FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS, AND INTENSIVES
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FESTIVAL WEEK ACTIVITIES
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DESIGN, TECH, MGMT FACULTY & TEACHING AWARDS PERFORMANCE AREAS PERSONNEL, FACULTY & GUESTS PLAYWRITING, DRAMATURGY, ITJA (REVIEWS) PRE-PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS, SCENES, & TICKETS REGISTRATION STUDENT PRODUCTION LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS, INTENSIVES |
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Workshop Tab Legend:
AD-Acting/Directing, DTM-DesignTechMgmt, PW-Playwriting Dramaturgy, MT-Music Theatre & Dance, SM-Movement Dance Combat, FD-Faculty Development, TK-Talking About Theatre, EDI-Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Brad M. Carlson, Coordinator: carlsonbm@missouri.edu.
2018 Intensives
This year’s festival offers a wide variety of Intensive Workshops. The Intensives are longer sessions of hands-on workshops ranging from three hours to multiple days. You may participate in more than one intensive presuming that they do not conflict and depending upon overall demand. Be sure to check the experience level and what is needed to participate. Attendance in some intensives is limited and only those who register in advance will be guaranteed a slot. To register, contact Brad M. Carlson, Region 5 Intensive Coordinator at: carlsonbm@missouri.edu If you are requesting multiple Intensives, please provide an order of your preferences. After Friday, January 20 any open spaces will be available to students and faculty to register at the festival. This year’s intensives include: Costume Runway, Season 10 Monday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 (Art Studio) This intensive will be done in the creative spirit of Project Runway. Designers will work in teams of two, chosen when they arrive. Upon their arrival each team will be given a time period in fashion history. They will research that era, have time to design the costume, be given a bag of fabric and then create the garment. All projects, including the designs, will be on display throughout the week. Participants should bring: 5 yards of fabric. (It could be 1 yard of this and 4 yards of that, but a total of five yards. All the fabric will be combined then redistributed.) Also bring Costume and/or Fashion History books for research. (Presented by Emily Ganfield, Coe College, Kirkwood Community College) (Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced) Participation is limited to 16 (Students only) (Preregistration required) Lighting Design Monday 9:00-5:00PM, Stoner Theatre This hands-on intensive is designed for the experienced student lighting designer. The workshop will be geared toward a participant who is comfortable with all aspects of lighting design but is looking to experience more union oriented practice. Technical aspects of hanging, focusing and programming will be conducted by personnel provided by the venue. Participants will be provided a picture from art history for their project. It will be their task to evoke the quality, color and moment of the lighting in the picture. Participants should bring: Their own gel libraries if they prefer or can use those supplied. (Presented by Brad Reissig, University of North Dakota) (Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced) Participation is limited to 8 (Students only) (Preregistration required) Scene Painting: Let’s Get Ready to Scumble! Monday 9:00-12:00PM, Iowa Stage Rehearsal Space Most scene painting can be broken down to a handful of basic techniques; scumbling, spattering, sponging, dry brushing, and a few others. Come learn these simple beginning techniques and then we'll choose a project and complete it using these simple techniques. (Presented by Greg Owen, Central Methodist University) Participation is limited to 20 (Students only) (Preregistration Required) Basic Figure Rendering Techniques Monday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 (Mulberry Room) This workshop is designed for the beginning student, or the student who is having trouble getting their proportions down. We will discuss how to make a female and a male adult figure, how to understand posing the figure, and some tips on adding clothing to them. We will also learn a few ways to properly present your work in a professional manner. This is a hands-on workshop and I will have paper and pencils ready for you. If you have a medium in which you like to work and are having some issues with, bring it with you and I can help you smooth out those problems. (Presented by Kelly Vogel, University of Kansas) (Experience Level: Beginner) Participation is limited to 25 (Students Only) Collaborative Theatre Challenge Session 1 Monday 1:00-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 (Mulberry Room) Session 2 Tuesday 1:00-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 (Mulberry Room) Session 3 Wednesday 1:00-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 (Mulberry Room) This immersive intensive provides an opportunity to explore the collaborative process. Student designers will work with award-winning professional playwright Donna Latham to develop a production approach to her original work “Most Wretched Deathbed Fever Dreams of Edgar Allen Poe” Participants must attend all sessions. Participants should provide their own design materials. (Presented by Donna Latham, Professional Playwright; Benjamin Gonzales, Washington State University; Daniel Schindler, Whitman College; George Grubb, Minnesota State University Mankato; Natalie Hining, Iowa State University; Megan McLaughlin, South Dakota State University) (Experience level: Beginner to Advanced) Participation is limited to 24 (Students only) (Preregistration Required) Heal the Divide on Campus: A Collaborative Playwriting Intensive Session 1 Monday 1:00-4:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 (Art Classroom) Session 2 Tuesday 1:00-4:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 (Art Classroom) This intensive is part of the national Heal the Divide on Campus theatre action and playwriting initiative. Writing teams, made up of students from different colleges and universities, will engage in a collaborative process of exploring ideas and issues that matter to their communities, developing script scenarios, and writing short plays. Completed plays will be submitted to the Heal the Divide on Campus national coordinator to be shared with other colleges and universities. Participants must attend all sessions. (Presented by Charissa Menefee, Iowa State University) (Students Only) Power to the Puppet! Puppetry as a Tool of Social Change
Session 1 Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 (Mulberry Room) Session 2 Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 (Art Classroom) By their very nature, puppets serve as an ideal tool for social advocacy and political protest. And for centuries, puppeteers have worked from behind the mask of these unique creations to give voice to people under or misrepresented by the status quo. In this intensive, participants will explore principles, techniques, and models for using puppetry as an agent for social change. Participants must attend all sessions. (Presented by Amanda Petefish-Schrag, Iowa State University; Xiomara Cornejo, University of Missouri) (Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced) Participation is limited to 25 (Preregistration required) Beginning Watercolor Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 (Art Classroom) Come join use for a fun and relaxing time with watercolor. Many feel that watercolor is a scary and uncontrollable beast! It's not. It’s a friend who can relieve your stress in the busiest of times. Come get acquainted with this centuries old art form. Students will work on coloring sheets and will walk step by step through a painting and (if they choose) can use what they have learned to make their own designs. (Presented by Mark Vital, University of Missouri) (Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced) Participation is limited to 12 (Preregistration Required) Model Making: This Might Be a Little Sketchy Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 (Art Studio) Sketch models, or bash models, can be a great way to brainstorm in three dimensions during the early part of the design process. And they are fun to make. Come play with foam board and other items as we create quick designs for spaces from abstract concepts to specific scripts. Materials are supplied, but feel free to bring markers, color pencils, or your favorite art supplies. (Presented by Greg Owen, Central Methodist University) Participation is limited to 18 (Preregistration Required) Scene Painting: Painting Authentic Period Wallpaper Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Iowa Stage Rehearsal Space Have you ever tried to wallpaper a set? Messy, messy, messy… And where do you get that stuff? It’s like gold. Oh, then the colors don’t match your color pallet and the scale is just not right for the stage. During this intensive workshop we will look at and paint some period wallpaper to match your design; color, scale, and all. We will use every trick in the scenic painter’s book: basic techniques, stencils, and stamps. And to finish it off, just the right amount of aging. (Presented by Darin Himmerich, University of Nebraska Kearney) (Preregistration Required) Long Form Improv Auditions Tuesday 9:30-12:00PM, Kum & Go Theatre, Basement Bar Rehearsal Tuesday 2:00-4:00PM, Kum & Go Theatre, Basement Bar Rehearsal Wednesday 12:00-2:00PM, Kum & Go Theatre, Basement Bar Rehearsal Thursday 12:00-2:00PM, Kum & Go Theatre, Basement Bar Rehearsal Friday 12:00-2:00PM, Kum & Go Theatre, Basement Bar Performance Friday 4:00-5:00PM, Kum & Go Theatre, Basement Bar This intensive will bring together a diverse group of improvisers to quickly work to develop long form skills in order to produce a long form improv performance by the end of the festival. Auditions will be held on Tuesday and rehearse throughout the week to prepare for Friday's final performance. (Presented by Harold Hynick, Missouri Valley College) (Students only) Composing Music for Plays Session 1 Tuesday 10:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 (Movement Studio) Session 2 Friday 12:30-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 (Movement Studio) During this two-day intensive, participants will be able to compose their own music to a theatrical stimulus and be able to learn from and respond to the work of their peers. This is not necessarily an exercise in music theory, rather it is a creative exploration of the impact original music can have on a scene or a theatrical moment. Interested students should be able to provide some kind of compositional tool (an instrument, software, etc.) and a keyboard with a small sound system will be provided for the discussion. Participants should attend all sessions. (Presented by Benji Inniger, Bethany Lutheran College) Participation is limited to 10 (Students only) (Preregistration Required) The Art of Drag: Queens and Kings Unite! Tuesday 2:00-5:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 (Movement Studio) Rehearsal Wednesday 6:00-9:00PM, Temple Theatre Performance Wednesday 10:00-11:30PM, Temple Theatre This intensive aspires to develop, advance, and set-free fully self-expressed individuals. Beginners to advanced welcome! Bring your persona, outfits, make-up, wigs, music, scripts