MARCH / APRIL 2021
Bimonthly Newsletter of Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.
CONTENTS
www.setc.org
2021 SETC Virtual Convention l March 3 - 7
SETC CONVENTION: Professionals Pages 2 - 3
Workshops Page 4
Design Competition Page 5
College/University Page 6
Exhibits Pages 7
Festivals Page 8
Race & Representation Page 9
Getchell Award
Here’s the Info You Need to Navigate the Virtual Convention! HOW DO I ACCESS THE VIRTUAL CONVENTION PLATFORM? Look for a Feb. 24 email from us with a link to access the platform. Don’t see the email? No problem! You can also access the platform via the SETC or Convention website homepages. Once on the platform, click “Enter Convention Site” and enter the email you used to register. The system will send you a unique access link via email.
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HOW DO I ATTEND OR VIEW EVENTS AT THE CONVENTION?
Miscellaneous
Once you enter the convention website, you’ll see a menu at the top. Click one of the seven headers – Schedule, Festivals, Exhibitors, Design Competition, Professional Hiring Companies, Network & Chat, or Support – to visit that area. “Schedule” will take you to the virtual schedule for all workshops, keynotes, meetings and special programming. Problems? Click the “Support” tab for help via our chat widget.
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Interest Areas Pages 12 - 16
Columns
Pages 17 - 20
HOW CAN I CONNECT WITH OTHERS AT THE CONVENTION?
Central Office News
Select the “Networking & Chat” tab on the virtual convention platform, create a profile, and reach out. You can participate in a group chat or an individual chat.
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Miscellaneous News
NEED MORE INFORMATION? Click here.
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NEWS SUBMISSIONS Deanna Thompson, Editor deanna@setc.org
Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN!
2021 SETC CONVENTION: PROFESSIONALS
Professional Auditions – Candidates: What You Need to Know I’m registered for Professional Auditions. How will I receive callbacks?
Don’t Miss Opportunities at the SETC Virtual Convention Be sure to visit the 2021 SETC Virtual Convention platform to attend workshops and other events and connect with those attending the event. While Professional Auditions and Theatre Job Fair will be happening in their own space, auditionees and job candidates are also registered to attend the virtual convention, with more than 200 sessions and other events happening! Follow the directions on Page 1 to enter the convention platform.
Hiring companies participating in Professional Auditions received auditionee galleries Feb. 15, and any companies that have signed up since then are receiving the gallery links upon completion of their registration. If a hiring company wishes to call you back, they will notify SETC and we will send you an email informing you of the callback. You will be instructed to go to the company’s scheduling link and select a day/time for your callback from those listed in the company’s gallery. You then will receive a second email with more information and a Zoom link (or other video conferencing link) that you will use for your callback. Please note: Professional Auditions are happening separately from other convention events, as described above. You will not find callback or audition information on the virtual convention platform.
Theatre Job Fair – Candidates: What You Need to Know Can I still sign up to participate in the SETC Job Fair? Yes. The deadline to sign up is 11:59 p.m. ET, Monday, March 1. You need to register for the convention here and select the Theatre Job Fair add-on. Once you complete and pay for registration, you will be sent a link to complete the Theatre Job Fair application. You will need to upload your resume, a gallery thumbnail image and any portfolio materials that you wish to share.
How will Theatre Job Fair candidates connect with professional companies? Once you are registered, you will receive a link to the hiring company gallery, which will give you access to the companies’ contact information and their scheduling link, where you can schedule an interview. The company gallery pages will include job postings as well as general information about the organization. The hiring companies that are participating in Theatre Job Fair will also receive the candidate galleries and will be able to reach out to candidates for interviews. Please note: Theatre Job Fair is happening separately from other convention events, as described above. You will not find interview information on the virtual convention platform.
More info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org
March / April 2021
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: PROFESSIONALS
Professional Auditions – Hiring Companies: What You Need to Know Can my organization still sign up to participate in Professional Auditions? Yes. The deadline to sign up is 11:59 p.m. ET, Monday, March 1. You need to register for the convention and for Professional Auditions here. Once you complete and pay for registration, you will be sent a link to the auditionee galleries. You can search, filter and sort these gallery pages – and “star” auditionees that are most interesting to you
Need more information about the process? Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@setc.org.
How does my company invite an auditionee for a callback? You need to create a scheduling link listing times that auditionees can schedule a virtual callback during the week of convention and a Zoom Room (or other video conferencing service) where the callbacks can occur. You set the times and dates that work for you. Notify SETC of the auditionees you wish to call back. We will then send an email to the auditionees you have selected, with instructions to visit your company gallery page and utilize your scheduling link to schedule their callbacks.
Theatre Job Fair – Hiring Companies: What You Need to Know Can my organization still sign up to participate in Theatre Job Fair? Yes. The deadline to sign up is 11:59 p.m. ET, Monday, March 1. You need to register for the convention and for Theatre Job Fair here. Once you complete and pay for registration, you will be sent a link to the candidate galleries. You can search, filter and sort these gallery pages – and “star” job candidates that are most interesting to you. How does my company invite a candidate for an interview? You need to create a scheduling link listing times that candidates can schedule an interview during the week of convention and a Zoom Room (or other video conferencing service) where the callbacks can occur. To connect with a Theatre Job Fair candidate, you will want to view the contact information on the candidate’s gallery page and reach out to them directly. Similarly to an in-person year, candidates will also be able to schedule a meeting with your company without your reaching out to them.
More info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org
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What is different about this year’s workshops?
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Each session includes a 45-minute prerecorded workshop, followed by a live, 15-minute Q&A with the presenter.
How do I view a workshop?
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Click “View Session” to the right of the workshop title. This will take you to the session’s description page. Click the “play” symbol on the video screen when you are ready to start the video.
First, make sure you are registered for the convention. Once you are registered, follow the instructions on Page 1 to enter the convention platform. (You also can enter using the link at the bottom of this page.) Okay, I’m on the convention platform. How do I find the workshops, meetings, keynotes and other programming I want to participate in? Select the “Schedule” tab at the top of the virtual platform. The schedule is divided by each day of the convention, then by time. If you want to attend a particular workshop or are looking for those in a particular area, you can search by title or by interest area using the filter box on the right side of the screen (see below).
