broadway star matt cavenaugh speaks friday m s...
TRANSCRIPT
AfterThe Wiz,Lloydworkedasacostumer,costumesupervisorandcostume designer formorethan40televisionshows and films, aswe l l as fo r manytheatre productions.His credits includeservingasaprincipaldresserforBroadway’sDreamgirls; costumesupervisorfortelevision’sThe Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All,whichwona1994EmmyAwardfor Outstanding Individual Achievementin Costume Design for a Miniseries or aSpecial; costume supervisor on the film,Ace Ventura, When Nature Calls; and
attCavenaugh,mostrecentlyseenon Broadway in 2009 asTony inWest Side Story,willdeliverFriday’s
keynoteaddressattheSETCConvention.He replaces Ashley Brown, who is in re-hearsal forherMarch8 return to the titleroleinMary PoppinsonBroadway. Cavenaugh’stopicwillbe:“OwningyourCareer:FromActortoArtist.”It’sasubjectthattheJonesboro,AR,nativeknowswell.Sincedecidingasajuniorinhighschoolthatmusicaltheatrewashiscalling,Cavenaughhas“owned”hiscareer,constantlyworkingtoreachthenextlevel. HemadehisBroadwaydebut in2003,starringasBudinUrban Cowboy.HewentontoappearonBroadwayinGrey Gardens,A Catered Affair andthen West Side Story,inadditiontotouringnationally,appearingatregionaltheatresandworkingintelevisionsoapoperas. Before high school, Cavenaugh sayshewasatypicalArkansasboywhoplayed
Setc 2 0 1 1
Info
March / April 2011
Broadway Star Matt Cavenaugh Speaks Friday
Want to register for the convention? Need information on a progam? Convention & Auditionee Registration/Pre-Registration Area is in the 1st floor lobby area of the Hilton Atlanta Hotel. The Information Hub, Silent Auction items and convention gear for sale are located in the 2nd floor lobby area.
in Atlanta
LIVE FROM ATLANTA!
Pearl CleagePlaywright, Author, Advocate, Artist“Learning to Speak American”
2:30p.m.Thursday
Matt Cavenaugh Broadway Actor, Singer, Philanthropist
“Owning Your Career: From Actor to Artist”
2:30p.m.Friday
Ben CameronSETC Distinguished Career Award Recipient
“The Need for Reform: The Future of Arts in America”
2:30p.m.Saturday
Acting for the Camera Richard Robichaux, Actor/Teaching ArtistThursday,3sessions:9a.m.-11a.m.,
1p.m.-3p.mor4p.m.-6p.m.Allsessionsfull.
Shakespeare in the Present:Second Circle/Presence
Patsy Rodenburg, Featured Guest ArtistThursday,4p.m.-5:20p.m.
Forprofessionals:$50fee.*
Shakespeare in the Present:Voice, Breath and Body
Patsy Rodenburg, Featured Guest ArtistFriday,1p.m.-2:20p.m.
Forundergrad/gradstudents:$30fee.*
* Morespaceshavebeenaddedtothesemaster classes due to popular demand.Ticketscanbepurchased,whiletheylast,in the 1st floor Registration area at theHiltonAtlanta.
Keynote Speakers
Master Classes
FFred Lloyd Is New Costume Design Respondent
(Continued on Page 2)
(Continued on Page 2)
M
redLloyd,acostumedesigner fortheatre, film and television, willserve as the respondent for the
costume design competition at the SETCConvention.Hetakestheplaceofhiswife,PeggyStamper,whowasoriginallysched-uledforthatrolebutwascalledawaytoworkonapilotforABC-TVcalledPartners,whichisbeingshotinAtlanta.StamperhopestojoinLloydforthedesignkeynoteaddressesfrom7p.m.to10p.m.Thursdayduringtheconvention. LloydgothisstartasacostumeassistantonthenationaltourofThe Wizin1978,notlongaftergraduatingfromtheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHillwithadegreeindramaticart.Coincidentally,hisroommateincollegewasSaturday’skeynotespeakerand2011SETCDistinguishedCareerAwardrecipientBenCameron.
sportsandsanginthechurchandschoolchoirs.Then,whenhewasin9thgrade,hismothertookhimtoseeWest Side Storyatthelocalhighschool. “Mymomkindofcoaxedmeintoseeingit,” Cavenaugh said in a telephone inter-view.“Iwasblownawaybythestory,bythemusic,bytheproduction.Ithought,Ihavetogetinvolvedinthis.” Hisfirstroleinhighschoolwasasastreet
Matt Cavenaugh (left) appeared on Broadway most recently as Tony in WestSideStory (right).
Fred Lloyd
Featured Guest Artist
Patsy RodenburgInterview with Voice and Speech Master Artist
10:30a.m.Friday
ne lucky graduate student in thisyear’sDesignCompetitionwillgettheopportunitytoproveheorsheis
readyforworkintheprofessionalworld! Children’sTheatreofCharlottewillofferthewinnerof this year’sSETCReady forWork Award the opportunity to design ashowintheupcoming2011-2012season. SETCwillprovideacashawardof$1,300to assist the winner with expenses.Thewinnerwillbechosenbasedonaportfolioreviewandpersonalinterview.
Don’t miss the Fringe Festival!
George Contini of the University ofGeorgiawillkickofftheeighthannualSETC Fringe Festival at midnightThursdaywithaperformanceofPut It in the Scrapbook,exploringthelifeandcareer of famed female impersonatorJulian Eltinge. More productions arescheduled for Friday and Saturday.Check your convention program fordetails.
