Virtual Session Block 1

Thursday, July 28th, 4:30-5:45pm (EDT)

All of the Session Blocks will be hosted on Zoom Meeting. You will be sent an email, 24 hours prior to the next day's events, which will contain all of the log-on details for each event. As in an in-person Conference, please feel free to select whichever workshop you would like to attend in the moment.

Network: Applied Theatre

Rise UP LA: Stories From the Women's Movement

Session Chair: Jenny Bokoch Gillett

Other Presenter(s): Ilana Gustafson

Rise Up LA: Our Stories, Our Voices is an interview-based virtual performance based on conversations between Jenny Bokoch Gillett (of the Natural History Museum's Performing Arts program) and five of the women interviewed for the Rise Up Los Angeles Oral Stories Project, an initiative supported by a grant from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. In response to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Rise Up LA exhibition, which chronicles the gender equality movement, Ms. Gillett has conducted over 30 interviews of women in Los Angeles over the age of 65, and woven segments of these interviews into a theatrical script. The presentation features many fascinating stories on how gender equity and activism has grown and changed, both in terms of personal experiences and as a national and global movement, in these women's lifetimes. In this online ethnodrama, we celebrate some of the stories and voices from the LA community that have risen out of the women's movement.

Network: Various

Confronting a Vocabulary of Fear: Developing Intersectional Community-Based Definitions of EDI

Session Chair: Lindsay Kujawa

This interactive workshop aims to dissect the intersectionality of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and discover the benefits of nuanced community-framed definitions, specifically in non-metropolitan/rural areas. Building off research in these spaces participants will then be introduced to community metric models they can use to explore their community and identify audience engagement techniques. These tools can be used in their practice to test the dexterity of the definitions of EDI in ways that challenge them to embrace the fractal nature of these issues in a variety of demographic and ideological contexts. The focus will next shift towards using musical theatre as a tool for addressing issues of EDI by investigating the idea of re-framing a performance as a community event. Participants will receive a toolkit of practical assessments that can be used to determine a shows potential relevancy, impact, and opportunities for meaningful community engagement. Additionally, this section will discuss navigating contentious situations where there is community pushback when addressing topics of EDI. As there is no one way to answer the questions surrounding EDI, it is essential to provide opportunities for group investigation and collaboration. Using the ideas presented during the workshop and their outside knowledge, participants will explore a case study in small groups, present findings/insights, and receive feedback from other groups on their findings. Ultimately, this workshop posses to create an environment where ideas can be explored and shared as we take steps to discover future solutions to creating the theatre/education space of the future.

Network: Early Childhood

Exploring Complex Social & Emotional Concepts Through Bilingual Theatre for the Very Young

Session Chair: Gillian McNally

Other Presenter(s): Bethany Corey-Ekin and Kassie Misiewicz

Prejudice, Empathy, and Compassion are concepts some would argue are too complex for children under the age of five. However Early Childhood Educator Ann Pelo states, "children are to grow up with the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary for effective living in a complex, diverse world, early childhood programs must actively challenge the impact of bias on children's development". How can Theatre for the Very Young (TVY) develop critical, engaged audiences and explore complex social issues?  Theatre for the Very Young (TVY) practitioners will share their research and experiences in successfully mounting productions that focus on the development of understanding social issues.

Network: Professional Theatre

A.R.T. Kids Company: Crafting Compelling (Online) Classes for Kids

Session Chair: Brenna Nicely

Creativity, crafts, and creatures, oh my! This workshop/panel hybrid will share learnings from the American Repertory Theater's pivot to online learning with story theater and devising classes for ages 2-13 during the pandemic. We will focus on strategies to choose engaging stories, theater activities, and collaboration tools for online learning, and how to supplement digital learning with tactile activities. We will also discuss how what we learn impacted our return to in-person classes and guide participants through the experience of exploring stories online, with plenty of room for Q&A. Bring one of your favorite picture books, some paper, drawing utensils, and a pair of scissors to this interactive session.