How do I join the live Q&A at the end? Click the Zoom link to the right of the video at the end of the session. Note: The Zoom link will not be available until the final 15 minutes of the time slot.
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Here’s How You Can Attend 200+ Sessions and Other Events at the 2021 SETC Virtual Convention
How do I participate in live programming? Join by clicking the Zoom link on the description page for the session.
How do I build a schedule of events I want to attend? Once you have found the workshops and other events you want to attend, you can click to add them to your personal calendar such as Google Calendar, Outlook or iCalendar. You also can click the star button next to the title to save it to your favorites! (See example, above right.)
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: WORKSHOPS
Can’t attend a workshop at the time it is happening? No problem! Workshops are available on demand and will remain online for viewing by registered convention attendees until March 31.
More info: setc-convention.secure-platform.com www.setc.org
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2020 SETC CONVENTION: DESIGN COMPETITION
2021 Design Keynotes
Design Competition Entrants: Here’s What You Need to Know When are my materials due?
Dede Ayite
Distinguished Costume Designer
Submissions were due by February 18, but extensions have been granted to entrants with works in progress. If you have an extenuating circumstance and need to complete your submission past the due date, please email Design Committee Chair Matt Leckenbusch (mlecken@clemson.edu) and Lee Crouse (lee@setc.org) as soon as possible. Final deadline for those with extenuating circumstances is Tuesday, March 2.
What happens next? The adjudicators will identify participants they would like to invite for Zoom responses. Those participants will be notified via email with a date, time and Zoom link for their response.
How can I view the entries and the Zoom response sessions?
Alan Edwards
Distinguished Lighting Designer
Jessica Paz
Distinguished Sound Designer
You can view the Design Competition entries by clicking on the “Design Competition” tab on the convention platform and scrolling through the gallery. To view the juried responses offered by the 2021 Distinguished Costume, Lighting, Scene and Sound Designers, click on “Schedule” on the convention platform and search by name or day/time for the response session. Thursday, March 4, 2021 (all times ET)
Friday, March 5, 2021 (all times ET)
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. 11 a.m. - Noon Noon - 1 p.m. 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Schedule subject to minor changes based on entries 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Undergraduate Lighting 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Graduate Lighting 11 a.m. - Noon Undergraduate Scene Noon - 1 p.m Graduate Scene 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Undergraduate Costumes 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Graduate Costumes
Projections Props Sound Costume Crafts Costume Tech Make-up Technical Direction
When will the Design Competition winners be announced? The Design Awards Ceremony is at 8:30 p.m., Friday, March 5. To attend, click “Schedule” on the convention platform and search for the event by name or day/time.
When are the Distinguished Designers’ Keynotes and Q&A? This year’s Distinguished Designers’ keynotes will be available for on-demand viewing on the convention platform beginning Wednesday, March 3. The designers will hold a live Q&A from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 4. To attend, click “Schedule” on the convention platform and search for the event by name or day/time.
Newly announced: See Page 11 for bio!
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Rachel Hauck
Distinguished Scene Designer
Interested, But Not Participating in the Design Competition? Anyone who is registered for the convention can view the competition entries and attend the events by following the directions above.
Design Competition sponsored by Broadway Media, ETC, Betsey and David Horth, Productions Unlimited, Sculptural Arts Coating, Shure and Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA)
More info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: COLLEGES-UNIVERSITIES
Undergraduate & Graduate Auditions/Interviews: What Auditionees and Candidates Need to Know
See schools recruiting at Undergraduate Interviews here. See schools recruiting at Graduate Auditions here.
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See schools recruiting at Undergraduate Auditions here.
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What is the deadline to complete my audition or interview materials? Due to recent weather events, the new recommended deadline to upload your materials is 11:59 p.m. ET, Sunday, Feb. 28.
See schools recruiting at Graduate Interviews here.
Undergraduate Auditions/Interviews sponsored by Auburn University
How do I access the galleries showing schools that are recruiting? Due to the recent weather events causing school closures and power outages, we have delayed release of the galleries that show recruiting schools. The link to the galleries will be emailed to you at 8 a.m. ET, Monday, March 1. You can search, filter and sort these gallery pages – and “star” programs that are most interesting to you. I received a callback/invite for an interview. What do I do next? When a recruiting program is interested in speaking with you, they will email you directly and ask you to visit their gallery page, review their information, and click on the “Schedule a Meeting” button. This will allow you to schedule a meeting with a program’s representative. Note: Some schools will not have a gallery page or button to schedule a meeting. Those schools will directly email you and provide instructions on how they plan to connect with you.
Undergraduate & Graduate Auditions/Interviews: What Recruiting Institutions Need to Know Do all recruiting faculty/representatives need to register for convention? Yes. All must be registered as individuals for the convention in order to participate in collegiate auditions and interviews. Register here. How do I access and review candidates’ information? All candidates have created individual gallery pages with their uploaded materials. Due to the recent weather events causing school closures, power outages and delays, recruiting institutions will receive a link to access the Undergraduate and Graduate Candidate galleries at 8 a.m. ET, Monday, March 1. These galleries are sortable and searchable, as well as offering the ability to “star” candidates most interesting to you. How does my institution invite an auditionee for a callback or connect with a candidate for an interview? Visit the candidate’s gallery and use the contact information there to email them instructions to visit your Ed Expo gallery page and utilize your “Schedule a Meeting” button to schedule a callback or an interview. As in an in-person year, candidates will also be able to visit your Ed Expo booth and click on the “Schedule a Meeting” button without your reaching out to them. You can request callbacks and interviews beginning Monday, March 1. If your institution has opted out of an Ed Expo booth, please note that in your communications with candidates, and establish a process and a line of communication for them.
More info: convention.setc.org www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: EXHIBITORS
Who Will You Find in the Virtual Expo Hall? COMMERCIAL EXHIBITORS: American Association of Community Theatre Arts People/Neon One
Connect with Commercial and Educational Exhibitors Virtually Looking for the booths you normally would find in the Exhibit Hall at an in-person SETC Convention? They’re all here in 2021, ready for you to stroll through online in this year’s Virtual Expo Hall
Barbizon Lighting
Where will I find the Virtual Expo Hall?
