stage Management Interest Group.
DON’T MISS THIS: Explore the art of puppetry and get a true taste of the physicality and character work it takes to breathe life into a puppet at a number of workshops and events, including the Friday keynote by Peter Schumann. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: From Gulshirin Dubash’s NOH theatre to Meredith Fox’s body alignment EBAS training, this year’s program has a slew of fantastic new presenters. The best part is they are geared to challenge all levels, from professionals to students. OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: Take a challenge during this convention to try something new, something unfamiliar. Even though the workshops are categorized by different aspects of theatre, they are all connected and vital to fine-tuning who you are as an artist. Get curious. Be adventurous. The most notable event is the moment you surprise yourself and expand your horizon. OUR MEETING: The Stage Movement Committee will hold an open meeting at noon, Friday, March 4, to share thoughts and questions concerning future conventions’ focus on stage movement. Please join us.
DON’T MISS THIS: For professionals, faculty and anyone else wanting to learn about an amazing new way to free up your voice, Campbell University faculty will be presenting ‘Whole Body Vibration’ research, including an opportunity to try it out firsthand. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: From dialects and voice-overs to expressive voicing, you will find workshops for every level. Among the 16 workshops: “Flying Scots Boot Camp,” “Acting in the Audiobook Industry,” “Painting with Sound,” and for the professionals, “Rhetoric in Action.” OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: If you haven’t had the opportunity before, “Voicing and Embodying Archetypes of Myths and Legends” at 10:30 a.m., and “Acquiring Accents: The British Isles” at 1 p.m., are workshops not to be missed, both on Friday, March 4. OUR MEETING: Faculty, grad students and other professionals are invited to the Voice and Speech interest group meeting at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 4. You also can join us to discuss burning issues at noon, Saturday, March 5.
More info: 2016setcconvention.sched.org www.setc.org
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Sponsors Help SETC Bring the Convention to You Keynotes. Design Competition. Design-Tech Mixer. Community and High School Theatre Festivals. Stage Management Games. Awards Banquet and Gala.
Tiza Garland PR ESID ENT
These are just a few of the events that sponsors help make possible each year at the SETC Convention through funding or in-kind donations. Our longtime sponsors and our new sponsors help us maintain high standards, and they are important catalysts for creating new events and opportunities for SETC members. This year, for example, Arts People stepped up to sponsor our mobile convention app, Church Interiors Audio and Video is sponsoring the video recording of our keynote speakers, and Dramatists Play Service donated Pearl Cleage scripts for each table at Saturday’s Awards Banquet. Click on the logos below to learn more about the sponsors of the 2016 convention. Sponsorships are frequently initiated by company representatives looking for a way to promote a product and/or support SETC. If you have interest in being a sponsor, we would love to hear from you. Contact SETC’s Central Office at betsey@setc.org.
Thanks to the 2016 SETC Convention Sponsors!
More info: setc.org/convention www.setc.org
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Follow the Leadership Track at SETC “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” - Jack Welch, former GE Chairman and CEO “And, to continue leading well, you need to continue growing!” - Me Betsey Horth EX E CUTIV E D IR EC T O R
At the SETC Convention, you have an opportunity to do all three. Workshops, forums, mentor programs, business sessions and roundtables on leadership topics are integrated into 3½ days of programming. A SAMPLING OF WORKSHOPS:
Be Part of SETC’s New Leadership Initiative Would you like to help guide new leaders in SETC? Jeremy Kisling is overseeing the development of a mentor program targeting people who are interested in helping the next generation of theatre artists connect to opportunities in theatre. Starting at the 2016 convention, SETC will arrange “mentor pods” for individuals interested in leadership positions in SETC. Mentees have a chance to network and learn about SETC’s governing board. Interested in being a mentor or a mentee? Fill out the application at setc.org/mentoringprogram www.setc.org
• Applying Leadership to Theatrical Stage Management Use of leadership theories in stage management to encourage collaboration. • Gender Empowerment in Academia and the Performing Arts Discussion of gender empowerment in the current atmosphere of gender politics, performing arts and academia by an all-male panel. • Management Principles for Event Professionals How to leverage core management techniques via a diverse array of opportunities. • Strategic Planning and Targeted Growth for Your Company Tips for a strategic planning process led by your theatre’s executive leadership. • Synthesis and Accountability in Actor Training Common-sense approaches for developing actors’ skills and confidence. • Sustainability in the Small Programs Tips for being personally/departmentally sustainable in a small theatre program. • Empowering the Neurodiverse Artist, Tools for Teachers Practical tools to encourage inclusion of neurodiverse artists. A SAMPLING OF FORUMS: • Producing Theatre Forum: Building a Thriving Theatre, Saturday, 9 a.m. Seven producers from successful, sustainable professional and community theatres offer thoughts on how to grow while maintaining quality work. Afterward, each producer leads a roundtable discussion on a particular challenge that growing theatres face, such as fundraising, venue management and audience building. • Volunteer/Professional Organization Leadership Forum, Thurs., 10 a.m. Special presentation by Nina Ozlu Tunceli, chief counsel of government and public affairs for Americans for the Arts, and executive director of Americans for the Arts Action Fund. • Executive Directors of State and National Theatre Organizations, State Presidents and SETC State Representatives Roundtable discussions to be held throughout the convention.