and your best self. Plan to bring a 2-3 minute performance that is already in the works so it can be developed. Attendants will be showcased at the first-ever KCACTF Region 5 Drag Show on Wed night at 10:00 in the Temple Theatre. Participants should attend all sessions. (Presented by Billy Wilburn, South Dakota State University, Kelly MacLeod, Dakota State University; Omari Collins, University of Central Missouri) Dramaturgy Resource and Technique Peer-Share Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 (Mulberry Room) In this interactive session, all attendees are invited to share, learn about, brainstorm, and experiment with dramaturgical resources and techniques used for projects and productions that made the experience unique and effective. With a roundtable period and an activity or two, this session aims to fill one's practical and motivational toolbox for future dramaturgical projects and experiences. (Presented by Bryan Moore, Concordia University) Screen Shot: Head Shot Styling Techniques for Camera Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 (Movement Studio) Screen Shot: Head Shot Styling Techniques for Camera focuses on body language, clothing, makeup and hair styling techniques for camera. Geared towards anyone preparing for commercial headshots, but also good for makeup or costume artisans interested in expanding their horizons. Opportunities for brief consultations, as well as styling "dos" and "don'ts" for camera. Participants are encouraged to dress and style themselves as they would for a camera photo shoot to receive the best feedback. (Presented by Valerie St. Pierre Smith, University of Nebraska Omaha and Tom Woldt of ACTION Talent Group, Des Moines) Participation is limited to 25 (Students only) (Preregistration Required) Connective Threads: Inspiration and Appropriation in Design Wednesday 1:00-4:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 (Art Classroom) In a quest to create visual identities and environments, designers often cite "inspiration" as rationale for borrowing racial and ethnic imagery, style and goods from cultures other than their own. The responsible treatment of these sources have risen to new heights of awareness for many designers and artists. Why, then, does cultural appropriation in design continue? What is causing the breakdown between borrowing responsibly and designs that appropriate? Come question and challenge current design process paradigms, and see how they seem to connect to the continual clash of inspiration and appropriation. (Presented by Valerie St. Pierre Smith, University of Nebraska Omaha) Muppet Making Thursday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 (Art Classroom) In this workshop, participants will build a small muppet that they can take home. Most supplies will be provided, but bring any inspiration, sewing supplies, or googly eyes you love! Must know how to hand-sew to participate. (Presented by Sonia Hanson, Missouri Western State University) Participation is limited to 15 (Preregistration required) Writing (an) Other, Playwrighting Intensive Thursday 2:00-5:00PM, Marriott, Cedar Rapids A practical session/workshop about creating complex, believable, unique characters who are different from their author. Participants will come away from the session with guidelines and practice in welcoming characters into our scripts whose genders, ethnicities, and sociopolitical realities are different from our own. (Presented by Jessica Huang, Professional Playwright) Viewpoint Me in the Right Direction! Friday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 (Movement Studio) Learn the basics of the nine physical Viewpoints a la Anne Bogart and Tina Landau. Delve into individual and group exploration, then have fun applying them in an open Viewpoints Jam session! (Presented by Stephanie Murry, University of North Dakota) (Students only) Stella Adler Scene Study Friday 9:30-12:00PM, Marriott, Salon E This workshop aims to give students a taste of the core principles and techniques taught at both the Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles and our parent school, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting New York City. The workshop is fully self-enclosed and requires that students bring only themselves and their imagination to participate. The students will write and perform scripts created in class. Through these scripts concepts on imagination, action, creative flexibility, character and relationship are explored. This is a full participation workshop for all participants. (Presented by Don Williams, Art of Acting Studio Los Angeles) WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
ACTING AND DIRECTING WORKSHOPS (AD) Note: Except where noted, workshops are open to ALL festival participants. The PARTICIPATION LIMITS are set by the workshop leader and are reflected here, but others may be determined at the time of the workshop. Due to space and materials, please be prepared to observe these PARTICIPATION LIMITS.
Argh! My Actors are Stuck! Lisa Abbott We have all been in that rehearsal where there is no energy. How do you as a director breathe life into a rehearsal when you are hitting the roadblocks of just getting through the lines, the material has stopped being funny, or that crucial moment is just eluding everyone. This lighthearted workshop includes some effective tricks, games and exercises to bring energy back into the rehearsal room and a discussion on why do we hit a wall and how do we as directors guide our cast through those challenge. Participation limit 40 Monday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon B Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as a Theatre Performer, Karen Burthwright, Brian Quijada Join Broadway performer and choreographer Karen Burthwright and actor/hip hop theatre performer Brian Quijada in a discussion about the importance and challenges of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion the theatre from the perspective of a performer. Participation Limit 100 Monday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott Salon A/B Hip Hop Solo Performance and Digital Looping, Brian Quijada This workshop is a crash course in developing a solo performance with a hip hop/spoken word twist. Diving straight into some creative personal writing, the workshop will look into how hip hop music and looping technology can affect your personal story. Participation limit 25 Monday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Invisible Theatre: from Boal to the Mannequin Challenge, Morgan Mallory "While some people make theatre," says Boal, "we all ARE theatre." Come join us while we create performance art involving techniques by Augusto Boal. Moving tableaus, political theatre, and sensitive topics are explored. In an effort to transform theatre from the ""monologue"" of traditional performance into a ""dialogue"" between audience and stage, we will be ending the workshop with a field trip. Participation limit 40 Monday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Actorbatics: An Introduction to Droznin Russian Movement, Carrigan O'Brian Welcome to Droznin, the movement technique taught at the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre School, and the cornerstone of the National Theater Institute's movement curriculum. Through a series of rigorous physical exercises, stretches, balance poses and partner acrobatics, students slowly unlock the body, freeing them up for the work they will need to do on stage. Come find out why NTI students and faculty lovingly refer to Droznin as "Actorbatics" and experience this truly thrilling technique firsthand. All experience levels welcome. Participants must wear comfortable clothing. Participation limit 60 Tuesday 9:30-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Wednesday 12:30-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Thursday 9:30-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Intensive: Long Form Improv Intensive, Harold Hynick This intensive will bring together a diverse group of improvisers to quickly work to develop long form skills in order to produce a long form improv performance by the end of the festival. Auditions will be held on Tuesday and rehearse throughout the week to prepare for Friday's final performance. Participants must attend all sessions. Students Only Auditions Tuesday 9:30-12:00PM, Kum&Go Theatre Basement Bar Rehearsal Tuesday 2:00-3:15PM , Kum&Go Theatre Basement Bar Rehearsal Wednesday 12:00-2:00PM, Kum&Go Theatre Basement Bar Rehearsal Thursday, 12:00-2:00PM, Kum&Go Theatre Basement Bar Rehearsal Friday, 12:00-2:00PM, Kum&Go Theatre Basement Bar Performing Shakespeare Unrehearsed - No Kidding! Bill Kincaid Embedded textual clues in Shakespeare's plays can yield valuable clues about blocking, unlock information about relationships, and release surprising humor. These makes it possible to perform entire plays without rehearsal. Whether you fear Shakespeare or love him, this workshop is for you. Participation Limit 70 Tuesday 12:30-3:00PM, Marriott, Salon D The Actor in Makeup in Character. D. Scott Glasser For Actors, Directors and Makeup Designers: A tour through the 40-year career of a professional actor focusing on the physical act of creating character. Participation Limit 50 Tuesday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon G Intensive: The Art of Drag: Queens and Kings Unite! This intensive aspires to develop, advance, and set-free fully self-expressed individuals. Beginners to advanced welcome! Bring your persona, outfits, make-up, wigs, music, scripts and your best self. Plan to bring a 2-3 minute performance that is already in the works so it can be developed. Attendants will be showcased at the first-ever KCACTF Region 5 Drag Show on Wed night at 10:00 in the Temple Theatre. Participants should attend both sessions. Tuesday 2:00-5:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Wednesday 6:00-9:00PM, Temple Theatre Warm-ups Are your Training, Laura Rikard This interactive workshop will look at the basics of teaching beginning warm-up exercises and the importance of execution. Using the warm-ups as a metaphor for the performers the participants will be guided through a series of exercises that immediately builds acting skills, vocal and movement skills and even teaches devising. Fun, applicable and disciplined. Participation Limit 25 Tuesday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Intensive: Screen Shot: Head Shot Styling Techniques for Camera, Valerie Smith & Tom Woldt Screen Shot: Head Shot Styling Techniques for Camera focuses on body language, clothing, makeup and hair styling techniques for camera. Geared towards anyone preparing for commercial headshots, but also good for makeup or costume artisans interested in expanding their horizons. Opportunities for brief consultations, as well as styling "dos" and "don'ts" for camera. Participants are encouraged to dress and style themselves as they would for a camera photo shoot to receive the best feedback. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Shakespeare's Folio - But what does it MEAN??? Bryan Hunt A crash course in Shakespeare's folio. Learn tips, tricks and techniques to unlock even more from Shakespeare's language. During this session, we'll take a look at modern editions of Shakespeare's plays vs. the Folio, understand the differences in how to attack the language as a performer or director, and see what can be gleaned from changes in character to plot. This workshop is great for Shakespeare guru's and groundlings alike. Participation limit 36 Wednesday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon F Applied Improv, Joshua Saboorizadeh This workshop uses introductory skills in improvisation to explore how the spontaneous influences creative impulse in environments outside the performance space. Transforming improv games, the players and audience will participate together in this unique approach. Participation limit 30 Wednesday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Salon A Safety: Creating a Culture in Academia, Meghan McLaughlin Talking about how to change, create and maintain a culture of safety in Academic Shops, in rehearsals and performances. How to apply safety standards to shops and rehearsals. How to be safety advocate as a student. Participation Limit 50 Thursday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Council Bluffs Anatomy of a Production: Our Town D. Scott Glasser Charting a production from legend to history to inspiration to concept to design to rehearsals to performance to take-aways. Participation Limit 40 Thursday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon G Owning Your (A)typical Body, Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha Working as an actor, our bodies are frequent topics of discussion. In this workshop we will embrace all that makes us unique and celebrate those body things that sometimes drag us down as actors. Come ready to move and share. Students Only, Participation limit 40 Thursday 12:30-1:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Connection for the Actor, Jennie Pardoe This workshop will go through a series of exercises that are designed to aid actors in connecting to other actors on stage as well as to their own character. Actors and Directors are both welcome. Come prepared to move! Students Only, Participation limit 25 Thursday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon D Love Shouldn't Hurt: Utilizing Interactive Theatre to Promote Healthy Relationships Mark Kelty This workshop will demonstrate how Central Methodist University has been using a student-created script to bring the important topic of Healthy Relationships to the high school classroom. During the workshop, Central's Interactors will perform the script, then work with volunteers to help perform exercises from Augusto Boal's Rainbow of Desire technique to analyze the dynamics of teen relationships. The InterActors will then facilitate a discussion on healthy relationships. Participation Limit 50 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Council Bluffs "How Scandalous, Madam!" Katheryn Bilbo An Introduction to Restoration and Comedy of Manners Acting Styles Gossip, wit, and hilarious hypocrisy lead the way in Restoration plays/Comedies of Manners! Towering powdered wigs, heaving bosoms, foppish waistcoats, and naughty metaphor these plays require a specialized acting style that's loads of fun, but harder than it looks! Using text from Moliere's "Tartuffe", Sheridan's "The School for Scandal", and Wycherly's "The Country Wife", prepare yourself for future classical acting roles by learning to walk, talk, sit, stand, and flirt in an introduction to this delightful theatrical period. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon B Grab Dionysus by the Horns: Collaborative Creativity for Directors and Theatre Makers, Jimmy Bickerstaff Understanding the dynamics of the collaborative creative process is central to the possibilities of making theatre. Process and performance can be empowered, and collaboration and innovation can be enhanced. This introduction to the organic creative process will give you practical leading-edge information about collaborative creativity, especially as it applies to theatre. The workshop assumes a familiarity and experience with production process. It includes useful material for directors, performers, designers, and teachers, anyone involved in the creation of theatre. Participation limit 30 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon C How to Conquer a Shakespeare Audition If you have ever felt unprepared for a Shakespeare audition, this is for you! Rebecca Bailey In this workshop students will develop a check list of tools to apply when preparing for a Shakespeare audition including a look at how folio texts, verse, verbs, direct address, and rhetoric can change your performance. We will apply these tools to your performance techniques to help you ace that audition. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Thursday 2:00-4:30PM, Marriott, Salon D The Rainbow of Desire: Exploring a Character's many colors, Lainie Vansant Augusto Boal's Rainbow of Desire: think of it like "Inside Out" meets group therapy. We will use this method will let us collaboratively explore a character's inner life, taking internal monologues to a whole new level. Develop a new directing and acting strategy in this exciting workshop! Participation limit 25 Thursday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Davenport From Text to Body: Tools for Building the Character, D. Scott Glasser In this participatory workshop you will select, analyze, physicalize the personality, create the active body and voice of a character, and explore the character in action. Participation Limit 40 Thursday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Salon G Visual Storytelling: A Director's Guide to Moving Pictures Elizabeth van den Berg A director's job is primarily to tell the story visually and aurally, using all of the theatrical elements to create a cohesive story. Before all of the teach elements come in to play, the frame of the story must be clear through the actors using space, levels, and body positions to communicate storyline, even without voice or language. Learn these easy techniques to simply communicate the story using visuals. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Friday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Council Bluffs Audition - Mastering the Cold read Lisa Abbott You are auditioning for a play/film/commercial/ you name it and not only do you not know the show but you did not get sides. In this workshop we will work on effective ways to cold read a script, work with a reader, and ask good questions to make your cold audition shine. Participation limit 25 Friday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Cedar Rapids Improv: Always be Heightening, Harold Hynick This participatory workshop will focus on developing the improvisers' heightening skills through a series of exercises and games. Participation limit 25 Friday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon D Intensive: Stella Adler Scene Study, Don Williams This workshop aims to give students a taste of the core principles and techniques taught at both the Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles and our parent school, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting New York City. The workshop is fully self-enclosed and requires that students bring only themselves and their imagination to participate. The students will write and perform scripts created in class. Through these scripts concepts on imagination, action, creative flexibility, character and relationship are explored. This is a full participation workshop for all participants. Friday 9:30-12:00PM, Marriott, Salon E The Expressive Body: Lessac Body NRGs for Building Character, Dana Smith This workshop will introduce actors to the Body NRGs of Lessac Kinesensics in a series of explorations designed to uncover a character's unique physicality. Conceived as natural pattern dissolvers, the NRGs (Neural Regenerative Growth) are distinct body climates (each with subtle variations) that are common to all of us. Participants will be able to experience how each NRG can transform a character through working with short pieces of text, as well as nonverbal communications. Participation limit 25 Friday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon D Scansion Now! Taylor Clemens This workshop will look at the advantages Actors and Directors can gain from applying methods of language analysis usually reserved for Shakespearian texts to modern plays and language. Developing a deeper understanding of a plays language can assist with: cold reads, character development, script analysis, and much more! There will be a presentation and a hands-on activity during course of the workshop. Participation limit 25 Friday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon F Theatrical Intimacy Education: Best Practices for Staging Intimacy in Rehearsal and Classroom Spaces, Kate Busselle Founders of Theatre Intimacy Education will discuss practices, methodologies and guidelines for dealing with scenes of intimacy, nudity and sexual violence in the academic arena. Panelists will offer pedagogical practices for classroom scene work, rehearsal guidelines, and tips for creating a safe, consensual environment. Faculty Only, Participation limit 40 Friday 12:30-3:00PM, Marriott, Salon F Raise the Stakes! or "Off with the Talking Heads!" Allyson Moon Dialogue is great, but dialogue with action is so much better! Heighten the conflict and climax in your improvisational acting scenes. Working through improvisational gaming and technique expand the limits of your mental, vocal and, physical abilities. Wear clothes you can move in and come ready for action. Participation limit 40 Friday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court The Physical Actor: WAY beyond the psychological! Aware, Available, Responsive! Pratik Motwani Join us for this dynamic and explosive investigation of the actor-creator from the perspectives of Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Come prepared to be present, open and available; to move and be moved; to respond and react; to create and engage in a playful vitality as participants explore the work of the physical actor. Participation limit 40 Friday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon D Do the Q! (An "Avenue Q"- inspired puppetry boot camp), Aretta Baumgartner Enjoy this deeper dive into "Avenue Q"/"Muppet-style" puppets! Building on the basics of Puppetry 101 (participants should please attend that session BEFORE this one if possible) we'll play with the voices, scenes, gestures that bring these fun and fabulous puppet characters to life! Come ready to move and play. Participation limit 25 Friday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Sioux City Making the right casting decisions, Mike Ricci How do you know if you're casting the right (or best) actor for the role? This workshop will look into how directors cast roles, and how to avoid pitfalls that can sometimes undermine a production. In addition, we'll take a look at how to minimize any negative effects of casting decisions, and what signs to look for that might help determine potential risks or problems. We'll also take a look at how to communicate your expectations with actors as well as motivating them to do the work necessary for a successful production. Participation limit 60 Friday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon E WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Design, Technology, Management (DTM) Note: Except where noted, workshops are open to ALL festival participants. The PARTICIPATION LIMITS are set by the workshop leader and are reflected here, but others may be determined at the time of the workshop. Due to space and materials, please be prepared to observe these PARTICIPATION LIMITS.
