SETC News - November/December 2022

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

Bimonthly Newsletter of Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.

www.setc.org

CONTENTS SETC Convention: Registration Is Open Page 1 Teachers Institute Page 2 Hotels/Travel Page 3 Green Production Award Page 4 Mabel P. Robinson Emerging Artist Awards Page 5 Stagepunch Ascending Artist Award Page 6 Sponsorships/Ads Page 7 Miscellaneous Page 8

Awards/SOTA Page 9

Professional Spotlight Page 10

Outdoor Theatre Page 11

Perspectives Page 12

Officer/ED Columns Pages 13 - 15

Don’t Miss the 2023 In-Person SETC Convention!

CONVENTION REGISTRATION (INCLUDES SETC MEMBERSHIP)

Early Bird Regular Rate

Rate w/Add-Ons*

(10/13-12/15) (12/16-1/26)

Regular Rate w/No Add-Ons* (1/27-2/16)

Adult College/University Student High School Student Senior (65+)

$ $ $ $

$ $ $ $

290 190 165 210

Click here to register!

CONVENTION SPONSORS:

Page 16

Deanna Thompson, Editor (she/her) deanna@setc.org

Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.

380 280 255 300

380 280 255 300

* Add-Ons include: Gala Awards Banquet ($33), States Luncheon ($22), OSHA Training ($45), and the following, which do not require extra fees: Undergraduate Auditions/Interviews, Graduate Auditions/Interviews, Design Competition, and SETC Short Play Festival

Miscellaneous

NEWS SUBMISSIONS

$ $ $ $

More info: convention.setc.org

TEACHERS INSTITUTE: 2023 SETC CONVENTION

PRESENTER:

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 2023 SETC TEACHERS INSTITUTE

Topic: Your Essential Guide To Lighting Design

BRANDON ECKSTORM Product Marketing Manager

Date: March 4, 2023 Cost: $95. CEUs available.

Click here for more information

Looking for a hands-on class covering basic stage lighting and design?

Join Brandon Eckstorm (he/him), Vectorworks’ product marketing manager, for the annual Teachers Institute, which will be held during the 2023 SETC Convention in Lexington, KY. Eckstorm will teach a course on placing rigging positions, designing lighting elements, and creating detailed reports and worksheets for your next live event. Eckstorm will also share some of the invaluable Vectorworks workflow tips he’s picked up throughout his career.

You won’t want to miss this!

Learning objectives u Discover the basic elements in creating a simple “room” for a live event. u Learn how to place rigging elements in Spotlight. u Create detailed lighting designs and worksheets using Vectorworks Spotlight.

Who should attend The SETC Teachers Institute is an all-day seminar designed for middle and high school teachers who use or integrate theatre techniques into their classroom; directors of theatre arts programs; teaching artists; and students studying to be theatre educators. Convention registration is not required to attend this event.

More info: click here www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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HOTELS AND TRAVEL: 2023 SETC CONVENTION

How to Book Your Hotel Room for 2023 SETC Convention in Lexington Hotel registration opens next Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, for our March 1 – 5, 2023 convention in Lexington, KY. The list of hotels, along with links for booking and group codes, will be available here on that date.

Please reserve directly with the hotel of your choice, using the SETC links posted, in order to secure our special rates! Rates range from $104 to $152 nightly, plus local tax. Be sure to use any group codes listed to get the discounted rates.

Please support SETC by staying at one of the convention hotels! We count on your stay to help us fulfill contracts and reap incentives that keep registration costs low for all.

Delta Offers Flight Discounts to 2023 SETC Convention SETC welcomes Delta Air Lines as our flight sponsor. Delta is pleased to offer special discounts for those attending the SETC Convention. If visiting the Delta website directly, use the “Advanced Search” feature to enter SETC’s Meeting Event Code: NY22C. You may also call Delta Meeting Network at 1-800-328-1111* Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. CT, and refer to Meeting Event Code NY22C. * Please note there is not a service fee

for reservations booked and ticketed via Delta’s reservation 800 number.

