SETC News Summer 2025

Summer 2025

NEWS

Newsletter of Southeastern Theatre Conference, Inc.

CONTENTS Thoughts from the President’s Desk Page 1

What Excites Us about the New Studios Festival Page 3

A Correction Page 4

The Time is Now Page 5

Workshop Proposal Being Accepted Page 6

Job Listings & More Page 7

Self-Taping: Overcoming Disappointment and Embracing Joy Page 8

In Memoriam: Michael Dinwiddie (1953–2025) Page 10

NEWS SUBMISSIONS Thomas Pinckney (he/him) Director of Advancement thomas@setc.org

www.setc.org

Thoughts from the President’s Desk For theatre artists, the world of performance is both challenging and fulfilling. I am proud to be a member of SETC because we stand for supporting passionate artists in the field of theatre.

SETC membership offers a treasure trove of benefits that not only enhance professional skills but also foster a deep sense of community and collaboration.

Jeremy Kisling (he/him) President

One of the primary advantages of SETC membership is the invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow professionals. In an industry where networking can significantly impact one’s career trajectory, the ability to engage with peers who share similar passions and challenges is crucial. Members benefit from lively discussions about new ideas and approaches to tackling the day-to-day hurdles of the theatre world.

The supportive environment encourages individuals to lean on each other for advice, finding solace in shared experiences and innovative solutions.

Moreover, SETC actively facilitates programs aimed at helping its members secure jobs, whether in acting or in the technical aspects of theatre production. As the job market continues to evolve, having access to resources that provide job leads and application tips can

NEWS Connecting You to Opportunities in Theatre Nationwide

Central Office SETC 5701 W. Gate City Blvd.

Suite K, Box 186 Greensboro, NC 27407 336 265 6148 info@setc.org

Executive Committee Jeremy Kisling (he/him) President

Matthew Leckenbusch (he/him) VP of Services Harry Culpepper (he/him) VP of Divisions

Carlton “cj” C. Bell II (they/them) Interim VP of Opportunity & Access Ian Andersen (he/him) VP of States Ginger Poole (she/her) Interim VP of Finance

Iris Goode-Middleton (she/her) VP of Administration

be a game-changer for both emerging and seasoned artists. By participating in workshops, auditions, and job fairs organized by SETC, members position themselves at the forefront of opportunities that might otherwise remain undiscovered.

In addition to job-related pursuits, SETC serves as a powerful hub for artistic growth. The opportunity to explore and learn new techniques to hone one’s craft is another compelling reason to join. Whether it's through workshops led by industry veterans or hands-on training with cutting-edge methods, the learning experiences provided by SETC nurture an artist’s journey. This continuous growth is vital; it not only helps in staying relevant in the field but also fuels the creative spirit essential for any performing artist.

Being part of SETC is more than just leveraging professional development—it's about fostering an artistic spirit. The sense of community that arises from being a member contributes to a shared passion for theatre that can be both uplifting and inspiring. We want your voice! We want you to know you belong! We want to hear from you about how we can continue to serve you, and help you grow as an artist, communicator, designer, administrator, academician, or as a theatre enthusiast. SETC aims to be the place that fills your soul with joy and reassurance, reminding each member of their purpose as artists. Join us!

Jeff Gibson (he/him) Elected Past President Caroline Jane Davis (she/her) Secretary

ADVERTISE with us!

SETC offers several affordable ways to put your program in front of a broad audience.

Email us for more information.

Send your news to Thomas Pinckney Director of Advancement thomas@setc.org.

www.setc.org

Summer 2025

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NEWS What Excites Us about the New Studio Festival

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF OUTDOOR THEATRE

IN-PERSON ANNUAL CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 8-11, 2025

At its core, live theatre resides in the voice, the body, and the story as it comes alive in the magical connection between performers and audiences.

The Studio Theatre Festival highlights the power of honest storytelling, strong ensemble work, and intentional creative choices, focusing on the shared human experience without the use of spectacle or heavy technical elements. As SETC’s newest festival addition, Studio opens the door for more secondary school theatre

Sara-Margaret Cates (she/her) Studio Chair

programs, particularly those with limited resources, to fully engage in the SETC annual convention. By broadening access and opportunity, this festival ensures that students from all program sizes can take part in the experiences that SETC has to offer.

