SETC News – March/April 2023

Bimonthly Newsletter of Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.

CONTENTS

SETC CONVENTION

Details & Keynotes

Page 2

Theatre Festivals

Page 3

Getchell Award

Page 4

Costume Design, Playwriting

Page 5

Southern Theatre, Secondary Schools

Page 6

Bullpen Podcast, Family Room

Page 7

Interest Areas

Pages 8 - 12

SETC Grants

Page 13

President’s Column

Page 14

Theatre Symposium, Mississippi Report

Page 15

Hall of Fame, In Memoriam

Pages 16

NEWS SUBMISSIONS

Deanna Thompson, Editor deanna@setc.org

www.setc.org

Here’s the Info You Need to Hit the Ground Running at SETC 2023!

HOW CAN I GET A PROGRAM BEFORE I ARRIVE?

Both the PDF convention program and our SETC Convention App are available at convention.setc.org/app. Make your own itinerary and stay up to date on notifications throughout the convention using the app!

WHERE CAN I GET SETC’S MOBILE APP?

In addition to the link above, you can find the SETC Convention App in the Google Play Store (Android devices) or in the Apple App Store (iOS devices). The app is powered by Guidebook and sponsored by Arts People, a Neon One Company

WHERE IS THE REGISTRATION DESK IN LEXINGTON?

Head to the Exhibit Hall Prefunction Area in Central Bank Center, located at 430 W. Vine Street in Lexington, to find Convention Registration. You can pick up your convention packet there Wednesday, March 1, noon to 8 p.m.; Thursday - Friday, March 2 - 3, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, March 4, 8 a.m. to noon. Have questions while at the convention? Get answers at the nearby Info Hub.

Want to attend? Register on-site in Lexington!

Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.

DETAILS / FOOD

Central Bank Center (right), the location for most 2023 SETC Convention events, recently underwent a $310-million renovation that concluded with a grand opening in April 2022.

WHERE ARE CONVENTION EVENTS BEING HELD?

Workshops and most events are being held in the newly renovated Central Bank Center (CBC) (above) and two hotels connected via pedway: the Hilton Lexington/ Downtown and the Hyatt Regency Downtown Lexington. See Page 3 for festival locations. All venues are within walking distance.

WHERE CAN I GET FOOD/DRINK IN THE CONVENTION CENTER?

On-site dining options are available in the Exhibit Hall. See the convention app for details. Please note: Outside food and beverages are not allowed in the CBC.

CONVENTION KEYNOTES

DESIGN KEYNOTES

SKYLAR FOX

Thursday 2 p.m.

INDIRA ETWAROO Friday 2 p.m

CARLTON MOLETTE

Saturday 2:30 p.m.

Distinguished Career Award Recipient with Barbara Molette (posthumously)

HARLAN D. PENN

Thursday 7:30 p.m

More info: convention.setc.org

MARY LOUISE GEIGER

Thursday 7:30 p.m

MARIANNE CUSTER

Thursday 7:30 p.m

Community Theatre Festival Adjudicators

Community Theatre Festival

The Community Theatre Festival will be held Thursday, March 2, and Friday, March 3, at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, 141 E. Main St., Lexington.

Secondary School Festival

The Secondary School Theatre Festival will be held Thursday, March 2, and Friday, March 3, at the Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St., Lexington. Free for all registered convention attendees. See Page 6 to purchase tickets for others who wish to attend and to view more festival information.

Theatre for Youth Festival

The Theatre for Youth Festival will be held Thursday, March 2, and Friday, March 3, at Lexington Children’s Theatre, 418 W. Short St., Lexington.