2
Cavenaugh (Continued from Page 1)
CONVENTION NEWS
‘Ready for Work’ Award Winner Will Design Show at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME FOR STATE MEETINGS!
5:30 p.m., Friday, March 5
Lloyd(Continued from Page 1)
Where to Eat in AtlantaIn the Hilton Atlanta: Diningop-tionsrangefromaquick-servecafewithcarry-outfoodtoanelegantrestaurantwithaviewofAtlanta’sskyline.
Nearby:Alargefoodcourtislocatedin Peachtree Center at the corner ofPeachtreeStreetandHarrisStreetorInternationalBoulevard.
More info: Finddetailsontheabovediningoptions,aswellastheconcierge’srecommended restaurant list at www.setc.org/2011_infohub.html.
O
co-costumedesignerwithhiswifePeggyforthe1995-97TVseriesSavannah. In 2007, Lloyd earned a master of
sweeperinHere’s Love,themusicalbasedonMiracle on 34th Street.Cavenaughquicklymovedontoleadingroles. “WhenIwasajunior,Istartedthinking,maybethisissomethingIcoulddo,”hesaid.“Therewasnolookingbackfromthenon.Ihadapassion,itwasverycleartomewhatIwantedtodo,andIfolloweditwholeheart-edly.Ireallydovein,readingasmanyplaysasIcould,buyingBroadwaycastrecordingsandreadingtheatrehistory.” Healsobeganresearchingcollegesanduniversities – and ultimately chose NewYork’s Ithaca College, where he earneda bachelor of fine arts degree in musicaltheatrein2001.ANewYorkshowcaseattheendofcollegelandedhimanagent–MarkRedanty, who coincidentally is an IthacaCollegealumnus. (See Page 1 for info on master classes presented by Mark Redanty at the convention.) Within a year of college graduation,Cavenaugh’s career took off. He landedroles in two Broadway-bound productions,Dorian, amusicalbasedon The Picture of Dorian Gray,whichultimatelydidn’tmakeittoBroadway,andUrban Cowboy,whichdid. “Theopportunitywasthereforme,andIwasprepared,”saidCavenaugh.“Ihappenedtobetheguytheychose.Iwasfortunate.” AsCavenaughtalkedabouthiscareeronaFebruarymorning,hewaswithhiswife,the actress Jenny Powers, in California,wherebothwereappearinginproductions.CavenaughwasplayingGaston inGigiatRepriseTheatreCompanyinLosAngeles
throughFebruary27,whilehiswifewasinDangerous Beautyat thePasadenaPlay-house.ThetwoalsoarecollaboratingonaCD,dueoutthismonth.Visitwww.mattcav-enaugh.comformoreinformation. Cavenaugh’sadvicetoyoungpeoplewhohopetosucceedinmusicaltheatreistofirstbesureyouhavethepassionthatisneededto succeed. “This isn’t the easiest profes-sion,”Cavenaughsaid.“There’snotalotofstructure,andthereareupsanddowns.” If you’re sure it is your passion, Cav-enaugh said, “Dive in. Read as much asyou can. Improve every skill set you pos-siblyhave.Youneverknowwhenitmightbeneeded.Andmakesureyouarecontinuingtogrowasaperson.Thefullerandricheryouareasaperson,you’regoingtobethatmuchgreaterasanactor.”
fine arts degree in costume design andtechnologyfromtheUniversityofSouthernMississippi.Hecontinuestodesign,primarilyfor theatre,buthisday jobnowisservingas an associate professor of theatre atBrenauUniversityinGainesville,GA,wherehe teaches costume design, costumeconstruction, theatrical makeup, costumecrafts and theatre appreciation. He alsois the resident costume designer for theGainesvilleTheatreAlliance. His advice for students interested incostume design: “Don’t just think of thetheatreasyourworld;bringtheworldintoyour theatre.Read,studyart,draw, listento music, walk outdoors, go to museums,travel,andlivelife;itwillmakeyouabetterdesigner.”
Matt Cavenaugh made his Broadway debut in 2003 as Bud in UrbanCowboy.
Fred Lloyd was the costume designer for this 2009 production of Romeo&Juliet by the Gainesville Theatre Alliance/Brenau University.
in many areasof his life. Zip-perer earnedhis master offineartsdegreefrom GeorgiaCol lege andState Univer-sity, where hecurrentlyteach-escomposition.Hispublishedplays,Don’t Fear the Reaper (Dramatic PublishingCo.)andJupiter Jones: Rock Star Vampire
lease come to Room 404 of theAtlantaHiltonat 4p.m.onFriday,March4,toparticipateinthesession,
“HowtoBecomeaWriterorEditorialBoardMemberforSouthern Theatre,SETC’s PopularMagazine.”Atthismeeting, you willlearn more aboutwr i t ing for themagazine,aswellas details on be-comingamemberoftheEditorialBoard.Severalopeningsareexpectedon theEditorialBoard thisyear.Professionals,teachersandstudentsallmayserveontheEditorialBoard.Ifyouappliedinpastyearsandwerenotappointed,youarewelcometore-applybyattendingthismeet-ingorbysendingane-mailtoEditorDeannaThompsonatdeanna@setc.org.
