TCG Bulletin

January 2010, Volume 33, Issue 1

Editor:
Christopher Shuff

Associate Editor:
Claire Mazur

Contributors:
Laurie Baskin
Sarah McLellan
Alissa Moore
Jason Tseng

Also online this month:

FIELD LETTER

Lighting designer and TCG board member Dawn Chiang inaugurates a new decade of Field Letters this month. She discusses what it means to be a lighting designer today: keeping up with rapidly changing technologies, the dynamics of freelancing and how serving on the TCG board has informed her work.

• Click here to view the January 2010 Field Letter.

Monthly Mental Health Moment

All babies are cute, but somehow babies with British accents always seem a little cuter. Like Father Time passing on the torch to Baby New Year, actor Brian Cox passes on the art of Shakespeare to his young friend Theo in this painfully adorable mental health moment. From everyone at TCG, we wish you a happy and healthy new year!

Staff Picks

The newest feature in the TCG Bulletin reveals TCG staff favorites.

Sarah McLellan, Artistic Programs Associate My favorite TCG resource is the 2003 Centerpiece, Using The Balance Sheet To Diagnose Your Theatre’s Financial Health (PDF). In just ten pages, this document can make even the most number-phobic theatre employee feel comfortable with terms like “net assets,” “restricted funds” and “working capital.” Think of all the people you can impress with your new fiscal knowledge—your boss, your blind date, your dad, your dog. This article is also a great warm-up for those of us getting ready to tackle the TCG Fiscal Survey.

Steve Schmersal, Operations Manager When I was assistant office manager, I covered the TCG switchboard during lunch, and some callers had questions that left me a bit nonplussed, like: a theatre statistic, career or grad program question, wanting information about Shakespeare festivals or even theatre architecture. I quickly learned that Management Programs was the go-to department for such calls. They cheerfully gave any question their best shot, and if an answer was not at hand, they directed the caller to the best possible source, whether it be a website, book or another organization. I admire them enormously and believe this service is one of many lights at TCG that bushels should not hide. Management Programs is reachable by phone at (212) 609 -5900 x298.

TCG NEWS

2010 TCG National Conference: IDEAS INTO ACTION. June 17-19 in Chicago at the Palmer House!

Join us in Chicago for TCG’s 20th National Conference! Last year, we examined the landscape within which we now work. This year we will dig even deeper, roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. In addition to providing ample opportunities to talk about “nuts and bolts” issues in your work, we'll focus on four main programming threads: artists and artistry, arts education and training, race and gender and the creative ecology. The 2010 TCG National Conference, Ideas into Action, is your opportunity to explore bold new solutions, cultivate a community that strengthens and nourishes your work and hear from theatres, artists and other thought leaders who will inspire strategic thinking that leads to action.

Action: Registration opens mid-January. For more information, visit the Conference section of the website. Visit the Lodging page to reserve your rooms at The Palmer House Hilton, the conference location.

IDEAS INTO ACTION: Call for Conference Session Proposals

Want to share your experience and expertise? We are calling all practitioners, developers and innovators across the field to submit proposals sharing their knowledge and experiences through presentations and discussion focused on our conference theme. This year’s Conference, Ideas into Action, will follow four main tracks: artists and artistry, arts education and training, race and gender and the creative ecology. We also encourage proposals focused on the day-to-day challenges faced by our members.
Action:

Action: The submission deadline is February 12. Visit the Conference section of the site for proposal guidelines and materials.

TCG Award Nominations!

The annual TCG Awards are a vital part of acknowledging unyielding commitment and artistic contributions to the theatre field. Since 2001, the TCG Awards have saluted extraordinary dedication to the United States theatre community. These honors will be presented again at the 2010 TCG National Conference in Chicago. TCG strives to cultivate and celebrate the artistic talent and achievements of the theatre field and promote a larger public understanding of and appreciation for the theatre. It is up to the TCG community to call our attention to artists and funders who are shaping the theatre field and leading it into the future. Each TCG member theatre is urged to nominate one honoree in each award category.