Professional Hiring Companies Email info@setc.org for your hotel block information. Please note: We will be working hard to eliminate callbacks in hotel rooms, so staying in the headquarters hotel may not be necessary.

The 2023 SETC Convention will be held at Lexington’s newly renovated convention center: Central Bank Center 430 W. Vine St. Lexington, KY 40507 More info: convention.setc.org/hotel-travel

www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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GREEN DESIGN AWARD: 2023 SETC CONVENTION

Enter to Win a Broadway Green Alliance Green Production Award at 2023 Convention Are you using green practices within your design and builds? If so, it’s time to start thinking about your entry for the 2023 SETC Design Competition. This year, a Green Production Award will be part of the event.

SETC is grateful to the Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) for sponsoring this award.

Want to know more?

Click here for details on this and other awards in SETC’s annual Design Competition.

Click here for guidelines for the Green Production Award competition.

Click here to register for the SETC Convention and the Design Competition.

Nearly 18,000 recycled plastic bottles were used to create the backdrop for a green production of Eurydice at Clemson University.

The goal of the Green Production Award is to: champion those students whose dedication and commitment to greening help lead their college theatre productions to be more environmentally friendly; recognize, and celebrate the greener changes brought to theatre productions produced in university and college theatre programs; and encourage colleges and universities to research, invest in, and put into practice more environmentally friendly pre-, post-, and production practices in theatre.

To enter the Green Production Design Competition: u You must be an undergraduate or graduate student, and your school must be an active organizational member of SETC for you to be eligible to receive an award. u You may enter any realized project entry in each Design Competition category for the BGA Green Production Award. u Foam core, plastic paper protectors, nonrecyclable plastics and other nonrecyclable materials are not allowed on displays entered for this award. If such materials are used in the actual production, an explanation of how these were sourced/recycled and how the design/ build promoted green production is necessary. u You must register for the SETC Convention and apply for the Design Competition online at convention.setc.org by Dec. 15, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

More info: click here www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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MABEL ROBINSON AWARDS: 2023 SETC CONVENTION

Six Students Win Mabel P. Robinson Emerging Artist Awards SETC is pleased to announce the inaugural winners of the Mabel P. Robinson Emerging Artist Awards. These awards, offered by SETC through a partnership with NC Black Rep and the Black Theatre Network, provide scholarships to acting, directing and design students (two in each discipline) to attend the 2022 National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF), the 2023 Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Convention and the 2023 Black Theatre Network Conference (BTN). These events introduce students to industry veterans, provide professional experience, and present audition opportunities for graduate schools and summer stock theatres. SETC procured grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support this project. This year’s winners are: Gabrielle Solomon

Marleena Garris

Jordan Hall

Nia Latriese

Daydra Smith

Peter Ong’olo

Gabrielle “Elle” Solomon (she/ her) is from Columbus, GA, and is a senior at Columbus State University.

She is double majoring, pursuing a BA in Theatre (Directing) and a BA in Communication (Integrated Media). She currently works at the Springer Opera House as an arts management resident. She hopes to pursue a career doing marketing for theatres while also directing shows.

Jordan Hall (he/him) is a secondyear graduate student pursuing an MFA in Lighting Design at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Originally from Fairview Heights, IL, he received his BA in Theatre and Business Administration from Illinois College. His recent lighting design credits include The Beaux Stratagem’ at the Nevada Conservatory Theatre and The Mountaintop at the Hoogland Center for the Fine Arts.

Daydra Smith (she/her) is a recent graduate of the BFA Acting program at Florida State University.

She was most recently seen as Sumner in Men on Boats and Actor 6 in We Are Proud to Present...

She is thrilled to be the recipient of this award and is ready to make fresh art and long-lasting connections.