Broadway Stage Management Symposium
InCord
Once you have logged in to the virtual convention platform, look for the “Exhibitors” tab at the Virtual Expo Hall top. Click on it, and a drop-down Open through March 31 menu will appear with options to connect to the Educational Exhibits or Commercial Exhibits galleries. You can visit the galleries all of convention week. In addition, you will have access to the gallery booths via the platform until March 31, 2021.
Mainstage Theatrical Supply
How do the galleries work?
Parlights
Once you have entered the Educational or Commercial Exhibits area, you will see logos for all of the organizations that are exhibiting. To view the gallery page for an organization, click that organization’s logo to open its individual gallery page, which will include a main point of contact, an email address, informational PDFs provided by the exhibitor and, in some cases, a video and other links as well.
Concord Theatricals Educational Theatre Association Empty Space Event Safety Alliance IA Stage
Select Travel Study Stage Managers Association Theatrical Intimacy Education Timothy Mooney Repertory Theatre Voice and Speech Trainers Association Vectorworks Women’s Theatre Festival
EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITORS: More than 100 colleges, universities and training programs will be recruiting in the Virtual Expo Hall. See the list here!
What if I want to speak to an organization’s representative? Most booths will contain a “Schedule a Call” button, which will link to a calendar and available meeting times. Enter the time you would like to connect, hit send, and a representative from the organization will be in touch. Note: Some schools will not have a button to schedule a meeting. Please utilize their contact information located on the gallery page to reach out.
Can I use the Network & Chat function to connect? Yes. Just click on the Networking & Chat link to set up your profile. Then you will be able to network with any convention participant who also has created a profile. You will have the option to participate in individual chats or group chats.
More info: convention.setc.org/exhibit-hall www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: FESTIVALS
2021 Secondary School Theatre Festival Adjudicators
Don’t Miss the Virtual Theatre Festivals! How can I view the festivals? Each convention participant will receive a link to log in to the convention platform. Once in, look for the “Festivals” tab. A drop-down menu will appear with options to connect to all the available festivals via galleries. You will be able to watch the shows via the festival gallery pages from Wednesday, March 3, until Wednesday, March 31.
How do the galleries work?
Gai Jones
Educational Theatre Association
The galleries contain on-demand videos entered in the festivals. Once you select a festival, you can choose a pre-recorded show to watch by clicking on the name of a producing organization. A new page will open with the recording of the selected organization’s production.
What festivals are taking place? COMMUNITY THEATRE This year’s Community Theatre Festival is a noncompetitive showcase to celebrate community theatre productions and is open to theatres from across the nation. FRINGE FESTIVAL This year’s Fringe Festival includes four shows by performing artists showcasing their work.
Brooke Phillips
Millard West High School, Nebraska
SECONDARY SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL This year’s Secondary School Virtual Theatre Festival is a Ten-Minute Play Competition, with productions presented by high schools from around the country. THEATRE FOR YOUTH INVITATIONAL FESTIVAL The Theatre for Youth Invitational Festival is a noncompetitive exhibition of theatre produced for young audiences. This year, performances by four companies will be available to view.
Amanda Spooner Ithaca College, New York
2021 Theatre for Youth Invitational Festival Respondent
Idris Goodwin
Playwright, Break Beat poet, director, educator and organizer
Watch Ten-Minute Play Festival Performances Live on Thursday Night The annual 10-Minute Play Festival goes virtual this year! Actors will submit audition monologue videos. Playwrights then will work throughout the night on Wednesday, March 3, to create their plays. The next morning, each director will select a completed script and choose the actors. Groups will work together to rehearse and stage their plays through Zoom. It all culminates in the Ten-Minute Play Festival performances live at 10 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 4, followed by a response session. You can locate the performances by clicking on “Schedule” from the convention platform, then searching by name or day/time for the TenMinute Play Festival.
Secondary School Theatre Festival sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Ten-Minute Play Festival sponsored by Hollins University Playwright’s Lab
More info: convention.setc.org/festivals www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: PLAYWRITING
Synopsis: AGATHE In the spring of 1994, hundreds of thousands of Rwandans were brutally murdered in a vicious campaign of ethnic cleansing that the world would later recognize as the Rwandan genocide. The genocide began on April 6, 1994, with the assassination of the country’s president. As a result of a fragile coalition government, the person who was next in line for the country’s presidency – and who was, in fact, the country’s head of state for less than a day – was Agathe Uwilingiyimana, a university professor by training and an advocate for women and girls’ education.
Angela J. Davis Explores the Overlooked Heroism of Rwanda’s One-Day Female President Angela J. Davis, a playwright based in Los Angeles, was “honored and delighted” when she received the news that her play AGATHE had won SETC’s 2021 Charles M. Getchell Award. “Particularly at a time when so many arts organizations are – understandably – going dark for an indefinite duration, I’m very grateful for the honor and also grateful that SETC has kept moving forward and worked so hard to serve the entire world of theatre during this challenging time,“ Davis said.
Angela J. Davis
Could You Be SETC’s
In addition to AGATHE, Davis is the author Next Getchell Award of a number of other plays, including The Winner? Spanish Prayer Book, a Los Angeles Times “Best Bet” when it was presented Scripts are accepted from during The Road Theatre Company’s 2019March 1 until June 1. 20 season; and Clara and Serra and The Look for details here. Talking Bear, commissioned as a radio play by the Antaeus Theatre Company and soon to be presented in visual format by Playhouse Creatures in NYC. Davis has a special interest in creating works about people and events in history that are unfamiliar to most people.
”Although Agathe Uwilingiyimana’s story is – to my mind – vitally important and relevant to our own time, she is often overlooked for the simple reason that her story (i.e., her life) ended on the very day that the larger story of the Rwandan genocide began. I was drawn to her example of a forward-thinking woman who, during the early 1990s, was an advocate for women’s education as well as a proponent for ending racial and ethnic barriers to advancement.” AGATHE will receive a live reading at 8:30 p.m. ET, Friday, March 5, during the 2021 SETC Virtual Convention. To watch, click “Schedule” on the convention platform and search for “AGATHE”.