Action: The nomination deadline is January 25. Visit the Conference section of the site for nomination guidelines and materials.

TCG National Conference 2010–Pre-Conference on Arts Education

This story was originally published in the December 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
TCG will focus on arts education and assessment at a pre-conference to the June 2010 TCG National Conference. We will follow up on the Building a National TEAM: Theatre Education Assessment Models pre-conference from 2007. Education directors will be trained in adapting the national models for use in their education programs as well as aligning the evaluation and assessment work with federal and state standards.

Action: Save the dates June 16-17 and stay tuned for more information!

A Groundbreaking Anthology from TCG Books

TCG has published a first-of-its-kind collection of Middle Eastern-American drama, Salaam.Peace. Edited by Holly Hill and Dina Amin, the volume contains new plays by American writers of a diversity of Middle Eastern backgrounds, from artists born in Egypt and Iran, to Israeli- and Palestinian-Americans. Tony Kushner writes, “Read these plays! You’ll have a great time doing so, and you’ll wish you’d seen every one onstage.”

Action: Visit the Bookstore to purchase this and other titles from TCG Books.

Fiscal Survey 2009

This story was originally published in the November 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
TCG member theatres are strongly encouraged to participate in this comprehensive annual survey, which serves as the basis for Theatre Facts, TCG's in-depth report on the field's attendance, performance and fiscal health. Only participating theatres will have online access to the full survey results.

Action: The deadline for Fiscal Survey 2009 has been extended to January 15. Email Ilana Rose with questions.

ADVOCACY NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN ARTS ALLIANCE AND TCG

Colorado Smoking Ban Appeal

As we reported in the January 2009 TCG Bulletin, the Colorado Supreme Court agreed to review the constitutionality of a statewide smoking ban as it is applied to live theatre performances. The Court agreeing to hear the case was the first victory in a three-year legal battle between three local theatre companies and the Colorado Department of Health. Denver’s Curious Theatre Company, Paragon Theatre and Boulder's Theatre 13 argued that smoking onstage is expressive behavior protected by the First Amendment. A Denver District judge rejected that argument in October 2006, and a three-member appellate court followed suit in March 2008. The theatres then took the case to the Colorado Supreme Court. On December 14, 2009, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld earlier Colorado court decisions, and denied an exemption for theatrical smoking. TCG has filed several Amicus Briefs, expertly written by Bruce E.H. Johnson, trustee of Seattle Repertory Theatre and member of TCG’s National Council for the American Theatre, in support of TCG member Curious Theatre Company. The Colorado theatres are considering next steps. TCG plans to continue our support of the case, whether at the state or federal level.

Action: If your locality or state has a smoking ban with an exemption for theatrical smoking, please send a copy of the law or regulations to Laurie Baskin.

USCIS Reinstates Multi-Venue Petition Process!

UPDATED! This story was originally published in the November 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
Arts organizations can once again file a single visa petition for artists engaged for performances at multiple venues in the U.S. In response to concerns expressed by the national performing arts community, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reinstated the ability of a petitioner to file a single petition for artists coming to the U.S. for an itinerary of events with multiple arts organizations. Over the past two months, the Performing Arts Visa Working Group communicated with top officials at USCIS, on the Hill and in the White House to urge a return to this practice, which is more efficient and affordable than submitting multiple visa requests for a single itinerary of performance events.

Action: Visit the Advocacy section of the website to learn more about this issue. Visit the Artists from Abroad website to find a November 20, 2009 memo issued by USCIS, as well as an important sample for and additional updated guidance prepared under the advisement of attorney Jonathan Ginsburg of FTM Arts Law. Visit the petitioner page to learn more about how to file a visa petition. Email Laurie Baskin to keep us informed of how the visa process is impacting your theatre’s ability to engage foreign guest artists; examples of theatre encounters with USCIS policies are essential to our ability to advocate for improvements to the visa process.