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Intensive: Basic Figure Rendering Techniques, Kelly Vogel This workshop is designed for the beginning student, or the student who is having trouble getting their proportions down. We will discuss how to make a female and a male adult figure, how to understand posing the figure, and some tips on adding clothing to them. We will also learn a few ways to properly present your work in a professional manner. This is a hands-on workshop and I will have paper and pencils ready for you. If you have a medium in which you like to work and are having some issues with, bring it with you and I can help you smooth out those problems. People with advanced rendering skills may not benefit from this workshop but all are welcome. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Monday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room Intensive: Costume Runway, Emily Ganfield This intensive will be done in the creative spirit of Project Runway. Designers will work in teams of two, chosen when they arrive. Upon their arrival each team will be given a time period in fashion history. They will research that era, have time to design the costume, be given a bag of fabric and then create the garment. All projects, including the designs, will be on display throughout the week. Participants should bring: 5 yards of fabric. (It could be 1 yard of this and 4 yards of that, but a total of five yards. All the fabric will be combined then redistributed.) Also bring Costume and/or Fashion History books for research. Students Only, Participation Limit 16 (Preregistration Required) Monday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio Intensive: Scene Paining: Let's Get Ready to Scumble! Greg Owen Most scene painting can be broken down to a handful of basic techniques; scumbling, spattering, sponging, dry brushing, and a few others. Come learn these simple beginning techniques and then we'll choose a project and complete it using these simple techniques. Students Only, Participation limit 20 (Preregistration Required) Monday 9:00-12:00PM, Iowa Stage Rehearsal Space Intensive: Lighting, Brad Reissig This hands-on intensive is designed for the experienced student lighting designer. The workshop will be geared toward a participant who is comfortable with all aspects of lighting design but is looking to experience more union oriented practice. Technical aspects of hanging, focusing and programming will be conducted by personnel provided by the venue. Participants will be provided a picture from art history for their project. It will be their task to evoke the quality, color and moment of the lighting in the picture. Students Only, Participation Limit 8 (Preregistration Required) Monday 9:00-5:00PM, Stoner Theatre Tips & Tricks for Basic Wig Styling, Catherine Wieck This is a basic introduction to wig styling. Topics include styling products, working with synthetic and human hair wigs, styling resources, wig care maintenance. Participation limit 25 Monday 11:00-12:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom Intensive: Collaborative Theatre Challenge, Donna Latham, Benjamin Gonzales, Daniel Schindler, George Grubb, Natalie Hining, Megan McLaughlin This immersive intensive provides an opportunity to explore the collaborative process. Student designers will work with award-winning professional playwright Donna Latham to develop a production approach to her original work “Most Wretched Deathbed Fever Dreams of Edgar Allen Poe” Participants must attend all sessions. Participants should provide their own design materials. Monday 1:00-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room Tuesday 1:00-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room Wednesday 1:00-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room Crinolines without the HOOPla, Amanda Dura A discussion and look at a method of creating moderate hoop skirts petticoats that are washable, require little ironing, and have boning. Participation Limit 20 Monday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio White Model Building Techniques, Daniel Schindler In this workshop, students will learn basic techniques to build a scenic white model for presentation. They will start with a simple sketch and work through how to convert that to a GP, then to a three-dimensional model. We will learn techniques to build walls, openings, floors, and add appropriate architectural details. All materials will be provide... bring a sharp pencil! Participation limit 20 Monday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio Intensive: Beginning Watercolor, Marc Vital Come join use for a fun and relaxing time with watercolor. Many feel that watercolor is a scary and uncontrollable beast! It's not. It’s a friend who can relieve your stress in the busiest of times. Come get acquainted with this centuries old art form. Students will work on coloring sheets and will walk step by step through a painting and (if they choose) can use what they have learned to make their own designs. Participation limit 12 (Preregistration Required) Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom Intensive: Model Making: This Might Be a Little Sketchy, Greg Owen Sketch models, or bash models, can be a great way to brainstorm in three dimensions during the early part of the design process. And they are fun to make. Come play with foam board and other items as we create quick designs for spaces from abstract concepts to specific scripts. Materials are supplied, but feel free to bring markers, color pencils, or your favorite art supplies. Participation limit 20 (Preregistration Required) Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio Intensive: Painting Authentic Period Wallpaper, Darin Himmerich Have you ever tried to wallpaper a set? Messy, messy, messy… And where do you get that stuff? It’s like gold. Oh, then the colors don’t match your color pallet and the scale is just not right for the stage. During this intensive workshop we will look at and paint some period wallpaper to match your design; color, scale, and all. We will use every trick in the scenic painter’s book: basic techniques, stencils, and stamps. And to finish it off, just the right amount of aging. Participation Limit 20 (Preregistration Required) Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Iowa Stage Rehearsal Space Intensive: Power to the Puppet! Puppetry as a Tool of Social Change, Amanda Petefish-Schrag By their very nature, puppets serve as an ideal tool for social advocacy and political protest. And for centuries, puppeteers have worked from behind the mask of these unique creations to give voice to people under or misrepresented by the status quo. In this intensive, participants will explore principles, techniques, and models for using puppetry as an agent for social change. Participants should attend both sessions. Participation limit 25 (Preregistration Required) Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom Stage Management 101, Rachel Haage Learn the basics of Stage Management in this workshop covering everything from prep week, rehearsals, tech, opening and through to the closing performance as well as answering general questions like what should be in every SM kit and what paperwork is most useful at each stage of the process. Participation Limit 36 Tuesday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon C Intensive: Composing Music for Plays, Benji Inniger During this two-day intensive, participants will be able to compose their own music to a theatrical stimulus and be able to learn from and respond to the work of their peers. This is not necessarily an exercise in music theory, rather it is a creative exploration of the impact original music can have on a scene or a theatrical moment. Interested students should be able to provide some kind of compositional tool (an instrument, software, etc.) and a keyboard with a small sound system will be provided for the discussion. Participants should attend all sessions. Students Only, Participation limit 10 (Preregistration Required) Tuesday 10:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Friday 12:30-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Costumes, Crafts, and the Crazy things you can do with EVA Foam, Susie Williams EVA foam is one of the most popular materials for costume-crafting today. It's inexpensive and easy to work with, making it the go to material for many different projects, not only in costuming, but in scenery and props too. This workshop will cover a range of uses, from basic to advanced, as well as construction methods, finishing methods, and where to get the different supplies needed to work with the foam. Students Only, Participation limit 40 Tuesday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon G The Actor in Makeup in Character. D. Scott Glasser For Actors, Directors and Makeup Designers: A tour through the 40-year career of a professional actor focusing on the physical act of creating character. Participation Limit 50 Tuesday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon G Releasing the Creative Image through Music, Johan Godwaldt Music has a wonderful ability to excite the child artist within. Come to this workshop and find your inner child yearning to come out. Participation Limit 20 Tuesday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio Dramaturgy by Design - New Play Development through Design, Ed Baker Playwrights may have very specific worlds built in their heads as they write. What ends up on the page is not always what is in the writer's mind and what ends up on stage is almost never that. Through collaborative discussions and creative inquiry, a sensitive design team can allow the playwright to explore the physical world of their play. This workshop will use textual handouts and participatory activities to work through some of those explorations. Participation limit 40 Tuesday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon F From Image to Design: A creative charette for designers. Daniel Schindler What is a charette? It's an improvised sketching / creation session where designers visualize shows based on selected images, styles, and concepts. This is a visual improvisation meant to spark your artistic creativity. Bring whatever rendering and visualization materials you would like. Basic pencils and paper will be provided but this is an "improv" nothing is excluded. Participation limit 20 Tuesday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio Intensive: Screen Shot: Head Shot Styling Techniques for Camera, Valerie Smith & Tom Woldt Screen Shot: Head Shot Styling Techniques for Camera focuses on body language, clothing, makeup and hair styling techniques for camera. Geared towards anyone preparing for commercial headshots, but also good for makeup or costume artisans interested in expanding their horizons. Opportunities for brief consultations, as well as styling "dos" and "don'ts" for camera. Participants are encouraged to dress and style themselves as they would for a camera photo shoot to receive the best feedback. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Intensive: Introduction to Draping, Sharon Sobel Sharon Sobel, author of Draping Period Costumes: Classical Greek to Victorian, will lead you through the process of draping a fitted, princess seamed bodice on a dress form and developing it into a paper pattern. This Intensive is geared towards students – and faculty - with little or no draping experience Participants should bring with them: - 2 yards of washed (in hot water) and ironed 100% cotton muslin (45” wide) - 1 yard of brown craft paper - Fabric scissors - Paper scissors Other tools will be provided, but if you have the following, please bring: - Clear, 2-inch-wide by 18-inch-long “C-thru” ruler - Armhole curve - Straight pins - Push pins - #2 pencils with erasers - Pounce wheel (pin-point tracing wheel) Participation is limited to 12 (Preregistration Required) Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio A Technical Director's Guide to Repertory Theatre, Joshua Frachiseur Let's discuss some of the tips, tricks, and equipment used to build scenery for repertory theatre. There are a number of Theatres who produce repertory theatre (more than one show presented on one stage in rotation). This allows visiting patrons to see more than one show in a short period of time, sometimes in the same day. The time for the "change-over" can vary from overnight to less than an hour. To build scenery that can fold up and disappear and have another set of scenery appear, requires a unique set of skills. Some of the most fun and challenging experiences I have had in theatre have nothing to do with the show, but how that show plays with another one. Participation limit 36 Wednesday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon F Intensive: Connective Threads: Inspiration and Appropriation in Design Valerie, St.Pierre Smith In a quest to create visual identities and environments, designers often cite "inspiration" as rationale for borrowing racial and ethnic imagery, style and goods from cultures other than their own. The responsible treatment of these sources have risen to new heights of awareness for many designers and artists. Why, then, does cultural appropriation in design continue? What is causing the breakdown between borrowing responsibly and designs that appropriate? Come question and challenge current design process paradigms, and see how they seem to connect to the continual clash of inspiration and appropriation. Participation Limit 20 Wednesday 1:00-4:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom Props Mastering is (actually) Fun! Amy Mussman Learn how you can be a successful Props Master with Amy Mussman, author of "The Prop Master: A Guidebook for Successful Theatrical Prop Management." And interactive discussion, Amy will share insights and tips and tricks of this trade, how to connect with others to get answers, and how to mentally handle this job. Participation limit 20 Wednesday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio Puppetry 101, Aretta Baumgartner Puppets have been used to tell stories since theatre began, and can be found from stage to screen and everywhere in between. Puppetry celebrates all aspects of the theatre arts and is a "must-have" skill on every resume! Learn about puppetry as theatre history, be inspired by puppet traditions from all over the world, dive into actor-to-puppeteer exercises, and have a blast in a puppet skills boot camp! 25 participants maximum per session. Come ready to move and play. Participation limit 25 Wednesday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon A YOUR RESUME: YOUR AD. WILL THEY REMEMBER YOUR NAME? Jane Childs Your resume is "you" on paper or online or within your website. This session is a hands-on and work-in-progress conversation and re-creations that aims to make your resume work for you. Make your resume work for you. Make your resume tell your story best. Why choose you and not the other 89,000 applicants? Your resume needs to be designed to best tell your story. Your resume is a sales tool. A conversation starter. End of story. Attendees should bring 2 copies of their resume, a laptop if possible, and an open mind. Participation Limit 36 Wednesday 2:00-4:30PM, Marriott, Salon F Making Sweet Music: Composing Original Music for Non-Musical Plays, Benji Inniger Struggling with copyright issues? Can't find that perfect song? Want to create some special moments within your design? Fabricating original music for your play can have many advantages and can provide a fascinating customization to your production. This workshop will highlight some of the intrigues of creating an original score for any production, different uses and types of music, different mediums (live, prerecorded, sampled/electronic), as well as strategies and tips for creating music within a demanding production timeline. Participation Limit 50 Wednesday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon G Using Highlights and Shadow for Middle and Old Age, Sharon Sobel Sharon Sobel, author of Theatrical Makeup: Basic Application Techniques, will demonstrate the use of theatrical cream makeup to create the impression of aging on a young actor's face. Topics will include soft edges to simulate sagging jowls, hard edges to simulate eye bags and nasolabial folds, fine lines and skin textures and discoloration. Participation Limit 25 Wednesday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room Working in Lighting in New York, Tim Kaufman The workshop is geared towards students who are interested in working in the Lighting Industry in New York City. I'll go through some of the basic types of jobs, the differences between them, and how to get your name in the call sheet. Students Only, Participation Limit 50 Wednesday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Salon G Intensive: Muppet Making, Sonia Hanson In this workshop, participants will build a small muppet that they can take home. Most supplies will be provided, but bring any inspiration, sewing supplies, or googly eyes you love! Must know how to hand-sew to participate. Students Only, Participation limit 15 (Preregistration Required) Thursday 9:00-12:00PM , Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom How to Light for TV when you're stuck in a Theater, Tim Kaufman This workshop explores the differences between TV lighting and Theater Lighting, and offers some tips and tricks into bridging the gap between the two. Participation Limit 50 Thursday 9:30-10:45AM , Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio THE LEGACY OF LIVING OUTSIDE THE BOX WITH ONLY TOOLS OF COLLABORATION, Jane Childs In short, learn how to beat out the other 89.000 people for your job! A conversation about training and experience options outside of a traditional model that enable you to develop as theatre collaborators and practitioners in all aspects of design and technology. Knowing that you are the sum of your experiences how can you expand your base, adopt the skill of daring to do, venture beyond your comfort zones, and learn to see. And understand that the answer is always YES! Participation Limit 50 Thursday 9:30-10:45AM , Marriott, Council Bluffs Stage Management for Dance, Jessica Barker Interested in expanding your stage management skills beyond Theater and Musical Theater? Come learn about the similarities and differences in stage managing for Dance. From large-scale ballet to intimate modern dance, this workshop will cover a variety of topics including: Working with a live orchestra, Calling from a musical score, Score alternative calling methods, and many more! Participation limit 30 Thursday 9:30-10:45AM , Marriott, Salon C Safety: Creating a Culture in Academia, Meghan McLaughlin Talking about how to change, create and maintain a culture of safety in Academic Shops, in rehearsals and performances. How to apply safety standards to shops and rehearsals. How to be safety advocate as a student. Participation Limit 50 Thursday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Council Bluffs Creative Courage: Moving Past Creative Blocks, Camilla Morrison Often fear or "blocks" halt our creative process. Explore different exercises to move forward in the creative process past the fear. This workshop features activities and questions that can start a conversation in our classrooms and our own process to move past creative fear and towards productivity. Participation Limit 30 Thursday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon C Grab Dionysus by the Horns: Collaborative Creativity for Directors and Theatre Makers, Jimmy Bickerstaff Understanding the dynamics of the collaborative creative process is central to the possibilities of making theatre. Process and performance can be empowered, and collaboration and innovation can be enhanced. This introduction to the organic creative process will give you practical leading-edge information about collaborative creativity, especially as it applies to theatre. The workshop assumes a familiarity and experience with production process. It includes useful material for directors, performers, designers, and teachers, anyone involved in the creation of theatre. Participation limit 30 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon C Conceptualizing a Design: When Realism isn't Realistic, Leah Mazur What happens when a "realistic" production design isn't going to work? This workshop will give a brief history of realism on stage, examine a case study for a production of Next to Normal, and wrap up with the conceptualization and basic sketching of a few well-known shows. Students Only, Participation limit 36 Thursday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Salon F Finding Your Path, Rachel Haage How do you transition from college to the professional world? How do you find the first stage management job or the next one? Should you join the union, and if so, when? What do you do when you don't have a show? How do you prioritize? In this workshop we will go over the different paths you can take to navigate Stage Managing in the professional world whether it be in theatre or a similar field. Participation Limit 40 Friday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon C Costume Faculty Roundtable, Stephanie Jorandby Costume design and technology faculty from Region V are invited to gather to network and discuss items and issues we face within our region. Whether you are looking for a rental package for next year's big show, new summer opportunities for your students, or are just looking to meet other costume-focused folks, new faces and returning friends are invited to join in the discussion! Faculty Only, Participation Limit 30 Friday 9:30-12:00PM, Marriott, Sioux City Making the pitch, how to give a great design presentation Jonathan Allender-Zivic This workshop will discuss the ins and outs of design presentations and detail how to make a clear and concise presentation. Communicating your ideas well makes your ideas standout and takes your presentation to the next level. Don't leave your team in the dark, unable to grasp what your ideas were and how they relate to the production. A good design presentation leads to a great collaborative environment and an awesome production process. Students Only, Participation limit 40 Friday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon C Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Women in Theatre Design, Technology, and Management, Michelle Bombe, Sharon Sobel, Jessie Barker, Aretta Baumgartner Join Guest Artists Michelle Bombe, Sharon Sobel, Jessie Barker, and Aretta Baumgartner for a panel discussion and Q&A about women working in theatre Design, Technology, and Management. Participation Limit 50 Friday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Davenport The Basics of Automation, George Grubb This workshop will explain the basic components of an automation system and how they work together to move scenery and effects. Motors, drives, e-stops, networking, brakes, limits and a few other things will be covered. Participation Limit 40 Friday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon C Undressing the Period Silhouette: 1840, Emily Ganfield This workshop provides an overview of the female fashion silhouette of the 1840s; particularly the undergarments needed to create the silhouette. Through study of the silhouette students will see the practical components of the costume, explore some of the social influences and implications of dress of that time, and become aware of how a designer uses historical information to design and construct a costume. Participation limit 25 Friday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Cedar Rapids Capturing the Costume Why and how to create photo plates of costumes for archiving and portfolios, Michael DeLorm, An introduction to basic portrait techniques and tools to help allow young costumers to show their costumes literally in the best light. Includes basic camera information, types of lights that can be used, beginner setups, and live demonstration of a light set up that participants can try. Participation Limit 40 Friday 2:00-4:30PM, Marriott, Salon C Do the Q! (An "Avenue Q"- inspired puppetry boot camp), Aretta Baumgartner Enjoy this deeper dive into "Avenue Q"/"Muppet-style" puppets! Building on the basics of Puppetry 101 (participants should please attend that session BEFORE this one if possible) we'll play with the voices, scenes, gestures that bring these fun and fabulous puppet characters to life! Come ready to move and play. Participation limit 25 Friday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Sioux City WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Playwriting and Dramaturgy (PW) Note: Except where noted, workshops are open to ALL festival participants. The PARTICIPATION LIMITS are set by the workshop leader and are reflected here, but others may be determined at the time of the workshop. Due to space and materials, please be prepared to observe these PARTICIPATION LIMITS.
Writing Parody and Satire, Donna Latham Sharpen your quill, sharpen your wit, sharpen your claws! A workshop that examines techniques of comedy writing for the stage and gets you started on crafting your own piece. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Monday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon A Hip Hop Solo Performance and Digital Looping, Brian Quijada This workshop is a crash course in developing a solo performance with a hip hop/spoken word twist. Diving straight into some creative personal writing, the workshop will look into how hip hop music and looping technology can affect your personal story. Participation limit 25 Monday 11:00-12:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Intensive: Heal the Divide on Campus: A Collaborative Playwriting Intensive, Charissa Menefee This intensive is part of the national Heal the Divide on Campus theatre action and playwriting initiative. Writing teams, made up of students from different colleges and universities, will engage in a collaborative process of exploring ideas and issues that matter to their communities, developing script scenarios, and writing short plays. Completed plays will be submitted to the Heal the Divide on Campus national coordinator to be shared with other colleges and universities. Participants should attend both sessions. Students Only, Participation limit 20 Monday 1:00-4:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom Tuesday 1:00-4:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom Using Dramaturgy in and Beyond Theatre: The Practical and the Potential, Bryan Moore A discussion of the roles and potential of dramaturgy in theatre, on and off the stage, and in other careers and areas of life. Attendees will have a chance to contribute to the conversation and ask questions. Participation limit 25 Tuesday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room Start Writing Plays, Joe Stollenwerk This workshop is geared to those with little or no playwriting experience who want to give playwriting a try. We will try several quick writing exercises that will give people a chance to create a character, develop a setting, and experiment with dialogue. These exercises will include some visual prompts, playing with language, and collaboration. We will finish with a discussion of techniques for turning this raw material into a ten-minute play. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Tuesday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Salon F Intensive: Dramaturgy Resource and Technique Peer-Share, Bryan Moore In this interactive session, all attendees are invited to share, learn about, brainstorm, and experiment with dramaturgical resources and techniques used for projects and productions that made the experience unique and effective. With a roundtable period and an activity or two, this session aims to fill one's practical and motivational toolbox for future dramaturgical projects and experiences. Participation limit 25 Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room An Hour with Neil LaBute, Neil LaBute Join in a conversation with Neil LaBute, award-winning film director, screenwriter, playwright, actor and KCACTF Region 5 Alumni. With his true-to-life cynical and self-absorbed characters and all-too-true social themes, he has firmly established himself as an unforgiving judge of the ugliest side of human nature. Bring your questions and grow with one of the premiere American voices in theatre and film of the 21st Century. Participation Limit 50 Wednesday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon G Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Playwrighting, Julie Mollenkamp Join Guest Artists playwrights Jessica Huang, Ben Gonzales, and Tearrance Chisholm for a discussion about the importance and challenge of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Playwriting. Moderated by Region 5 Playwriting Chair Julie Mollenkamp. Wednesday 3:30-4:45PM, Temple Theatre Truths and Lies: Developing Characters for a Staged Story, Benjamin Gonzales The Truths and Lies workshop aims to demonstrate a character first approach to playwriting. In this workshop we will explore 3 important and often contradictory attributes that will lead to the "Why Today?" for the characters of a play. Participation Limit 50 Thursday 9:30-10:45AM , Marriott, Cedar Rapids Making the most of a Workshop, Tearrance Chisholm A playwright centered workshop about how to best utilize developmental workshops and reading. Students Only, Participation Limit 36 Thursday 9:30-10:45AM , Marriott, Salon F Finishing a Play: A Guide to Writing a Play from "At Rise" to "End of Play”, Aaron Scully Starting plays and finishing plays can be the two most difficult aspects of playwriting. In this workshop we will discuss how to come up with ideas for plays, how to get them started and effective techniques for completing the work. By the end of the workshop, you will have a solid idea for your first or next play and a roadmap for how to complete it! Participation Limit 50 Thursday 12:30-1:45PM , Marriott, Cedar Rapids Intensive: Writing (an)Other, Jessica Huang A practical session/workshop about creating complex, believable, unique characters who are different from their author. Participants will come away from the session with guidelines and practice in welcoming characters into our scripts whose genders, ethnicities, and sociopolitical realities are different from our own. Students Only, Participation Limit 50 Thursday 2:00-5:00PM, Marriott, Cedar Rapids Breaking the Rules of Playwriting, Tearrance Chisholm A writing workshop focused on breaking popular writing conventions to better serve the story you want to tell. A guided exploration of form versus function. Students Only, Participation Limit 40 Friday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon F Playwright's WRITE! Julie Mollenkamp Give yourself the gift of TIME to WRITE in response to PROMPTS that will inspire your first or your next play. Bring your laptop or your notebook & pencil and leave your inhibitions behind. EVERYONE is WELCOME to start telling the next great story. Participation limit 25 Friday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon H The Fundamentals of Playwriting, Taylor Sklenar Join us for a workshop that focuses on the elements of crafting a great play and the playwright's process. Come prepared to do some writing! Students Only, Participation limit 40 Friday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Cedar Rapids WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Musical Theatre and Dance (MT) & Movement and Combat (SM) Note: Except where noted, workshops are open to ALL festival participants. The PARTICIPATION LIMITS are set by the workshop leader and are reflected here, but others may be determined at the time of the workshop. Due to space and materials, please be prepared to observe these PARTICIPATION LIMITS.
