SETC News - September/October 2020

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

Bimonthly Newsletter of Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.

CONTENTS Outdoor Theatre Pages 1, 4

LiNK Grad Auditions Page 2

2021 Convention

www.setc.org

Join us for the 57th / 1st VIRTUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OUTDOOR THEATRE OCT. 1 - 2, 2020

Page 3

Professional News Pages 5 - 6

SETC Launches Blog Page 7

Central Office News Page 8

Where Theatre Practitioners Share New Concepts pandemic proofing | equity and inclusion | creative solutions

Pay what you will: as little as $1 Suggested registration fee: $95 Click here for detailed information and to register!

SETC Scholarships Page 9

Around the Region Page 10

EDIA Initiatives Pages 11 - 13

Reinventing Theatre Page 14

ZOOM Gathering for Student Ideas Page 15

Miscellaneous News

More info: Page 4 Programming supported by: Paul Green Foundation, Inc., USITT

Pages 16 - 17

NEWS SUBMISSIONS Deanna Thompson, Editor deanna@setc.org

Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.

More info: outdoor-theatre.org/2020-virtual

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NEWS

LOOKING FOR A GRADUATE PROGRAM?

Don’t Miss This Year’s Virtual LiNK! REGISTRATION DETAILS: Registration opened: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 Registration closes: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.setc.org/link or www.usitt.org/link for details on participating in LiNK.

Every year, graduate programs from across the country attend LiNK to audition and interview prospective candidates for all areas of theatre study.

This low-cost event, created jointly by SETC and USITT, offers a convenient and affordable opportunity for future grad students to interview with multiple schools.

Almost every graduate program that attends LiNK offers financial assistance to applicants in the form of scholarships, assistantships, stipends and tuition waivers.

How the Virtual LiNK Will Work Candidates will upload auditions and portfolios through a web portal.

Recruiters will be able to view those materials and choose candidates to interview. They will contact candidates they are interested in and schedule meetings with them during the appropriate LiNK dates below.

Wednesday, Dec. 2: Recruiters will meet virtually with acting, directing and management candidates.

Thursday, Dec. 3: Recruiters will meet virtually with design and technical theatre candidates.

Friday, Dec. 4: Recruiters will meet virtually with any remaining candidates.

What’s the Cost?

The cost for applicants is $75.

The cost for academic institutions is $325.

Registration is Open Sign up for LiNK now to start your graduate school journey!

More info: setc.org/link or usitt.org/link www.setc.org

September / October 2020

2

2021 SETC CONVENTION

What Does an SETC Convention Look Like in the Middle of a Pandemic?

2021 SETC CONVENTION March 3-7, 2021

Hybrid Event: Memphis, TN and Virtual All events and normal convention scheduling (best we can) will take place on March 3-7, 2021.

Registration fees are still to be determined, but SETC is working to make the convention more accessible than ever! Deadlines will be earlier and much different.

Please watch our website carefully.

Mark Your Calendar!

2022 SETC CONVENTION March 9-13, 2022 Memphis, TN If you don’t make it to Memphis for the 2021 convention, you don’t have to be disappointed. We are pleased to announce that the 2022 SETC Convention will also be in Memphis. BBQ, Blues and Beale Street await!

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, there is still theatre to make, learn and experience. SETC is not letting a pandemic deter our creativity, collaboration and storytelling.

We are planning a “hybrid” SETC Convention to ensure we include as many theatre practitioners as possible, no matter their circumstance. Fortunately, a virtual platform provides opportunities we never knew existed, but will take full advantage of in 2021. Some programming is easy (not ideal) to put online, but there are a couple programs we want to be optimistic about and hopefully produce live.

