Current Event

Board Meeting
Sat. Jan 16, 2009
9:30 - NOON
Location: Jen Shafer's House
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Recent Events
ACT Conference - 2009
Theme: Theatre: The Marriage of True Minds
Date: Friday Sept. 25 & Saturday Sept. 26, 2009
Location: Grandview High School

Schedule


Friday September 25, 2009
7:30 - 8:00 a.m.    Registration
            Breakfast Mixer
            Visit the Vendor Tables - start filling out your "Passport to
Prizes"

8:00    Opening Ceremonies – Auditorium
        Welcome - ACT President
            ACT Business Meeting
                Introductions
                *Board Members
                * Vendors
                * ACT website
                * Mentorships
            Quick Discussion of Board Business
                *Voting in New President
                *New Treasurer & New Secretary


8:40 – 9:50 Special Performance - Storysmith®, Susan Marie Frontczak

    
10:00 - 11:15        BREAKOUT SESSION I

Workshop IA                     Acting & Directing for the Camera
Rm U606/Choir Rm          presenter: Brandon Fryman
Acting for the camera is different from stage acting and requires a different acting form.  This workshop starts with the breakdown of the script, then moves through to the final stages of filming. A step-by-step process is taught: braking down a script, breaking into small groups, 1 director and two actors, then performing and filming a scene. If time permits the scenes may be edited and shown. A great introduction to a process you can use in your classroom with your budding Steven Spielbergs!  


Workshop IB                         
The Suzuki Actor Training Method in Action
Rm:U601 Dance Studio         presenter: Anne Penner
Japanese director, Tadashi Suzuki, has developed the Suzuki Training to heighten an actor's emotional and physical power onstage.  The series of physically-demanding exercises focuses on moving one's center of gravity through space and a "grammar of the feet".  It is ideal for high school students and teachers.  Come ready to move and bring socks.
                 

Workshop IC                            Meet a Mentor
Rm: U605/Theatre Clsrm         facilitator(s): Nancy Nyhus & Tracy Schwartz
If you would like a mentor, or would like to be a mentor, please attend this workshop session so that we can pair you up with some one!  Beginning teachers and/or those just starting to work in the wonderful world of drama can benefit from the experience, knowledge and advice of the veteran drama teacher.  Nancy and Tracy will have talking points to get you started ... everything from play selection to classroom management and fund raising to dealing with parents and administrators.  Use this time to share contact information and hopefully start a relationship that will last for years to come.
     
Workshop ID             Trouble Shooting Your Lighting Equipment
Rm: Auditorium         Presenter: Susan Osborn, Stagehand I.A.T.S.E #7
Learn what steps and the order to take those steps to trouble shoot lighting problems and solve them.  Learn how to use a basic voltmeter to solve problems.  One lucky attendee will win a voltmeter in a drawing.


11:30 – 12:45    BREAKOUT SESSION II

Workshop IIB                     
Blending Theatre and Multimedia – A Dynamic Collaborative for the Stage
Rm: U609/Media Clsrm      presenter: John DeYoung & Kurt Muenstermann, Video Production & Theatre Arts -  
                                                     Valor Christian High School
This workshop will encourage theatre directors to collaborate with their video production departments on some of the aesthetic elements of theatrical productions. The presenters will talk about the challenges and benefits of this unique collaborative process in a media-driven society, and include footage of recent High School productions that married digital video elements with live performance. 
                    

Workshop IIC                    Character & Rhythm through Movement
Rm: 601/Dance Studio     presenter: Laurence Curry
This workshop is designed to expand participants range of understanding of what goes into an actor’s physical home work. Using music as the medium, participants will be equipped with different tools to utilize when approaching and maintaining a new character’s spine.



Workshop IID                       Making the Ordinary, Extraordinary      
Rm: 605/Theatre Clsrm       presenter: Meghan Anderson Doyle, Costume Designer - DCTC

This workshop will show you how to utilize everyday objects and easily attained supplies to create a student generated approach to design and construction of sets, props, and costumes.                