Fringe and Short Play

FESTIVAL BASICS: What You Need to Know Short Play Festival Respondent

Lexington Children’s Theatre is also the location for the Fringe Festival, which will be held Friday, March 2, and Saturday, March 3, and performances in the Short Play Festival, sponsored by Hollins Playwright’s Lab, which will be on Thursday, March 2

Secondary School Theatre Festival Adjudicators

Theatre for Youth Festival Respondents

Diane Carr Consultant, Arts/Education

Ari Calvano University of Louisville

Kimberly Frick-Welker Cookeville Performing Arts Center

Dennis Yslas Longtime AACT Adjudicator

Kody C. Jones Naples Performing Arts Center

Billy Wilburn South Dakota State University

Gregory J. Horton NC A&T State University

N.D. Seibel Auburn University Montgomery

Nathan R. Miles University of Alabama

Synopsis: A Thing of Beauty

Mrs. Bouffant is outraged when an anonymous nude takes first prize in the community art competition she sponsors. When she learns the artist is the mailman who is constantly losing her deliveries, she enlists her secretary to lobby the judges for a more appropriate winner, unaware that Imelda herself is the muse who inspired the work. But their joint campaign for decency runs aground when an influential New York art critic arrives in town, hell-bent on sticking a finger in the eye of the elite big city art scene by championing an unknown, workingclass painter.

CHARLES M. GETCHELL AWARD

D.W. Gregory Wins for Play that ‘Invokes a Little Bit of Oscar Wilde and a Smidge of Groucho Marx’

D.W. Gregory (she/her) was “delighted – and a little surprised” to hear that her play A Thing of Beauty had won SETC’s 2022 Charles M. Getchell Award.

“Though I had a lot of fun writing the play, I really wasn’t sure how well my sense of humor would go over,” Gregory said.

It obviously went over well with the judges.

Gregory’s plays frequently explore political issues through a personal lens and with a comedic twist. The New York Times called her “a playwright with a talent to enlighten and provoke” for Radium Girls, which has received more than 1,500 productions throughout the U.S. and abroad and is one of the 10 most produced plays in U.S. high schools. Her other plays include Memoirs of a Forgotten Man, Molumby’s Million, Salvation Road, The Good Daughter and October 1962.

What was your inspiration for A Thing of Beauty?

”I wrote the play mainly to make myself laugh – just a change of pace from what I had been writing. The

Scripts are accepted from March 15 until June 30. Look for details here

inspiration is a photograph I found of a matronly lady looking through a shop window – she’s staring slack-jawed and pop-eyed at a painting of a shapely woman’s bare backside. It’s such a silly image – but it conjured up memories of the annual art show in the town where I grew up. Most of the entries were what I would call ‘postcard’ art – naturalistic landscapes and portraits – nothing startling or mind-expanding. And I started to think: What if an audacious nude had taken first prize in that competition? It was delicious to think about. But as I began to write, I realized the play was wrestling with broader, cultural questions about representation and identity, about who has access and opportunity, and how the judgment of what’s worthy often has less to do with aesthetics than with other agendas. And it’s wrapped up in a comedy about some social climbers in a small town that invokes a little bit of Oscar Wilde and a smidge of Groucho Marx.

A Thing of Beauty will receive a live reading at 7 p.m., Friday, March 3, during the 2023 SETC Convention.

Could You Be SETC’s Next Getchell Award Winner?

D.W. Gregory

Don’t Miss the Design Keynote

7:30 - 9:50 p.m. Thursday, March 2

SETC’s 2023

distinguished designers will present a shared keynote on Thursday night during the SETC Convention in Lexington. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear advice from scenic designer Harlan D. Penn, lighting designer Mary Louise Geiger and costume designer Marianne Custer.

Marianne Custer Is Costume Design

Keynote at 2023 SETC Convention

This year’s costume design keynote, Marianne Custer (she/her), was an educator in costume design for 45 years and also worked as a freelance costume designer.

Custer (left) has credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway, at regional theatres,including Playmakers Repertory, The Arkansas Repertory, Syracuse Stage, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Shakes, The Clarence Brown Theatre and The Roundhouse Theatre, and internationally.

Her designs have been included in 12 juried exhibitions, including three Prague Quadrennial exhibits and the 2005 World Stage Design exhibit. Her awards include the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Costume Design ( Alice), The SALT Award for Best Costume Design (The Three Musketeers) and the Triangle Award for Best Costume Design (Salome).

Her advice for young designers: “As costume designers in the academic and regional theatre, we are often expected to do more, do it for less, do it with less help, and do it fast. We learn to accept this ,and eventually it can take its toll on a designer’s mental and physical health. As much as you love your chosen profession, make sure you have something else in your lives that keeps your body, as well as your mind, active. Be curious about everything. Read. Experience. Eventually, you will find insights and correlations that will make your designs richer.”