SETC’s signature benefit – serving as a “one-stop shop” for training, recruiting, hiring and networking – will still be front and center! Below is a snapshot of what we think our Convention 2021 offerings will look like: u Professional Auditions and Theatre Job Fair: In-person if possible, with virtual option. These two events will be held in Memphis for those who are able to attend in person, with an option to participate virtually. Companies prefer live auditions, callbacks and interviews. We have the ability to go fully virtual if COVID-19 does not allow in-person events. u Education Expo and Undergraduate/Graduate Auditions & Interviews: Virtual. Candidates and colleges/universities participating in these events will be able to upload auditions/portfolios and marketing/program materials for review. u Design Competition: Virtual. This annual event will be held virtually with portfolios/displays uploaded for review. Design keynotes will be available to present and adjudicate. Awards will be given as usual. u Keynotes, workshops, meetings, readings, presentations, receptions, networking: Virtual. These events will happen via the alltoo-familiar Zoom-type gathering. u Festival performances: Virtual. With guidelines still to be determined, festival performances will be submitted for online viewing and adjudication if possible/applicable. SETC will be coordinating with the proper divisions to work out the best outcomes for each. u Commercial Exhibits: Virtual. Our commercial exhibitors will be given the opportunity to upload “infomercials”/marketing materials and have presence within the virtual platform.

All convention details are subject to change as we continue to monitor COVID-19 More info: www.setc.org/convention www.setc.org

September / October 2020

3

OUTDOOR THEATRE CONFERENCE

All Are Invited to SETC’s 2020 VIRTUAL National Conference on Outdoor Theatre Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 57th National Conference on Outdoor Theatre will be held virtually, at a reduced cost to attendees, on Oct. 1-2, 2020. The focus is on practical solutions for the pressing issues we are all facing during this time.

CONFERENCE DETAILS • Cost: Pay what you will (from $1 to suggested registration fee of $95) • All are welcome; you need not be an SETC member • Registration closes: midnight, Sept. 25 • For complete details and to register: outdoor-theatre. org/2020-virtual

Where Theatre Practitioners Share New Concepts pandemic proofing | equity and inclusion | creative solutions

View the complete conference program here. Below is an abbreviated schedule (all times are ET): THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Is House Open? Pandemic Proofing for Your Audience 1 p.m.-2 p.m.

Paul Green Foundation, Inc. for granting support for the 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon session

USITT

Lunch Break

2:30 p.m.-4p.m.

Moving Forward Together: A Call to Action for Equity and Inclusion 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Wine Down Discussion

7:30-8:30 p.m.

Un-Conference Conversation for Board Members of the Attending Outdoor Theatres

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

THANK YOU

Roll Call & Company Exchange

Opening the Day: An Un-Conference Discussion

11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Mufflers, Front Porches and Sanitized Headphones:

New Approaches in a New Crisis 1 p.m.-2 p.m.

Lunch Break

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Special Session sponsored by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)

4 p.m.-5 p.m.

7:30-8:30 p.m.

Where Do We Go from Here?

Un-Conference Conversation for Theatre Volunteers of the Attending Outdoor Theatres

for sponsoring the 2:30 p.m Friday afternoon session Presenters and panelists include (left to right): Steven Adelman, James S. Badrak, Katy Brown, Sonia Clark, Howard Craft, Kristi Ross-Clausen, Kathy White and Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder.

More info: outdoor-theatre.org/2020-virtual www.setc.org

September / October 2020

4

SCREENING AUDITIONS

SETC Professional Screening Auditions Move to Video Format Due to COVID-19, the SETC Professional Screening Auditions will be held this fall not as in-person auditions, but as video auditions for all states. In the spring, SETC hopes to hold the Professional Auditions and the Theatre Job Fair live, in person, in Memphis (with a virtual option) on March 3-7, 2021, if COVID-19 allows.

4 REGISTRATION OPENS: Mon., Oct. 5, 2020, at 9 a.m. ET 4 REGISTRATION CLOSES: Fri., Nov. 6, 2020, at Noon ET 4 AUDITIONEES SELECTED TO ADVANCE ANNOUNCED: Mon., Nov. 30, 2020

While putting together a video audition may be new to some, many professional companies started accepting video auditions years ago, so it is an important skill to master.

4 DEADLINE FOR SELECTED AUDITIONEES TO REGISTER FOR MEMPHIS: Wed., Dec. 18, 2020, at Noon ET

All are encouraged to visit our website here for comprehensive information and answers to your questions about this new process.

Innovated Captures

Below is a brief summary:

GET HELP WITH YOUR AUDITION SETC will provide pre-audition support, including: • Educational materials on best practices for putting together a self-taped video audition.

• Training videos specifically related to SETC’s guidelines.

• Zoom gatherings where you can meet live with audition coaches to ask questions and get advice.

