2011 TCG National Conference - Pre-Conference: RADAR L.A.

June 14–June 19, 2011

RADAR L.A.
An International Festival of Contemporary Theatre with Pre–Conference Symposium exploring vital issues in the evolution of contemporary theatre

The 50th anniversary of TCG is a cause for celebration, and Los Angeles will mark the occasion with RADAR L.A., an international festival of contemporary theatre and an intensive two-day symposium. Expanding the TCG tradition of pre-conference professional development workshops, the symposium focuses on crucial issues in our evolving field with a remarkable range of visiting artists from Australia, Chile, Japan, Mexico, and more.

Join us as we investigate the evolution of contemporary theatre, including the development of new theatrical forms, new dramaturgical models, international presenting and co-producing, new audience development opportunities, and innovative arts education programs.

JUNE 14–19: THE FESTIVAL

The complete program for the RADAR L.A. festival will be announced in early spring, but the exciting preliminary line-up features adventurous international artists alongside companies from L.A. and elsewhere in U.S., including:

Teatro en el Blanco (Chile), Toshiki Okada and his company Chelfitsch (Japan), visual theatre artist Fleur Elise Noble (Australia), Teatro Linea de Sombra (Mexico), Jose Miguel Jimenez and The Company (Chile/Ireland), Rude Mechs (Austin), Latino Theater Company (L.A.), Sekou/Steve Connell (L.A.), and more.


JUNE 15–16: THE SYMPOSIUM

For the RADAR L.A. symposium agenda, Click here.

The symposium precedes the TCG conference, and includes many RADAR L.A. performances as well as panel discussions, workshops, and work sessions geared to provide professional development for artistic directors, dramaturgs, theater artists, arts marketing professionals, arts education specialists, and theatre educators.

Sessions will be developed around a series of key questions, including:

  • As the traditional roles of producing and presenting evolve and blur, and more regional theatres are serving as presenters (and vice versa), what challenges and opportunities emerge?
  • Innovative, contemporary programming can draw new, young and diverse audiences, and sometimes generate apprehension among traditional subscribers venturing into unfamiliar territory. What case studies and "war stories" can we learn from as we consider expanding our programming with less familiar theatrical forms?
  • Some of the world's most influential theatre companies are developing new work as an ensemble. What are the unique models and methods for an ensemble-based approach to developing new work? Which aspects of these techniques can inform the standard working style of American theatre professionals?
  • Despite the many challenges of working across borders, international theatre companies have enthralled audiences across the country. What advantages and challenges does international work create? How can we overcome the obstacles–and when is it worth it?
  • How can we expand our definition of theatre to include experimental approaches when formulating arts education programs? How can new theatrical forms help excite the audience of the future? Is anything lost by not focusing on classic forms when programming for students?
  • Some exciting developments in the evolution of contemporary theatre are reflected in RADAR L.A.–highly visual theatrical techniques, narrative writing that verges on poetry, and site-specific staging, to mention a few. How do the artists making these works imagine the future of theatre? Can experimentation and innovation inspire us to re-think our normal practice?
  • And, as the TCG conference encourages to ask, "What if?"

Registration for the symposium includes a Performance Pass good for admission to virtually all performances (a few projects must be ticketed separately).

RADAR L.A. is funded in part with generous support from The Boeing Company, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the James Irvine Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.