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Announcing the First-Ever Virtual International Thespian Festival

By EdTA News posted 4 days ago
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On March 27 Indiana University, the site of our International Thespian Festival, informed EdTA it is canceling all summer activities on campus. This means that ITF 2020 cannot take place as an in-person gathering. “Given the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation, this is the right path to protect the health and well-being of our theatre family, which is EdTA's top priority,” said EdTA Executive Director Julie Cohen Theobald. “Although a traditional festival isn't possible in 2020, this once-in-a-year, once-in-a-lifetime Thespian celebration is not being canceled. This show must go on!” EdTA is proud to introduce the first-ever Virtual International Thespian ...
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We are important to one another: teaching theatre in the new normal

By James Palmarini posted 5 days ago
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I am not a teacher. But I have worked with many teachers over the past thirty-plus years, trying to support the heroic efforts they put forth day after day, year after year towards ensuring that every student has an opportunity to do their very best. More specifically I’ve worked with theatre teachers. You know who you are—the old joke “I work part-time, only 14 hours day” is still darkly funny and, I’m sure true for so many of you. Today things are different. A virus we can’t see or touch has upended everything—for you, me, our family and friends, and of course, students. The New York Times ran a story about a 10-year old homeless girl who was issued an ...
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Teaching Artist Spotlight: Devon Glover

By Ginny Butsch posted 6 days ago
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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 Devon Glover (aka “ The Sonnet Man ”), a teacher, rapper, poet, and actor from Brooklyn, New York. Devon has taught workshops at EdTA events like our National Conference and International Thespian Festival, as well as in various schools around the country.   What is your favorite thing about being a teaching artist? My favorite thing about being a teaching artist is ...
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Democracyworks Winner and Runners-Up Chosen

By EdTA News posted 12 days ago
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  The winner of the 2020 Democracyworks essay competition is Lena Dougherty, Troupe 8938, Wildwood Catholic High School, North Wildwood, New Jersey. Her winning essay was one of 45 submitted by members of the International Thespian Society (ITS) for this year’s competition. First runner up is Gaby Alezard, Troupe 2267, Hatboro-Horsham High School, Horsham, Pennsylvania. Second runner up is Barrett Edwards, Troupe 4274, Grinnell High School, Iowa. The winner earns $250 cash and a trip to the National Arts Action Summit (formerly known as Arts Advocacy Day) the annual Washington, D.C. gathering of arts advocates from throughout the country, which unfortunately ...
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Curated Resources for Creating Online Learning

By EdTA News posted 13 days ago
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A Message from EdTA’s Education Manager, Cory Wilkerson These are challenging times for all of you, with school closed indefinitely, productions cancelled or postponed, and teachers left to quickly find ways to shift to online instruction. As theatre people, we are noted for our flexibility and creativity – traits that are certainly called for in these trying times! I applaud your strength and resilience as you seek to support your students while rapidly building the new way of learning required to meet this crisis.  Please know that EdTA is working hard to support you. Over the past few days, EdTA’s education team has been reaching out and seeking ...
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March 27 EdTA Update Re: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on Schools, Travel, and Gatherings

By EdTA News posted 20 days ago
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Your health and well-being and that of your students is our first priority. Know that in this difficult time, your EdTA national office staff and your chapter leadership are here to support you. The nature of theatre is a communal activity, and we need each other more than ever. Updates as of March 27, 2020: International Thespian Festival EdTA announces the first-ever Virtual International Thespian Festival to feature  adjudications, auditions, the inaugural International Thespian Excellence Awards Showcase (aka the ThespysTM), performances, workshops and masterclasses, and more.   Virtual ITF  is open to all Thespians and theatre students; their teachers, ...
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Community Spotlight:Chuck Yarmey

By Ginny Butsch posted 21 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 Chuck Yarmey, troupe director at Wyoming Area Secondary Center in Wyoming, Pennsylvania. Chuck isn’t your “traditional” theatre teacher, but his unique skills, experiences, and training allow him to provide advice on crucial topics like lighting, sound, and set construction. Why do you believe theatre is important? ...
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EdTA Members Elect Two Board Directors

By EdTA News posted 28 days ago
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Members of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) elected two board members in voting that closed on March 1, 2020. For the two positions on the Board of Directors the winning candidates are Erin Carr, Cincinnati, Ohio and Mark Drum, Astoria, New York. Erin Carr is a Thespian alum of Troupe 5433, St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati. An EdTA professional member, Carr is an independent theatre contractor who has served as a teaching artist for EdTA as well as a dozen nationally recognized theatre companies. She is also a selected teaching artist in association with EdTA’s Model Curriculum Framework Initiative, funded by a grant from the National Endowment ...
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Hall of Fame Nomination Deadline Extended

By EdTA News posted 28 days ago
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Each year, The Educational Theatre Association recognizes teachers making outstanding contributions to the field of theatre education. Induction into the EdTA Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed on the long-term career of a theatre educator. Due to the small number of nominations for the Hall of Fame Award, we have decided to extend the deadline to April 1, 2020, not only this year, but for all future nominations. Any EdTA member who has 20 years or more of service in theatre education is eligible to be nominated. What deserving theatre teacher or professional would you like to honor? Nominate them before April 1, 2020. Learn more about past EdTA ...
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Theatre In Our Schools Month Kicks Off with New National Partnership Announcement and Thespian Spirit Week

By EdTA News posted 02-27-2020
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As part of Theatre In Our Schools (TIOS) month, the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF), the philanthropic arm of EdTA, announced a new partnership with the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) to bring the educational benefits of theatre to Detroit middle schools through the JumpStart Theatre program. “The power of theatre to shape children’s lives is why we are making this landmark announcement about Detroit in coordination with the national kick-off of TIOS month, as part of raising awareness about the impact of theatre education and drawing attention to the need for more access to theatre programs for all students,” ...
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Teaching Artist Spotlight: Adam Michael Rose