Come to the 2nd floor lobby area ofthe Atlanta Hilton to pick up all yourconventiongear.We’llhaveSETClan-yards,totebagsandnewlyredesignedT-shirtsforsale,aswellascopiesofourpopularOutside the Box book,packedwithmoney-savingdesign-tech ideas.The new T-shir tdesign,picturedatright, was createdby Leke Fonge,SETC’s in te r n ,whoisworkingonamaster’sdegreeingraphic design at North Carolina A&TStateUniversityinGreensboro,NC.
Where’s the Party? Socialize in Atlanta!erearejustafewoftheinformalandformalsocializingopportunitiesyouwillfindatSETC2011:
WEDNESDAYDesign-Tech Mixer, 8-9:30 p.m., Sponsored by TOMCAT, USA, and Vari*Lite. Opentoallindesignandtechnicalfields.
THURSDAYPresenters’ Thank You Reception, 5-6 p.m. Presenter’sribbonrequired.Patsy Rodenburg Reception, 6-7 p.m. Opentoall.MeetSETC’sfeaturedguestartistandmasterclassteacher(right).Theatre for Youth Meet and Greet, 7-9:30 p.m., Thursday. Spon-sored by Dramatic Publishing. Opentoallinyouththeatre.
FRIDAYFriday Lunch, 1-2:20 p.m. Sponsored by state theatre organizations. Opentoall.Ticket:$20.PurchaseuntilnoonThursday,March3,at1stFloorRegistrationDesk.
SATURDAYSETC President’s Reception, “Live from Atlanta” Banquet, and 62nd Annual Awards Ceremony, 7 p.m., Saturday.Open toall.Banquetticket:$30.Purchaseuntil5p.m.Thursday,March3,at1stFloorRegistrationDesk.Celebration Dance, 10 p.m.-Midnight, Saturday. Opentoall.YaBoiBoiProductionzwillbebackforthesecondyear.FormerSETCauditioneeRobertLewis(right)andAdamHowardaretheDJs.
H
3
Get Your New SETC T-Shirt in 2nd Floor Lobby Area!
CONVENTION NEWS, SOCIAL EVENTS
Buy These Puppets with a Winning Bid in SETC’s Silent Auction!SupporttheSETCEndowmentbytakingpartintheannualSilentAuctioninAtlanta.AllproceedsgototheEndowment,whichfundsscholarshipsand awards for students pursuing theatre de-grees.Youcantakepartbypurchasingitemsorbydonating items.Thisyear’sauction focusesonsetsandprops.Amongitemsdonatedarethepuppetsatleft,whichwerehand-carvedbyPro-fessorGaryDarttandhisstudentsanddonatedby Georgia Southern University.To donate anitem,[email protected] itemtotheSilentAuctionareaonthesecondflooroftheAtlantaHiltonwhenyouarriveattheconvention.
Are You Interested in Joining the Southern Theatre Editorial Board?
P
Theatre and the EconomyHow Are Others Coping with the Downturn?
Tips for Cutting Costs, Retaining Audiences
Should You Join Equity?The Answer Is Yes – and No
Patsy Rodenburg
Robert Lewis
Play Set in Bay of Pigs Era Wins Charles M. Getchell New Play Award
Are You SETC’s Next Winning Playwright?
EntriesacceptedMarch1-June1
Charles M. Getchell Awardwww.setc.org/scholarship/newplay.php
ddie Zipperer, an award-winningplaywrightwithtwopublishedplaysto his credit, is the winner of the
2011CharlesM.GetchellNewPlayAward.Hisplay,Nicolas the Worm,willbeproducedinastagedreadingattheSETCConventionon Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m.Nicolas the WormtellsthestoryofaCubanexilewhobecomespartofoneofthebiggestmilitarybetrayalsofalltimeattheBayofPigs,thenisimprisonedbydictatorFidelCastrofor22months,andfinallyreturnshomeachangedman,overwhelmedbythebetrayalhefeels
E
Hunter (Pioneer Drama), have been pro-ducedacrossNorthAmerica.Hisshortplayshave won several awards and have beenproducedinLosAngeles,NorthHollywood,Australiaandoff-BroadwayinNewYork.
Eddie Zipperer
hoseofuson theHistory/Theory/Criticism/LiteratureCommitteeareexcited about our annualYoung
Scholar’sAwardpanel,scheduledfor9a.m.Saturday, March 5, featuring the winningpaperpresentationsfromgraduatestudentMargaret Toomey and undergraduatestudentAllisonPowell. Workshops at the 2011 conventioninclude panels of interest to students,scholars and professionals. For example,“Theatre History SUCKS!: SearchingforSolutions”willbeofinteresttostudentsandacademics. “Signs ofLife: Cultural Memoryand Exper ience asPe r fo r med by Un-An ima ted A r t andArchitecture,”“Discoverthe Works of BritishPlaywrightDavidHare,”and “Christianity and Modern ArtisticPhilosophies” will interest many teachers.Panelsthatwillappealtothoseinterestedin theatre history include: “The Road toEuromoss: ClassicalTheatres in ModernTurkey”and“DynamicDifferences:Theatrical
hibitionhallwillagainbeopenforextendedhoursonSaturdaymorningsoallcanseethedesignscreatedbyourtalentedyoungdesigners. We are excited tohaveJudyJuracek,JimHutchison and FredLloydasourguestad-judicators. Come hearthem discuss their work at the alwaysenlighteningDesignerKeynoteSessiononThursdaynight. Graduate design entrants are eligibleto win this year’s Ready forWork Award,whichprovidesadesignassignment–withpay!–atChildren’sTheatreofCharlotte. Besure to checkoutall thewonderfulworkshopsandmaster classes, on topicsfrommaskstolightlabs,andfromwigstoscenepainting.Pleasealsojoinusfortheannualinterestgroupmeetingat10:30a.m.onSaturday,March5.