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Although she is often omitted or mentioned only in passing in accounts of the Rwandan genocide, and although her voice was literally silenced by the extremists’ takeover of the central radio towers in the hours before her assassination, Agathe Uwilingiyimana was the country’s true president during the first fourteen hours of the Rwandan genocide and accomplished a miracle during one of the darkest moments in modern history: the survival of her five children as well as her spirit.
Charles M. Getchell Award
Read an interview with Davis in a Web Extra here.
More info: www.setc.org/getchell www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: EDIA INITATIVES
RACE AND REPRESENTATION SERIES Theatre should reflect the ongoing narrative of the struggle for equality and inclusion. We should not shy away from these issues, but rather bring them to light both on and offstage. SETC’s “Race and Representation” Series during the 2021 SETC Virtual Convention will bring together SETC members and outside commentators for a discussion about the visual representation of race. These stimulating conversations will survey the industry and identify ways to eradicate structural racism in our organizations and empower emerging artists of minority backgrounds to create their own theatre and tell their own stories. All are welcome to join us for these events: To attend a forum, click “Schedule” on the virtual convention platform and search for the event by name or day/time.
Forum on Race and Representation in Theatre Casting 2:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, March 3 A discussion about the visual representation of race in casting, play selection and repertory company.
Forum on Race and Representation in Theatre Leadership/Administration 2:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 4 A discussion about the visual representation of race in college/university leadership and theatre management.
Forum on Race and Representation in Theatre Design/Technology 4 p.m. ET, Friday, March 5 A discussion about the visual representation of race in design, production and backstage jobs.
Forum on Race and Representation in Theatre Publication 5:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 6 A discussion about the visual representation of race in theatre scholarship, dramaturgy and marketing.
Race and Representation Series sponsored by Barbizon Lighting Company
More info: setc-convention.secure-platform.com www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: MISCELLANEOUS
Thanks to the following for contributions made to SETC since Jan. 18, 2021: Stacy Alley Carrie Bellew Jerre Brisky Grace Cabaniss Gary Cadwallader Madison Cagle Alaina Droog Lindsay Fussell Tiza Garland Aaron Gotlieb Jere Hodgin
Marina Hunley-Graham Elaine Malone Chad McDonald * Darren Michael Adam Miller Amanda Nelson Catherine Patton Ginger Poole Alexandra Pouloutides Jenni Propst Julie Richardson
Alexander Rinaldi Sally Robertson Deborah Royals ND Seibel Mia Self * Walter Shipley John & Patricia Sorce Cliff Thompson Andrew Walker Jonathan Wentz
* Denotes Monthly Contributor To make a donation to SETC, click here.
ExCom Report by Maegan McNerney Azar SETC President
STUDENTS, PROFESSIONALS AND PROFESSORS: Southern Theatre Magazine Seeks Writers, Editorial Board Members
Would you like to be a member of the Editorial Board of Southern Theatre, SETC’s magazine? A student slot is now open and several adult slots will open later this year as members’ terms on the Editorial Board expire. If you have an interest in serving on the board or writing for the magazine, this is a great time to get involved.
Volume LXII Number 1 • Winter 2021 • $8.00
YES, AND …
Moving Racial Equity from the Page to the Stage
DOLLARS AND SENSE Professors and Others Share Advice on Financing Your Theatre Degree
VIRTUAL LESSONS How Online Teaching Is Transforming Theatre Education
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Rachel Hauck, a New York-based set designer, will present the scene design keynote and serve as an adjudicator for the Design Competition. Her work on Broadway includes Hadestown, What The Constitution Means To Me, and Latin History For Morons. Recent work in New York includes The Wrong Man (MCC), Hurricane Diane (NYTW); Othello and Twelfth Night (Shakespeare in the Park); The Lucky Ones (Ars Nova). Her work has See details on been recognized with an OBIE Award Design Keynotes, for Sustained Excellence and a Tony Page 5 Award for her design of Hadestown.
02 1 I C N Tr & P oll SI ain r eg D ofe e E D ing s , U : ir ec Pr sio niv to og na er ry ra l sit m y
Rachel Hauck Is Scene Design Keynote
To learn more, make plans to attend the session, “Become a Writer or an Editorial Board Member for Southern Theatre Magazine,” at 2:30 p.m. ET, Friday, March 5. On the virtual convention platform, click “Schedule” and search for this live session by name or day/time.
Actions taken by the SETC Executive Committee during meetings in January 2021 include: • Approved the Rule for the Betsey Horth Arts Administration Grant Committee. • Reviewed the FY20 audit. • Approved the reduced convention fee rate and waived fees for Professional Auditions and Job Fair for the 2021 SETC Virtual Convention. • Approved revisions to the Rules & Bylaws for the VP of Equity & Inclusion and Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council. • Approved the creation of a task force to create an appeal process for the E&I Council to review actions taken by the organization. • Approved a revision to Rule I.A-Rule 1 on the process for approving Rules. Full minutes are available at www.setc.org/minutes-archives
More info: www.setc.org www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: INTEREST AREAS
What’s Happening in Your Interest Area? See Page 1 for details on how to access the virtual convention schedule, where you can search for workshops by title or interest area.
ACTING
APPLIED THEATRE
Kevin Kelly, Chair
Tenika Dye Burgess, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: “Auditioning for On Camera.” Craig Anton and John Prosky will offer insights, wisdom and good common sense from two veteran actor/teachers. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Look for a variety of workshops that appeal to a wide array of acting interests. “Boundary Practice: Who? Why? When?” will guide you to healthy ways to establish boundaries physically, verbally and emotionally. OUR MEETING: All are welcome to join us at 2:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 4, for the Acting interest group meeting.
