JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022
Bimonthly Newsletter of Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.
CONTENTS SETC CONVENTION
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March 9 – 13 l Memphis
EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FEB. 3, 2022
Click here for more info and to register! s
Meet the Keynotes Page 1 Convention Keynote Page 2 Design Keynotes Page 3 Getchell Award Page 4 Students Page 5 Teachers Institute Page 6 EDIA Initiatives Page 7 Virtual Accessibility Page 8 Marketing Opportunities Page 9
2022 SETC Convention
www.setc.org
See Pages 8 and 18 to learn about virtual options and COVID protocols.
MEET THURSDAY KEYNOTE Page 2
MEET TEACHERS INSTITUTE PRESENTERS Page 6 Corey Mitchell
James LeBrecht
Theatre Symposium Page 10
MEET SETC DESIGN KEYNOTES Page 3
State Conventions Pages 11 - 13
Central Office News Page 14
2022 – 2023 Officers Page 15
Perspectives Page 16
Columns
Oana Botez Distinguished Costume Designer
Narelle Sissons Distinguished Scene Designer
Pages 17-18
Miscellaneous Page 19
NEWS SUBMISSIONS Deanna Thompson, Editor deanna@setc.org
Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.
More info: convention.setc.org
Stay tuned: Sound and lighting design
keynotes to be announced soon!
2022 SETC CONVENTION: KEYNOTE
James LeBrecht Thursday Convention Keynote Speaker James LeBrecht (he/him), co-director and co-producer of the 2021 Oscar-nominated feature-length documentary Crip Camp, will share his passion for theatre, film and disability rights in a Thursday keynote at the 2022 SETC Convention in Memphis. LeBrecht has over 40 years of experience as a film and theatre sound designer and mixer, filmmaker, author and disability rights activist. Crip Camp, which he co-directed and co-produced with Nicole Newnham, received the 2020 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for feature-length documentary, the 2021 Independent Spirit award for Best Feature Documentary and a 2021 Peabody Award. The film tells the story of Camp Jened, a summer camp for disabled teens and adults, and how it motivated many campers and staff to become disabled rights activists. LeBrecht began his career in theatre in 1978, working as the resident sound designer at Berkeley Repertory Theatre for 10 years.
KEYNOTE:
Thursday, March 10, 2022
In 1996, LeBrecht founded Berkeley Sound Artists, an audio post-production house. His film credits include Minding the Gap, The Island President, The Waiting Room, Audrie and Daisy and, of course, Crip Camp. A complete list of his film credits (over 180) can be viewed here. His work as an activist began in high school and continued at the University of California, San Diego, where he helped found the Disabled Students Union. He is currently a board member at the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. Some of LeBrecht’s additional accomplishments include co-founding FWD-Doc, an organization that supports documentary filmmakers with disabilities and being a character consultant for Pixar Animation Studios for two of their films. LeBrecht is a member of the Disability Futures Fellowship, an initiative of the Ford Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
More info: convention.setc.org/keynotes www.setc.org
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2022 SETC CONVENTION: DESIGN/TECH
2022 SETC Distinguished Designers Announced
Don’t Miss The Design Keynote on Thursday at the SETC Convention! The 2022 distinguished designers will deliver a keynote address Thursday evening, March 10, during the 2022 SETC Convention in Memphis. In addition to sharing advice and career retrospectives in the keynote – which is open to all convention attendees – the distinguished designers serve as judges for SETC’s annual Design Competition.
The distinguished lighting designer and distinguished sound designer will be announced soon.
Oana Botez Distinguished Costume Designer
Narelle Sissons Distinguished Scene Designer
Oana Botez (she/her) is an awardwinning costume and scene designer who works nationally and internationally. Nominated for the Lucille Lortel Award, the Theatre Bay Area Awards and the Henry Hewes Design Awards, she is the winner of a Barrymore Award and a Drammy Award.
Narelle Sissons (she/her) is an awardwinning scene and costume designer whose designs have appeared on Broadway and at major theatres and opera companies across the U.S. and internationally. She has been nominated for Drama Desk, American Theatre Wing, Helen Hayes and Kevin Kline Awards and is a winner of a Back Stage West Award and a Leon Rabin Award. Her design work includes Mabou Mines Dollhouse, directed by Lee Breuer, and many productions with Labyrinth, an intersectional theatre company.
Botez is a graduate of Bucharest Art Academy (Romania) and received an MFA in design from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. She currently is an assistant professor adjunct in the Design Department at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale.
Advice for young designers:
“Why does tragedy exist? Because you are full of rage. Why are you full of rage? Because you are full of grief.” – Anne Carson The performance world is a kinetic live organism, and visionary designers generate its continued motion of profound emotions. Immersing yourself in a world that has the power of asking questions without always having the answers, having curiosity and no fear of the unknown, daring new territories of challenging the audience – that is for me what makes the work I constantly do mysterious and sacred.
A native of the UK, Sissons graduated from the Central St. Martins School of Art and Design in London and earned her master’s degree at the Royal College of Art. She has lived in the United States for 28 years and currently is a professor of scene and costume design at Carnegie Mellon University.
Advice for young designers: For an emerging designer, my best advice is to get involved in the world around you. Travel, read, seek opportunities to engage with other people; listen and participate. Find your own voice. This will lead you to original and meaningful designs.