4
ou will find numerous workshops,seminars,discussionsandlecturesgearedtotheActingandDirecting
interestareaatSETC2011. TedCarter kicksoffour interestarea’sworkshopsWednesday with “Bam! Ka-Pow!AnIntroductiontoComedicViolenceandSlapstick.”AlsoonWednesday,pleaseattend the Acting/Directing interest groupmeetingat5:30p.m.Thiswillbeyourchancetochimeinonwhat’sgoingoninourarea. One of the challenges I sent out this
yearwastohavemoreworkshops aimed spe-cificallyatdirectors,andyou all came through.One of the first is onThursday, when direc-torEmilyWellstakesalook at developing col-laborative relationshipsbetween directors and
stage managers in “Allies: Director andStageManager.”FridayhighlightsincludeapresentationbyJeffWhiting,associatedirector/choreog-rapherofBroadway’sHairspray and Young Frankenstein, called “Broadway AuditionBootcamp:Dance”foractorsseekingtipstoimprovetheirdanceauditions.OnSaturday,Whitingcontinueshis“BroadwayBootcamp”serieswithaworkshoponvocalauditions. Theseareonlyafewoftheworkshopsgeared to those interested in acting anddirecting.Checkouttheprogramonlinetoseeallofyouroptions.
Paul B. Crook, ChairActing/Directing Committee
heSETCDigitalCinemaandTelevi-sionfestivalwillexpandtoincludeafulldayofscreeningsatthisyear’s
SETCConvention. NewYorkFilmAcademyhasonceagaingenerouslyofferedafull-tuitionscholarshiptoits2011 summer programtothestudentsubmittingthewinningentryinthehigh school category.High school studentsmaysubmittheiroriginalfilms, no longerthan10minutes,onDVD inAtlanta.Thepopularmasterclass,“Actingfor the Camera” with Richard Robichaux,alsoreturnsthisyear.OthersessionscovertopicssuchasbreakingintotheSoutheast’sburgeoningfilmindustryandapplicationsofMeisnertechniquetoactingoncamera.
Jeffrey Green, ChairFilm/Television Committee
heCulturalDiversityCommittee issponsoring a number of sessionsattheMarchconvention.
OnThursday,FridayandSaturdaymorn-ings, we invite you to start your day at 8
a.m. with a roundtablediscussion of issuespertainingtoseveralofthediverseelementsofmembership.Bringyourowncoffee!Thursday’sroundtable will focuson gay and lesbian is-sues; Friday’s sessiononethnicdiversity,and
Saturday’s session on women’s issues.Workshopsonculturallydiversetopicsrangefromastudyof“ClassicalTheatreinTurkey”toalookat“ChineseShadowTheatre”toasessionon“AmericanNohTheatre.” All of us are part of the fascinatingdiversity of SETC.The Cultural DiversityCommitteewelcomesyoutoattendallofitssponsoredsessions.Pleasealsojoinusattheannualinterestgroupmeetingat4p.m.onThursday,March3.
film/tvView Digital Cinema and TV Festival
historyExplore Young Scholars’ papers
acting/directingDiscover workshops just for you
diversityDiscuss issues over coffee
T
design/tech
Dawn Larsen
Jennifer Matthews, ChairDesign/Tech Committee
Don’t miss the Design-Tech Mixer
Y
W
T
ehavesomanyeventsfordesignersandtechniciansatthisyear’sSETCConvention.Besure toattend the
Design-TechMixerWednesdaynight.Ifyouhaven’tbeentothemixerbefore,youhavemissedoneofthemostexcitinggatheringsat the convention. Greet your old friends,makenewones,andwinprizes! Every year, one of the most excitingevents is the Design Competition.Youngdesigners display their work for feedbackfromguestadjudicatorsanddistinguishedSETCdesign/techfaculty.Thisyeartheex-
INTEREST AREA NEWS, EVENTS
Michael Howley
Paul Crook
Jennifer Matthews
Jeffrey Green
Michael Howley, Chair Cultural Diversity Committee
T
philosophical discus-sion about Christianityandmodernartwillhap-pen in the same roomat noon Friday. “QuoVadis?”, at 5:30 p.m.onThursday in Room303, looksat the chal-lengesoflivingbothasapersonoffaithandasacommittedtheatreprofessional.I’llbelead-ingasessionatnoonThursdayinRoom306onstageadaptationsofC.S.Lewis’sThe Screwtape Letters. If these sessions – ortheareaingeneral–appealtoyou,pleaselookmeupinAtlanta.
heworkofvoicepractitionersisinthe spotlight internationally as aresultofthereleaseofthefilmThe
King’s Speech.WealsohavemanyexcitingeventshappeningattheSETCConventioninAtlantathathaveputthefocusonvoice. Patsy Rodenburg, a highly respectedmasterteacherofvoiceandspeech,isthefirst-ever featured guest artist for SETC!RodenburgisheadofvoiceandspeechattheGuildhallSchoolofMusicandDramainLondonand,untilrecently,wasthevoicecoachfortheRoyalNationalTheatre.She
ispresenting twomas-ter classes. One is forprofessionals, “Shake-speare in the Present:Second Circle/Pres-ence”;and theother isfor students, “Shake-speare in the Present:Voice,BreathandBody.”Both initially sold out,
butwehaveopenedupadditionalspacessomorepeoplecanparticipate.(See Page 1 for details on buying a ticket.) Everyoneisinvitedtoherwelcomereceptionat6p.m.onThursdayandherfeaturedinterviewat10:30a.m.onFriday. Workshop offerings for students andprofessionalsfocusontopicsfrombreath/bodyawarenesstoenjoyingthemusicalityofthevoice.OurinterestgroupmeetingisonThursdayat4p.m.Allareinvited.
hePlaywritingCommitteeisofferinganumberofpanelsandpresenta-tionsatthe2011SETCConvention.