By focusing on pure performance, access is granted to any secondary school program that has actors and directors willing to rise to the challenges presented by the categories’ guidelines. Budget constraints? Limited staff? Transportation concerns for technical elements? Not a problem in the Studio Theatre Festival.

Whether producing a musical like Twenty-One Chump Street, an abbreviated Shakespearean tragedy, a Don Zolidis competition comedy, or anything in between, productions are limited only by their own directing and acting choices. As an audience member, I have been moved to tears, drawn in, laughed aloud - all during the brief 30 minutes of magic unfolding on the stage.

Personally, I love Studio Theatre for the challenge it presents me as a director and my students as performers. When selecting, cutting, or writing for this category, I must dive immediately into the heart of the story. My student actors cannot hide behind a fancy costume or an elaborate set design; they must tell the story with their voices, faces, MichaelHowardStudios.com and bodies. They must work together to create the world of the play

www.setc.org

Summer 2025

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NEWS Connecting You to Opportunities in Theatre Nationwide

Central Office SETC 5701 W. Gate City Blvd.

Suite K, Box 186 Greensboro, NC 27407 336 265 6148 info@setc.org

Central Office Team Jack Benjamin (he/him) Executive Director

Maegan McNerney Azar (she/her) Staff Board Liaison Nikki Baldwin (she/her) Digital Operations Specialist

Beth Watkins Brown (she/her) Producer and Director of SETC Festivals and Special Events

Steven H. Butler (he/him) SETC Director of Convention Services Marci Duncan (she/her) Director of Auditions Aaliyah Jordan (she/her) Resource Specialist

Sharell Luckett, PHD (she/her) Editor-in-Chief, Southern Theatre Magazine

Thomas Pinckney(he/him) Director of Advancement

Rachel Zwerver (she/her) Operations & Communications Coordinator

in the imagination of the audience. The common statement rings true - our production is only as strong as its weakest link. Together we rise or fall. We always ask the questions “why are we telling this story?” and “why is this important?”

Last year, with our production of The Price, I watched my students transform into stars in the night sky, snow-covered trees, rolling waves, and even the walls of a house—all with minimal props and simple accessories. I saw a group move as one, becoming a machine of sound and motion in The Female Edison. I laughed out loud with friends during an original piece titled Eight Simple Rules for How to Succeed at Studio Theatre Without Really Trying. And I was completely drawn into Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale, performed by students in street clothes with nothing but their voices and presence to guide us.

What I witnessed was theatre in its purest form, students from every walk of life creating something honest, imaginative, and unforgettable.

That’s the power of Studio.

Step into the spotlight of possibility at the Studio Theatre Festival.

Connect with your Secondary Chair or State Representative to learn how your school can be part of this unforgettable experience.

A Correction

It has come to our attention that a photo published in the previous newsletter was erroneously credited to be from Ocean Springs High’s production of The Lost Boy. The incorrect photo has been removed from the eNewsletter and replaced with the correct one.

You can access that Newsletter HERE. Below is the corrected photo from their winning production.

ADVERTISE with us!

SETC offers several affordable ways to put your program in front of a broad audience.

Email us for more information.

Send your news to Thomas Pinckney Director of Advancement thomas@setc.org.

www.setc.org

MichaelHowardStudios.com

Summer 2025

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NEWS The Time is Now: Join the Conversation on Governance Restructuring The time is here—and the time is now! SETC leadership has been exploring a restructuring of our governance model for several years. While these conversations may feel new to some, they’ve been developing behind the scenes for quite some time. Throughout this process, we've been listening: to our councils, to our members, and to each other. This summer, that longstanding dialogue is taking tangible shape.

Both Central Office staff and the Executive Committee have been deeply engaged in this work, striving to design a structure that will guide SETC into its next chapter. The Central Office team—alongside Executive Director Jack Benjamin—has reimagined job descriptions, position titles, and collaboration processes to create a more agile and effective team, preparing for the future leadership transition.