Check out Professional Division chair Mark Catlett’s column from the last SETC News on how to execute a quality self-taped audition here.

u All auditionees will submit together an application and a 60-second video audition. u The video audition should be self-taped with phone or in-home equipment. u Time limit is 60 seconds and can include acting, singing, or both (in either order). u Please, no slate. Do not state your name or the piece you are performing. u The clock begins with the first word. Auditionees will be disqualified for going over time. u Please frame your body in the audition video from the knees up. u Musical pieces should be accompanied by live piano or keyboard only or piano-only track. u Permitted file formats include .MOV, .AVI, .MP4, and .MKV (most phones use .MP4 format). u Please, no commercial clips. u All auditionees will be screened, regardless of number of professional credits. u The screening fee will be $85. Need-based grants will be available.

Follow the directions above and others on the website very carefully.

Registration is first-come, first-serve, with a cap of 2,500 applicants.

Early preparation and application are key!

More info: www.setc.org/setc-screenings www.setc.org

September / October 2020

5

EMERGING ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Design Competition Winner: Silin Chen

‘Winning the competition has definitely encouraged me to pursue a career in design.’

- Silin Chen

Originally from Ningbo, China, Silin Chen decided to try something new when she arrived at Wake Forest University her freshman year: a theatre class. Four years later, Chen is on the path to a career in theatre design after winning 1st place for undergraduate scenic design and honorable mention for projection design in the 2020 SETC Design Competition.

She also interviewed at the 2020 SETC Theatre Job Fair and soon received an offer from a professional theatre for a scenic art apprenticeship – now on hold due to the pandemic.

What are you doing and how are you coping during the pandemic?

I have been keeping myself busy, working on a couple of creative projects and studying language. This week I just finished my theoretical design for The White Plague for the Prague Quadrennial’s common design project.

How long have you been involved in theatre?

About four years. I had only seen one theatre production before I arrived at Wake Forest. I took an acting class my first semester out of curiosity. Being an introverted individual and an international student in a new environment, I felt more comfortable speaking as a character than as myself. Then I took more theatre classes, including Intro to Design & Production, from which I learned about the compelling means of transforming a space that serves the narrative. After that, I developed my artistic skills working on school productions as assistant scenic designer, carpenter or scenic painter. And I was fortunate to be able to design for two mainstage productions in my senior year.

How has SETC helped you in launching your career?

This was the first year I entered the Design Competition and attended the Theatre Job Fair. It was inspiring to see other young designers’ works. And I’m grateful that my works could be seen by professionals on such a big platform. Preparing for the Design Competition allowed me to take a closer look at my own creative process.

Winning the competition has definitely encouraged me to pursue a career in design.

Talking to representatives from different theatres at the Theatre Job Fair gave me an idea of what I want to accomplish in my first professional theatre job.

More info: www.setc.org/design-competition www.setc.org

September / October 2020

6

CONNECT WITH SETC’S NEW BLOG

SETC Launches Blog Read Industry Perspectives and Easily Share SETC Stories NOW AVAILABLE ON THE BLOG:

So, What Really Happens When You Try to Open a Theatre in a Pandemic?

Theatres featured in the Summer 2020 Southern Theatre share updates – some surprising – on how their summer openings went in this story exclusive to the blog.

We’re Listening.

Black Theatre Artists Tell Us What Needs to Change.

Marci Duncan asks Black theatre leaders to answer the question, “From your perspective, what needs to change in the theatre industry?”

We are proud to announce the latest addition to SETC’s respected collection of publications: our new blog, SETC Stories.

Visit the blog at stories.setc.org to read the latest industry news and perspectives, thoughtful pieces from members, updates to our magazine and newsletter stories, and more.

We plan to feature new content from the same writers behind SETC News and Southern Theatre magazine, as well as provide a new outlet for writers who want to share their perspectives on theatre.

Would you like to contribute to the blog? Click the “Submit a Story” button to share your idea at stories.setc.org.

One of our publications team members will get back to you.

While we will continue to publish and mail new issues of Southern Theatre magazine and send our bimonthly newsletter to SETC members, we also will be posting content from those publications on the blog. With the click of a button, you will now be able to access, read and share our latest articles with friends, students and colleagues.

