Blogs

 

USITT and EdTA Launch Technical Theatre Pilot Exam in High Schools Across the Country

By EdTA News posted 19 days ago
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                       The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the Educational Theatre Association(EdTA)  have selected 171 schools from 39 states and Taiwan to participate in the BACKstage Technical Theatre Pilot Exam, a digital test for high school students designed to measure their competency in a broad range of technical theatre knowledge. Several thousand students are expected to take the pilot exam, which includes both a pre- and post-test. The pre-test is available between September 8 and October 22, 2020, and the post-test will be conducted April 15 through June 1, 2021.  USITT, the recognized expert in the field of ...
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Community Spotlight: Marie Miguel

By Ginny Butsch posted 25 days ago
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One of the main goals for our Theatre Education Community is to help theatre students and professionals from all over connect and identify with each other in order to build resources and support the theatre education field. We shine a spotlight on a different member every other week by conducting a simple interview. Our next Spotlight is Marie Miguel, the theatre teacher at Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Marie also has an adaption of Frankenstein published and available at Stage Plays, with a forthcoming publication of an adaption of Oedipus, also at Stage Plays .   Why do you believe theatre is important? For many people, ...
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Nominating Committee Accepting Board Applications

By EdTA News posted 25 days ago
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The Educational Theatre Association Nominating Committee is accepting applications from prospective candidates for positions on the EdTA Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee will select a slate of candidates for two Board director positions and one Vice President/President position for an election that will be conducted online beginning in January 2021, and concluding in March 2021. Any EdTA professional member, including Thespian troupe directors, is eligible to stand for election by filing a  candidate vita form  with the Nominating Committee. The committee has been instructed by the Board to seek two to four candidates for each of the three open ...
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Member-Only Resources for Current Needs and Issues

By EdTA News posted 30 days ago
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                                A Message from EdTA's Education Manager Cory Wilkerson Whether your return to school involves in-person or virtual classes and productions, or hybrid work, EdTA has you covered with invaluable resources packed full of information, tips, and tools. In Theatre Educator Pro you’ll find: the Resources for Creating Online Learning page that includes top 10 tips for teaching theatre online, complete with a guide written by educators like you who have been there, plus ideas for content which translates well to an online or hybrid teaching situation; “Click to Teach” project-based units that include everything you ...
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Advocacy Update: August 13, 2020

By Leah Ball posted 08-13-2020
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EdTA Advocacy Update August 13, 2020 The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education. STATE NEWS Do you have state or province theatre or arts education news you want to share? Send it to Leah at lball@schooltheate.org Arkansas: Governor's Arts Awards open for nominations (Jonesboro Sun) Indiana: Lt. Governor Crouch Launches Arts, Cultural & Destination Marketing Organization Support Grants (Eagle Country 99.3) Kentucky: Kentucky Arts Industry Leaders Lobby Federal Government For Relief (89.3 WFPL) Massachusetts: ...
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Teaching Artist Spotlight: Suzanne Maguire

By Ginny Butsch posted 08-12-2020
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We recently launched a new Community program called Teaching Artist Directory . This directory is an EdTA members-only benefit that helps you find skilled theatre professionals to lead workshops in your classroom or at an event.   Our latest featured teaching artist is Suzanne Maguire, the Associate Director of Tiger Drama at Lewis & Clark High School, Washington State Thespians board member, a member of Teaching Artist Alliance, and the owner/coach of SpokaneActing . Suzanne has taught a variety of workshops at EdTA events, helping students and directors expand their acting skills and confidence.   What is your favorite thing about being ...
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Register Now for EdTA’s 2020 National Conference: Future- Proof Your Theatre Program

By EdTA News posted 08-11-2020
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Registration for the 2020 National Conference: Future-Proof Your Theatre Program, taking place on September 12-13, is now open! EdTA members who renew before the event attend for free. This is a pivotal moment for theatre education. Theatre is seeking to find its place in the dialogues surrounding race, social isolation, economic hardship, and political discourse. Since theatre teachers are expected to chart a brand-new path for themselves and students, the conference will support educators with accountable, practical solutions and ideas to use throughout the school year. Keynote presentations are by playwright and educator Idris Goodwin , known ...
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Being Proactive for your Students and Your Program