12:45 - 2:15    Lunch on your own
    AWARDS LUNCHEON
***Must have Reservation Ticket to attend.***


2:30 - 3:45      BREAKOUT SESSION III
  
Workshop IIIB                     Master the Art of Teaching and Learning with Drama Games
Rm: U601/Dance Studio     presenter: Jonas Basom, Drama Education Network

Learn how to use drama games to establish effective classroom management, teach arts standards, enhance literacy, reach multiple intelligences, build towards performance, and develop skills for success in school and life.  A great workshop for all drama specialists, classroom teachers, and professors.

Workshop IIIC         Creating a healthy marriage of the performing arts in a public school department
Rm: U606/Choir Rm    presenter: Gail Sindelar, Keith Farmer, Coordinators, Grandview High School
                                                      Performing Arts Dept.
Through Panel presentation/Q&A discussion, we will present our own history of working to create a balanced, healthy performing arts department that is inclusive and mutually supportive.  Then we will address specific questions from the audience, regarding solutions to unbalanced situations within performing arts programs. 
                                              


Workshop IIID                     Techies That Work
Rm: U605/Theatre Clsrm    presenter: Carmel Alston, Innovation Group (formerly known as Opera Shop)
A new view on how to train/educate students interested in technical theatre/entertainment careers.  Simple ways to augment training to give your tech students and edge on entering college or the work force.

4:00 - 5:15        BREAKOUT SESSION IV

Workshop IVA             Curriculum Rodeo
Rm: U606/Choir Rm      presenter:  David Saphier
The science teacher has approached you with a way to make the digestive
system more fun, the social science teacher wants to add a new hands-on
element to their Civil War unit, and the Civics teacher is tired of lecturing
students.  And they have come to you, the drama teacher for help.  
Learn some fun ways to turn theatre games into cross-curricular magic.


Workshop IVB                      
Spicing Up the Marriage That Has Lost Its Zest          
Rm: U605/Theatre Clsrm      presenter: Joni Kiesecker
This workshop is all about finding and sharing the fun as you learn Joni's slightly different approach to getting kids motivated.  Be prepared to get involved in activities such as pantomime, improvisation, monologue writing, and theatrical vocabulary in fun ways that will keep you and your students engaged and wanting to do more.


Workshop IVC                       
Auditioning for the Camera
Rm: U609/Media Clsrm          presenter: Richard Robichaux, Recruiter
                                                                New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
This is an on-your-feet, on-camera workshop using current scripts from television
and film. This workshop breaks down the insider information actors need to
make the leap from stage to screen.

Workshop IVD        Performance Lighting in the 21st Century
Rm: U610/Band Rm    presenter: Joe Cervone, Intermountain Regional Manager - Production Resource Group
Demonstrating lighting techniques using mixed sources (conventional, automated, LED and HID) as well as getting the most out of lighting control consoles. Using light and darkness as effective but unobtrusive mood and emotion enhancers, and the use of patterns to create depth and motion.

5:15 – 5:30    Wrap Up - Auditorium
        *Closing comments for day one
        *Suggestion of evening entertainment

   
Saturday September 26,  2009    

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.    Breakfast Mixer

8:30 – 9:00        *Prize Drawings (Our Vendor’s gracious giveaway!) - Auditorium
                           Passport to Prizes!

9:15 - 10:45        Breakout Session V

Workshop VA                 Page to Stage
Rm: U606/Choir Rm      presenter: Susan Marie Frontczak, Storysmith®

Presented by the Storyteller who shared her work with us on Friday morning, this workshop allows you to explore various ways that a literary source or narrative verse can be brought to live performance. Try out exercises and idea such as editing choices, emoting from subtext, and character definition. Great for teachers of all ages (Elementary through High School). Get ideas that you can take back to your classroom on Monday! It is not necessary to have seen
Friday's performance to enjoy this workshop.
                