In addition, we have pored over our archives and selected the best of the best to be re-released on the blog. We look forward to sharing these pieces – ranging from profiles of theatre leaders to technical walkthroughs and tip lists – with fresh audiences in a convenient, accessible way.

To make it easy for you to find relevant content, we have divided the blog into several sections: u SETC News - The latest announcements on SETC events, programming and membership. u Southern Theatre - Stories from SETC’s magazine, highlighting theatre and theatre makers in the South and beyond in long-form content and in-depth interviews. u SETC Voices - Timely, online exclusive content from writers and members of SETC covering a full range of topics.

Stay tuned as we begin to release new content weekly. Don’t want to miss a post?

Sign up on the blog to receive emails alerting you to new posts. We hope you enjoy!

Visit the blog: stories.setc.org www.setc.org

September / October 2020

7

CENTRAL OFFICE NEWS

Meet Lee Crouse, SETC’s Educational Services & Sponsorships Manager

Lee is the Central Office contact for: n Design Competition n Educational recruiting, including LiNK, Graduate and Undergraduate School Auditions, and Design/Tech Interviews n Commercial Exhibits and Education Expo n Secondary School Theatre Festival n Teachers Institute n Sponsorships

The newest member of the Central Office staff, Lee Crouse, joined SETC in August 2020 as educational services & sponsorships manager. But he is no stranger to SETC, first auditioning at the organization’s Professional Auditions in 1996 and serving since then in a variety of volunteer roles.

What has been your involvement with SETC as a member over the years?

I first attended SETC as an auditionee in 1996 in Louisville, KY. I came back in 1997 and received several offers through the Actor/Tech Walk-Through. From that time until 2008, I attended SETC when I was able. I have not missed a year since 2008. In 2010, I became vice chair of what is now the Movement & Physical Theatre Committee and worked my way to other positions: committee chair, Mississippi state representative, vice president of states, and finally vice president of services.

What did you do prior to joining SETC? For the past 10 years, I have served on the theatre faculty at the Mississippi University for Women. I still teach there as an adjunct in their MFA in Theatre Education program but left as full-time faculty to serve as executive director of the Virginia Theatre Association. The VTA job was unfortunately cut short as a result of the pandemic.

What special skills do you bring to this job?

I’ve been fortunate to learn a lot about SETC’s processes over the years and to observe the work of my amazing predecessors, Cadie and Claire. That knowledge, combined with my experience as a university recruiter and my recent role as SETC’s vice president of services, enables me to bring a lot of practical experience to the job. I have also built relationships with people from around the country during my time on the Board. I am excited about the challenges this job will bring and look forward to collaborating with a wonderful team of staff, with whom I already have a great relationship.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Most of my spare time is spent chasing our two little ones, Ben and Isla, around, supporting my wife Pauline’s needle felting art business, traveling and cooking.

More info: Email Lee at lee@setc.org www.setc.org

September / October 2020

8

SETC SCHOLARSHIPS

Announcing the 2020-21 SETC Scholarship Winners SETC offers thousands of dollars in scholarships for individuals studying theatre. SETC’s Scholarship/Awards Fund supports these monetary awards, which go directly to the winners to use as they wish. Meet this year’s winners.

LEIGHTON M. BALLEW SCHOLARSHIP

DENISE HALBACH SCHOLARSHIP

ROBERT PORTERFIELD SCHOLARSHIP

MARIAN A. SMITH SCHOLARSHIP

For Graduate Study in Directing

For Graduate Study in Acting or Musical Theatre

For Graduate Study in Theatre

For Graduate Study in Costume Design/ Technology

Jasmine B. Gunter is a freelance director and the 2021 recipient of the Hangar Directing Drama League Fellowship. She is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

James Stringer Jr. has worked as an actor at a variety of theatres since receving his bachelor’s degree from the University of Lousiville in 2017. He is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Virginia.

Katherine Stepanek is a scenic and lighting designer who is currently a graduate student in scenic design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

She has worked as a designer and an assistant across the U.S.

Erin Rodgers is a thirdyear MFA student in costume production at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She has worked across the Southeast, as well as in New York City.

She is a graduate of Furman University.

WILLIAM E. WILSON SCHOLARSHIP For Graduate Study by a High School Teacher

Kristin Lundberg is a 15-year public school performing arts teacher who is pursuing her MFA in playwriting with a concentration in new play directing at Hollins University. Her plays have been produced in New York City, London and the Southeast.