By Mitch Critel posted 08-10-2020
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Mitchell L Critel is the Technical Director and Production Manager at the University of Evansville. His work has taken him into many different venues and disciplines; Film, Television, Professional Theatre, and recently the University of  Nebraska- Lincoln where he led the BFA and MFA programs in Technical Production and Management.   Being Proactive for your Students and Your Program   As the world shifted from on campus to remote, I found myself trying to wrap my mind around how to teach hands-on production and management classes in an online format in an equitable way. If this stress was not enough,  I was also faced with decisions for an in-house ...
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An Investment Year

By Donny Covington posted 08-03-2020
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Donny Covington is the Director of the Technical Theatre Magnet at Richardson High School, in Richardson, Texas.  Donny graduated from University of Dallas with a B.A. in Drama in 2010. He has worked with theater companies all over Dallas since 2008 including: The Dallas Theater Center, The Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Kitchen Dog Theater, The Contemporary Theater of Dallas, Lyric Stage, Upstart Productions, and The Richardson Theatre Center. He joined Nouveau 47 Theatre during its first season in the historic Margo Jones Theater in Fair Park and went on to serve as Artistic Director as well as President of the Board of the Margo Jones Partnership. His credits ...
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2020 Play Survey

By EdTA News posted 07-30-2020
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2020 Play Survey   According to the annual school play survey conducted by EdTA , The Addams Family , Clue, and Check Please received top billing for the most produced musical, full-length play, and short play, during the 2019-20 school year, which was cut short by the closures required by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted every year since 1938, EdTA’s annual survey of the plays and musicals most frequently produced in America’s middle and high schools provides a snapshot of what resonates with teens, their teachers, families, and communities. This year’s survey will have a figurative asterisk indicating the incomplete season schools ...
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Advocacy Update: July 29, 2020

By Leah Ball posted 07-29-2020
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EdTA Advocacy Update July 29, 2020 The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education. STATE NEWS Do you have state or province theatre or arts education news you want to share? Send it to Leah at lball@schooltheate.org Arizona: Federal CARES Act Funds provide relief to Arizona arts organizations (West Valley View) Phoenix, Tucson And Flagstaff Groups Get National Arts Grants (KJZZ Phoenix) Arkansas: Arts Council awards 103 grants to nonprofit art groups (Talk Business & Politics) California: New Relief Program Funded ...
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Advocacy Update: July 29, 2020

By Leah Ball posted 07-29-2020
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EdTA Advocacy Update July 29, 2020 The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education. STATE NEWS Do you have state or province theatre or arts education news you want to share? Send it to Leah at lball@schooltheate.org Arizona: Federal CARES Act Funds provide relief to Arizona arts organizations (West Valley View) Phoenix, Tucson And Flagstaff Groups Get National Arts Grants (KJZZ Phoenix) Arkansas: Arts Council awards 103 grants to nonprofit art groups (Talk Business & Politics) California: New Relief Program Funded ...
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Community Spotlight: Maria Stadtmueller

By Ginny Butsch posted 07-28-2020
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One of the main goals for our Theatre Education Community is to help theatre students and professionals from all over connect and identify with each other in order to build resources and support the theatre education field. We shine a spotlight on a different member every other week by conducting a simple interview. Our next Spotlight is Maria Stadtmueller, the theatre director at St. Augustine School in Kendall Park, New Jersey. Maria has been providing consistent advice and encouragement to fellow Community members for the last few years. Why do you believe theatre is important? Theatre is important because it gives you a chance to express yourself ...
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2020 Honor Chapters

By EdTA News posted 07-27-2020
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The Educational Theatre Association established the Honor Chapter Program to recognize those chapters that do tremendous work and deserve acknowledgment for their high-level of excellence. The following chapters were recognized at the national EdTA Virtual Leadership Summit July 22-24. Gold Honor Chapters: • Arkansas • California • Georgia • Indiana • Mississippi • Nebraska • Nevada • New Jersey • Ohio • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Texas • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia Silver Honor Chapters: • British Columbia Bronze Honor Chapters: • Illinois • Montana
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Navigating the Opening of Theatres and Venues in a Masked World

By Christopher Trevino posted 07-27-2020
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Christopher Trevino holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Chris has designed or operated lighting for venues across the country, including Sea World-San Diego & San Antonio, Dead White Zombies, Cincinnati Ballet, Collin County Ballet Theatre, Santa Fe Opera, Opera New Jersey, ABC News/WFAA-TV, Nevada Ballet, Nevada Conservatory Theatre, Collin Theatre Center, Stagedoor Manor, Six Flags Over Texas, and many more.  He currently serves as the Assistant Technical Director at the UTD and teaches the Technical Theatre classes there. Chris ...
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