Maegan Azar (she/her) Staff-Board Liaison

Meanwhile, in May, the Executive Committee convened for two days to craft a draft framework for a new board structure designed to better support the Central Office. This work was guided by several goals that boil down to these four:

To better support the Central Office and empower the Executive Director To streamline decision-making processes and reduce governance bureaucracy To ensure broader membership representation and establish clearer pathways for leadership To align with contemporary best practices in nonprofit governance You're Invited: Community Forum on Governance Restructuring Join us July 21 at 4:30-6:00 PM Eastern by emailing maegan@setc.org for the virtual link. To those of you who have been part of this journey for years—thank you for your guidance and patience. And to those just stepping into service leadership: welcome! We’re working to build a structure that’s easier to navigate and more inclusive for all. Let’s continue moving forward together with purpose, inclusion, and the belief that SETC can evolve to serve us all more fully.

Please RSVP to maegan@setc.org to receive the virtual link.

www.setc.org

Summer 2025

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NEWS

The Floor Is Yours: Workshop Proposals Are Now Being Accepted, Get Yours In Today!

SETC members are the organization's heartbeat, and their expertise in their fields is essential to the success of the performing arts, not only in the Southeast but also nationwide. Each conference features experts in Performance, Design, Technology, Dance, and other areas who present their ideas and innovations to peers and the students who are the industry's future. We are looking for a variety of professionals and academics to share their knowledge with us at SETC 2026 in Chattanooga, TN, March 3-7.

Education is paramount to innovation in our industry. An exhibitor who has experience with installations and building code can help an administrator make a connection on what they may need for their next upgrade. A designer Matthew Leckenbusch (he/him) Vice President of Services could showcase a new way to create a world that a student has not had an opportunity to experience. A performer can talk about safety, the use of an intimacy coordinator, and why it's important. A technician can talk about a new building process that has saved time and money for an organization. There are all levels of individuals who are attending that need basic to expert insight.

If you are new to SETC or nervous about getting involved, the process is easy. Simply complete the application with your session idea. Submissions are then designated to the experienced committee chairs.

All proposals are reviewed and ranked. You may be asked to combine your session with another person if they are similar in scope. Finally, you will be notified if your proposal is accepted for the upcoming conference.

The goal is to have a well-rounded selection of sessions to create learning opportunities for our entire community. Being selected is also a great way to create opportunities for advancement and promotion at your job and within the conference.

www.setc.org

Summer 2025

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NEWS JOB LISTINGS Executive Director SETC: Southeastern Theatre Conference

Remote

Assistant Professor of Costume Designer Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO Costume Shop Manager FSU School of Theatre, Tallahassee, Florida

Take the next step in your career! Explore theses and many more available positions at the SETC Theatre Job Board.

To post a job listing, click here Thanks to SETC’s Contributors Contributions made

Damian Hawkins Please consider making a monthly, annual, or even occasional contribution to SETC. It is tax-deductible and is the best way to ensure our organization's stability.

To make a donation to SETC, click here

a g o o n a t t Cha www.setc.org

BRIDGING CREATIVES & RESOURCES

Summer 2025

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NEWS Self-Taping: Overcoming Disappointment and Embracing Joy Since the dawn of self-tapes in audition practices, actors across commercial, film, TV, and stage have developed their unique perspectives on Self-Taping and as the demand for self-tapes has grown while the in-person audition process has dwindled across the world, many actors struggle with disappointment.

The “in-the-room" experience is almost entirely lost to a prepared self-tape slate and performance, lacking much opportunity to truly connect

Tiffany Gilly-Forrer (she/herr)) SETC Member

with casting and production, what actors often thrive on. The live feedback in a stage audition is absent and crafting a submission for commercial, film, and TV requires behind-the-camera skills that aren’t often taught in training programs.

In this light, it is important for actors to hold space for their disappointment. Then, after or perhaps while carrying this occupational grief that many didn’t prepare for, it is important to find a way through the struggle to embrace joy. Embracing joy in self-tapes is a powerful way to overcome the disappointment that may cause actors to become frustrated and stagnant in their audition-practice. One way to do this is to learn how to improve self-taping through tips learned by other artists who have learned tips and tricks to the craft.