Some of the topics include “Wrights NotWrites”withDarrenMichael;“CharacterFac-tory”withGregOwen;“TheHatedSynopsis:AWorkshopinWritingEffectiveSynopsesforPlays”withGaryGarrison;“GreenThe-atre:CreationofEvangeline DrowningfromTextDevelopmenttotheProfessionalStage”withKurtHeinlein;and“ShowcaseYourPlaytheNYCWay”withRosaryO’Neill. Don’tmissThursday’skeynoteaddressbyAtlanta-basedplaywrightPearlCleage.Also, don’t forget thatwe sponsor and directthe staged readings ofthe winners in SETC’stwoplaywritingcompeti-tions.ThewinneroftheHigh School New PlayContest, Eisegesis byNickMecikalski,willbeperformedat10:30a.m.onSaturday.ThewinneroftheCharlesM.Getchell New Play Contest, Nicolas the WormbyEddieZipperer,willbereadFridayat7p.m.(See more details on the Getchell Award winner on Page 3) OurinterestgroupmeetingwillbeheldonFriday,March4,at9a.m.Weencourageallplaywrights,would-beplaywrightsandloversofnewplaystocomebyandtakepartinourdiscussionsabouthowwecanbestserveourmembers.SeeyouinAtlanta!
amexcitedtobethenewchairofthe Stage Movement Committee.OneneedonlylookattheJanuary
issueofAmerican Theatremagazine,whichfocuses primarily on movement practitio-ners,toseetheincreasingtrendtowardin-corporatingphysicaltraininginactortrainingprogramsandphysicaltheatrepracticesinprofessionaltheatreacrossthenation. Whether you are an experienced per-former,aneducatororastudent,youwillfindadiverseofferingofprogramsinstagemovementatSETC2011.Manymovementworkshopsaregearedtowardexperiencedperformersanduniversityorconservatory
students; some are foreducatorsanddirectors.Topicsincludediscover-ingacharacter’sphysi-cal life, mime, maskwork, stage combat,Laban,AlexanderTech-nique,Suzuki,Comme-dia dell’Arte, physicalcomedyandChekhov’s
psychologicalgesture.Checkyourconven-tionprogramformoredetailsonthemanymovementworkshops. Joinusat8a.m.onThursday,March3,andFriday,March4,tostartyourdayrightwith the “All-Conference ActorWarm-Up,”co-sponsored by theVoice Committee.Finally,pleaseplantoattendthe“Explorationsin Movement for Movement Professionalsand Educators” session onWednesday,March2,at7p.m.,andourinterestgroupmeeting onThursday, March 3, at noon,toshareideasandinnovationsinphysicaltraining.Ilookforwardtoseeingyouattheconvention!
Cara Rawlings, ChairStage Movement Committee
5
Dawn Larsen, ChairHistory/Theory/Crit/Lit Committee
voice/speechGain insights from Rodenburg, others
Find faith, theatre connections
I
movementDiscover new physical training ideas
Robin Carr, ChairVoice and Speech Committee
religion
playwritingAttend play readings, workshops
Steve Burch, ChairPlaywriting Committee
T
T
I
E. Bert Wallace, ChairReligion and Theatre Committee
Steve Burch
INTEREST AREA NEWS, EVENTS
E. Bert Wallace
EntertainmentsinUnusualVenues.” Everyoneisinvitedtoattendourinterestgroup meeting at 1 p.m. on Saturday,March 5.We will discuss, among otherthings, theatre history, theory, criticismand literature!We will also discuss theYoung Scholar’s Award program, as wellas strategic and long-range planning forourcommittee.Wewouldlovetohearyourthoughtsandvalueyourparticipation.
fyou’reinterestedinhowfaithandtheatre intersect, please come tothe Religion andTheatre interest
groupmeetingattheconventiononFriday,March4,at1p.m.Thiswillbeaninformalchancetomeetotherswithsimilarinterestsanddiscusswhatyouwouldliketoseefromthecommittee. The Religion area has a number ofinterestingsessions.Ifyou’reastudentorprofessoratafaith-basedcollege,youmaywant to sit in as professors from severalsuchschoolsleadaroundtablediscussionat1p.m.onThursdayinRoom315.Amore
Robin Carr
Cara Rawlings
Share Your SETC Convention Experience with Others on Facebook and Twitter
hat’shappeningattheSETCConvention?Youtellus!Inadditiontoprovidingsocialmediaupdatesat theconvention,SETC’sCentralOfficewould like toinvitememberstoposttheirthoughts,picturesandmore.