Workshop VB            Issues in School Theatre Safety
Tour -                         presenter: Mike Pearl, Theatre Teacher and Director - Grandview HS
Meet in Auditorium                         
Participants will take a guided tour of the Grandview High School theatre facility with an emphasis on noting safety measures in place. Following the tour, participants will engage in an open forum discussion regarding health and safety in school theatres.


Workshop VC           
Keeping the Spark Alive -Spontaneity and Character
Rm: U610/Band Rm                          presenter: Allison Watrous
This workshop will explore exercises and utilize improvisation in order to give the participants tools to jump in and out of character, sustain the spark of character discovery, make bold choices, and create truthful 3-dimensional characters rooted in human behavior.


Workshop VD                     Creating Collage Work                   
Rm: U601/Dance Studio    presenter: Jim LaVita and Katie Elliott, 3rd Law Dance/Theater
Elliott and LaVita will delineate the process through which they and their company create narratively-structured, evening-length works that incorporate dramatic soundscapes, created and 'found' imagery, thoughtful and engaging narration, and imaginative costuming and props and lighting---all grounded on new vocabularies of athletic, gesture-based movement. Demonstration videos of concert excerpts will  
be shown and part of the workshop will be devoted to a moderated open discussion about creating works.

11:00 – 12:15    Workshop Session VI

Workshop VIA                        There's Help Out There: Working with area theatre, dance and
Rm: U605/Theatre Clsrm       music organizations in metro Denver   
                               presenter: Charlotte D'Armond Talbert, Coordinator - Scientific and
                              Cultural Collaborative
Need ideas and resources for professional help in the classroom or on-stage?  Wonder about financial help for backstage tours or matinees?  Charlotte represents over 27 cultural organizations in metro-Denver and their educational outreach.  Learn and share how cultural support with professional development, matinees, workshops, and master-classes.


Workshop VIB                  
SHOUT OUT!: Poetry as Performance       
Rm: U606 – Choir Rm       presenter: Jen Renaldi, Teacher - South HS/Member of the 2006
                                                           Denver Slam Team  (winners of National Poetry Slam) 
And introduction to Spoken Word ("slam poetry") as an art form.  We will brainstorm identify pieces, focusing on the power of performance, and making the performance serve the poem itself.  Multiple suggestions for lesson plans that easily fulfill and resonate with State Standard objectives.

Workshop VIC                  National History Day: A How To Workshop

Rm: U610 Band Rm         presenter(s): Ed Glassman, Video/Cinema Arts - DSA
                                                    Barbara Allen, 6th Grade Social Studies - DSA
This workshop will take teachers through the process for students to create a performance project for National History Day.  This includes: research, script writing, work citing, process paper and questioning for the competition.
 

Workshop VID                    Working with Student Designers
Rm: U609/Meeting Rm       presenter: Shelby O'Clair
Students are often pushed to the side when it comes to designing. But you can successfully have students design your shows and take one more thing off your very busy plate.  Come and talk about tried-and-true ways to work with young designers, introduce your students to new career paths in theatre, and give them even further ownership of their productions.


12:30 – 2:00    Working Lunch "Where are we now?"
Rm: U610/Band Rm

Bring your boxed lunch and participate in a panel discussion about the new Colorado State Theatre Standards, state level advocacy and research resources, Partners of Support in Colorado and much more.

presenter(s): Karol Gates, Content Specialist for the Arts –
                Colorado Department of Education

        Sheila Sears, Arts Education Manager –
                Colorado Council on the Arts

        Kathy Yates, Executive Director - Think360 Arts



2:15 – 3:30    Breakout Session VII

Workshop VIIA                      Networking – Elementary Level
Rm: U609/Meeting Rm         moderator: Nancy Nyhus


Workshop VIIB                        Networking – Middle Level
Rm: U605/Theatre Clsrm        moderator: Joni Kiesecker


Workshop VIIC                        Networking - High School
Rm: U606/Choir Rm                moderator: Jen Shafer
            
Workshop VIID                        Networking – Special Interests/Technical Theatre
Rm: U610 Band Rm                moderator: David Peterson


3:45 – 4:00         Closing Comments - Auditorium
___________________________________________________________________
ACT Conference, September 2008

A Comedy of Eras: Theatre Education Through the Ages

Sept. 19 & 20, 2008
Location: Denver School of the Arts

Ok, Ok .... so you lost your notes or you can't remember the title of the book mentioned or you forgot to ask that one question ... we understand! 
Please use the following emails to contact the workshop presenters.