DON’T MISS THIS: “A Pandemic Art Project: Devising Theatre During Covid-19.” This panel discussion explores the devising of a performance during the pandemic about the opioid crisis in Ohio. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Offerings include “Interview to Radio Drama” and “Dive Into Devising: Exploring Accessible Theater-making.” OUR MEETING: Applied theatre typically occurs in community, educational, therapeutic or service settings, often with marginalized groups. Join us for our interest group meeting at 10 a.m. ET, Saturday, March 6.
Acting Track sponsored by AMDA
ARTS ADMINISTRATION Paul B. Crook, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: “Know Your State and Local Arts Agency,” presented by Miah Michaelsen, deputy director of the Indiana Arts Commission. She will provide “inside information” on how local and state agencies work, how to best connect with these agencies, and how organizations serving diverse audiences and BIPOC artists can access resources! WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Join us for fantastic workshops on topics ranging from fundraising from home during a pandemic to how we can amplify under-represented voices in the theatre. OUR MEETING: Don’t miss our interest group meeting at 4 p.m. ET, Friday, March 5.
BLACK THEATRE Brian Martin (left) and Yolanda Williams, Co-Chairs
DON’T MISS THIS: “Breonna Taylor: Devising Theatre for Social Justice.” Berea College Theatre shares the process of their devised work honoring the memory of Breonna Taylor. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Explore a variety of workshops, including “Afro-Pop to Broadway: Finding Your Coolness,” “Promoting Cultural Literacy On and Off Stage,” and “Diversifying Actor Training Curricula: Practical Steps.” OUR MEETING: All who identify as part of the Black Diaspora are welcome to attend the Black Theatre interest group meeting at 10 a.m. ET, Friday, March 5.
More info: setc-convention.secure-platform.com www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: INTEREST AREAS
What’s Happening in Your Interest Area? See Page 1 for details on how to access the virtual convention schedule, where you can search for workshops by title or interest area.
BIPOC/GLOBAL MAJORITY Dahlia Al-Habieli (left) and Robert Shryock, Co-Chairs
DON’T MISS THIS: We invite BIPOCidentified SETC members and convention attendees to join us for the first meeting of the BIPOC/ Global Majority Theatre Persons Interest Group. The structure and purpose of this interest group will be impacted by the attendees of this meeting and the ideas, questions and concerns that arise. We hope to create a supportive space that cultivates listening and sharing about BIPOC needs, wants and experiences – both in the professional/ academic sectors and within SETC itself. OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 2:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 6.
COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY
DESIGN/ TECHNOLOGY
Kevin P. Kern, Chair
Matt Leckenbusch, Chair
Molly Claassen, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: Make time to attend “Artistically COVID: Costumers Bubbling Their Art.” Perfect for these times, this panel will discuss how to keep teaching and creating, despite the challenges we currently find ourselves facing. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Look for Robyn Berg, Beki Baker and Marty Austin Lamar as they provide important information about teaching marginalized students during their panel, “Pointing Students Toward Success.” OUR MEETING: Join us at 5:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 4, for our interest group meeting, which will feature a conversation with our friends from Concord Theatricals, who are sponsoring this event.
DON’T MISS THIS: Be sure to catch the four keynote designers’ live Q&A at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 4. You also can watch their keynote presentations at your leisure during convention week! They will be pre-recorded and available for viewing throughout the convention. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Check out the Design South presentation in your area of focus and the guest designers’ adjudications of entries in the Design Competition. Please see the schedule for dates and times. OUR MEETING: Our interest area group will meet at 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 6. We will nominate and vote on a new vice chair.
DON’T MISS THIS: “Burn It Down: Igniting Intersectional Feminist Directing.” Panelists will discuss “traditional” directing approaches stemmed from patriarchal ideas and alternative directing approaches that encourage a more inclusive, accessible and collaborative process. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: “Virtual Directing: Using What You Know.” Learn to adapt existing directorial knowledge and re-vision for the virtual/ digital stage. “What Is a Qualified Intimacy Choreographer/Director?” Learn about standards, resume, references and training. OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 5:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 6.
DIRECTING
More info: setc-convention.secure-platform.com www.setc.org
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2020 SETC CONVENTION: INTEREST AREAS
What’s Happening in Your Interest Area? See Page 1 for details on how to access the virtual convention schedule, where you can search for workshops by title or interest area.
DISABILITY & INCLUSION
FAITH AND THEATRE
HIST/THEORY/ CRIT/LIT
Hannah Williams, Vice Chair
Scott Hayes, Chair
Sarah McCarroll, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: The new Disability & Inclusion interest group will hold its first meetings at this year’s virtual convention. Join us as we discuss best practices for disability inclusion and awareness. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: “Adapting to Disability: Engaging All in Artistic Process” is the perfect panel to explore best practices for inclusion. This year’s convention also features a keynote with Tony winner Ali Stroker. Other workshops include: “Audio Description: If Your Eyes Could Speak,” “Easy Actions for Access,” and “Sign with the Times: Incorporating Interpreters in Theatre.” OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 11:30 a.m. ET, Saturday, March 6.
DON’T MISS THIS: Back by popular demand: “The Theatre Artist’s Identity: Authenticity in the World.” This panel discussion with four professional theatre artists of faith answers questions about work pitfalls and remaining true to yourself. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: “Family Drama: Creating Theatre While Stuck at Home” uses video conference technology and reminiscence theatre techniques to create new work. “Oberammergau Passion Play: World’s Longest-Running Religious Play” explores this centuries-old tradition of faith and theatre. OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 5:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, March 3.
DON’T MISS THIS: Join actor-dancerscholar Tsiambwom Akuchu for conversation and demonstration in “Embodying History: Hip-Hop Dance as Resistance and Protest.” WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Scholars and artists discuss the ways we document and assess diversity in our own community in the “Forum on Race and Representation in Theatre Scholarship.” Discover traces of the past in a modern city with “Shakespeare in Today’s London.” OUR MEETING: Join us for the History/ Theory/ Criticism/ Literature interest group meeting at 1 p.m. ET, Friday, March 5.