2023 Innovative Playwriting Instruction Award Winner Named

Each year, SETC honors a high school teacher for innovation in teaching playwriting as part of their curriculum, regardless of discipline. This year’s winner is Amy Hugh Patel. A high school theatre teacher for 25 years, Patel (right) has directed over 80 productions, including many studentwritten scripts. Every semester, she directs a showcase of student-written plays, and many students have won state and regional awards for playwriting. She currently teaches at James Clemens High School in Madison, AL, and was recently named Alabama Theatre Teacher of the Year. She is eager to make shows more accessible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Recently, she directed Shuddersome: Tales of Poe with a cast of student shadow signers, which won Best in Show at the state one-act play festival. She is committed to teaching playwriting because she agrees with Margaret Atwood: “A word after a word after a word is power.” When students’ words rise from the paper to the stage, Patel says, that power is LOUD.

More info: convention.setc.org

PROFESSORS, PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS: Southern Theatre Magazine Seeks Writers, Editorial Board Members

Would you like to be a member of the Editorial Board of Southern Theatre, SETC’s award-winning magazine? Or are you interested in writing for Southern Theatre?

If so, make plans to attend the session, “Become a Writer for Southern Theatre,” at 8 a.m., Friday, March 3. Bring ideas, or just bring yourself. We are always looking for story ideas and writers for Southern Theatre.

Several slots also will open later this year on the Editorial Board as members’ terms expire. If you have an interest in serving on the board, this is a great time to get involved. We are especially seeking to add additional diverse voices to the Editorial Board.

Join us at 8 a.m., Friday, March 3, to share ideas or learn more!

SECONDARY SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL NOTES

Who Needs a Ticket?

Anyone attending the Secondary School Theatre Festival who is not a registered convention attendee must purchase a ticket to attend. Tickets are available only online. Click here to see the schedule and purchase tickets, or use the QR code below. Ticketing sponsored by Arts People, a Neon One Company

Watch Shows, Get a T-Shirt at Secondary School Theatre Festival

All who are registered for the SETC Convention are invited to watch the shows in the 2023 Secondary School Theatre Festival, which is sponsored by the University of Mississippi and Middle Tennessee State University. Shows will be presented in blocks on Thursday, March 2, and Friday, March 3, at the Lexington Opera House.

Students also will have a chance to win free T-shirts in the annual T-Shirt Toss during the festival. The University of Mississippi, Middle Tennessee State University, and Ludus, a convention sponsor, will be tossing T-shirts into the crowd 10 minutes before performance blocks at the festival.

Are You Bringing Your Children to the Convention?

SETC’s Women in Theatre Committee (WiT) has partnered with the Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) to create a Family Room at the SETC Convention.

It is located in CBC Meeting Room

14B. Check your convention app or printed program for times it is open. A responsible adult must be with children at all times.

Attend the Farm Theater’s SETC Podcast!

Join us for The Farm Theater’s podcast series, Bullpen Sessions, which will be producing live at the SETC Convention. You are invited to watch as host Padraic Lillis leads conversations with convention guests.

“Bullpen Sessions” feature interviews with working theatre professionals geared toward providing information to early-career artists and those who train and support them.

LOCATION:

Hyatt Regency Hotel Henry Clay Room

Seating is limited, so arrive early!

THE

PODCAST:

To listen to the interviews later, look for Bullpen Sessions wherever you get your podcasts.

PADRAIC LILLIS

Artistic Director, The Farm Theater Host, Bullpen Sessions

What’s Happening in Your Interest Area?

Check your convention program or app for details on these and other events.

ACTING

Kody Jones, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: The Acting Interest Group meeting. We invite all artists of varied experiences and backgrounds to join us. Voice your interests and needs for SETC to best serve you. Join in discussions on topics like acting in a postCOVID world and the future of our craft.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: We have a wide array of advanced workshops, such as “Embodied Acting” and “Building an Inclusive PerformanceBased Studio,” as well as intermediate workshops on many topics, including “Auditioning for the Camera.”

OUR MEETING: The Acting Interest Group will meet at 5 p.m., Thursday, March 2. We hope to see you there!