Musical Theatre and Dance (MT)
--[scroll down for Mvmt/Combat (SM)] Hip Hop Solo Performance and Digital Looping, Brian Quijada
This workshop is a crash course in developing a solo performance with a hip hop/spoken word twist. Diving straight into some creative personal writing, the workshop will look into how hip hop music and looping technology can affect your personal story. Participation limit 25 Monday 11:00-12:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Vocal Technique for the Musical Theatre Stage, Paul Hindemith Musical theatre singing can be extremely vocally taxing, but it does not need to be; a little vocal knowledge can go a long way. This workshop for actors and directors alike will present some basic techniques for helping actors to sing as easily, efficiently, and authentically as possible in all ranges, registers, and styles. Participation Limit 50 Tuesday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon F THE EYES HAVE IT! Ann Bergeron In acting class, you are always told "the eyes are the mirrors to the soul." Your eyes are just as important when you dance! Join us for this high energy musical theatre dance class that will convince you that your eyes are just as much a part of your dancing as your legs! Dance experience is recommended. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Tuesday12:30-1:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Be You Dance Workshop, Karen Burthwright Following a short warmup, participants will learn two dance routines of differing styles. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the workshop. Participation Limit 60 Tuesday 12:30-1:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Friday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Breathing is Essential for Life: Musical Theatre Audition Technique and Song Choice, Joy Powell Do you struggle with musical theatre songs? Do you long to be fully authentic and fully present in the audition room? Are you holding your breath waiting to see if you're good enough? Please join Dr. Joy Powell in her quest to help folks find and free their voices. Participation limit 25 Wednesday 2:00-4:30PM, Marriott, Sioux City BROADWAY BOOTCAMP: Dance, Bradley Allan Zarr Learn a Broadway dance combination from Bradley Allan Zarr, star of many Broadway National Tours (Bullets Over Broadway, Catch Me If You Can, Drowsy Chaperone), about how to book the gig on Broadway - audition tips and techniques to putting your "best self" forward in the audition room. Come dressed to dance. All levels welcome. Students Only, Participation limit 60 Wednesday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Social Dance for the Stage, Rebecca Katz Harwood Swing! Charleston! Tango! Come dressed to move for this musical theatre dance workshop that explores social dance's contribution to jazz dance styles. We will warm up with solo vocabulary and move into at least one combination. No partner needed though we may explore some partner work as we dance. Best suited for those with some previous dance experience. Participation limit 40 Thursday 12:30-1:45PM , Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Basic Ballet Technique Pliés, tendus and rond de jambs, oh my! Cat Gleason This class is for beginners and those who want to brush up on the basics. This workshop will prepare you for a basic ballet class so you will know the terms, positions and moves. There will be a strong focus on finding and resolving basic technique and alignment issues. Wear form fitting movement clothes, and either ballet slippers or socks. Participation limit 25 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Acting Through Song, Take your musical theatre audition to the next level! Lainie Vansant This workshop will explore techniques and tools that will help you explore pieces of musical theatre as an actor, making strong, character-based choices that support your beautiful tunes! Students Only, Participation Limit 50 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Davenport Musical Theatre Dance, Ashley Miller-Scully Join us for a musical theatre dance class! We will begin with a warm-up followed by across-the-floor combinations and concluding by learning choreography from a contemporary musical! All dance abilities are welcome - Dress to move! Students Only, Participation limit 60 Thursday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Friday 11:00-12:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Acting through a Song: Basics of Musical Theatre Acting, Adam Yankowy Want to explore musical theatre? Love to act but not sure how to translate that to singing. This is the workshop for you. Song interpretation, musical style and more included. This workshop will be co-taught with Adam Yankowy and Erin Horst. Participation limit 25 Friday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Movement and Combat (SM)
Actorbatics: An Introduction to Droznin Russian Movement, Carrigan O'Brian Welcome to Droznin, the movement technique taught at the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre School, and the cornerstone of the National Theater Institute's movement curriculum. Through a series of rigorous physical exercises, stretches, balance poses and partner acrobatics, students slowly unlock the body, freeing them up for the work they will need to do on stage. Come find out why NTI students and faculty lovingly refer to Droznin as "Actorbatics" and experience this truly thrilling technique firsthand. All experience levels welcome. Participants must wear comfortable clothing. Participation limit 60 Tuesday 9:30-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Wednesday 12:30-3:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Thursday 9:30-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Warm-ups Are your Training, Laura Rikard This interactive workshop will look at the basics of teaching beginning warm-up exercises and the importance of execution. Using the warm-ups as a metaphor for the performers the participants will be guided through a series of exercises that immediately builds acting skills, vocal and movement skills and even teaches devising. Fun, applicable and disciplined. Participation Limit 25 Tuesday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Gruesome Theatre Injuries: Safe Approaches to Stage Violence, Brandon Brockshus Ever been injured in a stage fall? Tired of being slapped in the face on stage? Learn safe and effective techniques to sell stage violence to your audience WITHOUT the battle scars to show for it. Explore the sounds and lingering pain of violence to aid effective storytelling. Taught by a Recognized Society of American Fight Directors Actor/Combatant. Participation Limit 60 Wednesday 9:30-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Owning Your (A)typical Body, Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha Working as an actor, our bodies are frequent topics of discussion. In this workshop we will embrace all that makes us unique and celebrate those body things that sometimes drag us down as actors. Come ready to move and share. Students Only, Participation limit 40 Thursday 12:30-1:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court "How Scandalous, Madam!" Katheryn Bilbo An Introduction to Restoration and Comedy of Manners Acting Styles Gossip, wit, and hilarious hypocrisy lead the way in Restoration plays/Comedies of Manners! Towering powdered wigs, heaving bosoms, foppish waistcoats, and naughty metaphor these plays require a specialized acting style that's loads of fun, but harder than it looks! Using text from Moliere's "Tartuffe", Sheridan's "The School for Scandal", and Wycherly's "The Country Wife", prepare yourself for future classical acting roles by learning to walk, talk, sit, stand, and flirt in an introduction to this delightful theatrical period. Students Only, Participation limit 25 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon B Better Boundaries, Better Communication, Better Scenes: Theatrical Intimacy Education, Kate Busselle Safety in staging theatrical intimacy is a growing concern in our industry. This workshop, led by the co-founders of Theatrical Intimacy Education, is a chance to gain skills and practice using them in a constructive environment. This interactive workshop is divided into 3 parts: Working in the classroom, working in rehearsal with body positive language, and troubleshooting using agency. Participation limit 40 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Contact Improvisation, Cat Gleason Learn how to use your body to communicate with other actors. Open to all bodies and skill levels. Contact Improv is used to help actors improve their moment-to-moment awareness and to encourage actors to follow their physical impulses without censoring themselves. We will teach skills and play games that will require physical contact. Please wear movement attire. Participation limit 25 Thursday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Intensive: Viewpoint Me in the Right Direction! Stephanie Murry Learn the basics of the nine physical Viewpoints a la Anne Bogart and Tina Landau. Delve into individual and group exploration, then have fun applying them in an open Viewpoints Jam session! Students Only, Participation limit 40 Friday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Meyerhold's Biomechanics, Laura Rikard Based in Meyerhold's Biomechanics This workshop will take participants through a series of beginning actor physical exercises that teaches the actor how to physically breakdown every action into a beginning, middle and end. Great for actors uncertain in how to use their bodies, quick and easy applicable tools that are beneficial to all. Participation limit 60 Friday 9:30-10:45AM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court The Expressive Body: Lessac Body NRGs for Building Character, Dana Smith This workshop will introduce actors to the Body NRGs of Lessac Kinesensics in a series of explorations designed to uncover a character's unique physicality. Conceived as natural pattern dissolvers, the NRGs (Neural Regenerative Growth) are distinct body climates (each with subtle variations) that are common to all of us. Participants will be able to experience how each NRG can transform a character through working with short pieces of text, as well as nonverbal communications. Participation limit 25 Friday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon D Fast Food Laban, Lainie Vansant Improv and movement analysis meet as we explore Keith Johnstone's take on Rudolph Laban's methods of movement analysis. We will play fun improv games and gain a valuable tool for scene and monologue work. Come prepared to participate! Students Only, Participation limit 25 Friday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon D The Physical Actor: WAY beyond the psychological! Aware, Available, Responsive! Pratik Motwani Join us for this dynamic and explosive investigation of the actor-creator from the perspectives of Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Come prepared to be present, open and available; to move and be moved; to respond and react; to create and engage in a playful vitality as participants explore the work of the physical actor. Participation limit 40 Friday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon D WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Faculty Development (FD) Note: Except where noted, workshops are open to ALL festival participants. The PARTICIPATION LIMITS are set by the workshop leader and are reflected here, but others may be determined at the time of the workshop. Due to space and materials, please be prepared to observe these PARTICIPATION LIMITS.
