Welcome to the 2012 TCG National Conference Video Archive. If you weren't able to join us in Boston, we hope that this gives you a taste of some of the conference programming. Below, you will find the videos of the conference's general sessions. 

Opening Video

TCG, the national organization for the American theatre, exists to strengthen, nurture and promote the professional not-for-profit American theatre. Founded in 1961, TCG’s constituency has grown from a handful of groundbreaking theatres to nearly 700 member theatres and affiliate organizations and more than 12,000 individuals nationwide. The 2012 TCG National Conference kicked off with this montage tracking our theatre movement and the journey made by TCG and our members over the past 50 years.

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Plenary Sessions

 

Theatrical Innovation: Whose Job Is It?

Howard Shalwitz, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Woolly Mammoth (moderator); Sarah Benson, Artistic Director, Soho Rep; Blanka Zizka, Artistic Director, The Wilma Theater; Anthony Moseley, Executive Artistic Director, Collaboraction; Eric Ting, Associate Artistic Director, Long Wharf Theatre

American theatre artists are the best in the world at putting up a show in a brief period of time. But what have we sacrificed for our efficiency? Shalwitz will offer a systemic analysis suggesting that our thinking and processes in the U.S. may be standing in the way of new kinds of productions that could excite American audiences. He will provide examples of strategies that can knit artists together in a shared sense of purpose and open the door to higher levels of theatrical innovation - and the panel will respond.

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A Presentation and Performance by DJ Spooky

Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky is an artist, writer, and musician. Miller has recorded a huge volume of music and has collaborated with a wide variety of artists, writers, musicians and composers. He melds different genres, and performance - and will inspire attendees to explore different models of creating work and connecting with larger, global social issues.

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Ensuring the Sustainability of our Field

F. Javier Torres, Senior Program Officer at The Boston Foundation (moderator); Ralph Peña, Artistic Director of Ma-Yi Theater Company; Roche Schulfer, Executive Director of the Goodman Theatre; Adam Thurman, Communications Director at the Court Theatre; Suzanne Wilkins, Director of Program Services for The Partnership, Inc. The face of our country, and in fact the world, is changing. In order to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for our field, we need to incorporate long-range planning and develop the skills to become change agents for diversity. The panel will discuss successful institutional models of supporting diversity and inclusion with regard to our staffs, artists, board members, and audiences.

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Theatre's Role in Activism

Emily Mann, artistic director/resident playwright, McCarter Theatre (moderator); Steve Cosson, Artistic Director, The Civilians; Mike Daisey, monologist actor; KJ Sanchez, founder/CEO, American Records; Ping Chong, founder, Ping Chong Co.; Nilaja Sun, actor, playwright & teaching artist
This plenary focuses on the impact and challenges of activist theatre. What are the challenges, sensitivities and paradoxes when exploring the idea of truth on stage, and reflecting our society through theatre? What responsibilities are placed on artists? This panel of leading artists will explore these larger questions and models of documentary and activist theatre that work.

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