STEVE BAYLESS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP For Undergraduate Study in Theatre

Alice McCracken Knight, from Boone, NC, is attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in dramatic art with a probable double major in women’s and gender studies. In college, she hopes to explore and create experimental and physical theatre.

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

September / October 2020

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AROUND THE REGION

Check out the Southeast Region’s Theatre Conferences!

Get the latest updates on virtual or in-person events happening this fall in the states in the Southeast region, including conventions, auditions, workshops and performances. Click on the logos below to learn more, and check back often for the most current information.

Click below for details on other theatre organizations’ upcoming events: American Association for Community Theatre American Alliance for Theatre & Education Americans for the Arts Association for Theatre in Higher Education Association of Theatre Movement Educators Educational Theatre Association KCACTF, Region IV Shakespeare Theatre Association Theatre Communications Group Theatre for Young Audiences University Resident Theatre Association USITT

More info: www.setc.org/state-organizations www.setc.org

September / October 2020

10

SETC EDIA INITIATIVES

SETC Takes Action to Institutionalize Inclusiveness

Maegan McNerney Azar S E TC PR ESID ENT

Read SETC’s Ethos Statement above, its Values Statement on Page 12, and its Land Acknowledgement on Page 13.

“SETC is resolutely committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the life and culture of our organization. We are actively interrogating our policies and practices to deliberately take action and institutionalize anti-racist and anti-oppressive policies and practice. SETC will work to center marginalized voices, bodies, and stories. We will listen and learn about racism, discrimination, and adversity.”

The summer has been full of challenges for all of us, yet in the midst of those challenges, real change is happening. Sometimes it can be difficult to see the good work of those around us, especially when we are all trying to stay afloat in a sea of uncertainty. But it is out there. And this summer, SETC has been working to put action behind our statements.

Alongside the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access Task Force, Central Office staff, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors have taken huge steps to make SETC’s governance reflect a more inclusive organization. It may appear that these actions are “procedural” in nature, but the conversations that have surrounded these changes are creating awareness, enacting progress, and making space for constituents who have felt unheard in the past.

This August, the Board of Directors took the following inclusion-focused actions: u Approved an Ethos Statement (above), a Values Statement (see Page 12), and a Land Acknowledgement (see Page 13). u Created a Vice President of Equity & Inclusion position to serve as the ninth member of the Executive Committee. u Created an Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council that will support the new vice president. u Recreated the Black Theatre Committee. u Created an LGBTQ+ in Theatre Committee and a Disability Inclusion Committee. u Moved the Women+ in Theatre Ad Hoc Committee to full committee status. u Created a People of Color (POC)/Global Majority in Theatre Interest Group to explore the creation of additional affinity-focused committees. u Created a Student & Emerging Artists Interest Group (see Page 15).

This work is, in part, a way of apologizing to SETC members who have felt excluded in the past. Not only do we want you at the table, but we need you there. SETC has created these avenues toward representation in our governance structure, so that the culture of our organization includes diverse voices. And, in doing so, I hope that we can continue doing the work to bring SETC into this new decade together.

More info: www.setc.org/mission-and-vision

www.setc.org

September / October 2020

11

SETC EDIA INITIATIVES

SETC Values Statements Approved by the SETC Executive Committee and Board of Directors during meetings on July 31 and Aug. 22, 2020, via Zoom conferencing Mission: Connecting you to opportunities in theatre nationwide.

Vision: SETC is the strongest and broadest network of theatre practitioners in the United States. We provide extensive resources and year-round opportunities for our constituents. Our services, publications, and products contribute significantly to the careers of emerging artists, seasoned professionals, and academicians. SETC energizes the practical, intellectual, and creative profile of theatre in America.

Access We believe that all people deserve access to theatre, and that theatre better reflects life when everyone is a part of the conversation. We pledge to make our organization, conferences, services, and products available to all, to create a welcoming environment to as many people as possible, and to identify, address, and eliminate barriers.

Commitment & Dedication The commitment and dedication of our staff, board, membership, and constituents drive the opportunities that are available through SETC. We value the interconnectedness of individuals who are devoted to theatre in the southeast and nationwide to create a strong community of theatre practitioners.