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New Faculty Welcome, Brad Dell Are you a new faculty member to Region 5? Perhaps this is your first encounter with KCACTF? How about getting more involved? In this round-table workshop, bring your questions and ideas for an informal discussion with region 5 leadership and learn how to maximize the experience for both you and your students. Held in the Hospitality Suite, coffee and treats will be provided. Faculty Only Monday 3:15-4:30PM, Marriott, Room 3108 Ever Forward, Sean Byrd, Amanda White A continuation of the discussion from last year’s THE WAY FORWARD multi-session forum, EVER FORWARD will readdress topics from that conversation and reflect on a year that has been called a ‘watershed moment’ and a ‘reckoning’ with the rise of resistance efforts like the "Take A Knee", #metoo and “Time’s Up” movements. Discussion will focus on how, as artists and educators, we can use our platform and our voices to support these movements, and help those who look to us for guidance to find their own voices. Faculty members are free to attend one or more sessions. Led by Amanda White and Sean Byrd (Faculty Only). “Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.” – Bertolt Brecht. Faculty Only, Participation Limit 30 Tuesday 9:00-10:00AM, Marriott, Salon E Wednesday 9:00-10:00AM, Marriott, Salon E Thursday 9:00-10:00AM, Marriott, Salon E Respondent Training Workshop, Brad Dell Are you interested in becoming a production respondent for Region 5? We will train on the aims and processes of conducting a KCACTF response. Most importantly, we will discuss how to maximize the experience for students. This roundtable discussion is for both new and experienced responders. Faculty Only Tuesday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon F Thursday 12:30-1:45PM , Marriott, Salon F VIA: Exploring Metaphors for Teaching and Learning, Bethany Larson There are many metaphors for what we do as teachers, each implying a type of relationship with our students: 'shedding light', 'expanding horizons', 'filling a vessel' to name just a few. However, a multi-dimensional framework of "pathways" can be more dynamic and fulfilling to student and teacher. Although the concept was developed for the teaching and learning in an acting class, this approach can work across disciplines. In this session we will explore four core pathways in our own lives, in our work as teachers, and in the potential for our students. Faculty Only, Participation limit 25 Tuesday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon B Respondent Happy hour, Brad Dell Please join us in the Hospitality Suite as we gather together and celebrate new and veteran responders of Region 5! As we socialize and share stories of the road, we will have a brief refresher on the mission of the KCACTF response. Anyone interested in responding is encouraged to attend in addition to all experienced responders. Drinks, Snacks and appetizers will be provided. Faculty Only Thursday 2:00-4:00PM, Marriott, Room 3108 Costume Faculty Roundtable, Stephanie Jorandby Costume design and technology faculty from Region V are invited to gather to network and discuss items and issues we face within our region. Whether you are looking for a rental package for next year's big show, new summer opportunities for your students, or are just looking to meet other costume-focused folks, new faces and returning friends are invited to join in the discussion! Faculty Only, Participation Limit 30 Friday 9:30-12:00PM, Marriott, Sioux City Theatrical Intimacy Education: Best Practices for Staging Intimacy in Rehearsal and Classroom Spaces, Kate Busselle Founders of Theatre Intimacy Education will discuss practices, methodologies and guidelines for dealing with scenes of intimacy, nudity and sexual violence in the academic arena. Panelists will offer pedagogical practices for classroom scene work, rehearsal guidelines, and tips for creating a safe, consensual environment. Faculty Only, Participation limit 40 Friday 12:30-3:00PM, Marriott, Salon F WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Talking About Theatre (TK) Note: Except where noted, workshops are open to ALL festival participants. The PARTICIPATION LIMITS are set by the workshop leader and are reflected here, but others may be determined at the time of the workshop. Due to space and materials, please be prepared to observe these PARTICIPATION LIMITS. --------------------------------------------------------------
New Faculty Welcome, Brad Dell Are you a new faculty member to Region 5? Perhaps this is your first encounter with KCACTF? How about getting more involved? In this round-table workshop, bring your questions and ideas for an informal discussion with region 5 leadership and learn how to maximize the experience for both you and your students. Held in the Hospitality Suite, coffee and treats will be provided. Faculty Only Monday 3:15-4:30PM, Marriott, Room 3108 Ever Forward, Sean Byrd, Amanda White A continuation of the discussion from last year’s THE WAY FORWARD multi-session forum, EVER FORWARD will readdress topics from that conversation and reflect on a year that has been called a ‘watershed moment’ and a ‘reckoning’ with the rise of resistance efforts like the "Take A Knee", #metoo and “Time’s Up” movements. Discussion will focus on how, as artists and educators, we can use our platform and our voices to support these movements, and help those who look to us for guidance to find their own voices. Faculty members are free to attend one or more sessions. Led by Amanda White and Sean Byrd (Faculty Only). “Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.” – Bertolt Brecht. Faculty Only, Participation Limit 30 Tuesday 9:00-10:00AM, Marriott, Salon E Wednesday 9:00-10:00AM, Marriott, Salon E Thursday 9:00-10:00AM, Marriott, Salon E Ever Forward, Gabby Velasquez A continuation of the discussion from last year’s THE WAY FORWARD multi-session forum, EVER FORWARD will readdress topics from that conversation and reflect on a year that has been called a ‘watershed moment’ and a ‘reckoning’ with the rise of resistance efforts like the "Take A Knee", #metoo and "Time's Up" movements. Discussion will focus on how, as artists, we can use our platform and our voices to support this movement. Students Only, Participation Limit 30 Tuesday 10:00-12:00PM, Marriott, Salon E The Guthrie Education Network-Encouraging Students and Educators to "Think Like an Artist" Jason Brown Although student matinees and in class residencies are effective staples of how schools and theaters have interacted, the Guthrie Theater's strives to leverage our artistic, people and educational resources to be of stronger service to our school partners. The Guthrie Education Network (GEN) represents our new strategy of building unique and hyper-local partnerships with schools to develop programming and resources that inspire and encourage students and teachers to "Think Like an Artist". This workshop will explore these new relationships and how they are transforming the way the Guthrie is both in service to schools and to the community. Participation limit 50 Tuesday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon G Respondent Training Workshop, Brad Dell Are you interested in becoming a production respondent for Region 5? We will train on the aims and processes of conducting a KCACTF response. Most importantly, we will discuss how to maximize the experience for students. This roundtable discussion is for both new and experienced responders. Faculty Only Tuesday 12:30-1:45PM, Marriott, Salon F Thursday 12:30-1:45PM , Marriott, Salon F YOUR RESUME: YOUR AD. WILL THEY REMEMBER YOUR NAME? Jane Childs Your resume is "you" on paper or online or within your website. This session is a hands-on and work-in-progress conversation and re-creations that aims to make your resume work for you. Make your resume work for you. Make your resume tell your story best. Why choose you and not the other 89,000 applicants? Your resume needs to be designed to best tell your story. Your resume is a sales tool. A conversation starter. End of story. Attendees should bring 2 copies of their resume, a laptop if possible, and an open mind. Participation Limit 36 Wednesday 2:00-4:30PM, Marriott, Salon F Got a Theatre Degree? Fantastic! (Now what do you do with it...) Amy Mussman Theatre is by far the best profession in which to work. Why? Because theatre incorporates and endless array of human gifts and talents-- is not just for the performing artists or the technicians--and the jobs are found all over this country, not in just the major cities. Discover what the niche jobs are and just how your specific gifts and talents could blossom in the world's theatre community. A great discussion for all soon-to-be job seekers! Participation Limit 20 Wednesday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 212 Art Studio How to get involved in R5 Leadership, Brad Dell Visit with Region 5 Executive Committee members to learn about the many exciting opportunities for involvement in Region 5 service and leadership. Wednesday 3:30-4:45PM Marriott, Salon H THE LEGACY OF LIVING OUTSIDE THE BOX WITH ONLY TOOLS OF COLLABORATION, Jane Childs In short, learn how to beat out the other 89.000 people for your job! A conversation about training and experience options outside of a traditional model that enable you to develop as theatre collaborators and practitioners in all aspects of design and technology. Knowing that you are the sum of your experiences how can you expand your base, adopt the skill of daring to do, venture beyond your comfort zones, and learn to see. And understand that the answer is always YES! Participation Limit 50 Thursday 9:30-10:45AM , Marriott, Council Bluffs Artist as Entrepreneur, Jessica Huang Notes from the field - a conversation and Q&A about the business of making theater, and how to position yourself for a successful career as a freelance theater maker. Students Only, Participation Limit 36 Thursday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon F Safety: Creating a Culture in Academia, Meghan McLaughlin Talking about how to change, create and maintain a culture of safety in Academic Shops, in rehearsals and performances. How to apply safety standards to shops and rehearsals. How to be safety advocate as a student. Participation Limit 50 Thursday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Council Bluffs Anatomy of a Production: Our Town D. Scott Glasser Charting a production from legend to history to inspiration to concept to design to rehearsals to performance to take-aways. Participation Limit 40 Thursday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon G Creative Courage: Moving Past Creative Blocks, Camilla Morrison Often fear or "blocks" halt our creative process. Explore different exercises to move forward in the creative process past the fear. This workshop features activities and questions that can start a conversation in our classrooms and our own process to move past creative fear and towards productivity. Participation Limit 30 Thursday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon C Respondent Happy hour, Brad Dell Please join us in the Hospitality Suite as we gather together and celebrate new and veteran responders of Region 5! As we socialize and share stories of the road, we will have a brief refresher on the mission of the KCACTF response. Anyone interested in responding is encouraged to attend in addition to all experienced responders. Drinks, Snacks and appetizers will be provided. Faculty Only Thursday 2:00-4:00PM, Marriott, Room 3108 Happy Campers: Developing a Children's Theatre Camp, Rachel Bland Learn how to plan a storytelling based camp for young actors in this hands-on workshop. We will explore the benefits that a children's theatre camp can have for both students and places of higher education. Come create a sample lesson plan and participate in activities that you can use in your own camp! Participation limit 30 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon A Fifteen Films All Theatre Folks Should Know, Joe Stollenwerk This lecture-based workshop will introduce attendees to fifteen important films for theatre practitioners, consisting of short scenes from these films and my commentary on how they can impact our work. This variety films have had a significant cultural impact, detail the work of theatre professionals, and/or tell interesting stories about theatre people. Films discussed will include feature films (Cradle Will Rock, Waiting for Guffman), documentaries (Broadway: The Golden Age, Miss Representation), and live performances (Sweeney Todd, When Hell Freezes Over I'll Skate). Participation limit 40 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon G Grab Dionysus by the Horns: Collaborative Creativity for Directors and Theatre Makers, Jimmy Bickerstaff Understanding the dynamics of the collaborative creative process is central to the possibilities of making theatre. Process and performance can be empowered, and collaboration and innovation can be enhanced. This introduction to the organic creative process will give you practical leading-edge information about collaborative creativity, especially as it applies to theatre. The workshop assumes a familiarity and experience with production process. It includes useful material for directors, performers, designers, and teachers, anyone involved in the creation of theatre. Participation limit 30 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon C Call My Agent! An Actor's Guide to Representation, Lindsey Williams So, you think you need an agent, but you don't know where to begin? This workshop will cover everything actors need to know about talent representation before embarking on a professional career. Learn the difference between agents and managers (and whether you actually need both), how representation can help your career, how to find representation that fits your needs (and keep it!), and what to expect when you sign your first contract with a talent agency. Students Only, Participation limit 40 Friday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Salon F WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Note: Except where noted, workshops are open to ALL festival participants. The PARTICIPATION LIMITS are set by the workshop leader and are reflected here, but others may be determined at the time of the workshop. Due to space and materials, please be prepared to observe these PARTICIPATION LIMITS.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as a Theatre Performer, Karen Burthwright, Brian Quijada Join Broadway performer and choreographer Karen Burthwright and actor/hip hop theatre performer Brian Quijada in a discussion about the importance and challenges of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion the theatre from the perspective of a performer. Participation Limit 100 Monday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott Salon A/B Invisible Theatre: from Boal to the Mannequin Challenge, Morgan Mallory "While some people make theatre," says Boal, "we all ARE theatre." Come join us while we create performance art involving techniques by Augusto Boal. Moving tableaus, political theatre, and sensitive topics are explored. In an effort to transform theatre from the ""monologue"" of traditional performance into a ""dialogue"" between audience and stage, we will be ending the workshop with a field trip. Participation limit 40 Monday 3:30-4:45PM, Des Moines Social Club, 220 Handball Court Intensive: Power to the Puppet! Puppetry as a Tool of Social Change, Amanda Petefish-Schrag By their very nature, puppets serve as an ideal tool for social advocacy and political protest. And for centuries, puppeteers have worked from behind the mask of these unique creations to give voice to people under or misrepresented by the status quo. In this intensive, participants will explore principles, techniques, and models for using puppetry as an agent for social change. Participants should attend both sessions. Participation limit 25 (Preregistration Required) Tuesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 204 Mulberry Room Wednesday 9:00-12:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom LGBTQIAPK: Starting conversations about moving the theatre industry forward, Robert Fitzsimmons This session will be a round table conversation for both faculty and students to openly discuss issues and concerns facing members and allies of the LGBTQIAPK community in regard to the theatre industry. Some examples of planned topics are gender neutral dressing rooms, removing gender barriers in theatre production, and clarifying the divide between gender and sexual identity in an academic and professional environment. This session is intended to be an inclusive conversation about moving our industry forward not a platform for airing complaints. We ask that everyone who participates in this session come with an open mind, a willingness to listen, and a passion for improving our industry. Participation Limit 50 Tuesday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Salon F Intensive: The Art of Drag: Queens and Kings Unite! This intensive aspires to develop, advance, and set-free fully self-expressed individuals. Beginners to advanced welcome! Bring your persona, outfits, make-up, wigs, music, scripts and your best self. Plan to bring a 2-3 minute performance that is already in the works so it can be developed. Attendants will be showcased at the first-ever KCACTF Region 5 Drag Show on Wed night at 10:00 in the Temple Theatre. Participants should attend both sessions. Tuesday 2:00-5:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 210 Movement Studio Wednesday 6:00-9:00PM, Temple Theatre Inclusion with Diversity: An EDI Perspective on Student Matinees, Jason Brown Since its doors opened in the early 60's, the Guthrie Theater has welcomed students to matinee performances. Like many theaters, the Guthrie has developed programs and partnerships that have diversified these matinee offerings, but we are still wrestling with how to make these experiences inclusive and effective for those diverse audiences. This interactive discussion will explore this particular aspect of the Guthrie's commitment to EDI and generate strategies and questions around these inclusion efforts. Participation limit 36 Wednesday 9:30-10:45AM, Marriott, Salon F Intensive: Connective Threads: Inspiration and Appropriation in Design Valerie, St.Pierre Smith In a quest to create visual identities and environments, designers often cite "inspiration" as rationale for borrowing racial and ethnic imagery, style and goods from cultures other than their own. The responsible treatment of these sources have risen to new heights of awareness for many designers and artists. Why, then, does cultural appropriation in design continue? What is causing the breakdown between borrowing responsibly and designs that appropriate? Come question and challenge current design process paradigms, and see how they seem to connect to the continual clash of inspiration and appropriation. Participation Limit 20 Wednesday 1:00-4:00PM, Des Moines Social Club, 211 Art Classroom Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Playwrighting, Julie Mollenkamp Join Guest Artists playwrights Jessica Huang, Ben Gonzales, and Tearrance Chisholm for a discussion about the importance and challenge of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Playwriting. Moderated by Region 5 Playwriting Chair Julie Mollenkamp. Wednesday 3:30-4:45PM, Temple Theatre All Ability Theatre: Inclusion and Accomplishment, Dan Workman Expand your definition of theatre! For the last 5 years, the Black Hills Playhouse education and outreach programs have been working with several partners to create classes and performance opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. We will cover two main areas of importance during this workshop. First, we will focus on the necessity of partnerships with the organizations that serve these wonderful people, and how you, your theatre, the organization and the individuals each benefit. Second, we will demonstrate methods and techniques for working with these diverse populations. You will gain a greater understanding of how art and theatre can affect lives in a new and exciting way. Participation limit 25 Thursday 12:30-1:45PM , Marriott, Salon C Life as Primary Text: The Power of Spoken Word Poetry, Emily Lang Workshop participants will examine the intersections of their personal identities and gain artistic tools to shape their own narratives via spoken word poetry. In an attempt to challenge the single-story narrative placed on marginalized populations, participants will be immersed in performances by local youth, bearing witness to the complexity of the human experience. Students Only, Participation limit 36 Thursday 2:00-3:15PM, Marriott, Salon F Producing an Interdisciplinary Initiative: Climate Change Theatre Action at Iowa State University, Charissa Menefee What is a theatre action? How can it build bridges between campus and community, departments and programs, arts and sciences, and students, teachers, alumni, and community members? The producers of an ambitious university event that was part of an international, interdisciplinary initiative will share goals, strategies, and outcomes--and invite discussion about potential theatre actions on your own campuses. Participation limit 30 Thursday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Salon C Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Women in Theatre Design, Technology, and Management, Michelle Bombe, Sharon Sobel, Jessie Barker, Aretta Baumgartner Join Guest Artists Michelle Bombe, Sharon Sobel, Jessie Barker, and Aretta Baumgartner for a panel discussion and Q&A about women working in theatre Design, Technology, and Management. Participation Limit 50 Friday 11:00-12:15PM, Marriott, Davenport Games in Theatre of the Oppressed, Jennie Pardoe This workshop, sponsored by the University of Missouri's Interactive Theatre Troupe, introduces participants to the practice of using theatre games to spark difficult conversations. Come dressed to move! Participation limit 25 Friday 3:30-4:45PM, Marriott, Salon D |