More info: info: convention.setc.org/keynotes www.setc.org/upcoming More www.setc.org
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2022 SETC CONVENTION: PLAYWRITING
CHARLES M. GETCHELL AWARD John Mabey Explores the Many Facets of Grief and the Challenges Faced in Moving On Synopsis:
A Complicated Hope Marie and daughter Rose Marie are left adrift after their husband/father, Michael, passes away. But it’s how he leaves that alters the lives of the family forever. Arnie, Michael’s boyfriend, yearns to heal those who’ve been hurt and unexpectedly discovers a family of his own. Mirroring the erratic path of grief itself, A Complicated Hope flashes between the moments in time that changed them all. Their journeys explore the challenges of both finding a family of choice and letting yourself be found.
John Mabey (he/they), a writer and storyteller whose plays have been produced on stage in seven countries and throughout the U.S., was “overjoyed and extremely honored” to learn that their play A Complicated Hope had won SETC’s 2022 Charles M. Getchell Award. “For a new play to receive this kind of support is very unique,” Mabey said. “And the award’s focus on new works from playwrights in the Southeastern region makes this recognition incredibly special, connecting me even more deeply to my home and communities here in the South.”
John Mabey
Could You Be SETC’s
Mabey, who resides in Atlanta, previously lived Next Getchell Award internationally for a decade in London and Winner? Amsterdam and continues to work with theatre companies around the globe, both virtually and Scripts are accepted from in-person. Mabey is also a certified mental health March 1 until June 1. counselor and published author on the topics of Look for details here. sexual identity and spirituality in academic books and journals. Last year, Mabey received the Panowski Playwriting Award and, in both 2021 and 2022, had plays published in Smith & Kraus’ Best 10-Minute Plays, Best Women’s Monologues and Best Men’s Monologues. What was your inspiration for A Complicated Hope? ”I began writing A Complicated Hope in the week after losing my father. There’s a powerful juxtaposition between celebrating a person’s life while also grieving their death, and those complex themes are woven throughout my play. A central question in the piece is whether grief will stop you from moving forward, and the characters all move on in different ways while still finding their own unique paths back to each other and themselves. Similar to the characters in this play, I’m still learning a lot about my father after his death. But it’s how I reflected on his life that was a great inspiration as I wrote A Complicated Hope: the things I knew, the things I forgot, and the things I never asked. It’s been a joy to stay in conversation with my characters as they consider each of these elements differently, too.
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A Complicated Hope will receive a live reading at 7 p.m. ET, Friday, March 11, during the 2022 SETC Convention.
More info: click here www.setc.org
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2022 SETC CONVENTION: STUDENTS
Find Your School at the 2022 SETC Convention in Memphis HAVE A GROUP ATTENDING THE SECONDARY SCHOOL FESTIVAL?
Non-Members of SETC Need Tickets Anyone who is registered to attend the SETC Convention may attend performances of the SETC Secondary School Theatre Festival, which will be held at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts (connected to the Renasant Convention Center). However, friends and family of festival participants and the general public must purchase tickets. Ticket information to be announced! Ticketing for the Secondary School Theatre Festival is sponsored by:
u Undergraduate & Graduate Auditions u Design/Tech/Management/Playwriting Interviews u Education Expo The 2022 SETC Convention offers both undergraduate and graduate candidates the opportunity to connect with dozens of colleges, universities and training programs from around the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Below are the schools registered for Education Expo and/or Auditions/Interviews as of Jan. 21, 2022: AMDA College of the Performing Arts American Academy of Dramatic Arts Arcadia University Asbury University Atlantic Acting School Auburn University Auburn University at Montgomery Austin Peay State University Belhaven University Berry College Catholic University Circle in the Square Theatre School Clemson University Coker University College of Charleston Dean College East Tennessee State University* Florida School of the Arts Florida State University Furman University Gainesville Theatre Alliance George Mason University Georgia Southern University Heidelberg University Hofstra University Hollins University/Playwrights Lab Huntington University Hussian College Los Angeles Indiana State University KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts Lindsey Wilson College The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) Long Island University Louisiana State University Louisiana Tech University
Marietta College Mary Baldwin University Miami University Middle Tennessee State University Millikin University Mississippi University for Women Murray State University National Theater Institute New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts Oklahoma City University Palm Beach Atlantic University Point Park University Radford University Randolph College Rider University* Rockford University Rollins College Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance* Rowen University Samford University Savannah College of Art and Design The South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University Southeast Missouri State University Southern Illinois University Stella Adler School of Acting Temple University Texas Tech University Touchstone Theatre/Moravian University* Tulane University* The University of Alabama University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Kentucky
The University of Mississippi University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of North Alabama University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of South Alabama University of South Carolina Upstate University of South Dakota University of Memphis University of New Hampshire University of Southern Mississippi University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee Chattanooga University of the South University of West Florida University of West Georgia Valdosta State University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Tech Western Carolina University Western Illinois University Western Kentucky University Westminster College West Virginia University Wilkes University William Carey University Winthrop University York Theatre MTTP (Musical Theatre Training Program) * denotes a school that is recruiting at the SETC Convention, but does not have an Ed Expo booth
See updates to the list of schools and get more information here. More info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org
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2022 SETC CONVENTION: TEACHERS INSTITUTE
2022 SETC Teachers Institute 17th Annual SETC Teachers Institute When: Saturday, March 12, 2022. 9 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. CT (Box lunch with 45-minute break is included.) Where: Memphis, at the 2022 SETC Convention. Virtual option may be provided depending on interest. Who should attend: Middle and high school teachers who use or integrate theatre techniques into their classrooms; directors of theatre arts programs; teaching artists; and students studying to be theatre educators. Cost: $95. Convention registration not required. Registration: Click here to sign up for the Teachers Institute. CEUs: Click here for information on how to obtain CEUs for your participation.