Following the incredible, annual community-building event, “Self-Tape May,” hosted by SAG actress Audrey Moore of the Audrey Helps Actors podcast, here are ten tips for self-taping gathered from the many participants of the challenge in 2025.

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Summer 2025

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NEWS Ten Tips for Self-Taping Success 1. Film Horizontally: Although a lot of media today is viewed vertically on a phone, professional motion pictures, film, and television are made for horizontal viewing. So be sure to film horizontally, unless otherwise noted in the self-tape request.

2. Use a Solid Background: Record yourself against a blank or solid background. You can either buy a backdrop, or film against a blank wall. It’s also good to consider color - be sure you or your outfit/costume don’t blend in with the backdrop!

3. Light Yourself Well: Make sure you are well-lit! You can use any lights to make that happen, and many actors buy a light or two specifically for fliming, but you can also use room light, natural light near a window during the day, or several lamps.

4. Ensure You Can Be Heard: Ensure the video can hear you by testing your sound as well as your reader’s. You can buy a set of lavalier (lapel) mics if you want higher quality, and your reader shouldn’t overpower you, but should also be heard and understood.

5. Be Aware of Your Eyeline: If you’re in a scene with another character, often the best spot to look is slightly to the left or right of the camera. If you have a reader, have them stand behind the camera if possible or put a post-it note where you want to look. For the slate, look directly into the camera.

6. Breathe and Take Your Time: The nice thing about taping on your own instead of in an audition room is there’s no imposed schedule! So, remember to breathe, take your time, try not to rush your tape, and get as many takes as you need to get one that you like.

7. Memorize Your Part: It’s best to be as memorized as possible with your text, this way the casting directors, directors, and production team can focus on you telling story, seeing your eyes engage with the circumstances and scene partner.

8. Read, Re-read, and Re-read the Audition Breakdown: It’s important you understand all the instructions in the selftape request. Look for specific things in the slate, the size of the frame, and how to label your videos as those are often full of specs you don’t want to miss!

9. Have fun! Have fun!: Self-tapes can sometimes feel like a chore. If you let that stop you from having fun once in front of the camera, it will impact your performance. Find ways to center and recenter yourself to infused calm and fun in your spirit.

10. Ask for Help/Feedback: It’s okay to ask for help and feedback! It can be tough getting used to watching and hearing yourself on camera, so remember to be proud of your art, even if it’s hard. Ask people you trust to help improve your craft, especially other artists who’s opinions and experiences you trust and respect.

For more tips and best-practices around self-taping, check out past Self-Tape May submissions featured on the Audrey Helps Actors Instagram page, @audreyhelpsactorspodcast, and sign up for next year’s challenge in April 2026 at www.selftapemay.net.

www.setc.org

Summer 2025

9

NEWS In Memoriam: Michael Dinwiddie (1954–2025) Playwright. Educator. Advocate. Pioneer.

By Marci Duncan, SETC Director of Auditions Southeastern Theatre Conference mourns the loss of Michael Dinwiddie, an extraordinary playwright, professor, and champion of Black theatre whose legacy continues to shape the landscape of American performance and pedagogy.

A member of the faculty at New York University’s Gallatin School and the first African American elected to the Dramatists Guild Council, Michael was a trailblazer in every sense. His work as a writer was deeply rooted in cultural history, memory, and justice—shining light on the Black experience with nuance, heart, and unwavering intellect. His plays and screenwriting credits earned national recognition, but even more powerful was his quiet work behind the scenes—mentoring young artists, advocating for equity, and preserving Black artistic legacies.

Michael Dinwiddie (he/him)

Michael was a fierce believer in the power of theatre to tell the truth and change lives. Through his scholarship, service, and teaching, he uplifted countless students and colleagues, many of whom are now continuing the work he helped to pioneer.

SETC is honored to have counted Michael among our community of artists and educators. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the generations of students who carry his teachings forward.

We remember him with love, gratitude, and the promise to keep telling stories that matter.

Michael Dinwiddie at the 2025 Gala in Baltimore, MD Michael Dinwiddie interviewing S. Epatha Merkerson, recipient of the 2024 SETC Lifetime Achievement Award, in Mobile, AL

www.setc.org

Summer 2025

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