Marleena Garris (she/her) is a performance artist who received her BFA in Acting from Lindenwood University. Noted for her clarity of work and curiosity in training, Marleena specializes in historical, interactive projects that challenge an audience upon leaving the room.

She continues to work on the East Coast and looks forward to meeting like-minded artists!

Nia Latriece (she/her) is a laughing artist who strives to create work that sustains her family and community with love, laughter and truth. Her mission as a storyteller is to skillfully use her body and the power of language to make freedom real. Nia graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a BA in African-American Studies. She trained at the National Theater Institute in 2022 and Yale Summer Conservatory for Actors in 2019.

Peter Ong’olo (he/him) is a traveler, and a seeker of truth and knowledge. He explores works to question established status quos to discover whether they can be upheld or changed, and whether they meet today’s ideals. Varying experiences of his life find themselves entwined in the stories he envisions, and the people he has met help enrich the depths of the characters he creates.

More info: click here www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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STAGEPUNCH AWARD: 2023 SETC CONVENTION

High School Juniors and Seniors: Apply Now

What is Stagepunch?

Stagepunch.com is an online tool for students looking to pursue higher education in the performing arts. Complete with a database of global programs, monologues, quizzes, coaching and more, Stagepunch guides you through every step of the application journey.

Stagepunch and SETC are proud to announce The Stagepunch Ascending Artist Award.

This award will be presented to one high school junior or senior to support their attendance at the 2023 SETC Convention. The student should be planning to audition for undergraduate programs and scholarships during the convention. Selection will be based on artistic ability, academic performance, motivation to pursue an undergraduate degree in theatre and commitment to continued growth as an artist.

The Stagepunch Ascending Artist Award includes the following: u u u u u u u

Admission to the 2023 SETC Convention for one student and one chaperone One hotel room for four nights at the convention $500 travel stipend Per diem One-year membership to Stagepunch Pro One free coaching session with Stagepunch ahead of the convention One-year membership to SETC

Deadline for application: Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at 11:59 ET To apply, click here. For more information, click here.

More info: click here www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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SPONSORSHIPS AND ADS: 2023 SETC CONVENTION

COMMERCIAL COMPANIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS:

LEARN MORE To learn more about opportunities for getting your organization’s name in front of SETC members, visit our Sponsorships and Advertising page.

Or you can contact Shameca Freeman (shameca@setc.org) with sponsorship questions, and Clay Thornton (clay@setc.org) for advertising questions.

Go Beyond the Booth and Expand Your Reach!

Whether you’re with a college or university that is recruiting students or a commercial company marketing a product, you’ll find a myriad of ways to connect with your audience at the 2023 SETC Convention in Lexington, KY. In addition to booths in our Commercial Exhibits and Educational Expo areas, we offer a wide range of sponsorship and advertising opportunities that allow you to maximize your visibility. u Major sponsorships: Let your organization’s support of our convention attendees shine! Inspire, encourage and cheer on all while putting your organization’s brand downstage center. SETC’s biggest bang for the sponsorship buck. u Convention sponsorships: Take ownership of events ranging from auditions to the exhibit hall, including 2020’s most popular booth, the headshot booth. u Festival sponsorships: Build rapport with creators, producers, teachers and performers of all ages by sponsoring one of our five theatre festivals. u Key programming events: Sponsor one of our keynote speakers, support our EDIA series, or capture a workshop track. Have your brand appear alongside those events in both the digital and print programs. u Advertising: Looking to reach a wide-ranging audience of SETC members?

Promote your message in our print publications or digital platforms! Opportunities include: our Southern Theatre magazine that is published three times per year, our printed convention program, our SETC News e-newsletter and website banner ads.

More info: convention.setc.org/sponsorships www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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MISCELLANEOUS: 2023 SETC CONVENTION

How can you help SETC and yourself at the same time?

BE A 2023 SETC CONVENTION VOLUNTEER!