Join us Saturday, March 12, during the 2022 SETC Convention for a two-part Teachers Institute that focuses on the creation of inclusive theatre classrooms where students are empowered to tell contemporary stories that matter to them. PART I: 9 a.m. – Noon CT Classrooms for Social Change SETC is pleased to have Corey Mitchell (he/him) as the first presenter. Mitchell, the recipient of the Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education and the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award, is the founder of Theatre Gap Initiative (TGI). Come hear Mitchell’s thoughts on educating theatre students of color and making classrooms incubators for social change. Topics will include:
Corey Mitchell
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Helping your program more fully represent your school’s community by recruiting and retaining more students of color. Techniques to attract students will be offered.
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Finding opportunities for inclusive messaging through material selection, casting, advertising and expectations. The way that you create art can be extremely powerful. Strategies for making impactful statements that are bold as well as subliminal will be offered.
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Making your classrooms incubators for social change. Intentional work on stage and in productions begins with ensemble and laboratory work. Journalistic theatre can be one of your most powerful weapons for facilitating conversations about topics on the students’ minds.
PART II: 12:45 – 3:45 p.m. CT Co-Creating a Fair and Just World Through Devised Theatre: Reimagining Youthand Community-Based Theatre Practice through the Lens of Social Justice
Joy Brooke Fairfield
Emily Marks
Brooke Sarden
The afternoon presenters are Memphis-based artists dedicated to the work below: Dr. Joy Brooke Fairfield (she/they), Emily Marks (she/her) and Brooke Sarden (she/her). How can the diverse experiences and world views of our students coalesce into a creative process that will ensure they see themselves reflected in the stories we put on our stages? This workshop is dedicated to educators who are curious about working with their students to create unique and devised performances based on personal narratives reflecting on contemporary conversations in our culture. Participants will learn about strategies to decolonize the creative process and leave with a toolkit of collaboration methods to build inclusive storytelling where students can see themselves reflected on stages. All of the techniques shared can be implemented in any kind of theatre-making, rehearsal process and classroom for all ages. More info: click here
www.setc.org
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2022 SETC CONVENTION: EDIA INITIATIVES
Bring Your Ideas to EDIA Meetings, Workshops during the 2022 SETC Convention in Memphis SETC encourages all members to get involved in our mission to make the organization more inclusive. u ATTEND AN INTEREST GROUP MEETING Learn about our initiatives to foster greater equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in SETC and get involved in our efforts by attending one of the following Interest Area Meetings during the 2022 SETC Convention. Check the convention website for details on when these groups will meet:
Applied Theatre Ad Hoc Committee Chair: Tenika Dye Burgess, tenikadyeburgess@gmail.com
Black Theatre Committee
SETC is resolutely committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the life and culture of our organization.
Co-Chair: Brian Martin, bmartin@alasu.edu Co-Chair: Yolanda Williams, yolanda.r.williams@jsums.edu
Cultural Diversity Committee Chair: Kyla Kazuschyk, kkazuschyk@lsu.edu Vice-Chair: Elizabeth Watkins, elizabeth.watkins@richlandone.org
Disability Inclusion Committee Chair: Johannah Maynard Edwards, johannahmedwards@gmail.com Vice-Chair: Hannah Williams, mshannahcat@gmail.com
BIPOC/Global Majority Theatre Persons Interest Group Chair: Robert Shryock, rcshryock@okcu.edu
LGBTQ+ in Theatre Committee Co-Chair: El Mock, k.ellamock@gmail.com Co-Chair: Devario Simmons, devario.simmons@gmail.com
Student & Emerging Artists Interest Group Co-Facilitator: Kyla Kazuschyk, kkazuschyk@lsu.edu Co-Facilitator: Mia Self, mlself3@ncsu.edu
Women in Theatre Committee Chair: Rowen Haigh, rowen@womenstheatrefestival.com Vice-Chair: Keyanna Alexander, Alexander.keyanna@gmail.com
u JOIN US FOR EDIA WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS Join in one or more panel discussions or presentations to expand your understanding and help your work in equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. These programs are meant to assist your EDIA efforts and eradicate racism and bias in the classroom, the boardroom, backstage or at the box office. Topics, presenters and dates/times to be announced on the convention website. There will be numerous workshops with EDIA focus throughout the week!