By Ginny Butsch posted 02-25-2020
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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 Adam Michael Rose , an EdTA professional member and dialect expert. Adam has presented workshops at various national and state events, including our International Thespian Festival and National Conference. You can learn even more about Adam by visiting his Teaching Artist Profile .     What is your favorite thing about being a teaching artist? I love helping students ...
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Carolina Garcia Appointed to EdTA Board

By EdTA News posted 02-19-2020
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The Educational Theatre Association’s (EdTA) board of directors appointed Carolina Garcia to a term on the governing board from July 2020 through June 2024. Garcia is director of original series at Netflix, where she focuses on young adult and family content, which includes series such as The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Stranger Things, Fuller House, Raising Dion, Atypical , and others. She began her career in entertainment at 20th Century Fox Television as a creative executive on the original programming team. In November 2019, Hollywood Reporter named her as one of the Top 35 Executives under 35 in its annual list of young execs leading "a seismic ...
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Community Spotlight: Nancy Gibson

By Ginny Butsch posted 02-11-2020
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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 Nancy Gibson, theatre teacher and troupe director at Case High School in Racine, Wisconsin. Nancy uses her training in non-theatre related areas to provide unique and powerful learning experiences for her students. Tell us about the best day of your career. A highlight of my career happened in November 2019, at ...
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New Grant for ITF Student Leadership Program

By EdTA News posted 02-04-2020
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Broadway Licensing is underwriting a new Send A Leader Diversity Grant for the 2020 International Thespian Festival’s (ITF) Student Leadership Program. The Student Leadership Program is offered to student Thespians considering a leadership role with their troupe, chapter or nationally as an International Thespian Officer. The grant will be awarded to student Thespians interested in the leadership program who have experience in diversity-based leadership, service, and social justice activities. Preference will be given to students traditionally underrepresented in student leadership. The Broadway Licensing Send a Leader Diversity Grant covers registration ...
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Announcing the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award

By EdTA News posted 01-30-2020
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The ASCAP Foundation and EdTA are pleased to announce the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award. The award will represent the highest level of achievement for a middle or high school theatre teacher, with the winner receiving $5,000 and travel to the International Thespian Festival  (ITF) for the announcement and recognition. The three-time Oscar winner and four-time Grammy winner wants to recognize the many ways that theatre teachers impact lives. “Theatre teachers help to not just bring theatre, but bring empathy and the ability to think, to work together as a group, and understand other people. These are things so desperately needed ...
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Community Tips: Venture Outside of the Open Forum

By Ginny Butsch posted 01-21-2020
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This is one part of a  series of blogs  about maximizing your experience with our online Community, not only to help newbies get their bearings but to also help experienced users learn more and take the next steps, or assist others. Today, I'll tell you more about smaller, interest-based communities outside of the Open Forum . If you log in to your account on our website, head over to the "Community" tab on our blue navigation bar and drop down to "Browse Communities." There you will find an assortment of other groups that you may be interested in perusing.  If you see a blue "join" button next to the group title, it means you are welcome to join the group ...
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Important Information About the EdTA Board Election

By EdTA News posted 01-21-2020
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Dear EdTA Members, We need to inform you that there was a flaw in the process of the EdTA Election that affected approximately 2% of the ballots. This error resulted in undelivered ballots, multiple ballots sent to the same email address, and ballots being sent to one person while addressed to another.  To ensure the fairness and integrity of the results, it is necessary to void the existing votes and start over with a new vote. We want to give you full transparency of how this happened.  In diagnosing the root cause, we discovered the file of eligible voters contained the organizational email for a member when it should have contained the individual’s ...
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Mentor Spotlight: Linda Apperson

By Ginny Butsch posted 01-21-2020
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Earlier this year, we launched a brand new Community program called Mentor Match . This unique online networking and career development tool is an EdTA members-only benefit that helps you find, connect, and share experiences with others. Our Mentor Match spotlight will feature some of the incredible mentors who are available to help you accomplish your professional goals.   Our current featured mentor is Linda Apperson , a stage management expert. Linda has stage managed over 3,000 performances, taught stage management at Stanford and internationally, and even wrote a book on the topic. How long did you teach/have you been teaching? ...
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Tonya Hays Awarded the 2019 Linda P. Wise Grant

By EdTA News posted 01-17-2020
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EdTA has awarded the 2019 Linda P. Wise Grant for Theatre Educators to Tonya Hays, theatre teacher and director of Thespian Troupe 4779, at Gulfport High School in Gulfport, Mississippi. The grant is awarded to an EdTA professional member and theatre educator who presents a plan for an in-class program in need of financial support. Hays will develop a Devised Theatre Project with her students. This sort of theatre does not include pre-written scripts and is based on an ensemble’s research and development of an original topic. Students explore a topic, conduct interviews, then develop a script for performance. This grant will allow Hays to purchase props, ...
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EdTA Model Lesson Plan Project Provides Skill Building Opportunity to Teachers

By EdTA News posted 01-09-2020
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For teachers who wish to boost their lesson planning skills, EdTA is launching a new professional development program: The EdTA Model Lesson Plan Project .  Twenty-five teachers will be chosen from an all-call the field to receive professional development in standards-based lesson planning and best practices in assessment. Then, using the EdTA lesson plan template, each team member will produce 12 model lesson plans.  This project expands EdTA’s history of working with teacher leaders to create robust, standards-aligned materials. Previous initiatives and partnerships have produced the National Theatre Standards, the Opportunity to Learn Standards, the ...
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