APPLIED THEATRE

Christie Connolly, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: “Reaching for the Stars: Theatre for Speech Therapy.”

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: Our workshops cover a wide array of communities: “Creativity in Carceral Settings,” “Aging & CommunityBased Performance, ”Integrating Applied Theatre into Your Curriculum.”

OUR MEETING: Meet folks interested in and currently practicing applied theatre. We use theatre in community, educational and service settings, often with systematically marginalized groups. Our interest area group will meet at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 2.

ARTS ADMINISTRATION

Marc McIntyre, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Several Arts Administration workshops relating to diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE:

Wednesday, March 1: “Automate Your Email,” 5 p.m.

Thursday, March 2: “Developing ValuesBased Leadership Practices,” 3:30 p.m.; “Strategic Planning Our Business,” 6:30 p.m.

Friday, March 3: “Psychogeography Arts Management Model,” 9 a.m.; “Rethinking Internships,” 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 4: “Beyond the Stage,” 9 a.m.; “MS Excel for Theatre,” 10:30 a.m.

OUR MEETING: Our interest group meeting has been moved to 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 2.

More info: convention.setc.org/app

BLACK THEATRE

Brian Martin (left), Yolanda Williams, Co-Chairs

DON’T MISS THIS: “The Black Arts Movement: Writing a Revolution,” a discussion of the Black theatre practitioners and dramatists who kept the flame burning with their art, 1965-75, 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 1.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE:

“The Well Meaning White Woman: Allyship in Theatre,” 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 3; “Members of a Community and Descendants of the Enslaved at Hollins: Developing the Methodology of a Performance into a Thesis,” 3:30 p.m., Friday, March 3.

OUR MEETING: All who identify as part of the Black Diaspora are welcome to attend the Black Theatre Interest Group meeting at 9 a.m., Friday, March 3.

What’s Happening in Your Interest Area?

Check your convention program or app for details on these and other events.

BIPOC/GLOBAL MAJORITY

Robert Shryock, Co-Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: We invite BIPOCidentified SETC members and convention attendees to join us for the third annual meeting of the BIPOC/Global Majority Theatre Persons Interest Group. The structure and purpose of this interest group will be impacted by the attendees of this meeting and the ideas, questions and concerns that arise. We hope to create a supportive space that cultivates listening and sharing about BIPOC needs, wants and experiences – both in the professional/academic sectors and within SETC itself.

OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 4 p.m., Friday, March 3.

COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY

Bill J. Adams, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Lisa Odom from Clemson University will demonstrate how to have a greater campus impact in a workshop where agriculture and musical theatre collaborations are discussed, 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 1. WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: Amy Guerin, University of Alabama at Huntsville faculty, will teach participants how to use elements of video gaming to engage online theatre appreciation students, 9 a.m. Thursday, March 2.

OUR MEETING: Meet and network with others who understand the day-to-day challenges of making college-level theatre programs happen. The mixer will feature snacks and a cash bar from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3.

DESIGN/TECH

Emily Strickland Schafer, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Be sure to attend our Distinguished Designer Keynotes and Discussion Thursday, March 2, from 7:30 - 9:50 p.m.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: All are welcome to view undergraduate and graduate student work at the Design Competition: 6 - 8 p.m., Thursday, March 2; 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m., Friday, March 3; and 9 a.m. - noon, Saturday, March 4. Adjudications of selected Design Competition entries are Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and open to all for viewing.

OUR MEETING: Our interest area group will meet at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 4. Come and learn more about ways to be involved with the Design/Tech Committee and SETC.

DIRECTING

Molly Claassen, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: “Perspectives on Directing: Exchange of Theory and Practice.” Panelists will facilitate communal discussion and demonstration of attendees’ perspectives on directing. Advanced concepts for experienced directors.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: Discuss tools to rethink the hierarchies in traditional rehearsal methods with “Radical Rehearsal Methods: Rethinking Our Processes,” and learn tools for incorporating movement into non-musicals with “The Body Knows: Using Movement-Based Directing.”

OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at noon, Friday, March 3. From novice to expert, all directors are welcome!

INTEREST AREAS

What’s Happening in Your Interest Area?