More info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org
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2022 SETC CONVENTION: VIRTUAL OPTIONS
What parts of the 2022 SETC Convention will be accessible virtually? SETC understands that some of our constituents might feel more comfortable participating in the convention from home again this year. Or perhaps the pandemic has simply made for tighter purse strings. While we believe the in-person experience is the most effective in regard to getting the most out of the SETC Convention, we understand the need for better accessibility and are working to make as many of our core services as possible available in a virtual format. Below are details on services, events and meetings that will have an online component. A couple notes for you if you do plan to participate virtually: 1: We learned last year that virtual participants have the best experience if they block out the week of convention and participate just as they would in person rather than trying to juggle other responsibilities and schedules. 2: Some programs (such as the workshops) will not be available past convention week.
VIRTUAL FORMAT OFFERED The following core services will be available in a virtual format: u Professional Auditions u Theatre Job Fair u Undergraduate/Graduate Auditions/Interviews u Workshops u Exhibit Hall More detail about how these services will work virtually can be found here. RECORDED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ONLINE In addition, we will be recording and sharing online the following programs: u Keynote Presentations u EDIA Series u Play Readings u Scholar Presentations u Awards Ceremony u SETC Business Meeting MEETINGS ACCESSIBLE VIA ZOOM SETC will also be working to share the following meetings via Zoom: u SETC Board Meeting u EDIA Interest Group Meetings
Not all programs will be available virtually. This is SETC’s first foray into the world of a hybrid convention, and we will provide as many programs as our budget and staffing will allow. We may also be restricted by any participants who do not want to be recorded. We hope these efforts are helpful to our constituents, and we look forward to your feedback post-convention! More info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org
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2022 SETC CONVENTION: MARKETING COMMERCIAL VENDORS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS:
Boost Your Brand at the 2022 SETC Convention Whether you work at a company that markets to theatres or at an educational institution that recruits students, you’ll find a wide variety of innovative sponsorship and advertising opportunities available at the 2022 SETC Convention. Options still available include: REGISTRATION SPONSOR $4,000 Connect with your entire audience at SETC, where theatre practitioners of all levels come together in one place! The spotlight is on you at registration, giving you direct access as your brand welcomes every convention participant to the registration booth.
GET THE FULL DETAILS
See all available options for convention sponsorships and advertising here. QUESTIONS?
Contact Lee Crouse at lee@setc.org.
EVENT SPONSOR: $750 – $4,000 Put your name front and center on events ranging from the Exhibitor Beer Break to the Women in Theatre Reception! No matter your target audience within the theatre community, SETC has an event that will directly connect your business to that audience.
PROGRAM SPONSOR: $750 – $1,500 Introduce one of our keynote speakers, support our EDIA series, or sponsor one of our programming tracks! Go beyond a single event or workshop – choose the perfect programming track that will keep your brand in front of your target audience throughout convention.
Sponsorship includes: 4 3 convention app push notifications 4 6 kick panels 4 Premium logo placement 4 30-second looping video on convention website More info: See Page 10 of the link below.
Options include: 4 Exhibitor Beer Break: $750 4 Women in Theatre Mixer: $1,200 4 College/University Training Programs Auditions & Interviews: $1,500 4 Awards Gala: $2,000 More info: See Page 6 of the link below.
Options include: 4 Workshop track sponsor: $750 (25 tracks available) 4 Keynote speaker sponsor: $1,500 4 EDIA series sponsor: $1,500 More info: See Page 8 of the link below.
30-SECOND COMMERCIAL: $250 Showcase your products with a 30-second promotional video on our convention microsite, the online home of SETC 2022. Convention attendees will engage with your video content as they click through to register and learn about convention. More info: Contact Lee Crouse at lee@setc.org.
More info: click here www.setc.org
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THEATRE SYMPOSIUM
Meredith Conti and Janet Davis Are Keynotes at 2022 SETC Theatre Symposium: ‘Theatre and the Popular’ Meredith Conti
SETC’s 31st annual Theatre Symposium will be held the weekend of April 1 – 3, 2022. The topic is “Theatre and the Popular,” with participants addressing the relationship between theatre and the popular from multiple points of view. We will examine a variety of questions, such as: What constitutes the popular? How does it differ from related categories, such as the mainstream or the folk? What is the historical and ongoing role of theatre in framing our ideas and conversations about the popular and popularity? The keynote speakers for the event are:
Janet Davis
SETC THEATRE SYMPOSIUM WHERE: Agnes Scott College
WHEN:
Weekend of April 1 – 3, 2022
u Dr. Meredith Conti, an associate professor of theatre at the University at Buffalo, SUNY (UB) and a historian of 19th-century theatre and popular culture in the United States and Britain. u Dr. Janet Davis, Distinguished Teaching Professor of American studies and history at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of a number of articles and books, including The Gospel of Kindness: Animal Welfare and the Making of Modern America.
What is Theatre Symposium? Theatre Symposium is the name of SETC’s annual, peer-reviewed journal, as well as its annual gathering of scholars.
How Can You Participate?
Theatre scholars, artists and educators are invited to attend the Symposium event and/or to submit abstracts on issues related to this year’s topic. Deadline for submission of abstracts is Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. For details on submitting an abstract, click the link below. Information on registration for the event will be available soon. If you have questions, contact Editor Chase Bringardner at cab0023@auburn.edu.