More info: 2016setcconvention.sched.org March / April 2016
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THEATRE & THE LAW
COPYRIGHT? CENSORSHIP? ACCESSIBILITY? Get Answers to Legal Questions in Greensboro
Dan Ellison ATTO R N EY AT L AW
Every year, I compile a list of theatre-related cases and controversies from the past year to discuss in my SETC Convention session, “Legal Issues in the Theatre.” The list this year includes: • Copyright controversies, including fair use issues such as Erin Pike’s Thatswhatshesaid. More info: tinyurl.com/zxhhpmz • Licensing-related contract terms, including the Wooster Group controversy. More info: tinyurl.com/jqj3yop • New studies, programs and shows that add to our understanding of how to incorporate more access for people with disabilities, including Deaf West’s production of Spring Awakening. More info: deafwest.org • Censorship issues making headlines, including a Connecticut high school’s cancellation of a production of American Idiot. More info: tinyurl.com/j4wgb6t • Personal injury incidents and natural disasters, including flooding that led to show cancellations at Grand Opera House York. More info: tinyurl.com/jpwuakd
Dan Ellison is a Durham, NC-based attorney with a concentration in artsrelated and nonprofit law. He can be reached at artandmuseumlaw@ aol.com. The contents of this column are intended for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstance. www.setc.org
My session also includes a general overview of theatre-related legal issues and time for your questions. I want to hear from you to discern the issues that are of the most interest to you and your theatre. The questions and ensuing discussions are a great opportunity for folks to share information and concerns, and for all of us to learn!
Workshop Details: When: 9-10:15 a.m., Thursday, March 3 What: Legal Issues for the Theatre: Update and Review Where: Pinehurst room, Sheraton Koury Center Presenter: Dan Ellison
More info: 2016setcconvention.sched.org March / April 2016
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MISCELLANEOUS NEWS STATE CONVENTION NEWS HAVE A QUESTION FOR SETC CENTRAL OFFICE? Find the right contact to answer your question Rachel Blake rachel@setc.org General Questions Advertising in Publications April J’C Marshall april@setc.org Professional Auditions Screening Auditions Theatre Job Services Mark Snyder mark@setc.org Listings in Theatre Job Board Membership Accounts Receivable Claire Wisniewski claire@setc.org Undergrad School Auditions Graduate School Auditions Commercial Exhibits Education Expo Festivals Kim Doty kim@setc.org Social Media Communications/Website Quiana Clark-Roland quiana@setc.org Convention Planning Convention Logistics Workshop Proposals Betsey Horth betsey@setc.org Organization Leadership
Mississippi Theatre Association Lee Crouse State Representative
Event: Annual conference. Number attending: 478 students, 180 adults and 25 walk-ins. Winners of Community Theatre Festival: Private Wars, Tupelo
Community Theatre, Tupelo, MS; Patio, The Center Players, Madison, MS. Winners of High School Theatre Festival: See Ya at the Savoy!, Oak Grove High School, Hattiesburg, MS; Eurodyce, Starkville High School, Starkville, MS. Idea to share: We created a video on what colleges and universities are looking for in auditions.
In Memoriam Mark J. Malinauskas, SETC President in 1999-2000, died Dec. 8, 2015, in Murray, KY, at the age of 76. A longtime member of SETC, he was retired from Murray State University, where he was director of theatre from 1978 to 1993 and then director of the honors program until his retirement in 2008. Known in SETC as a gracious leader with a wonderful sense of humor, he was honored with the Suzanne Davis Award, SETC’s highest honor for one of its own, in 2003.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Keone Fuqua, chair of the Department of Theatre and Communication at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS, and a longtime SETC Convention operations assistant, plays the janitor, Joseph, in the recently-released Christian film Yellow Day. Read more here: tinyurl.com/hy6bxtl
Mark Charney, director of the School of Theatre and Dance at Texas Tech University and a longtime SETC member, received one of West Texas’s highest honors, the William Kerns Award for Performing Arts, on Feb. 20.
Send your news to deanna@setc.org www.setc.org
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