CONVENTION REGISTRATION: Opened Oct. 13, 2022

HOTEL RESERVATIONS Open Nov. 8, 2022

EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE:

Volunteer to work 10 or more hours at the 2023 SETC Convention and, if you are accepted, SETC will give you free convention registration in return. All you will need to pay is your annual membership cost (students, $45; adults, $80; adults with senior citizen discount, $55) and separate fees (if any), then you’ll have full access to convention activities that are included with regular registration at no additional charge!

Here are some areas where you can help: Registration Exhibit Hall Festivals Info Hub

REGULAR-RATE WITH ADD-ONS REGISTRATION DEADLINE:

Do you or members of your staff need OSHA instruction specific to the live entertainment industry?

Jan. 26, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET

FEB. 16, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET

CONVENTION APP AVAILABLE: FEBRUARY 2023

SETC CONVENTION: March 1 – 5, 2023 Lexington, KY

Undergraduate Auditions Graduate Auditions Design Competition Special Events

Apply by Dec. 9, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET More information: convention.setc.org/volunteers

Dec. 15, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. ET

REGULAR-RATE WITH NO ADD-ONS REGISTRATION DEADLINE:

Theatre Job Fair Design Competition Convention Gear Professional Auditions Teachers Institute

Come early to the 2023 SETC Convention to participate in the OSHA-10 General Entertainment Safety course.

This is a recognized “Alliance” between OSHA, IATSE and USITT. It is centered on a curriculum that is compatible with both OSHA General Industry guidelines and the unique challenges we find ourselves facing in the entertainment industry. Upon completion, you will receive an OSHA-10 General Industry card that verifies that you have completed the safety training. This card is good for life and is recognized nationally in those jurisdictions requiring 10 hours of General Industry training.

When:

Tuesday, Feb. 28 and Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Where:

74th annual SETC Convention, Lexington, KY

Cost:

$45, covers the OSHA workshop booklet and OSHA membership card

Register: Click here for more information and to register for this event.

More info: info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org/upcoming More www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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APPLY SOON FOR SETC AWARDS, SOTA

You Could Be the Winner of an SETC Award

Jan. 13 – 14, 2023

SETC offers a variety of awards that should be on your radar, whether you’re a student or a professional.

These awards provide recognition and, in some cases, monetary help to achieve the recipient’s goals. But you have to apply to receive one of these honors! Deadlines are later this month or in early December for all of the awards listed below.

IN-PERSON AUDITIONS

KEYNOTE EMERGING ARTIST OF PROMISE (KEAP) AWARD

Summer and Outdoor Theatre Auditions (SOTA) Greensboro College, Greensboro, NC

Each January, SETC Outdoor Theatre hosts auditions for summer and outdoor theatres looking to cast acting, singing, dancing and stage combat positions. Interviews are also available for technical positions and internship opportunities.

Registration Opens: Dec. 1, 2022, at Noon ET Registration Deadline: Dec. 29, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET Auditionee Registration: $55 More Information: Click here

Helps economically disadvantaged high school theatre students attend the SETC Convention. Nominations are made by teachers.

Applications/nominations due: Dec. 8, 2022 More info here.

YOUNG SCHOLARS AWARD Submissions invited from undergraduate and graduate students on topics related to history, theory, criticism and literature.

Submissions due: Dec. 1, 2022 More info here.

JOHN SPIEGEL THEATRICAL ARTIST AWARD For students pursuing design/tech degrees or certificates.

Applications due: Nov. 24, 2022 More info here.

SARA SPENCER CHILD DRAMA AWARD Honors individuals or organizations working in theatre for young people.

Nominations due: Nov. 24, 2022 More info here.

TOM BEHM AWARD For professional development in the field of theatre for youth.

Applications due: Nov. 24, 2022 More info here.

Note: The deadline for all award applications is 11:59 p.m ET on the day of the deadline.