More info: www.setc.org/theatre-symposium www.setc.org
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STATE CONVENTION NEWS
Alabama Conference of Theatre
Florida Theatre Conference
Georgia Theatre Conference
Kristy Meanor
Marci J. Duncan
Ian Andersen
Event: Alabama Conference of Theatre’s Walter Trumbauer High School Festival. Held online or in person? In person. Number attending: Schools participating in state event: 94. One-Act Festival participants: 14. Winners of Secondary School Theatre Festival: One-Act Festival winners were Earnest and the Pale Moon, Jefferson Academy of Theatre and Dance, Birmingham, AL; Dark Road, Corner High School, Dora, AL. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: Many community theatres are still struggling to bounce back from the ongoing pandemic. Due to these challenges, there was not enough participation to have a state festival this fall. In lieu of our Community Theatre Festival, ACT is hosting an in-person training seminar focusing on recovery and strategies to help community programs get back on their feet. We are taking advantage to present accessibility training as part of ACT’s DEI initiatives. More information: Our two high school festival winners each receive $1,000 from ACT to help defray expenses of advancing to SETC.
Event: Florida Theatre Conference. Held online or in person? In person. Number attending: 1,200 participants; 190 spectators. Winners of Secondary School Theatre Festival: 1st, Tartuffe from Moliere, Boone High School, Orlando, FL; 2nd, Chaika, Miami Arts Studio, Miami, FL. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: Not held this year. More information: This was our first conference back in person, as well as in a new location: the Winter Haven Field House in Winter Haven, FL. It was a wonderful location, and we hope to make this FTC’s new home. We had college auditions, college fair, Youth Theatre Festival and Inclusion Festival, as well as the One-Act Festival. This year was scaled back a bit, but we do plan to offer our full conference in November 2022.
Event: “Welcome to the Sweet Onion Swamp: GTC has Layers.” (We were in Vidalia, GA, a town famous for their sweet onions.) Held online or in person? Hybrid; however, the greatest number of participants was in person. Number attending: 760, which is down significantly from 2019, but up significantly from 2020. Winners of Secondary School Theatre Festival: Ray Horne SETC Festival Winners (top two advance to SETC):1st: The Tale of the Winged Monkeys, Perry High School, Perry, GA; 2nd: Marvin’s Room, Lakeside High School, Atlanta, GA. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: Sea Wall, Live Arts Theatre, Gwinnett, GA. More information: Though our numbers were down from 2019, this year represented a significant rebound from 2020. The convention was imbued with a new energy and enthusiasm. We had 19 high schools participate in our live competitions. We did see a significant decline in the participation of college students at GTC as the SETC screening process remained digital. To address this, we piloted a series of self-taping workshops and made a self-taping studio available at specific times throughout the convention.
State Representative
State Representative
State Representative
More info: www.setc.org/state-organizations www.setc.org
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STATE CONVENTION NEWS
Kentucky Theatre Association
North Carolina Theatre Conference
South Carolina Theatre Association
Jeremy Kisling
Angie Hays
Jack Benjamin
Event: Kentucky Theatre Association 50th Annual Conference. Held online or in person? Hybrid. High School Play Festival, in person; Roots of the Bluegrass Playwriting Competition, online, which can be viewed here. Number attending: High School: 600; Roots (online): about 85. Winners of Secondary School Theatre Festival: Still Life with Iris, Lafayette/SCAPA High School, Lexington, KY; The Storm in the Barn, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Lexington, KY. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: Not held this year, as our groups are still working their way back from the panademic. More information: Roots of the Bluegrass Playwriting Competition winners were: 10-Minute Play Division, Eric Thomas, April Is No Fool; One-Act Play Division, Ed Clark, Blindsp t; Full-Length Division, Derek Trumbo, Atop Pine Mountain.
Events: NCTC produces yearround programming to serve our members. Recent events include the NCTC High School Play Festival (seven regional festival sites, followed by state festival) and NCTC College Day. Held online or in person? The NCTC High School Play Festival and College Day were live events in 2021. For high schools still unable to travel due to COVID-19 restrictions, a Virtual Showcase opportunity was presented. Number attending: Approximately 3,000. Winners of Secondary School Theatre Festival: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, NC; Trojan Women, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, Monroe, NC. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: N/A More information: Upcoming NCTC events include the NCTC Middle School Play Festival on March 18-19, 2022, at NC State University and Mooresville High School, and the NCTC Theatre Admin Intensive (date and location coming soon).
Event: 2021 Annual Convention: “Find Your Light!” Held online or in person? Virtual, with Zoom meetings and prerecorded streaming. Number attending: 167. Winners of Secondary School Theatre Festival: All My Sons, Dorman High School, Roebuck, SC; Tracks, Socastee High School, Myrtle Beach, SC. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: N/A. More information: Out of an abundance of caution, SCTA conducted a virtual convention once again this year. We were thrilled to have many theatre practitioners, from middle school through high school and college, as well as community and professional members, participate. Jenn Colella, a South Carolina native and star of the Tony Award-winning show Come From Away, was our keynote speaker who shared “finding her light” from Summerville to Columbia, to the University of California, Irvine, to the Great White Way! In the High School Division, the individual competitions included Contemporary and Classical Monologues, Tech Olympics and a new category: Musical Theatre Solo.