Friday September 19, 2008
10:00 - 11:15        BREAKOUT SESSION I
Workshop: Adapting Shakespeare for Elementary School
presenter: Nancy Nyhus, <pengrad@msn.com>

Workshop: Group Improvisation
presenter: Allison Watrous, <alli_wa@hotmail.com>

Workshop:  Stage Management
presenter: Claudia Carson, <cjcgals@msn.com>

Workshop:  Effective & fun Vocal Warm-ups
presenter: Anne Penner, <apenner@dcpa.org>

11:30 – 12:45    BREAKOUT SESSION II

         Workshop: Group Improvisation
         presenter: Allison Watrous, <alli_wa@hotmail.com>


            Workshop: Adding that one (design) thing.
         presenter: Colby Elliott, <colbyelliott@msn.com>  
 
Workshop:  Acting in the Classical Theatre
presenter: Tim Mooney, <tim_mooney@earthlink.net>

Workshop:  Ten Steps Every Music Theatre Student Should Know
presenter: Cyndi Huebner, <cyndi@mybodybydesign.com>

2:30 - 3:45      BREAKOUT SESSION III Workshop:  Neutral Mask
presenter: Brett Scott, < BLS6182002@yahoo.com>

Workshop:  A Clinic Regarding Construction and Safety for the High School Stage for Directors and Technical Directors
presenter: Dr. Mike Pearl, <mikepearl@aol.com>

Workshop:  It’s Murder!: Writing & Presenting Murder Mysteries
presenter: Karen Kennedy, <KKennedy@lewispalmer.org>

Workshop:  Lighting Design and Console Training
presenter: Bobby Harrell, www.bobbyharrelllighting.com

4:00 - 5:15        BREAKOUT SESSION IV
Workshop:  Preparing an original show
presenter(s): Shawn Hann and DSA students, denverhann@comcast.net
         Workshop:Cool ideas for teaching technical theatre.
         presenter: Colby Elliott, <colbyelliott@msn.com>


Workshop:  Shakespeare’s Richard III
presenter: David Saphier, < dsaphier@dcpa.org>

           Workshop:  Lighting Design and Console Training
           presenter: Bobby Harrell, www.bobbyharrelllighting.com

9:15 - 10:45        Breakout Session V Workshop:  Hip-Hop & Your Students
presenter: Laurence Curry, < lcurry@dcpa.org>
               
Workshop:  You Want Me to Move? A Brief Introduction to Anne E208/Craft Theatre Bogart’s Viewpoints and Other Movement Teaching Techniques
presenter: Jenna Neilsen, <jennaneilsen@adams.edu>

Workshop:  Identifying technical theatre potential in students; sparking a long term interest and nurturing their journey.
presenter(s): IATSE, Technical Entertainment Arts Educational Support Team (Mark J. Gabriel DeBell, Susan Osborne, and Dean Ladany), <susano.05@comcast.net>

           Workshop: Making The Old New Again
           presenter: Colby Elliott
<colbyelliott@msn.com>
Working Lunch: Pathways to Creative Career
presenter: Gully Stanford, <gully.stanford@cic.state.co.us>

2:15 – 3:30    Breakout Session VII

Workshop: Networking – Elementary Level
moderator: Nancy Nyhus <pengrad@msn.com>
Workshop: Networking – Middle Level
moderator: Shawn Hann <denverhann@comcast.net>

Workshop: Networking - High School
moderator: Jen Shafer <shafejm@d11.org>
           
Workshop: Networking – Special Interests/Technical Theatre
moderator: David Peterson <drpete72@msn.com>

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