LGBTQ+ Devario Simmons, Co-Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: “Transgender & Gender-Nonconforming Artists & Identities 101.” This workshop will brief you on contemporary gender theory, appropriate language and respecting identities. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Join us for “Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Theatre Artists in Conversation.” A panel of trans, gender expansive, and gender non-conforming (TGNC) theatre artists comes together for a conversation on inclusivity, representation, and access, visibility and change. OUR MEETING: Join us for the LGBTQ+ interest group meeting at 5:30 p.m. ET, Friday, March 5.
More info: setc-convention.secure-platform.com www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: INTEREST AREAS
What’s Happening in Your Interest Area? See Page 1 for details on how to access the virtual convention schedule, where you can search for workshops by title or interest area.
MOVEMENT & PHYSICAL THEATRE Andrew Dylan Ray, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: “Embodying History: Hip-Hop Dance as Resistance and Protest.” This workshop explores hip-hop dance and how it exists as a physical record of history, social, personal and cultural identity, and a cultural strategy of resistance, perseverance and protest. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Our interest area has workshops on a wide variety of topics, including stage combat, intimacy, Chekhov, Alexander, Laban, juggling, dance and much more! OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 2:30 p.m. ET, Friday, March 5.
MUSICAL THEATRE
PLAYWRITNG
Nancy Wolfgang, Chair
Laura King, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: Sick of feeling disconnected? Join us for our interest area’s workshops in auditioning, dance, vocal styles, history and writing your own musical – and a workshop specifically addressing LGBTQ+ in musical theatre. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: You can be in more than one interest group. SETC has several new ones – including Black Theatre, Disability & Inclusion, and LGBTQ+ – and they are looking for members and leadership. OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 1 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 4.
DON’T MISS THIS: In “Killing Your Darlings: A Guide to Revision,” playwright Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder will provide participants who have completed a first draft of a play with tools to begin the revision process. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Join us for the keynote address by awardwinning playwright Idris Goodwin, author of And In This Corner Cassius Clay, How We Got On and Hype Man: A Break Beat Play. Our other events include the reading of the Getchell Awardwinning play and our annual Ten-Minute Play Festival. OUR MEETING: Join us for the playwriting interest group meeting at 10 a.m. ET, Wednesday, March 3.
Musical Theatre Track sponsored by AMDA
SMALL THEATRE PROGRAM Starr Garrett, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: “Platypus Taming: Small Programs & She Kills Monsters with Amy Guerin” looks at how to tame this wild show in a smallprogram setting. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Check out “The Emerging Public Domain: Expiring Copyrights” with Michael Williams, Jr., to see which works are available to use in new ways. OUR MEETING: Join us for the Small College Program interest group meeting at 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 6.
More info: setc-convention.secure-platform.com www.setc.org
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2021 SETC CONVENTION: INTEREST AREAS
What’s Happening in Your Interest Area? See Page 1 for details on how to access the virtual convention schedule, where you can search for workshops by title or interest area.
STAGE MANAGEMENT Karen Baker, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: We are excited that stage management students are eligible to apply this year for the John Spiegel Theatrical Artist Award. Good luck to all the applicants! WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Check out “Accessibility and the Arts, a 360 Degree Introduction,” moderated by Elynmarie Kazle, chair of the Stage Managers’ Association, with panelists from MSS, Matt Shiner, Disney’s The Lion King and Meredith Greenburg, stage manager for Deaf West. Also, “Inclusive Language in the Rehearsal Hall,” “Digital Prompt Books” and “Blocking Notation.” OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 1 p.m. ET, Wednesday, March 3.
STUDENT & EMERGING ARTISTS
VOICE/SPEECH
Mia Self (left) and Kyla Kazuschyk, Co-Facilitators
Rebecca Covey, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: Student and Emerging Artists interest group meeting: Plan to attend the first meeting of this new interest group if you’re a student or are early in your career and want to know how you can grow your professional skills, network and be a part of shaping SETC as an organization to serve those like you. Open to all theatre disciplines. WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Check out “Creating a Sustainable Artist’s Life” and “The Job Market: Getting that Gig!”. OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 5:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 6.
DON’T MISS THIS: Join our workshops to energize your voice after a year of Zoom gloom. Try “Vocal Rehab and Maintenance Suggestions” and “Vocal & Physical Exercises for Zoom Room Fatigue.” WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: Explore methods to “Free Your Jaw & Unlock Your Impulses,” rehab your resonance, and get your creative juices flowing with “Dialects: a Way Towards Character and Connection.” Enjoy expressing your uniqueness through Linklater Voice Work and “Vocal Inclusivity: Fostering Transgender Voices.” OUR MEETING: Let your voice be heard at our interest group meeting at 10 a.m. ET, Thursday, March 4.
Student & Emerging Artists Track sponsored by Middle Tennessee State University
WOMEN+ IN THEATRE Rowen Haigh, Chair
DON’T MISS THIS: “Women+ in Theatre Virtual Happy Hour.” Join other women+ and allies to connect, converse and build community. (All Women+ in Theatre events are open to women, TGNC folks, allies and advocates.) WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE: For current and aspiring leaders: “Womxn of Color in Nonprofits: Leading Change.” For actors, directors, and changemakers: “Fatty Fatty Blanche Dubois: Fat Actors, Canonical Roles.” For students, educators and practitioners: “Women+ in Tech & Design.” OUR MEETING: Join us for our interest group meeting at 11:30 a.m. ET, Thursday, March 4.
More info: setc-convention.secure-platform.com www.setc.org
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PERSPECTIVES
Pondering Equity in a Pandemic
ADANMA ONYEDIKE BARTON Adanma Onyedike Barton is an associate professor of theatre at Berea College in Kentucky and the nominee for SETC Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, a new board position that will be voted on at the annual SETC Business Meeting on March 6, 2021.
“Perspectives” is a new SETC News column where guest contributors are invited to share their diverse voices.