State Representative
Executive Director
State Representative
More info: www.setc.org/state-organizations www.setc.org
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STATE CONVENTION NEWS
Tennessee Theatre Association
Virginia Theatre Association
West Virginia Theatre Association
Anna Filippo
Wendy Novicoff
Fulton Burns
Event: Tennessee Theatre Association Annual Conference 2021-22. Held online or in person? Online. Number attending: So far, approximately 300, but conference events will continue through April/May 2022. Winner of Secondary School Theatre Festival: Out of the Clear Blue Sky, Stewarts Creek High School, Smyrna, TN. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: Not held. More information: The rise in COVID cases and the additional scare of variants prompted TTA to host a virtual conference. Because last year’s virtual conference was not as well-attended as hoped, we made changes for 2021-2022. Instead of holding the conference on one weekend, we’re holding events throughout the academic year. October: We co-sponsored a live production of The Lightning Thief produced by Nashville Children’s Theatre and Belmont University. November: SETC State Screening Auditions videos were submitted. December: The Secondary School Festival was held. Additional events are planned through April/May 2022. This shift in programming has already seen an increase in conference attendance compared to last year.
Event: Virginia Theatre Association Conference 2021: “Connect. Create. Celebrate.” Held online or in person? Online. Number attending: 950. Winner of Secondary School Theatre Festival: The Secret in the Wings, Stafford High School, Stafford, VA. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: Not held. More information: We are ready to get started with planning our in-person conference – “Powerful and NEW in ‘22” – in Richmond, VA, in October 2022. Our second online conference went very well, with great attendance, great speakers and great workshops! We had great middle school and high school theatre festivals, a terrific monologue competition and amazing design competitions.
Event: Annual conference. Held online or in person? In person. Winners of Secondary School Theatre Festival: She Kills Monsters, Wheeling Park High School, Wheeling, WV; The Arkansaw Bear, Wyoming East High School, New Richmond, WV. Winner of Community Theatre Festival: Not held. More information: In early November, WVTA successfully held its fall conference at West Liberty University. This included a high school theatre festival, with nine shows presented, and scholarship auditions. It was supported by high schools and university members from across the state, all while maintaining COVID-19 safety protocols. We now turn to the West Virginia Thespian Festival, which will take place in the spring of 2022 at Marshall University. Finally, we sincerely thank Jason Young for his amazing service for the past years as the executive director for WVTA. We sincerely wish you all the best for what the future holds for you and those with whom you work.
Executive Director
President
Look for the Mississippi Theatre Association report in the March/April issue of SETC News.
State Representative
More info: www.setc.org/state-organizations www.setc.org
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CENTRAL OFFICE NEWS
Meet Shameca Freeman, SETC’s New Development Manager
Shameca is responsible for: n Finding available grants and writing grant proposals. n Fundraising. n Finding corporate sponsorships. n Supporting various Central Office departments throughout the year.
Shameca Freeman (she/her) joined SETC in November 2021 in the newly created position of development manager. She is excited to have the opportunity to assist SETC in identifying additional funding sources. What drew you to SETC and this job? I have loved SETC since I attended my first convention in Miami, FL, in 1997. This organization has been instrumental in my career in the theatre arts, and I wanted to give back. This job was the perfect opportunity for me to do that.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? It is like a treasure hunt. You do your research, you make your plan of action and, if you word it just right, you win. I also enjoy finding ways to connect with others through the arts.
What did you do prior to joining SETC? I was on the board of directors for Hardin County Playhouse and worked at Stithton Baptist Church, where I was responsible for producing and editing the church’s television broadcast, managing their social media, and writing and directing their Christian comedy troupe, The Stithton Hams.
Are you a “theatre person.” Definitely! I’m a playwright, screenwriter, board member, director, actor, costumer, makeup designer and stage manager. I’m also an adjunct professor of theatre at the University of Northern Colorado. I recently directed A Tuna Christmas for Hardin County Playhouse as both a regular production and their Kentucky Theatre Association community theatre entry. I was also the director and organizer of the first Shakespeare in the Park Festival in Radcliff, KY, with a mainstage production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream.
Family or significant other? What do you enjoy in your spare time? I live in Radcliff, KY, with my husband Luke, our six-year-old daughter Olivia, and our fur and water babies: two dogs, Slick and Beauty; two cats, Midnight and Socks; and four fish, O’Malley, Finnigan, Lackey Split and Tiny. I enjoy playing video games, writing, cooking, making charcuterie boards, and hanging out with my family. More info: Email shameca@setc.org www.setc.org
January / February 2022
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NEW SETC OFFICERS
Cast Your Vote for New Officers at March 12 SETC Business Meeting
Shannon Robert
Please take a few minutes to review SETC’s proposed slate of officers for 2022-2023. The officers and the Nominations Committee members pictured below will be presented for a vote by SETC’s membership at the 2022 SETC Convention in Memphis during the annual SETC Business Meeting, which will be held in the afternoon on Saturday, March 12.
2021- 202 2
2022 – 2023 Slate of Officers
NOM IN AT IONS COM M IT T EE C HA I R
A special thanks to the members who served with me on the 2021- 2022 Nominations Committee this year: President
Maegan McNerney Azar
Johannah Maynard Edwards
Cedric Rembert
VP, Administration
VP, Equity & Inclusion
VP, Finance
VP, Services
Kris Rau McIntyre
Adanma Onyedike Barton
Annette Grevious
Neno Russell
Andre Minkins
Elizabeth Watkins
Secretary
Past President
Ginger Poole
Tiza Garland
TBA
TBA
VP, States*
VP, Divisions*
* The States Council and Divisions Council select their nominees at the Spring Council Meetings, and then the Nominations Committee presents these nominees at the SETC Business Meeting as part of the slate.