Communication The sharing of ideas, best practices, and opportunities is a critical component to our organization and the growth of theatre as an art form. We pledge clear, consistent, and efficient communication to support the needs of our membership and the progress of theatre in the nation.

Diversity & Inclusion We value the life, stories, and theatre that lifts up people from a wide variety of lived experiences. We pledge to support the most vulnerable among us and provide opportunities for all people.

Empathy SETC believes that theatre allows us to look at the world from a different perspective than our own. The ability to empathize with another’s experience is a skill that takes practice, and SETC pledges to create those opportunities.

Empowerment SETC provides opportunities to become stronger, to gain confidence, and to embrace agency over our theatrical destinies. We want to empower future theatre makers and we value partnerships and practitioners that share this commitment.

Equity We believe in the equitable treatment of people in policies, programs, practices, and services. SETC is committed to fairness and justice without favoritism or discrimination.

Honesty & Integrity We pledge to conduct business with humility and sincerity, to seek truth in all interactions, to put the needs of our constituents first, to show respect to those who choose to share their expertise, and to operate with strong moral and ethical standards. As theatre seeks truth, so will SETC. Inspiration We are motivated by the passion of our membership for theatre as an art form. We believe in the power of stories, in shared ideals, and the ability of theatre to make change in the world. SETC is committed to sharing your passion with others, and inspiring the future of theatre.

Service SETC serves theatre, its practitioners, its students, its audiences, and its legacy. We pledge to continue growing and learning in service to theatre nationwide.

More info: www.setc.org/mission-and-vision www.setc.org

September / October 2020

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SETC EDIA INITIATIVES

SETC Land Acknowledgement Approved by the SETC Executive Committee and Board of Directors during meetings on July 31 and August 22, 2020, via Zoom conferencing Every community owes its existence and heritage to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams, and stories to making the history that led to this moment. Some had their dreams shattered when they were brought here against their will, some were drawn to leave their distant homes in hope of a better life, and some have lived and continue to live on this land where they have told their stories for more generations than can be counted.

Before the Southeastern Theatre Conference connected the nation through theatre, the Saponi, Occaneechi, and Catawba Peoples connected their children, elders, and ancestors through stories, hopes, and dreams, and have stewarded this land for over 13,000 years. It is with gratitude that we honor the land and the First Nation people who call Greensboro home, and we also acknowledge that we benefit from their tragic loss of land through colonialism, genocide, and systematic attack. As recently as 1951, the Catawba Indian Nation’s government was “terminated” by the US federal government, and was not reinstated until 1993. The elders say that they have lived here forever, that they looked up at the sky and the Creators gave them their language and culture.

We encourage SETC constituents to research and acknowledge the indigeneity of the land where your institution sits. Today, the State of North Carolina recognizes eight tribes as ancestors: Eastern Band of Cherokee, Coharie, Lumbee, Haliwa-Saponi, Sappony, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of Saponi Nation, and Waccamaw-Siouan tribes.

This Land Acknowledgement challenges us to learn from their plight, and to draw from their traditions of language, spirituality, and storytelling to better understand community, respect, and stewardship of this great land.

Resources:

Honor Native Land Guide https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_ CAyH4WUfQXTXo3MjZHRC00ajg/view?usp=drivesdk Native Governance Center https://nativegov.org/a-guide-to-indigenous-landacknowledgment/ Land and Territory Acknowledgement https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/activism-skills-land-andterritory-acknowledgement American Indian Tribes in North Carolina https://ncpedia.org/tribes 500 Nations – NC Tribes https://www.500nations.com/North_Carolina_Tribes.asp

UNCG recognizes indigenous communities who have inhabited university land https://news.uncg.edu/recognizes-indigenouscommunities-inhabited-university-land/ NC Department of Administration – NC Tribal Communities https://ncadmin.nc.gov/public/american-indians/nc-tribalcommunities The Catawba Nation https://catawbaindian.net/the-nation/about-the-nation.php UNC American Indian Center https://americanindiancenter.unc.edu/resources/about-ncnative-communities/

Special thanks to: Barbara Duncan, PhD, adjunct instructor of Cherokee at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and author of several books about Cherokee history and culture, and Marina Hunley-Graham, artistic director of Unto These Hills, the outdoor drama that tells the Cherokee story, for their assistance with SETC’s research.