More info: www.setc.org/scholarships-awards www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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PROFESSIONAL COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

Hiring through SETC: Silver Dollar City ‘We hired excellent performers from SETC’s Spring and Fall Auditions in 2022. The prescreening process that SETC completes before we view the candidates helps immensely. We have also found that the inperson auditions are extremely valuable as we can call back performers and get to know them candidly before extending offers. This helps in curating company culture.’

- Lyra Sprenger, Entertainment and Events Supervisor

Home for Christmas 2021.

This dynamic Christmas review show is returning in November 2022 with a new, fresh look and sound.

SETC recently caught up with Lyra Sprenger (she/her), entertainment and events supervisor at Silver Dollar City theme park near Branson, MO. Below are excerpts from the interview.

Tell us a little about your organization.

Silver Dollar City is an 1880s-style theme park in the Ozark Mountains near Branson, MO. The picturesque, tree-lined “City” was founded in 1960. It features 40 rides and attractions, a demonstrating crafts colony 100 artisans strong, and 10 world-class festivals/special events.

FUN FACT: Silver Dollar City was built atop the massive Marvel Cave, a natural wonder once thought to include marble.

What type of theatre/stage do you have?

Silver Dollar City has four indoor theatres that hold 200-900 people, three outdoor stages that accommodate up to 400, and an outdoor amphitheater that seats 4,000.

What type of shows are you mainly known for producing?

We offer a wide variety of live performances including, but not limited to, musical theatre, music reviews, parades, atmosphere entertainment and concert-style shows.

What are you currently producing?

I am currently working on A Dickens Christmas Carol, one of eight Christmas shows that will be running this year. I am also working on our spring festival, Street Fest, which includes 11 shows/acts celebrating spring.

Where do you find actors and crew? Are they all paid?

All of our performers and crew members are paid professionals. We find these at conventions, through hiring websites, and via traditional job postings on our website.

How long have you been involved with SETC? And do you plan to participate in SETC’s 2023 Spring Auditions and Theatre Job Fair?

We joined SETC in spring 2022. We do plan to attend SETC’s Professional Auditions and Theatre Job Fair in spring 2023. We will be looking for singer-dancers, actors, and workers in the tech and wardrobe areas.

More info: Silver Dollar City www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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OUTDOOR THEATRE

2022 Outdoor Theatre Award Winners

2022 NCOT Draws Outdoor Theatre Enthusiasts to the Mountains

MARK R. SUMNER AWARD: Harriet Schlader, Producer

Producers Associates / Woodminster Summer Musicals / Woodminster Amphitheater, Oakland, CA (shown below with her award)

The Mark R. Sumner Award recognizes significant contributions by an individual to a specific drama, or to the outdoor drama movement as a whole, including but not limited to playwriting, directing, acting, design, theatre architecture, patronage, scholarship, musical composition, technology and innovation, producing and administration.

SCOTT J. PARKER VOLUNTEER AWARD: Jessica Rugh Franz, Board Chair Montford Park Players, Asheville, NC (shown below with Executive Director John Russell)

The Scott J. Parker Award is presented to an exceptional volunteer in the field of outdoor theatre. This award recognizes an individual who has been nominated by an outdoor theatre for their extraordinary, dedicated and unpaid service to the organization over a significant period of time.

Attendees at the 59th National Conference on Outdoor Theatre (NCOT).

Thank you to everyone who attended our 59th National Conference on Outdoor Theatre (NCOT). Each year, we strive to provide opportunities nationwide to outdoor theatre practitioners and professional companies by creating engaging services and places for outdoor theatre leaders to network, trade insights and explore new concepts. This year’s event was held in the mountains of North Carolina.