2022 – 2023 Nominations Committee
Kyla Kazuschyk, EDIA Rep
Dennis Wemm, Ex-Officio Member
Rowen Haigh
Marina HunleyGraham
Elaine Malone
Bob Shryock
Kyla Kazuschyk, EDIA Rep
Elizabeth Watkins, Ex-Officio Member
2022-2023 Chair nominee is Shannon Robert. Chair is appointed by the President following the vote at the annual SETC Business Meeting.
More info: www.setc.org/leadership www.setc.org
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PERSPECTIVES
We Need to Create an Industry Culture That Recognizes the Importance of Mental Health
LORI RUBINSTEIN (she/ her )
Lori Rubinstein is the executive director of the Behind the Scenes Foundation, a 501(c)3 charity.
Over the last two years, uncertainty, stress, anxiety, depression and substance abuse have taken a huge toll on entertainment industry workers. Yet, through all this turmoil, we can create a “moment” in our industry – a moment where cultural change starts to take hold and accelerate. The cultural change needed is in our industry’s attitude toward mental health. This industry has always taken a heavy toll on those who work in it, both physically and mentally. Yet, talking about your mental health, asking for help, or requesting time off to seek help carry an enormous stigma. Most feel it will have a negative impact on how they are treated, what responsibilities they will be given, and whether they will lose their job or not get hired for the next one. The pandemic has made people far more aware of their own mental health. Many have found it easier to talk about how they feel when they know everyone around them is going through a similar experience.
“Perspectives” is an SETC News column where guest contributors are invited to share their diverse voices.
Can we take advantage of this accelerated pace of cultural change? Can our industry afford not to? Emotional and mental burnout have caused many to leave our industry. We will find worker shortages an ongoing problem if we do not provide psychologically safe workplaces for incoming generations. Cultural change spreads one person and one organization at a time. Don’t let the lessons and the progress of the past two years slip away. Mental health is as important as physical health. If we want our industry to thrive and we want to attract young people with a passion for what we do, we must build a healthier industry. Create your own personal culture of caring and acceptance and push for change where you work if it doesn’t already exist.
Links for more information: The Behind the Scenes Foundation has brought together representatives of labor, employers, and mental health professionals from across all aspects of our industry to create tools and resources to support entertainment industry workers and promote mental health and psychological safety. Learn more below: Behind the Scenes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative Tools and Resources Mental Health First Aid Training #BeThe1To Help Save a Life Entertainment Industry Therapist Finder
More info: btshelp.org www.setc.org
January / February 2022
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
The Pandemic Continues … What Have You Learned So Far?
Maegan McNerney Azar S E TC PR ESID ENT
Here we are ... again ... still. Omicron is cancelling shows and moving the needle in the other direction again, while at the same time boosters are available and treatments are improving. The collective grief of a nation hasn’t really been addressed because we’re still wading upstream. But, as we enter 2022 and reflect on the past 21 months, what have we learned?
( she/ he r )
A few good reads on this topic: 3 Fool-proof Ways to Prevent Burnout – Backed by Science - Emma Seppälä, LinkedIn, August 12, 2016 Most workers hate meetings. Here’s how to make sure yours are productive. - Angela Haupt, Washington Post, August 20, 2021 What is Theatre Invested In? A Vision for a Regenerative Future - Anna Lathtrop, Annalisa Dias, Ronee Penoi, and Tara Moses, American Theatre, March 15, 2021
u Self-care matters and empathetic leadership is more important than ever. Everyone goes about this differently, but in order to be a good leader, you have to take care of yourself. And that might make some folks mad, but leaders aren’t supposed to be available 24/7. You have to reset in order to have anything left. And the blurred line between work and home didn’t just materialize during the pandemic, but it has gotten worse. Draw boundaries and inform the folks you work with what those boundaries are. We need downtime to work out the big problems facing us – research has shown that “detaching from work can actually make us more productive.” (Seppälä) u That meeting really could have been an email ... but are people even reading those? I don’t know about you, but my feeling is that no one is reading email anymore, at least not in a meaningful way. It used to be that email was just an electronic version of a letter (it is electronic mail, after all), but now we get so many of them – and we check them on our phones – that it is hard to keep up or read in-depth before they get swallowed by the onslaught of the next pile. So, what’s wrong with having a quick phone call, Zoom session, or (dare I say) in-person (masked or outdoors) meeting if it is organized and stays on target? u Theatre is a vital force, but it must grow and change, and flexibility is crucial to a successful business model. The days of pinning our hopes on one fundraising gala, single event, publication issue, or box office success are over. And theatres that are finding that balance are doing better financially, while honoring commitments to their communities and enacting better work conditions for their artists. It’s hard to flip, but “the way we’ve always done it” is a new form of harm.
What have you learned? I’d love to hear from you, because progress happens collectively, and we could all use the wisdom of others. You might even have something worth sharing with all of SETC’s members!