DISABILITY & INCLUSION

Hannah Williams, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Very excited for “Building Accessible Productions: A Case Study” at 9 a.m., Friday, March 3, featuring a model universally accessible production. Then, catch the shadow-interpreted You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, a live example of accessibility in action.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: Excited to learn at “Inclusivity in Your Hands” and “E&I for Theatre Practitioners and Audiences!,” among others!

OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 1. Continue discussing ways to increase accessibility!

FAITH AND THEATRE

Scott Hayes, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Two new practical workshops: “Protecting Your Spirituality,” 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 2, and “Compelling Use of the Word(s),” 9 a.m., Friday, March 3.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: Our annual “Theatre Artist’s Identity” conversation, is at noon, Thursday, March 2. Join the interactive discussion for all inquisitive artists, “Broken Bowls: Finding Beauty in Brokenness,” at 10:30 a.m.,Saturday, March 4.

OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4.

HIST/THEORY/ CRIT/LIT

Sarah McCarroll, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Join scholars from around the region and country at the “Highlights from Theatre Symposium” session at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 3. This presentation of research focuses on the most recent Symposium topic: Theatre and the Popular. WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: Come hear Paris Aguilar, the undergraduate Young Scholar, present her paper, “What in the White People: How Fiddler on the Roof serves to Support the Civil Rights Act of 1964” at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 4. OUR MEETING: We welcome anyone interested in Theatre History, Theory, Criticism and Literature to join us at noon Friday, March 3.

More info: convention.setc.org/app

LGBTQIA+

Carlton V. Bell II, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: LGBTQIA+ in Theatre Interest Group Meeting! WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: “LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in the Classroom,” 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 3; “Culturally Responsive Creative Producing,”10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 4. OUR MEETING: Join us for the LGBTQIA+ interest group meeting at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4.

What’s Happening in Your Interest Area?

Check your convention program or app for details on these and other events.

MOVEMENT & PHYSICAL THEATRE

Jason Paul Tate, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Join us for “Puppet Lab: Become a Mad Scientist Puppeteer!” at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 2, or “Meditation for the Creative Mind” at noon Saturday, March 4, to engage in new skills to add to your movement practice.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS

FOR EVERYONE: “Find Freedom in Swings,” “Behind the Mask: Superhero Physicality,” “Motion Capture Performance,” “Audition Clowning.”

OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at noon, Saturday, March 4.

MUSICAL THEATRE & DANCE

Susan McCormack Pike, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Fantastic workshops, including “Song Improvisation with NYC Composers,” “Choreography of South Africa,” and “Auditioning for Live Entertainment Groups.”

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: Coaching sessions are Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday morning. Workshops cover all areas of dance, acting and singing. Make sure to attend “The Aligned Performer: Positive Mental Health Synergy.”

OUR MEETING: Our interest group meeting will be at noon, Friday, March 3. Looking forward to seeing you to share ideas, needs and recent developments.

PLAYWRITING

Lauren Brooke Ellis, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Participate in or watch the Short Play Festival on Wednesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 2. Our respondent will be Neil David Seibel.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: The Getchell New Play Award reading is always a treat. Bring pages to read to “The Playwright’s Corner” at noon Saturday, March 4, and there will also be workshops by an incredible array of professional playwrights and artists. OUR MEETING: Our interest group will meet at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4.

SMALL THEATRE PROGRAM

Michael Williams, Jr., Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: Don’t miss Raymond Vrazel’s “Spolin Improvisation Workshop” at 5 p.m., Friday, March 3. Games need to adapt to the class size, and this workshop plays with that size.

OUR MEETING: Our interest area group will meet at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4. Our meeting is designed for college programs with three or less faculty. Small programs share many of the same pros and cons. Our meeting is not about kvetching, but finding answers.

More info: convention.setc.org/app

What’s Happening in Your Interest Area?

STAGE MANAGEMENT

John Spiegel, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: So, you want to be a stage manager? Come on out to the Stage Management Games Thursday night, March 2. Participate, observe or just come to cheer on your favorite stage manager.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: We have many great workshops and events going on this year from resume reviews to professional tips. Meet and network with working professionals and our partners at the Stage Management Association.