We had over 30 outdoor theatre enthusiasts participate in this year’s in-person conference. The 2022 NCOT schedule included the following sessions: 4 Wormfarm Institute: Fostering a Cultureshed 4 Community Partnerships: How Montford Park Players Opened Their Doors 4 Getting it Right with Cultural Appropriation and Accurate Portrayals of Native Americans 4 Run the Show: An Introduction to QLab Technology 4 Board Development Session: Board Roles and Responsibilities 4 A tour of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian 4 Performances at two outdoor theatre locations 4 Multiple company exchanges A special thank you to the Cherokee Historical Association, Unto These Hills and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, NC, and the Montford Park Players in Asheville, NC, for their generosity and support of this year’s NCOT. More info: outdoortheatre.org/conference

www.setc.org

November / December 2022

11

PERSPECTIVES

Not Too Fat for the Role: It’s Time to Stand Up to Fatphobic Professors and Directors

JASMINE HALEY ANDERSON (she/ he r )

Jasmine Haley Anderson is pursuing an MFA in acting at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Click here to read her HowlRound essay, “We’re Too Fat and Too Invisible to Have a Seat at Theatre’s Table, and Now Some of Us Don’t Eat,” from which this column is excerpted. Visit her website here.

Perspectives is an SETC News column where guest contributors are invited to share their diverse voices.

I am a woman performer who wears pant/dress size 10 – 12. In the eyes of directors, producers, choreographers and theatre’s other decisionmakers, that means I am undeserving of romantic love, real friendships, dignity, and accurate representation in the characters I play. Instead, I am only deemed capable of portraying a plump mother, comedic relief, or someone obsessed with food or sex.

Jasmine Haley Anderson is frequently cast in motherly-type roles due to her body size and shape. Above, she portrays Marmee in Little Women: A New Musical by Robert Stoddard and Leigh Stoddard at Southern Virginia University, where she went on to play many other roles within that “type.” Photo by Leigh Stoddard.

The expectation for female performers to be thin starts at a young age and, unfortunately, is often reinforced in an educational setting. Young actors can develop serious mental, emotional and physical issues with long-term effects. Within audition, education and training settings, theatremakers frequently reinforce society’s message that women are only beautiful when they are thin and toned. That dangerous notion has kept women feeling unworthy and less than those around them; it tells them that they are too large to be talented, too large to be seen, and too large to be loved.

Leaders must analyze their own biases against fat people and start to unlearn them.

One easy way they can begin this change is to remove qualifiers on attractiveness in their casting calls. For those who do not meet fatphobic conventional beauty standards, subjective terms like “attractive” and “beautiful” can create confusion and discouraging mental turmoil. Suddenly, they have to decide if this set of people will consider them “beautiful” or “attractive” or if they will be laughed out of the room for attending the audition. Including these qualifiers in casting calls reveals implicit fatphobia, and removing them opens the space to women who might otherwise be discouraged from auditioning. If a part requires a particular look, write a clear and specific casting call.

Performing artists need to loudly declare the importance of representation of all kinds and fight for it. We need to stand up to our fatphobic professors, directors and leaders and finally tell them “no” when they attempt to body shame us. As artists, we can choose the stories we wish to tell. Let us finally change the pattern of women falling prey to eating disorders for “the sake of their art” and recognize that fat women are human beings. It is about time we treat them as such on the stage and screen.

More info: see links in bio above at left

www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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FROM THE VP OF EQUITY & INCLUSION

Learning the Importance of Self-Care the Hard Way

Adanma Onyedike Barton VI C E- PR ESID ENT OF EQU IT Y & IN C L U SIO N ( she/ he r )

Do we take care of ourselves? Or do those of us in theatre often run from show to show under the guise of “loving it”? That was my mode of operation as 2022 began. I had an amazing professional trajectory. Everything I’ve worked so hard for was starting to become true. Then, in February 2022, I slipped on black ice at work. EVERYTHING has now changed for me.

First, I was diagnosed with a concussion, a neck sprain and contusions. Then, after working exhaustively to complete five different therapies, I was upgraded to postconcussion syndrome. Now, I‘m working hard to avoid permanent traumatic brain injury.

