Directing

1. Directing Basics for Musical Theatre
   From his home base in Europe, Jim Sohre has traveled the world with U. S. Army Entertainment and provides his unique perspective on directing this truly American art form.
2. Shall We Dance, ba ba ba?
   Noted Broadway choreographer Patti D’Beck will lead this session which is designed especially for community theatre stage directors and choreographers.
3. BIFF! POW! BAM! Fight Choreography for Directors
   How to devise production concepts that integrate fight choreography and stage combat into your plays and musicals; this workshop is intended for directors and is taught by Broadway veteran David Leong.
4. Bossing Your Buddies: Advanced Directing for Avocational Theatre
   Former AACT President and noted director Jack Phillips, Artistic Director of the Theatre of Western Springs, Illinois leads this upper-level session on the finer points of the craft.
5. Making Your Dreams Come True: Director/Designer Relationships
   Davidson College professors Ann Marie Costa and Joe Gardner explore the often complex but essential partnership between the stage director and their various designers.
6. Directing Period Style for Community Theatre
   The plays of Shakespeare, Moliere, Wilde and many others place physical and vocal demands on actors that are different from the demands of modern realistic drama.  Veteran director Jack Phillips will present a workshop designed to help directors get relatively untrained actors to rise up and meet these demands.
7. Cut! Cutting a Play for AACT Festivals
   Murray Chase will share best practices in trimming down a script as gleaned from decades of experience producing award-winning plays and musicals for AACTFest.

Acting

1. Making Cold Readings Hot!
   Noted acting teacher and stage director Mark Sutch will guide session participants in the exploration of what it takes to make cold readings successful in an audition or callback situation.
2. Winning Musical Auditions
   This session takes a look at what’s good (and eliminate what’s bad) in singing auditions with tips on finding new audition material; come explore some exciting and risky new ways to perform those songs to help everyone win their auditions. Instructor: Ed Linderman
3. What’s My Motivation?
   This session, led by Winthrop University’s Andrew Vorder Bruegge examines script analysis from both the director and actor’s perspective through discussion of basic character clues, French scenes, beats, motivational units and the all-important subtext.
4. Practice Random Acts of Improv
   A participatory workshop for actors and audience members; come play with us as together we perform numerous improvisation games that can be used in your home theatre. Instructor: Jill Bloede
5. Broadway Musicals and the Joy of Singing in Them
   Whether you are a singer, teacher or director, this workshop will help all participants “break through” to more joyous and powerful singing performances. Volunteers will be asked to perform and an accompanist will be provided. Instructor: Ed Linderman
6. Do I Amuse You? Comedy Styles from the Class Clown
   A special two-part workshop on performing various comedy styles taught by AACT guru Jim Carver. From Physical Comedy to Farce, this workshop – and presenter – will keep you in stitches!

Technical

1. Big Costumes on Little Budgets
   With 40 years as a costume designer under her belt, Ocala Civic Theatre and Flat Rock Playhouse designer Bridget R. Bartlett knows how to milk every dollar so hard it moos. Come find out how to make the most out of your available resources.
2. Presto! Costuming Tricks of the Trade
   Part two of this costume symposium lets you in on the secrets of the costume shop, including what to save (or throw away), storage ideas, innovative materials and how to make costume rentals a source of revenue for your theatre.
3. No More Green Gels! An “En-Lightening” Workshop for Those in the Dark
   A “how to” demonstration of the basics of computer lighting systems in the beautiful Booth Playhouse; the session also includes discussion on selecting the right gels, purchasing lights on a budget and basic lighting tips and design techniques. Instructor: Eric Winkenwerder
4. Producing Original Works on Community Theatre Stages
   Mark Woods, Founder of New River Dramatists, explains how avocational organizations can leverage their resources to help inspire, support and develop excellence in what is written for the stage.
5. Exit…Stage Left: A Survivor's Guide to Stage Management
   This practical “hands-on” workshop is led by Equity stage manager Audrey M. Brown and include useful hand-outs and dozens of practical tips for anyone wanting to learn how to be (or become a more effective) stage manager.

 Management

1. Law & Disorder: Legal Issues for the Theatre
   Daniel Ellison will provide an overview of many of the legal issues facing theatres, performers, playwrights, directors and any others working in the theatre. Issues include: contracts, copyright (including issues about director's rights), Americans With Disabilities Act, Race/Sex/Age Discrimination, personal injury liability, non-profit board responsibilities, rights of publicity, and many others.
2. True Confessions of a Media Slut
   Morrie Enders offer pointers on how to improve media relationships and promote your show using outrageous and audacious marketing approaches. Leave your moral standards at the door and be prepared to wallow in shamelessness.
3. Youth Theatre Panel
   Noted child drama and education experts Valerie Rhymer, Julie Wellons, Dr. Beth Murray and Lucy Hazlehurst host a panel discussion on youth and education programming for your theatre. Come prepared to ask questions!
4. Show Me ‘Da Money!
   A session that offers inside tips on grant writing and the submission of successful funding proposals presented by Hope Johnston, Grants Coordinator for ArtsTeach, a successful public-private partnership in Charlotte.
5. The Bored Board: Building Participation
   Jeanette Guinn, Program Director for Long Range Planning and Performing Arts, South Carolina Arts Commission will present a management session about building participation in various aspects of avocational theatre, including fundraising, expanding your donor base and audience demographic, and board development.
6. No Turn Unstoned: Advice on dealing with critics, from one who throws like a girl
   Julie York Coppens, theatre writer for The Charlotte Observer and member of the American Theatre Critics Association, leads a discussion on a topic of interest to theatre practitioner at every level of the art form. No tomatoes, please.
7. Endowment Basics for Non-Profit Arts Organizations
   Chris McLeod, JD is Vice President for The Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust, an organization that manages endowments in excess of $100 million for the benefit of the Arts & Science Council and its related cultural organizations. Chris works with the executive directors, development directors and board of 24 arts, culture and history organizations to build endowments through planned giving.

Miscellaneous

• Senior Theatre: Old Actors Never Die, They Just Go Through Stages. (AKA “We May Be Older, AND We’re certainly Wiser!”)
  A performance seminar for senior adults hosted by Joan Kole, who will create a readers theatre.

| AACTFest '07 Menu Page |