“WewillbeusingFacebookandTwitterthroughouttheconventionandwouldloveforSETCfolkstoaddtheirinsightsandupdatestooursites,”saysSETC’sCommunicationsandMarketingManagerJudiRossabi.“Itwilladdafun,livelyandinteractivecomponenttotheconvention.” FacebookandTwitterarelotsoffunforinstantmessaging,butthemessagesshouldgobeyond,“Hasanybodyseenmytoothpaste?”Theconventionattractssomeofournation’smostinfluentialtheatrefolks.Talktothem,taketheirpictures,andquotethemonFacebookandTwitter. ToreadSETC’sTwitterpostings,usethehashtag“#setc”.SETCtweetswillshowupinyourTwitterfeedautomaticallyifyouloginandclick“fol-low.”Newthisyear–SETCtweetswillgoliveonourwebsiteaswetweetatwww.setc.org/conventionnews.html!IfyouarenewtoFacebookorTwitter,stopbytheRegistrationareaattheconventionforinformationonhowtofindSETConthesocialmediasites. WhatdoyoulikeattheSETCConvention?LetusknowonFacebookorTwitter!
D
heSETCBoard,theexecutivedirec-torandotherstakeholdersaremak-ingprogresson thestrategicplan
thatwebeganinDecember2009.Sofar,theBoardandotherSETCstakeholdershavecreatedamissionandvisionstatementandhavesetshort-termandlong-termstrategicplanninggoals.Wearecurrentlyexaminingourgovernancestructureandprocess. Theprospectofchangeisuncomfortablefor all of us.Beassured, though, thatwedidn’tbeginthestrategicplanningprocessbecausewesawaproblemweneededtofix. Strategic planning is a “best practice”processtypicalofgrowing,thrivingorgani-zationssuchasours.Weareallawarethatweneedtoholdontothestrengthsofourorganizationthathaveservedussowell.
Inthistimeofgrowthandchange,afewofourgoalsinclude:• Findingnewavenuesfordevelopingand
nurturingleadersintheorganization.• Lookingforinnovativewaystobringnew
boardmembersintoSETC’sgovernanceculture.
• Enhancing the level of support for thegoalsofstateorganizations.
• ExamininghowthestatesandSETCcanbestserveeachother.
The quality of theprocess is vital – somuchliketheworldwelive in within the con-textoftheatreproduc-tion.Wearechallengedwith limited meetingtimesover thecourseoftheyear.However,Ithinkweallrealizetheimportance of holdingontoaninclusive,col-laborative and openprocess.Weneedev-eryone’svoiceatthetable–especiallythosestakeholderswhoseviewsmaydifferfromthemajorityoftheboard. PleasejoinmembersoftheLong-RangePlanning Committee, Board membersand others involved in our work for morediscussiononwhereweareat theSETCConventioninAtlanta.Wehavescheduledtwo gatherings to discuss long-rangeplanning–oneat9a.m.Thursdayandtheotherat10:30a.m.Friday.
he62ndannualSETCConventionkicks off on Wednesday, March2, and continues until Sunday,
March6,at theHiltonAtlantaHotel.You’llf ind over 300 workshops, panels,roundtables, meetings and seminars tofill your days from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.Youcanbeginplanningyourdailyscheduleonlinenowatwww.setc.org/2011_schedule.html. In addition to pre-senters from aroundthe nation, we havetapped Atlanta’s vasttheatreresources.Au-thor, poet and Atlantaresident Pearl CleageisThursday’s keynotespeaker.Justa fewofthe other Atlanta pre-senters areTom Key,NancyMeyerandCarolJones,whowillleadtheK-12Institute. SpelmanCollegewillhosttheCommunityTheatreFestival,whileNorthAtlantaHighSchool provides the location for the HighSchoolTheatre Festival.TheTheatre forYouthFestival,theever-popularTen-MinutePlayFestivalandtheinnovativeFringeFesti-valwillbepresentedintheHiltonGrandBall-roomEast.ThesecondannualFilmFestival,showcasingfilmshortsalldaySaturday,willbeheldinRoom403oftheHilton. Iwanttothankcommitteechairs,present-ers,exhibitors,professionalcompanies,Qui-anaClark-Roland,BetseyBaun,theentireCentralOfficestaffandhundredsofunsungheroesforenablingustobringyoutheSETCConvention...Live from Atlanta!
2
Where’s SETC in its Strategic Planning Process?
Live from Atlanta ...It’s SETC 2011!
CONVENTION NEWS
Theatre Bytes
by Don Wolfe
T
Contact Don Wolfe at [email protected].
6
oyouhaveaquestionaboutcontracts,copyright,personalinjury,employment,discrimination,cen-sorship,obscenity,boardissuesoranotherareaof
thelaw?BringyourquestionstooneofmysessionsattheSETCConvention,andI’lldomybesttoanswer.Checkyourprogramforthelocationofmyworkshop:“LegalIssuesinTheatre:Contracts,Copyright,Money,SexandMore.”Sessionsarescheduledfor1p.m.onbothThursday,March3,andFriday,March4.SeeyouinAtlanta!
Dan Ellison is a Durham, NC-based attorney who has concentrated on arts-related law and nonprofit law for 15 years. He is a past president and the current executive direc-tor of the North Carolina Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Have a question? E-mail him at [email protected].
Ask the Lawyer: Bring Your Questions to the SETC Convention
Theatre and the Lawby Dan Ellison
W
T
FromthePresident
AlanLitsey
FromtheProgrammingVice-President
SteveBayless
vention by contactingClaytonWhitfield [email protected]. Both onstage and offstage talent cankeeptheirprofilesonlineafterJune30fora small annual fee, payable toThe ShowHub.Companiescanalsocontinuesearch-ingprofilesafterJune30bycontinuingtheiraccounts. Ifyoudidn’tpre-registerforJobContactService but would like to useThe ShowHub’s services, there’s still time to getyour free profile.To be eligible, you needtosignupforJobContactServiceon-siteinAtlantaat theSETCConvention.Then,intheJobContactServiceroom,youcansign up directly with representatives fromThe Show Hub.To get details on signingupforJobContactService,visitwww.setc.org/jobcontact/docs/JobContactONSITE-Guidelines_WEB.pdf. FormoredetailsonTheShowHub,visitwww.theshowhub.com.SeeyouinAtlanta!