When the pandemic darkened the Great White Way, I wept for all my friends who I knew were instantly unemployed, and I felt guilty for having my tenured professor position. Yet I still daydream nonstop about what the future of theatre will look like after all of this. The pandemic has made us all take pause and refocus. Nina Simone said that it is an artist’s duty to reflect the times we live in. During these times, there has been a racial reckoning in our country that should and will be interrogated through the arts. For me, I look forward to the days of no more “firsts.” I am the first of my family born in the United States. I was the first African American female President of the Kentucky Theatre Association. I will be the first Vice President of Equity and Inclusion for SETC. I am very proud of these facts and that I continue to survive against the trifecta of racism, sexism and xenophobia. However, as Marlene Daut writes, I succeed like the Black women before me “not because times have changed, but because I beat the odds.” Sarah Valentine reminds us that, for women of color in academia, “It is well known that we must work twice and sometimes three times as hard to get half as much.” I still have more work to do before I can be promoted to full professor. Yet, I am extremely excited about the We See You, White American Theatre movement. Their website states a strong truth, “You are all a part of this house of cards built on white fragility and supremacy. And this is a house that will not stand.” I am looking forward to the day when diversity, equity and inclusion are normalized practices. When we all commit to doing the hard work, we all benefit from the reward.
Links that provide additional perspectives: Becoming Full Professor While Black by Marlene L. Daut - The Chronicle of Higher Education We See You, White American Theatre Time for Black Women to Leave Academia? by Sarah Valentine - medium.com/ the-faculty
More info: see links above www.setc.org
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ANNUAL SETC AUDIT
SETC Expects Deficit for FY 2020-2021
Jonathan Michaelsen VI C E PR ESID ENT OF FIN A N C E
The figures presented in this edition of SETC News reflect a snapshot of our financial strength as of June 2020. We were very fortunate to hold an in-person convention (our main source of income) before the shutdown and travel restrictions took effect. Unfortunately, as we look toward a virtual convention this March, it appears that revenue will be down. I am grateful to Susie Prueter as we have continually worked on SETC’s current budget, revising it three times as we slowly understood the ramifications of the pandemic on our organization. As you can see, Susie was able to apply for, and we received, $96,000 in federal support through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This has greatly helped our bottom line. Our current projection is that we will have a $250,000 deficit this fiscal year (July 2020 - June 2021). Fortunately, we have corporate reserves that can cover this shortfall without interrupting the operations of the Central Office or SETC’s services. We will hope that the world has recovered so that we can hold an in-person event in March of 2022! We will keep the membership informed as we move through this difficult and unprecedented time. SETC has launched a fundraising campaign to help with this year’s shortfall. I hope you will consider donating to our organization.
Audit Summary Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc. Schedule of Revenues and Expenses – Cash Basis Year Ended June 30, 2020 INCOME Membership Dues 232,695 Institute of Outdoor Theatre 28,672 Committees and Projects 89,860 Festivals 14,547 Professional Auditions 219,000 Southern Theatre 76,387 Convention 776,989 Interest/Dividends 39,072 Sales Tax Refund 8,875 Miscellaneous Income 742 PPP Loan 96,211* TOTAL: 1,583,050 EXPENSES Program Services: Awards 9,789 Committees and Projects 37,631 Festivals 29,631 Professional Auditions 163,491 Southern Theatre 98,262 SETC News 12,901 Institute of Outdoor Theatre 18,557 Convention 233,785 Supporting Services: Central Office 714,596 Officers’ Expense 12,190 Management Fees 5,256 Credit Card Discount 44,580 Bad Debts 0 TOTAL: 1,380,669 REVENUE OVER EXPENSES: 202,381 * Please note PPP Loan Copies of the audit are available at the SETC Central Office by request.
To make a donation: setc.org/donate-to-setc www.setc.org
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Reflection … (beat) … What’s Next?
Maegan McNerney Azar S E TC PR ESID ENT
t
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Explore some of the work SETC has done since the last convention: Theatre Teaching Collaborative, with thanks to Jeff Gibson and Shannon Robert for getting it started. SETC Stories blog, with thanks to Clay Thornton, Chris Bailey and Deanna Thompson for creating this digital publication platform. Mission, Vision, and EDIA Initiatives, with thanks to the EDIA Task Force for lighting the fire.
When I became SETC President at last year’s convention, I felt like I already had a directive from the membership: to create a more inclusive organization. I’ve served SETC in a variety of capacities over the last decade, and so I heard the message loud and clear. And with Executive Director Susie Prueter also hearing the same message ring true, we thought we knew what was ahead of us. The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access (EDIA) Task Force was already forming, and we were ready to make change. Two weeks later, America finally got the message that the world was going to be very different for the discernible future. The team on the Executive Committee and in the Central Office braced for what was about to be an incredibly fraught and unpredictable next few months. Which has turned into a year. Shortly after the world shut down, the long-simmering racial tensions turned into a fire that would turn our directive into a mandate for anti-racism. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work beside during “unprecedented times.” They never wavered in their resolve that SETC would be a stronger organization on the other side of this, and that we would support theatre artists along the way. Huge strides have been made: creation of the Theatre Teaching Collaborative (TTC), presentation of an all-virtual Outdoor Theatre Conference (with record attendance), articulation of Anti-Racist Ethos & Values Statements, development of the SETC Stories blog, the move of the Central Office to fully remote operations, the creation of an Equity & Inclusion Advisory Council, participation by Board and staff in training on racial justice, and the implementation of a new membership management system – to name a few. And there have been many small steps taken that will have big impact for the future. It hasn’t been easy, and we’ve stumbled along the way, but this year has shown the true dedication of the Central Office staff who work hard for our members, the volunteers who give of their time to better our industry, and the members who believe in the power of unity through theatre. So … what’s next? I’m here for it.