More info: www.setc.org/mission-and-vision www.setc.org

September / October 2020

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REINVENTING THEATRE

WE DON’T STOP

The Important Work Continues, Even Through the Intermission

Ginger Poole S E TC SEC R ETA RY

Ginger Poole is producing artistic director at Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, VA.

As we all continue to navigate the unknown, it is hard to believe that we are approaching the sixmonth mark of functioning in a pandemic. While our norm has been rocked off its axis, we are starting to re-invent, we are starting to climb out of the shock, and we are seeing programming formulas change. Business models are morphing, and new content is being created in a virtual world.

This time is important – and this work is going to forever change our industry and who we are as artists.

As we go through processes such as rehearsal, tech and opening a production, the work doesn’t stop when we invite the audience in to join us. The production takes on a life of its own. It lives, it breathes, and it grows. When the lights come up at intermission, there is an invitation to pause. But the work does not cease during this pause. We reset, we change, we prepare to launch into the next act. All of this important work sets us up to move forward. We don’t stop. We don’t settle.

We are being challenged with hard work during this uninvited pause. We must take this time to reinvent while still challenging ourselves as artists and challenging our audiences and communities. We must think outside the box while being socially responsible and being good stewards who preserve and conserve what we have in place.

On the hardest of days, remember the joy you have while you are doing the important work. Lift each other up. Encourage the ones around you. Be flexible. Be willing to roll your sleeves up. Be willing to do the hard work, the important work.

It is our responsibility to our craft and our artistry to continue this important work, even through this intermission.

We don’t stop. We don’t settle.

More info: setc.org/covid-resources www.setc.org

September / October 2020

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STUDENTS INVITED TO ZOOM GATHERING

SETC Makes Space for Student Voices and Leadership Susie Prueter EX E CUTIV E D IR EC T O R

ZOOM GATHERING for Students WHO: High school students, undergraduate and graduate students, and recent grads.

WHAT: Share suggestions with SETC.

WHEN: 5 p.m. ET, Oct. 7.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: RSVP to rsvp@setc. org, providing your name, grade/year, school/college/ university, and area of study. We will send you a Zoom link closer to the event.

On one of my first days of work at SETC, I said the word “student,” and I remember Betsey Horth, SETC’s former executive director, quickly correcting me to use the term “emerging artist.” I deeply appreciated and honored that and have scarcely breathed the “S” word since.

However, it’s important for SETC to understand that over half our members (about 60%, in fact) are indeed students: high schoolers participating in the Secondary School Theatre Festival or Undergraduate Auditions and Interviews and higher ed students coming to us from their college or university, having committed to training for a career in the theatre industry. Creating more space for students to have their voices heard is essential.

As an initiative of SETC’s new focus on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) and our new Strategic Plan, SETC has created a Student & Emerging Artists Interest Group, which will provide students with the opportunity to: u Share thoughts/suggestions about the convention and beyond. u Learn about SETC’s governance structure. u Develop leadership skills. u Enter the pipeline for SETC committee and board assignments.

Our goal is to engage our emerging artists in ways that are personally empowering for them and to encourage lifelong enthusiasm and service to SETC. On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, at 5 p.m. ET, SETC will kick off this endeavor with a Zoom gathering to ask students for ideas and feedback. It will be an informal conversation, and no commitment beyond the meeting will be required. High school and college/university students (undergraduate or graduate) are welcome to participate, whether they are SETC members or not. If you have recently graduated, you are also welcome to attend. See details on how to participate in the box at left.

Teachers and professors: I hope you will share this opportunity with your students and encourage them to participate.

Special thanks to Kyla Kazuschyk and Mia Self for organizing and leading this first gathering. We look forward to launching this new project and hearing from those who are the future of SETC!

More info: Email info@setc.org www.setc.org

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MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:

Are You in the Directory?

SAVE THE DATE Summer and Outdoor Theatre Auditions Jan. 15-16, 2021 Location TBA 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.

These auditions will be held live, in person, in Greensboro, NC, unless COVID-19 prevents. A virtual option to participate will be made available.

SETC’s 2021 College, University and Training Program Directory is in the final stages of preparation. The directory, which is published in the winter issue of Southern Theatre magazine, includes listings of all college and university members of SETC. If you have not provided a listing, please contact Lee Crouse at lee@setc.org.