I tell you this because the universe/God forced me to slow down. At the time my injury happened, I was teaching a full load of classes, directing plays, serving on important committees – basically running like the Energizer bunny. I look back, and it’s incredible that I didn’t have a stroke or a heart attack.

I was going 100 miles an hour before the accident, and now I’m going 35. Yes, I am still teaching. But now, I have a self-care regimen that I make sure to complete daily.

It hurts my heart deeply that I must share this news, but my focus on health means that I will need to step down in 2023 from my position as SETC’s VP of Equity & Inclusion.

Are there still many diversity and inclusion issues to work on? Absolutely – that will never change. The fact that we still have “firsts” in 2022 shows how much progress is still needed. I’ve been the “first” in many roles – the first Black female President of the Kentucky Theatre Association, for one. I’ve also been a “first “at SETC on the Executive Committee, both in my role as secretary some years ago and my current role as the VP of E&I, an honor I’m deeply thankful to have received. Being forced to step away from that role and so many others is heartbreaking.

I am sharing my story in the hope that it might make a difference for others. How much time do you really take for yourself? Be honest with yourself and listen to your body. Make boundaries where you work. In addition to doing the theatre that you love, make time to do something that makes you happy that is NOT theatre. In this world, we need to take care of ourselves.

More info: www.setc.org/leadership www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Why We Gather

Maegan McNerney Azar S E TC PR ESID ENT ( she/ he r )

Links for more information: Listen to the podcast, Dr. Maya Shankar’s A SLIGHT CHANGE OF PLANS, “The Art and Science of Gathering” with Priya Parker, here.

Learn more about Priya Parker’s book, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, here.

I heard a podcast recently with Priya Parker, the author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters. At its core, theatre is Performer and Audience, and that makes gathering that audience half of our art form.

But as I listened, I was reminded more and more of SETC’s spring convention – all our events, really – and the main purpose the event serves.

What is our reason to gather?

It’s important to focus on the reasons behind gathering, instead of just the stuff around the collective sharing of our time together. If there is anything we learned over the last couple of years, it is that sharing space with other people, telling stories about our humanity, and gathering in multi-generational communities is crucial to livelihood.

Our convention each spring is one example of the importance of this gathering time.

And the reasons to gather – both collectively and individually – need to be clear.

With whom do we gather?

In the podcast, Parker talked a lot about “who is on the guest list.” In the frame of SETC, my mind constantly asks who isn’t gathering with us and why? We are an organization that includes all ages, all levels, all identities of theatre practitioners, but how can we continue to do that while serving all our members with equity, parity, and equality? Parker talked about “multiple generations of reciprocity” in reference to guest lists at Indian weddings, and I started to consider that value system in terms of our membership: how many of us entered SETC as a student, returned as a professional looking for work, became the hiring entity, and now give back to the organization because we recognize ourselves in the new attendees?

Why do we gather?

Part of gathering is understanding how we talk about the relevance of our community.

SETC is the strongest network of theatre practitioners in the country, rooted in the southeast with national reaches. With convention registration open, and my third and final year as President halfway over, I know and appreciate the power of our collective community. I know what this organization has meant to my career, to my students’ opportunities, and to the relationships that we’ve built along the way. I can espouse the benefits of SETC and the power of gathering, but sometimes you have to be there to believe it.

With a renewed focus on our “why,” all our events at SETC need our members to show up and show out. I know it’s still several months away, but consider inviting a friend to convention this year.

More info: see links above at left www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Personal Reflections: A Gift or a Curse?

Toni Simmons Henson EX E CUTIV E D IR EC T O R ( she/ he r )

Links for more information Read the NPR story that revealed the death threats against Nataki Garrett here.

Read the Broadway World story detailing reactions from theatre organizations and ways theatre people can help here.

Read the Ashland (OR) News story featuring an interview with Nataki Garrett here.

