Tuesday, January 5, 2016

TETA DesignFest 2016: Deadline on Jan. 14th!!

TETA DesignFest 2016: Deadline on Jan. 14th!!
By John Landon and Tana Roberson, DesignFest Co-Chairs


Educators,

We need your help!  Please get the word out about TETA’s DesignFest!  In 2007, DesignFest had 73 participants!  Two years ago, the event only had 5.  Last year we were up to 28.  This year we need your help in getting the word out, in that we currently only have two registered!  Let’s bring the participation back up to the levels of 9 years ago!  There are two initial ways to gain information and show your support.

1.      Go to http://www.tetatx.com/home/conventions/theatrefest/designfest for more information

2.      Join the discussion on Facebook by joining the discussion in the DesignFest Group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/946200142127325/


Starting this year, we are going to have four sections to the DesignFest area:

·         Section #1, The DesignFest Contest! – This will be an area for all high school and college students wanting to enter the DesignFest competition. 
o   Any Texas high school and college student may compete. 
§  It is also a great way to showcase your work if you are attending the TETA Technical Auditions.  If a student is already selected as a TETA Technical Auditioner, the $20 DesignFest fee will be waived.
§  This is a great additional opportunity for those high school students entering into this year’s UIL Technical Design Competition.  An opportunity to receive a professional critique during TheatreFest, one week before the UIL deadline!
o   In addition to the possibility of a $200 DesignFest award, universities and colleges have been known to award scholarships based on the display, as well.
o   This section will receive a professional oral critique by the DesignFest professionals listed below.
o   Convention Registration is encouraged, but not required.  Only TETA Membership ($20) and the DesignFest fee ($20) is required.
o   Students can display work from designs in scenic, costume, hair/makeup, lighting, sound, props and stage management.
o   Each participant can display a maximum of 12 items at DesignFest.  One 4’ x 8’ vertical foam panel or one table will be supplied for each student. The student should bring all necessary materials to safety display their work.  The work will be judged by a group of TETA design/technology/management members to determine awards. 
o   Go to https://tetatx.wildapricot.org/event-2055350 to officially register.
o   Deadline to register: Jan. 14th

·         Section #2. Bring and Showcase Your Art! – This will be an area to feature non-DesignFest Competition artwork for those already attending the Convention.  Just pack your designs, and bring them with you!
o   Non-competitive entries:
§  Theatre Texas faculty and professional. 
§  High School and college students that are already attending Convention may bring their design work with them and display. 
§  Students participating in the TETA Technical Auditions that do not want to enter the DesignFest Competition, may display here, as well.
o   Displays are not subject to the DesignFest competition, but is a great way for Texas artists to showcase and share their work with other educators. 
o   No need to register for DesignFest, only a simple email to the Co-DesignFest Chair that you want to display is required!  John Landon, jlandon@wtamu.edu
o   No DesignFest registration fee required.
o   Deadline to send the email for intent to participate: Jan. 22nd

·         Section #3, 2015 UIL Technical Design State Winners! – This will be an area to showcase last year’s winners of the UIL Technical Design Competition.
o   TETA DesignFest would like to showcase these young artists.  Those that attended the UIL State OAP Competition last year got to appreciate their work, but no one else.  Let’s let the rest of the State appreciate it, as well!
§  No costs to register for DesignFest or the Convention, unless the student wants to actually attend the Convention.
§  Just email the Co-DesignFest Chair, John Landon, jlandon@wtamu.edu, that you want to display.
§  Bring or ship your designs to TheatreFest, and have someone that is attending the Convention bring the designs back to you.
§  Deadline to send the email for intent to participate: Jan. 22nd

·         Section #4, Spotlight on Local Theaters! – This will be an area to showcase local Professional and Community Theatre designs.
o   This is a new section to showcase the host city to TETA’s Convention’s educational and professional artwork!
o   Entries
§  Local professional theatre companies
§  Local community theatres
§  Local educational theatrical institutions (all levels of public education)
o   No costs to register for DesignFest or the Convention, unless a representative wants to actually attend the Convention.
o   Just email the Co-DesignFest Chair, John Landon, jlandon@wtamu.edu, that the theatre wants to display.
o   Deadline to send the email for intent to participate: Jan. 22nd


As you can see, there are some exciting changes to DesignFest!  It will be come more than just a competition, it will be a home to showcase Texas Technical Theatre!

For those that are entering the competition part of DesignFest, we want to announce the Guest Artist for DesignFest this year will be the scenic designer/film & television production designer, Bob Lavallee.  His work has been seen on numerous stages in North Texas: Dallas Theater Center, Wyly Theatre, Casa Manana, Bass Hall, WaterTower Theatre, Shakespeare Dallas, Fort Worth Opera and Fort Worth Shakespeare.  His work includes university designs at University of North Texas Opera, University of Oklahoma and Midwestern State University.  He designed for Barney & Friends, for Peter Wolf Design and for the African American Repertory. 

He will be responding to student design work in DesignFest along with Featured Artist, Susan Branch Towne from St. Edward’s University in Austin.  Her costume design work has been seen at the Denver Centre Theatre Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Ballet Austin, Utah Shakespeare Festival, New York City Opera at the Zachary Scott Theatre Center in Austin and the Skylight Opera Theatre.

Such wonderful opportunity!!  Let’s make DesignFest GREAT!!

If you have any questions, please contact me. We look forward to seeing you and your work at TheatreFest!

John Landon
Tana Roberson
West Texas A&M University

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