TheatreFest 2017 - It’s Island Time!

Ahoy, mateys!  I, being a landlubber, know little about the waters surrounding Galveston, but I do know the value of attending our annual convention.  Hopefully you have booked your cabin and are ready to embark on an exciting cruise complete with fantastic excursions.  

In our crazy busy theatrical lives, we often forget the importance of gathering as a community to celebrate, collaborate, and educate.  Being active in your professional organization provides so many opportunities to connect to other professionals who are active in the same line of work.  While it is important to be connected to others, it is just as important to engage fully in the organization by joining a committee and participating in meetings.  No matter what your level of interest may be, please make plans to attend TheatreFest 2017.

Here are five reasons to attend TheatreFest 2017-It’s Island Time!

1. Educational Opportunities- Participate in the 200 plus workshops covering every aspect of theatre education by serving as a presenter to share your knowledge with others or attend workshops focused on areas you need to develop.  There is nothing better than developing as an artist, sharing your expertise with others, or learning something new to share with students.
2. Meet new vendors and suppliers- Meet with vendors from all over the state to learn about new products and industry standards.  Vendors can serve as great contacts when you need advice or a sponsorship.
3. Network with Peers- Forming relationships and sharing like experiences is perhaps the best reason to participate in TheatreFest 2017.  Some of the best workshops can be found in the conversations happening in the lobby of the convention site.
4. Invest in Yourself- Invest in yourself, your career, and your school.  When you register for a conference, you are committing to developing as an artist and as an educator.  
5. Have Fun- Don’t miss out on the opportunities.  It may be hard to break into conversations with strangers or certain groups, but it is worth the effort to create lasting friendships and amazing connections.  

The convention committee is hard at work to prepare and present an amazing convention experience.  Convocation will feature a beach-themed performance from the talented students of the Houston School of the Performing and Visual Arts followed by the TETA Business meeting.  Door prizes and VIP tickets will be provided to those who attend.   

We have received a wide variety of programming proposals, and we are continuing to incorporate and include new and innovative programming concepts into the schedule.  We have included numerous workshops for our growing number of students, our valued K-12 teachers, our esteemed university faculty members, and our community and professional theatre practitioners.   A variety of programming topics ranging from acting, playwriting, stage-combat, musical theatre, auditioning, mime, make-up, technology, scene design, and costumes will be offered.   In every cubby-hole and lobby space, ongoing performance activities will take place enveloping convention participants in the world of theatre.  This year we are excited to present “Techno-Fest,” a new and exciting event dedicated to theatre technology.   Vendors will demonstrate the new technology currently available in our industry.  This exciting workshop will take place in one of our large performance spaces providing opportunities for attendees to actually “see” the effects of new theatrical software, and equipment.  Catch a quick session by taking advantage of the “Walk-up Workshops” available for two days during the convention, and plan to attend the UIL Film workshops along with the ever popular UIL A-Z hosted by UIL Theatre Director, Luis Munoz.  Please take time to support PlayFest and DesignFest as they play a vital role in the development of our future playwrights and designers.  Numerous performances from local school districts will be presented throughout the weekend along with TETA’S Got Talent.  Most importantly, please attend the TETA Educator’s Awards to recognize our colleagues who represent our state by modeling excellence in our organization, the classroom and on the stage.

Hopefully, you and your students will take advantage of the wonderful activities presented at TheatreFest 2017.  We are looking forward to an exciting convention and new experiences.  Pack your bags and prepare to sail!  It is “Island Time.”  Ahoy!