OUR MEETING: Make sure to come to our interest group meeting at 5 p.m. Friday, March 3, to stay on top of the latest happenings.

STUDENT & EMERGING ARTISTS

VOICE/SPEECH

Ryan Long, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: “SETC Scholarships: Learn How to Get Free Money!” Come hear what opportunities are available and how to apply! 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 2.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: All are invited to learn about “Financial WellBeing for Artists” at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 2.

OUR MEETING: If you are a student or an emerging artist with questions and/or ideas about the conference or about your career, please join us at 3:30 p.m., Friday, March 3. Bring feedback, complaints, suggestions; all are welcome!

DON’T MISS THIS: “ ‘Say, What?’ Teaching Accents/Dialects in Southern USA.” This is a roundtable discussion of anti-racist pedagogy of accents/dialects in the Southern U.S. at 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 3.

WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: “Audiobook Narration: From the Stage to the Page,” 9 a.m., Saturday, March 4.

“Slate with POWER! Reclaiming Your Voice in Auditions,” 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 2. “Sing Out Louise: Finding Strength in Your Mix Voice,” 5 p.m., Friday, March 3.

OUR MEETING: Come see what Voice and Speech at SETC is all about at our interest meeting at noon, Thursday, March 2!

More info: convention.setc.org/app

WOMEN IN THEATRE

Rowen Haigh, Chair

DON’T MISS THIS: The Women in Theatre Committee and PAAL, the Parent Artist Advocacy League, are proud to offer the 2023 Family Room to support families with kids at convention! WORKSHOPS/EVENTS FOR EVERYONE: Come connect with the Women in Theatre community at our mixer from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, March 3. Allies welcome.

OUR MEETING: Our interest area group will meet at 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 3.

Kyla Kazuschyk (left), Jehan Hormazdi, Co-Facilitators

SETC Grants Benefit Professional Companies, Artists

SETC offers: 1) Convention Grants to help non-member professional theatres attend a convention; 2) Staffing Development Matching Grants to provide SETC member non-academic professional theatres with money to assist in hiring staff to support existing programs or develop new ones; and 3) Betsey Horth Arts Administration Grants to help theatre artists or groups further develop leadership/management skills. Meet this year’s winners below.

CONVENTION GRANT: Charlottesville Opera, Charlottesville, VA

“The SETC Convention Grant will provide Charlottesville Opera the opportunity to connect with theatre professionals from across the country. Charlottesville Opera has recently gone through a time of change and growth. One of the initiatives of the current general director is to establish connections with theatre professionals including stagehands, lighting designers, carpenters, wig and makeup designers, and properties designers.”

STAFFING DEVELOPMENT MATCHING GRANTS

AURORA THEATRE, Lawrenceville, GA

Aurora Theatre at Lawrenceville Arts Center celebrates humanity’s rich cultural fabric through creative and educational programming, cultivating a community of belonging for all. As a part of our mission to educate, Aurora Theatre’s apprentice company (AppCo) admits 10-12 young adults each year, most of whom are recent college graduates, to receive paid hands-on training in either performance or production, gaining marketable skills while networking with industry professionals. Funding will assist in supporting the continuation of this program.

WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL, Williamstown, MA

Williamstown Theatre Festival, a world-renowned summer theatre festival, last season launched a new initiative called the Summer Intensive Training Program (SITP) for undergraduate students (or learners at an equivalent stage of their training). The seven-week program, in partnership with Williams College, brings together 20 young theatre-makers seeking opportunities to expand their learning across disciplines and interests through seminars, workshops and hands-on experience. At the end of the program, participants perform a new devised work that is a showcase of their exploration throughout the program and the insights they have gained over their time at WTF.

THE REV THEATRE COMPANY, Auburn, NY

The REV Theatre Company presents classic and contemporary works, new musicals, and in-school arts education for a diverse audience, to spur social awareness and cultural development in the Finger Lakes region. Each of our production/technical departments has an internship opportunity each summer, which is a valuable next step in a young professional’s career that provides them with on-the-job training tailored specifically to their department. This grant would help to keep our salary and housing offerings competitive to ensure accessibility and inclusion.