More info: see links above left www.setc.org
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Welcoming You With Their Heroic Work At staff meeting every Tuesday, I am privileged to meet with the very best of colleagues. I am always struck by how prolific, but also how creative, adaptable and committed they are. In any normal year, what they achieve is remarkable enough, but in this pandemic year, there is no way to describe their work other than heroic! Susie Prueter EX E CUTIV E D IR EC T O R
I am so grateful to Maegan for mentioning many of their accomplishments in her column (Page 19). There’s not enough room here to tell you all the amazing things about this staff, but it’s important to call them out one by one. Through their work, they say WELCOME to the 2021 SETC Virtual Convention. Chris Bailey, Communications Specialist – Chris has raised the bar in our branding and outreach in publication and electronic media. He created our new SETC Stories blog, manages Theatre Job Board, created EDIA and COVID-19 resource pages, and is our webinar/video wizard. Debi Belanger, Data Assistant – Debi has assisted the staff with all kinds of projects, including answering “chat” inquiries and researching/adding 400 new schools to our college/university list and over 100 contacts to our HBCU list. Bradley Branham, Program Manager – Possibly never having heard of a “virtual platform” before, Bradley educated himself, guided presenters through the forest, welcomed new EDIA Committees and helped to reinvent every convention program. Lee Crouse, Educational Services & Sponsorships Manager – Lee joined staff recently, having to reinvent the Secondary School Theatre Festival and sponsorships before he could even get started. He has garnered significant sponsorships despite the virtual hurdle. Nicole Francis, Bookkeeper – Nicole has been instrumental in pandemic numbercrunching and quickly rolling out figures to get leadership the information needed to make decisions.
Moving out of the SETC Central Office: Bradley Branham rests on an enormous recycling pile that accumulated as SETC staff packed up the office and moved to remote work.
Elizabeth Theodora, Membership & Technology Manager – On the front lines for our members’ needs, Elizabeth led the charge on a flawless database/application system transition and has developed and executed our virtual Professional Auditions/Theatre Job Fair events, setting up our constituents for success in a virtual world. Clay Thornton, Marketing Manager – In a meeting this past weekend, someone said that the marketing communications out of the office this past year have been the best they have ever been. I know this to be true, but it was good to hear it from the outside. Clay is responsible and took the lead. Deanna Thompson, Editor – SETC is so fortunate to have such a quality publication program as a benefit to our members. It is underestimated how much talent and collaboration it takes to put these publications together. Deanna is passionate and meticulous about the layout, writing and facts. The SETC Central Office Staff is small in number, but mighty in heart and humor. More info: www.setc.org/central-office-staff
www.setc.org
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CENTRAL OFFICE NEWS
Happy Retirement Wishes to Pat Shumate! When Pat Shumate took a temporary position in the SETC Central Office, she expected it to be a short-term assignment. Fast-forward nearly 10 years, and Pat has finally stepped down from her part-time job as the office’s data assistant – a position she excelled at and thoroughly enjoyed. “It combined two things I really like doing,” Pat said. “Theatre and data entry.” As SETC’s data assistant, Pat was responsible for entering a wide variety of information into the computer for the annual convention, handling online payments, and performing research for the staff. When she wasn’t working, Pat was often on stage somewhere around the Greensboro, NC, area, playing a 60-something woman in the farce, Sex, Please, We’re 60 at the Barn Dinner Theatre, a professional theatre, or portraying her favorite character, Truvy, in Steel Magnolias at an area community theatre. Although Pat has retired from her SETC job, she plans to continue feeding her theatre passion onstage. She also looks forward to travel adventures with her husband. She will be missed at SETC!
Meet Debi Belanger, Data Assistant A former accountant and longtime arts supporter, Debi Belanger joined SETC in September 2020 as the new data assistant. She primarily performs research and completes special projects for the SETC Central Office staff. What drew you to this job and what do you enjoy about it? I volunteered at the 2020 SETC Convention in Louisville, and I was so impressed with all that SETC had to offer. I believe in the mission and am so honored to be a part of this amazing organization. I wish I had known about SETC when my youngest son was looking for theatre colleges. He graduated from a high school in central New York state, and there was not an organization (that we knew of) like SETC.
Are you a “theatre person”? Have you acted or been involved in productions? I was involved in theatre in high school and a little in college. I have always enjoyed the theatre and have volunteered behind the scenes with several arts organizations. My youngest son works in the theatre industry in music direction, and we try to attend as many of his events as possible while also attending local events.
What do you enjoy most about your job? The people. Susie [Prueter] has created a great team of professionals that work very hard and very well together. It is such a collaborative group. More info: setc.org/central-office-staff www.setc.org
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MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
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 susie@setc.org Executive Director Lee Crouse lee@setc.org Educational Services/Sponsorships 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 Debi Belanger debi@setc.org Data Assistant General Questions info@setc.org
Executive Committee Maegan McNerney Azar President Jack Benjamin VP of Administration Pat Gagliano VP of Services Jonathan Michaelsen VP of Finance Ginger Poole Secretary Jeff Gibson Elected Past President Kris Rau McIntyre VP of States Tom Booth VP of Divisions
2021 SETC Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Three individuals will be honored as members of the SETC Hall of Fame at the 2021 SETC Convention. Established by SETC in 2015, the Hall of Fame recognizes persons, living or deceased, who have made major contributions to the organization. These may be administrative, artistic and/or financial contributions that have had a significant impact on SETC’s success over a sustained period. The honorees, who will be inducted at the annual Business Meeting at 4 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 6, are: • Barbara Hartwig (left), who served as an assistant to the choreographer for SETC’s Dance Auditions for more than a decade and as SETC’s choreographer after that from 2003 to 2015. • Philip G. Hill (center), 1974-1975 SETC President and the first editor of Theatre Symposium, who also served in 1968-1972 as SETC’s last elected Executive Secretary-Treasurer, a volunteer position that was the precursor to today’s paid Central Office. • Chad McDonald (right), who has served since 2006 as production manager for the annual SETC Convention, handling logistics for events from keynote speeches to the Design Awards Ceremony.
STATE CONVENTION NEWS
Mississippi Theatre Association Stacy Howell Executive Director
Event: Annual festival. How did you present your event this year? Our annual festival was held virtually. Mississippi State University directed and produced the broadcast, and it was streamed through ShowTix4U. What were your biggest challenges? Getting everyone used to the new technology.
What were your biggest successes? The opportunity to still offer an opportunity to present theatre during this unique time. MTA allowed all board members to introduce their division’s festivals and create promotional materials that ran throughout the festival. Zoom calls for outstanding theatre awards were made, recorded and broadcast as part of the main awards ceremony. In lieu of a silent auction, Giving Grid and ShowTix4U accepted donations – and we collected more this way than in the traditional means.
Send your news to deanna@setc.org www.setc.org
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