Friday, August 24, 2012

Alphabet Soup is Good for You!

Eric C. Skiles, TETA Board of Directors
Vice President College / University

I recently told one my students, ”Playing in someone else’s sandbox is ALWAYS educational.” In other words, that particular student needed to get off campus and explore some of the other theatre opportunities that awaited them – and whether the experience was a “mountain top” or not, it would definitely be educational.

Make no mistake; we (the instructors, mentors, directors, and designers) are no different. We need to get out of our own comfort zones and STRETCH ourselves – learn from others and experience new things. So…I present this “Alphabet Soup” listing of ways you might stretch your own creativity in the coming months.

KC-ACTF: Whether you want to “take the show on the road” or stay at home, the Kennedy Center-American College Theatre Festival has opportunities to present your work and receive critical and instructive feedback on your productions. This year, Texas is hosting THREE state festivals – there is one near you! These festivals are an excellent way to help students network and prepare for their next steps as theatre practitioners. Find out more at http://www.kcactf6.org/.

            Texas I State Festival:         
            October 17 - 20
            San Jacinto College Central
            Pasadena, TX 77505
            Host: Jerry Ivins
            Jerry.Ivins@sjcd.edu
            281.542.2039

            Texas II State Festival:
            October 24 - 27
            Angelo State University
            San Angelo, TX
            Host: Mike Burnett
            michael.burnett@angelo.edu

            Texas III State Festival:
            November 1 - 3
            Tarrant County College-SE
            Arlington, TX
            Host: Pert Durapau
            pert.durapau@tccd.edu

               
SWTFA: Our regional association for Theatre is the Southwest Theatre and Film Association. The conference is generally held in early November each year, and provides an opportunity for faculty to present sessions, hear play readings, and network on the regional level. Their partnership with SETC (Southeastern Theatre Conference) provides audition opportunities for students pursuing summer theatre work. Visit their website at http://www.swtfa.com/.

TETA: Of course, you know ALL ABOUT this. Our annual conferences are the highlight of many a teacher’s and student’s year. Houston will again be the host for the January 2013 TheatreFest – consider bringing your own expertise and present a session for your colleagues! Great information can be found at http://www.tetatx.com/.

TETA-AC: The Texas Educational Theatre Association Adjudicator’s Committee helps certify and re-certify the adjudicators provided for the Texas UIL One-Act Play festivals that fill up the spring semester. Do you remember your UIL OAP days fondly?? Then take the next step and become a certified critic judge. Certification workshops are offered during the TheatreFest conference every January. Be a part of this exciting educational process! Get more info by going to http://www.uiltexas.org/theatre/judges.

TCCSTA: Designed specifically for two-year colleges, the Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association hosts a Festival each spring, generally the weekend before the KC-ACTF Regional Festival. Join other colleges for four exciting days of theatre – students are eligible for technical and acting awards, and productions receive a rating and critique from two respondents. See more at http://www.tccsta.org.

               
TCCSTA Play Festival
                February 27 – March 2, 2013
                Lone Star College-Tomball
                Tomball, TX
                Host: Sherri Ryan White
                Sherri.a.White@lonestar.edu

USITT: Don’t forget that there are people dressed in black working in the wings! Without them, all our productions would essentially be bare actors on a bare stage doing an acoustic radio play in the dark! The United States Institute for Theatre Technology hosts an AMAZING conference each spring – you would not BELIEVE the amazing things that can be learned at this conference. This year techies from all over will meet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – dates are March 20-23, 2013. Much more at http://www.usitt.org/.

ATHE: The mother of all conferences – the American Theatres of Higher Education annual conference each summer – generally held someplace amazing! This coming summer ATHE will be in Orlando, Florida – sounds like a great reason to attend, present, absorb, and then go to theme parks until the fall semester begins! If you have an interest – ATHE has a group for you… LGBTQ, Playwrights and Creative Teams, Theatre and Social Change, Directing, Association for Asian Performance, Latina/o Focus Group, Acting, Theatre as Liberal Art, Music Theatre/Dance, Religion and Theatre. Join your colleagues on the national level! Good stuff can be found at http://athe.org/.

I’ve reached the bottom of my bowl of Alphabet Soup – and I’m sure that I have missed MANY groups and opportunities that each of us has to broaden our own horizons! As you prepare for the Fall Semester, don’t forget to plan some time for yourself, attend one (or more) of these and STRETCH yourself!