MUSIC THEATRE WICHITA, Wichita, KS

MTWichita continues to self-produce all its shows and, in recent years, has made great progress in training and launching careers of wig professionals. The addition of a Wig Shop Fellow would support continued growth and depth in this area – much needed throughout the industry.

BETSEY HORTH ARTS ADMINISTRATION GRANT: Jeremy Kisling, Lexington, KY

Jeremy Kisling has taught, directed, and performed for young people for over 30 years. He currently is the producing artistic director at Lexington Children’s Theatre. He has authored stage versions of Why Mosquitoes Buzz, Anansi the Spider, The Princess Who Lost her Hair, and The Ghosts of Pineville.

More info: click here

Maegan

McNerney Azar

Farewell for Now

I don’t often write about my personal journey. I find it far easier to be professional when I don’t let people into my life. It feels easier to rattle off a list of accomplishments in my time leading SETC. But reflecting on the last three years as President of this organization, the journey has been incredibly personal.

I got into this work because I wanted to do more for my students, my department, and my university. Elevating Furman University to a national profile for theatre was the goal, but in truth the connections that I have made through this work have been more valuable than I could have imagined. Traveling to state conferences to support high school educators, meeting exhibitors whose products make my job easier, bringing professionals from SETC to my campus, and deepening my understanding of the theatre ecosystem of our country has made me a better professor. I became department chair while I was on ExCom, and that journey was made easier because of the people I could lean on for support.

None of us do this alone. Some of my deepest, most meaningful relationships are with members of SETC – Board members and chairs who have mentored me, guided me, and educated me through the most challenging time in our lives. I have conspirators and collaborators in equal measure. I have seen Central Office staff grow in their positions and outgrow SETC. I’ve wished them well, while supporting the work of the Executive Director (ED) to fill that gap. I’ve worked with three EDs while on the Executive Committee (ExCom), supporting their journeys through huge life shifts – some planned and some not – but shared moments in our lives that have deepened my humanity as a leader. The Board is the champion of the Central Office, and the President is the partner of the ED. Through successes and stumbles, those relationships have permeated my thoughts and enriched my life.

I started on ExCom before I was a mom. I’ve missed one meeting in seven years on ExCom, and that was because I had just given birth. I’ve nursed my son in meetings. I’ve changed diapers while listening to budget reports. I’ve heard laments about the shift to virtual while I flew paper airplanes and dried tears over missed naps. I’ve watched my son go from age three to six as I’ve been President. He saw his first show at a convention. My husband has taken on a lion’s share of the work at home to make it possible for me to serve. And I’ve seen SETC embrace me as I navigated the balance of work and home life as I’ve advocated for more transparency, radical inclusion, meeting people where they are, and budgeting our values.

My personal journey is a part of who I am as an artist. And it is part of who I have been as a leader for SETC. Everything is connected. And if you want your work to continue, you must always be looking for who is next in line. While I have served my term as President, I know that the people who I am leaving in positions of leadership for this organization are ready for the next challenge that awaits. And I leave feeling positive that goodness is in my wake. Thank you for the confidence you have shown me. I’ll still be around if you need me.

More info: www.setc.org/leadership

SETC PRESIDENT (she/her)

SETC THEATRE SYMPOSIUM

WHERE: Agnes Scott College

WHEN: Weekend of March 31 – April 23, 2023

Registration Opens Soon for 2023 Theatre Symposium

SETC’s 32nd annual Theatre Symposium event will be held the weekend of March 31 at Agnes Scott College in the greater Atlanta area. The topic is “Material Performance and Performing Objects,” with participants exploring our collective reemergence into a post-COVID landscape of material performance. Under what circumstances does an object (like a mask) perform? Objects have an extensive history in global theatre from the use of masks and puppets to the use of slapsticks and musical instruments to the use of weapons. Keynote speakers include Claudia Orenstein, PhD, a scholar, dramaturg, director, actor and puppeteer who is a professor of theatre at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, CUNY. A second keynote will be announced in the near future. Learn more about the Theatre Symposium event here. Information on registration will be posted soon.

STATE CONVENTION REPORT

Mississippi Theatre Association

Stacy Howell

Executive Director

Event: MTA State Festival. Held online or in person: In person.

Number attending: 738 pre-registered.