- April J’Callahan Marshall, ManagerSETC Professional Theatre Services
reyoulookingforworkoffstageoronstage?Orperhapsyouarepartofacompanythatishiring?
SETCcanconnectyou!SETCrecentlypartnered withThe Show Hub to expandthe opportunities available through theonlinejobconnectionserviceinitiatedlastyear,S.O.R.T.(SETC’sOnlineResumesforTheatre). S.O.R.T.,whichisnolongeractive,wasonly for offstage workers.The Show Huboffersthesameprofile-postingservicestoactors as well. And the service is free toSETCregistrantsthroughJune30! Pre-registeredprofessionalauditioneesand Job Contact Service participants al-readyhavehadanopportunitytotakead-
3
A
JOB CONNECTIONS, STATE NEWS
MISSISSIPPITheatre Association
TheMississippiTheatreAssociationhelditsannualfestivalinMeridianinJanuary.Number Attending:550.Winners of Community Theatre Festival: Driving Miss Daisy, Just OvertheRainbowTheatre,Hattiesburg,MS;Dixie Swim Club, StarkvilleCommunityTheatre,Starkville,MS.Winner of High School Theatre Fes-tival: Purple Fan,StarkvilleHighSchool,Starkville, MS; Antigone, Oxford HighSchool,Oxford,MS.Idea to Share: State Playwriting Competitions. Severalyearsago,MTAstartedaplaywritingcompetitiontorecog-nize and promote Mississippi playwrights.Scriptsinboththeadultandyouthdivisionsarescreenedbyacommittee,which thensendsthetopscriptstoafinaladjudicator,who is typically a well-known playwright.PastfinaladjudicatorshaveincludedMarkDunn,GaryGarrisonandJudithStevens-Ly.The final adjudicator attends the festival,participates in the staged readings, andconducts a talkback following the stagedreadings.Wewouldlovetoseeotherstatescreate similar competitions, which couldfeed into a regional competition, with thetopwinnersfromeachstateenteredintoacompetitionattheSETCConvention.Stephen Cunetto, MTA Executive Director
7
AQ IamtakingpartintheJobContactService.Howmanycompanies
willbetheredoinginterviews?Whatarethehours?
Approximately65-70companieswillbeatJobContactServiceinterviewingcandidates formanydifferent typesof jobs.Theatmosphereisthatofalargejobfair.Hoursare10:30a.m.to6
vantageoftheopportunitiesofferedthroughSETC’s partnership withThe Show Hub.Earlier this year, they received invitationsfrom theSETCCentralOfficewithdetailsabouttheprocess,followedbye-maillinksfromTheShowHubenablingthemtocom-pletetheirfreeprofiles. Theatres participating in Job ContactService and the Professional Auditionsalsoreceivede-maillinksallowingthemtopreviewauditioneesandemployeescomingtotheSETCConventioninAtlanta. Ifyoufall intooneofthegroupsaboveanddidn’tsignupthroughthee-maillinks,youstillcandosobefore theSETCCon-
ConnectingTalenttoTheatres:SETCPartnerswithTheShowHub
p.m.Thursday,9a.m.to6p.m.Fridayand9a.m.tonoonSaturday.
WillIknowmyinterviewscheduleandthenamesoftheinterviewingcompaniesbeforeIarriveattheconvention?
No,youwillnotknowyourscheduleinadvance.WhenyouarriveattheJobContactServiceroomandturninyourresume,youwillbegivenabookletthatlistsallofthejobsforwhichcompaniesarehiring.Youwillthengoaroundthe
JobContactServiceroom,stoppingtogetmoreinformationatthetableofeachcom-panythathaspostedajobthatinterestsyou.ThecompanyrepresentativewilloftendoapreliminaryinterviewintheJobContactServiceroom.Ifinterested,therepresentativemayasktoscheduleamorein-depthinterview.
ShouldIbringaportfolioofmyworktointerviews?
Yes,absolutely!Bringascompleteaportfolioaspossible.Thecompanieswanttoseesamplesofyourwork.
HowdoIfindoutwhatsalariesarebeingofferedfortheatretechnicians?Dotechniciansgethealthbenefits?IwouldliketofindthesespecificsoutforeachcompanyIinterviewwithbeforeIgettotheconvention.
Inthebookletmentionedabove,whichyouwillreceiveattheconvention,youwillfindsalaryinformationprovidedbythecompanies.WhatyoushoulddointhemeantimeisgoonlinetotheJobContactServiceareaontheSETCwebsite
SETC Convention: Job Contact Service FAQs
as
k
SE
TC
andviewthelistofcompaniesthathaveregisteredatwww.setc.org/jobcontact/index.php.Inthisarea,eachcompanyprovidesbriefbackgroundinformationandalinktoitswebsite.Usethelinkstolearnasmuchasyoucanaboutthehiringcompanies.Themoreinformedyouareaboutacompany,themoreyouwill impressthatcompany’srepresentatives.