Send your thoughts to: maegan@setc.org www.setc.org
January / February 2022
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Theatres Are Open. And SETC Is Open, Too!
Susie Prueter EX E CUTIV E D IR EC T O R ( she/ he r )
It’s been a long road back to in-person operation, and we are still navigating the fits and starts. COVID is likely here to stay and is forcing us all to take precautions for ourselves and each other. “Protocols” are the new norm. But our stories and our humanity are beginning to reemerge from the long quarantine. It’s been an uncertain journey to Memphis, but it’s HERE and we WILL see you there live and in person! While SETC’s 2021 virtual convention was the best success it could have been last year, we work in an industry where one-of-a-kind moments are exchanged between actor and audience … all in person.
We have strong safety protocols for in-person attendees We encourage everyone, if you feel safe, to make your best effort to come in person to Memphis. The in-person experience is ABSOLUTELY the most effective, best bet for networking, training, recruiting, callbacks and interviews. Click here for the important things you need to know in regard to COVID safety and requirements. Please carefully watch your e-mail for updates on our protocols.
We offer a virtual option if needed We have been diligently and carefully putting safety protocols in place so we can be together. But we do understand that some people are not yet ready to travel or be with large groups. To address this, we have virtual options for our core services available for those who want to participate from home. You can see the available options here. We learned last year that, for the best experience, it’s important to block out the week of convention and fully participate as you would in person versus trying to juggle other responsibilities/schedules.
We look forward to serving and supporting you in Memphis We are working to accommodate our entire constituency no matter what your circumstance, and we are grateful for everyone’s cooperation, patience and feedback. We believe that getting SETC back on its feet contributes to the industry’s ongoing efforts to reopen – and this is central to our mission of support and service. See you in Memphis!
More info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org
January / February 2022
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MISCELLANEOUS
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 Susie Prueter (she/her) susie@setc.org Executive Director Lee Crouse (he/him) lee@setc.org Educational Services/Sponsorships
Apply now for 2022 – 2023 SETC Scholarships Planning to attend college or graduate school in 2022- 2023? Applications are being accepted until April 1 for SETC scholarships: u Steve Bayless Undergraduate Scholarship: $2,000 to a high school student. u Leighton M. Ballew Directing Scholarship: $2,500 for graduate study. u Denise Halbach Performance Scholarship: $2,000 for graduate study. u Robert Porterfield Scholarship: $2,000 for graduate study in theatre. u Marian A. Smith Costume Scholarship Award: $1,500 for graduate study. u William E. Wilson Scholarship: $5,000 for graduate study by a secondary school educator. Click here to learn more and to apply.
Clay Thornton (he/him) clay@setc.org Marketing/Advertising
Thanks to SETC’s Contributors
Bradley Branham (he/him) bradley@setc.org Programming
We send our thanks to the following individuals for contributions made to SETC from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21, 2021:
Elizabeth Theodora (she/her) elizabeth@setc.org Professional Services
Thomas Azar Jonathan J. Bebee J. Theresa Bush* Amy Chaffee Carol Davis Michael Detroit Carol Domingues Rand Enlow Charlie Finesilver Bill Gabelhausen
Lea Gilbert (she/her) louise@setc.org Membership Services Noah Taylor (he/him) noah@setc.org Graphics and Digital Media Shameca Freeman (she/her) shameca@setc.org Development Nicole Francis (she/her) nicole@setc.org Accounts Receivable/Payable Debi Belanger (she/her) debi@setc.org Data Assistant
Executive Committee Maegan McNerney Azar (she/her) President Kris Rau McIntyre (she/her) VP of Administration Neno Russell (he/him) VP of Services Jonathan Michaelsen (he/him) VP of Finance Adanma Onyedike Barton (she/her) VP of Equity & Inclusion Ginger Poole (she/her) Secretary Jeff Gibson (he/him) Elected Past President Jeremy Kisling (he/him) VP of States Lynn Nelson (she/her) VP of Divisions
Sean Gaffney Marilyn Gaylord Victoria Griffin Jennifer Guffin Kaylee A Hendry Lily John Alan Kitty Johannah Maynard Edwards Chad McDonald*
Jayne Morgan Clayton Muir Amanda Nelson Earnest Nolar Field Oldham Mia Self* Robin I Shane Matthew Stratton Natalie Tangeman Amanda Woodward
* Denotes Monthly Contributor
In Memoriam Don Drapeau, who led the Department of Theatre Arts at Virginia Tech for over 30 years, died Nov. 18, 2021, at 81. A Life Member of SETC, he served as president of the organization in 1979-1980. Read his very creative obituary, written as a oneact play, here: www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/roanoke/name/ donald-drapeau-obituary?id=31674839 Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, executive producer of the National Black Theatre Festival and president of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, which produces the NBTF, died Jan. 3, 2022, at 76. After the death of her husband Larry Leon Hamlin, founder of NBTF and NC Black Rep, she stepped in to continue his vision. At the 2020 SETC Convention in Louisville, she and artistic director Jackie Alexander accepted SETC’s Distinguished Career Award for NC Black Rep. (Sprinkle-Hamlin is shown during their Saturday keynote above. Read the Southern Theatre story about NC Black Rep here.) Read more about Sprinkle-Hamlin’s passing here. Send your news to deanna@setc.org
www.setc.org
January / February 2022
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