Visit the OSF website here.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that as artists, we are born with hypersensitivities, and the more we develop as artists, the more hypersensitive we become. I have recently been more acutely aware of the need to protect my heart from overexposure to trauma and violence. Sometimes that means turning off the news, and other times that means spending a week at the beach. There exists an irresistible urge to hit reset by spending time with the source of my gift, THE Creator.

I recognize that if I don’t process these feelings through my artistic gifts, they will begin to eat at me from the inside out. I believe this is who I am by design. It is the curse that comes with these incredible gifts.

Early on, I realized that these gifts also come with responsibility. We, as artists, are called to channel our emotions into something truthful, beautiful and/or good. It is our duty and call to humanitarian service.

After hearing about the recent death threats projected on our sister Nataki Garrett, the artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), I immediately went into protective mode. It hit home, and my imagination started to go awry with “what ifs.” Since I also recently accepted a highprofile position with a theatre organization, I imagined finding myself in the same position. The thought of needing security to protect me, or my loved ones, is maddening.

This? Because she wanted to make room for all artists to create theatre?

OSF Artistic Director Nataki Garrett (center) talks with donors at an event during OSF’s 2022 Change Makers donor weekend.

My heart goes out to Nataki and her family. I pray that she finds comfort, safety and the peace of knowing that she is also on her appointed assignment “for such a time as this.”

I don’t know what the future holds. But there is one thing I know for sure – the enemy has no power over those “called and chosen” to create. I believe we are all created equal in the image of GOD and our gifts are tools to remind us we are human.

More info: see links above at left www.setc.org

November / December 2022

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MISCELLANEOUS

Connecting You to Opportunities in Theatre Nationwide

Venice Theatre Works to Rebuild After Suffering Massive Damage from Hurricane Ian

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 Clay Thornton (he/him) clay@setc.org Marketing & Communications 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 Development & Grant Management Veronica Neblett (she/her) veronica@setc.org Accounting/Human Resources

Executive Committee

Top: Venice Theatre, two days after Ian made landfall on the southwest coast of Florida in late September 2022, causing major damage.

Bottom: The theatre on Oct. 21, 2022, as debris is removed. (Photos by Murray Chase)

Hurricane Ian tested the resilience of Venice Theatre in Venice, FL, blowing out the back wall and causing the collapse of its fly loft. The winds caused catastrophic damage to the community theatre’s stage house and extensive water damage to much of the rest of the building, according to Producing Executive Director Murray Chase. Recovery efforts will continue for at least a year. Venice Theatre is rallying, though. The company has already converted its Education Center into a thrust theatre space. Its smaller Pinkerton Theatre will be open by January. Concerts and special events are being moved to alternate venues in the area.

Venice Theatre’s show schedule will resume in late November. Full recovery will take more than $5 million, Chase said. See the theatre’s show schedule and ways to donate at www.venicetheatre.org.

Thanks to SETC’s Contributors

Maegan McNerney Azar (she/her) President

We send our thanks to the following individuals for contributions made to SETC from Aug. 17, 2022, through Oct. 5, 2022:

Kris Rau McIntyre (she/her) VP of Administration

Individuals: Trent Blanton J. Theresa Bush* Meredith A Charbonnet Katrina Marie Eicher Andrew B Holloway Donald Ralph Lampton Chad McDonald*

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

Mia L Self* Heather Sinclair

Greensboro College Limestone University South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University Towson University Youth Theatre of the Bluegrass

Organizations: Appalachian State University Boston University Catawba College * Denotes monthly contributor To make a donation to SETC, click here.

Jeremy Kisling (he/him) VP of States

Playwriting Contest for Young Writers with Disabilities

Lynn Nelson (she/her) VP of Divisions

High school students with disabilities are invited to submit a 10-minute script to the Kennedy Center’s VSA Playwright Discovery Program. The winner will receive $1,000, as well as coaching from industry professionals to further develop the script. Deadline for submission is Jan. 4, 2023. Details are here.

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November / December 2022

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