- April J’Callahan Marshall, Manager, SETC Professional Theatre Services
QA
A
AQ
Q
PEOPLE NEWS
8
PEOPLEonthemove
SETCPastPresidentWard Haarbauer,whofoundedtheDepartmentofTheatreatthe University of Alabama at Birminghamand spent 40 years as a professor there,is attending his 50th consecutive SETCConventionthisyear.
p p pSETC Executive DirectorBetsey Baunwashonoredasa“MeetingProfessionaltoWatchin2011”byConvention Southmaga-zine,whichalsofeaturedaprofileofherinitsDecember2010issue.
p p pSETC Past President Clifton “Chip” Egan has retired as dean of ClemsonUniversity’s College of Architecture, ArtsandHumanities.He’sstillworking,though,asbothadirectorandanactor.
p p pAlabama’sSETCRepresentative Michael Howley isretiringinJunefromAlabamaStateUniversity,wherehehastaughtfor33years.Hisretirementplansincludedirecting,travel,artsadvocacyandadjunctteaching.
In Memoriam Longtime SETC Auditions CommitteeChairN. Bennett East died Febru-ary2,2011,inPeoria,AZ.Easthelpedorganize the theatre department atMarshall University in Huntington,WV,where he taught from 1970 until hisretirementin1998.In2007,heandhiswifeJoycemovedtoSunCity,AZ.EastoversawSETCauditionsformanyyears,but his impact went beyond the audi-tionsroom.“Bennettistheonewhogotme started in SETCleadershipyearsago,by convincing DavidWohl to appoint metotheAuditionsCom-mittee,” noted PastPresidentDeniseHal-bach. East’s passingrepresents“theendofanera,”saidPastPresidentDonWolfe.“We’vehada lotof retirementsamonghisagegroup,butlosingBennettismorethanthat.Hispositivenaturepromptedhim to see the fun in everything, eventhosethingsthatothersweretakingtooseriously.Hismischievoussmilealwaysalertedusthattherearemanysidestoany issue.” A memorial service will beheldatalaterdateinHuntington,WV.
p p pProlific playwright Romulus Linney,died January 15, 2011, of lung cancerinGermantown,NY.Hewas80.Linneyhad deep roots in the South, havinggrownupinTennesseeandBoone,NC.HewasachroniclerofhistoricalfiguresandthepeopleoftheAppalachianregion.His plays were frequently performedin regional theatres, schools and off-
Broadway venues.In1992,Linneywasselected forasea-son devoted solelytohisworkbySig-natureTheatre inNewYork City. Hewrotethreenovels,whichhe laterdra-matized, and more
than60longandshortplays.HereceivedtwoObieawards.AfrequentspeakerattheNorthCarolinaTheatreConferenceconvention,AppalachianStateUniversityandWakeForestUniversity,hewasalsoakeynotespeakerattheSETCConven-tionin1997.
- Susan Cole, SETC Past President
Judi Rossabi Joins SETC as Communications and Marketing Managerternal communications,marketing and publicrelationsstrategies.Shealso oversees conven-tion registration. Sincejoining SETC, Rossabihasexperiencedawhirl-wind of activity as theCentralOfficecompletedplanningfortheannualSETCConvention. “IamenjoyingthefastpaceanddynamicinteractionbetweentheSETCCentralOfficeand our constituency,” Rossabi says. “Wehaveagreat teamworkingontheAtlantaconvention,andIlookforwardtobeingpartofsuchabigevent.” Aftertheconvention,sheplanstodevotetime tocreatingamulti-facetedmarketingandcommunicationsstrategyfortheorgani-zation.Hergoalsinclude“developingamoreactivesocialmediapresenceandadaptingtheSETCwebsitetobettermeettheneedsofthoseweserve.” In her spare time, the mother of twocollege students hikes, does yoga andattendsvisualandperformingartsevents. “I am an ‘appreciator’ of theatre andbelievethattheatreisavitalandenjoyablepartoftheartsexperience,”Rossabisays.“WhenIlivedinNewYorkCityforfiveyears,Iwas fortunate tohave theopportunity toattend many Broadway and off-Broadwaytheatre productions.Here in Greensboro,I enjoy theatre events ranging from highschoolplaystoprofessionalandcommunitytheatreproductions.” [email protected].
esure tostopby theRegistrationareaattheSETCConventionandwelcome SETC’s newest staff
member, Judi Rossabi. She joined SETCascommunicationsandmarketingmanagerinNovember. Aseasonedcommunicationsandmarket-ingprofessional,Rossabihasworkedinbothnonprofitandgovernmentpublicrelations.Previously,sheservedasacitygovernmentpublicinformationofficer,oversawthedis-trictofficeforaU.S.senatorandoperatedherownpublicrelationsbusiness.SheisagraduateoftheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHill. At SETC, Rossabi is responsible fordevelopingandexecuting internalandex-
Kelly Carolyn Gordon, coordinator oftheatrestudiesatBrevardCollege,isteach-ing a class in London this summer, “TheEuropeanTheatre: From Page to Stage.”ApplicationdeadlineisMarch10.Moreinfo:[email protected]/programs/london/overview.php.
Judi Rossabi
SETC News is published bimonthlyfor the SoutheasternTheatre Confer-ence.Deadlinefornextissue:April10.Please send news items to:DeannaThompson,EditorPhone:336-292-6041E-mail:[email protected]:SoutheasternTheatreConference1175RevolutionMillDrive,Suite14Greensboro,NC27405Phone:336-272-3645E-mail:[email protected]:www.setc.org
Where to Send News
Atlanta, GA March 2-6SETC 2011
ARTSopportunities
Bennett East
Romulus Linney
B