2021 College,

University

& Traini

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Looking for the best sett theatre? Or ing to lau nch your perhaps you career in to pursue ’re seeking an disciplines advanced degree in the perfect place ? To help one of the you compiled the most com make those choices theatre , we have anywhere listing deg prehensive directory ree available at SETC member col s and special progra ms offered leges, uni programs ver . Data for the profile sities and training institution s is provid s. ed by the

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Would you like to purchase an ad in the directory or in the main section of the winter issue of Southern Theatre magazine? Contact Clay Thornton at clay@setc.org by Sept. 28.

Grad and Undergrad Students: Apply Now for 2021 Young Scholars Award Submissions of papers on topics related to history, theory, criticism and literature are being accepted from graduate and undergraduate students. One graduate and one undergraduate paper will be chosen from those submitted for virtual presentation during the 2021 SETC Convention.

Deadline: Dec. 14, 2020 at 5 p.m.

More info here.

Registration Opens: Dec. 2, 2020, at Noon ET Registration Deadline: Dec. 18, 2020, at Noon ET Registration Fee: $55 For more information, visit outdoor-theatre.org/ auditions

SETC Hall of Fame Accepting Nominations Help us honor those who have made meaningful contributions to SETC. Submit your nomination by Oct. 30 at www.setc.org/hall-of-fame.

More info: www.setc.org www.setc.org

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MISCELLANEOUS NEWS SETC's 2020 Fall Professional Auditions, By the Numbers Connecting You to Opportunities in Theatre Nationwide

Central Office SETC 1175 Revolution Mill Dr., Studio 14 Greensboro NC 27405 336-272-3645 info@setc.org Susie Prueter susie@setc.org Executive Director Lee Crouse lee@setc.org Educational Services Clay Thornton clay@setc.org Marketing/Advertising Chris Bailey chris@setc.org Communications/Website Bradley Branham bradley@setc.org Programming Elizabeth Theodora elizabeth@setc.org Membership/Technology Nicole Francis nicole@setc.org Accounts Receivable/Payable Pat Shumate pat@setc.org Data Assistant General Questions info@setc.org

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the SETC 2020 Fall Professional Auditions were held 100% online. We had a solid response, with 215 actors sending in audition videos and 12 companies reviewing the audition submissions.

SETC Board Appoints New Vice President of Services SETC welcomes Pat Gagliano back to the Executive Committee as its new vice president of services, replacing Lee Crouse, who has stepped down to join the SETC Central Office staff (see Page 8). After discussion and a straw poll of potential candidates, Pat was voted in by the Executive Committee via electronic vote on Aug. 14, 2020. Pat will complete the 2020-2021 term.

In Memoriam Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley passed away Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 64. Binkley had been slated to serve as the lighting design keynote at the 2020 SETC Convention until ill health caused him to cancel. His lighting design for the Dallas Theater Center’s production of Fly appears on the cover of the Summer 2020 issue of Southern Theatre magazine. A native of Winston-Salem, NC, Binkley won Tony Awards for his lighting design of the musicals Hamilton and Jersey Boys. In the March-April 2020 issue of SETC News, he shared the following advice for lighting designers: “Don’t strive for complexity; strive toward simplicity and sculpting. You sculpt and carve with light. Some of my most potent and beautiful work was done with limited equipment and lots of imagination.”

Executive Committee Maegan McNerney Azar President

Actions taken by the SETC Executive Committee and Board of Directors during meetings on July 31 and Aug. 22, 2020, via Zoom conferencing include:

Jack Benjamin VP of Administration Pat Gagliano VP of Services Jonathan Michaelsen VP of Finance Ginger Poole Secretary Jeff Gibson Elected Past President

ExCom Report

by Maegan McNerney Azar SETC President

• The actions detailed on Page 11.

• Approval of several revisions to Rules to more align with current practice.

• Creation of the Scholarship Committee to administrate all SETC scholarships.

Kris Rau McIntyre VP of States

Full minutes available soon at www.setc.org/leadership/minutes-archives.

Tom Booth VP of Divisions

The next Executive Committee meeting will take place in January 2021.

Send your news to deanna@setc.org www.setc.org

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