Winners of Community Theatre Festival: Underneath the Lintel, Starkville Community Theatre, Starkville; Drinks on Me, Meridian Little Theatre, Meridian.

Winners of High School Theatre Festival: ¡Bocón!, Ocean Springs High School, Ocean Springs; A Breach in the Darkness, Oak Grove High School, Hattiesburg.

More info: This festival was in honor of one of MTA’s past presidents and Tupelo Community Theatre’s executive director, Tom Booth, who passed away on the eve of this festival. MTA would like to thank the Tupelo Community Theatre Board of Directors for their dedication and leadership during this time. Also thank you to everyone who offered stories of Tom and words of support throughout this festival. (Also, see obituary and Hall of Fame story, Page 16.)

ExCom Report

by Maegan McNerney Azar SETC President

The Executive Committee met in Greensboro, NC, January 5 - 7, 2023. The following actions were taken:

• Reviewed a draft of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

• Approved the creation of an internal grants review committee.

• Approved a blanket shift to “they/them” pronouns for Articles, Bylaws, Rules and manuals.

• Approved the language for permanent addition of the Mark R. Sumner Award and Scott J. Parker Volunteer Award for outdoor theatre.

• Approved term limits (two years for up to three terms) for State Representatives, which will move to the Board of Directors for a vote.

Full minutes are available at www.setc.org/minutes-archives

More info: www.setc.org

Connecting You to Opportunities in Theatre Nationwide

Central Office

SETC

5710 W. Gate City Blvd. Suite K, Box 186 Greensboro NC 27407 336-265-6148 info@setc.org

Toni Simmons Henson (she/her) toni@setc.org

Executive Director

Lee Crouse (he/him) lee@setc.org

Convention Services

Lea Gilbert (she/her) louise@setc.org

Program Management

Noah Taylor (he/him) noah@setc.org

Resource & Media Management

Shameca Freeman (she/her) shameca@setc.org

Operations & Logistics

Veronica Neblett (she/her) veronica@setc.org

Accounting/Human Resources

Executive Committee

Maegan McNerney Azar (she/her) President

Kris Rau McIntyre (she/her) VP of Administration

Neno Russell (he/him) VP of Services

Annette Grevious (she/her) VP of Finance

Adanma Onyedike Barton (she/her) VP of Equity & Inclusion

Ginger Poole (she/her) Secretary

Tiza Garland (she/her)

Elected Past President

Jeremy Kisling (he/him) VP of States

Lynn Nelson (she/her) VP of Divisions

2023 SETC Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Three individuals will be honored as members of the SETC Hall of Fame at the 2023 SETC Convention.

Established by SETC in 2015, the Hall of Fame recognizes persons, living or deceased, who have made major contributions to the organization. These may be administrative, artistic and/or financial contributions that have had a significant impact on SETC’s success over a sustained period. The honorees, listed below, will be inducted at the annual Business Meeting at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4.

Tom Booth was the executive director of Tupelo (MS) Community Theatre. A passionate community theatre leader, he is a past chair of SETC’s Community Theatre Division, a past VP of Divisions, and had three Best Production winners in the Community Theatre Festival.

John Spiegel is an associate professor of theatre at Piedmont University and chair of SETC’s Stage Management Committee. He has given generously to SETC over the last 20 years, serving in many roles, including VP of Finance and Endowment Fund chair.

Deanna Thompson has been the editor of SETC’s magazine, Southern Theatre, since 1994 and the editor of its bimonthly newsletter, SETC News, since 1996. During her tenure, Southern Theatre has become a full-color, award-winning magazine. Read more about the honorees here

In Memoriam

Tom Booth, executive director of Tupelo Community Theatre for more than 20 years and a longtime SETC volunteer who served many roles in the organization, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 10, 2023. He was 68.

Thanks to SETC’s Contributors

We send our thanks to the following for contributions made to SETC from Jan. 1, 2023, through Feb. 14, 2023:

Accent One Group

Carter N. Ashmun

Carrie Bellew

Dallas Blake Fields

Lindsay Fussell

Chad McDonald*

Claire-Elizabeth Patterson

Emily Schafer

Olivia C Scott

Mia L Self*

Juniper Wallace

J. Theresa Bush*

William C Darragh