Session Block 4

Saturday, July 22nd, 4:30-5:45pm (EDT)

Network: College/University

Crafting Collaborative Criteria for Theatre "Assessment"

Session Chair: Elena Velasco

“...Teach in a manner that respects and cares for the souls of our students is essential if we are to provide the necessary conditions where learning can most deeply and intimately begin.” bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress.  As artists and educators continue to decolonize theatre and  the classroom, theatre studies assessment - from theatre history to performance - must be reformed. Collaborating a criteria for discovery and authentic engagement can be applied to any discipline, but for theatre artists in a dramatically changed world, the ability to self-assess one‘s art and artistic innovation are critical. As practitioners, our aesthetic and voice develop over time, yet with greater awareness of how this manifests, students of all ages can work towards a conscious definition and refinement of their art as educators move away from the alienating and competitive nature of ”grading.” In this interactive session, Elena Velasco will share with participants her experiment of pushing aside institutional grades and rubrics to prioritize deeper collaboration with students to self-assess their growth, epiphanies and lasting impact on their craft. Be prepared to create on your feet, guide peers through personal culturally relevant reflection, and craft a new approach to student-centered development.

Network: Playwriting

Illuminating Characters with Disabilities: Good, Better, and Best Practices

Session Chair: John Newman

Other Presenter(s): Jeff Jenkins, Talleri McRae

Characters with disabilities have been under-represented in the plays we write and produce in educational theatre, and when they are presented, it is not always in the best possible light. Director & Professor John Newman, Playwright & Counselor Jeff Jenkins, and Teaching Artist Talleri McRae share positive examples of creating and presenting Timmon and the Magic Shoes and two other productions that featured characters with disabilities. The presenters will offer a model for assessing good, better, and best practices in creating characters with disabilities and will lead the participants through a small-group process for adapting a well-known play in a way that includes, embraces, and respects individuals with disabilities.