2010 National Arts Advocacy Day, April 12-13

This story was originally published in the December 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
The dates for the 2010 Arts Advocacy Day have been announced–April 12-13. The 23rd annual Arts Advocacy Day is the only national event that brings together a broad cross-section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country, to underscore the importance, developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts and letting congressional leaders know that the arts are an economic engine for development.

Action: Visit the Americans for the Arts website to register. Email Laurie Baskin at TCG so your visit can be coordinated with other theatre advocates.

Appropriations Update

The Arts in Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education will receive $40 million, which represents a $2 million increase from FY09. The Corporation for National and Community Service will receive $1.149 billion, an increase of $260 million from FY09. Not-for-profit arts organizations are eligible to apply for funding and/or for volunteer workers from all national service programs.
The $1.149 billion includes:
• $50 million for the new Social Innovation Fund
• $4 million for the new Volunteer Generation
• $1 million for the new Nonprofit Capacity Building Program
• $2 million for the Summer of Service
The Educational and Cultural Exchanges Programs at the Department of State will receive $635 million, an increase of $97 million from FY09. The majority of those funding dollars will most likely go to the education programs with a minimal amount to cultural exchanges. In FY09, cultural exchange programs received $9.1 million.

Action: None

ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

USArtists International Travel Grants

Grants are available to U.S. dance, music and theatre ensembles and solo artists that have been invited to participate in international festivals outside of the United States.

Action: The deadline is January 8. Visit the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation website for application guidelines and materials.

Bazaar Productions/The Berkshire Fringe Festival Seek New Works for the Stage

Six companies or individuals will be invited to participate in this festival, which will be held in late July and August. All artists receive theatre space, housing, assistance with marketing and publicity, extensive support from technical and front of house staff and half of their box office sales.

Action: The deadline is January 15. Visit the Berkshire Fringe website for applications guidelines and materials.

Women's Project Accepting Applications for 2010–2012 Lab

This is a free two year program for early to mid-career women playwrights, directors and producers to network, brainstorm and envision bold new work for the theatre. The Lab offers members an artistic home through monthly meetings and seeks to foster dialogue and production opportunities.

Action: The postmark deadline is January 18. Visit the Women’s Project website for application guidelines and materials.

Penobscot Theatre's Fourth Annual Northern Writes New Play Festival Seeks Submissions

This festival runs June 21-July 3 in Bangor, ME. Ten-minute, one-act and full-length work from new and established playwrights will be considered. Submissions must be unpublished and have not received a previous production.

Action: The postmark deadline is February 14. Visit the Penobscot Theatre website for application guidelines and materials.

VSA arts Announces 2010 Playwright Discovery Call for Scripts

The program invites middle and high school students to submit scripts, written individually or by a group or class of students. The winning play will be professionally produced or staged at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the winning playwright will receive $2,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. to see the production.

Action: The deadline for receipt of materials is April 15. Visit the VSA arts website for application guidelines and materials.

ARTS EDUCATION

TCG National Conference 2010–Pre-Conference on Arts Education

Action: See story in the Current TCG News section.

Coming Up Taller Awards Program Seeks Nominations

The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) is inviting nominations for the 2010 Coming Up Taller Awards, which recognize the accomplishments of exceptional arts and humanities after-school and out-of-school programs. Coming Up Taller finalists receive a $10,000 award, an award plaque and an invitation to attend the Coming Up Taller Leadership Enhancement Conference in Washington, DC. The awards ceremony is traditionally held in the fall at the White House, with the awards bestowed by the President’s Committee’s Honorary Chairman, First Lady Michelle Obama.

Action: The nomination deadline is January 29. Visit the PCAH for application guidelines and materials.

Arts and Aging Toolkit Offers Strategies for Enhancing Health in Older People

Studies show that arts programs for older people improve participants' physical and emotional health. Now available in Spanish, Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit provides best practices and models of successful programs for artists, educators and aging services providers. Authored by Johanna Misey Boyer, the Toolkit is a joint project of the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA), the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).

Action: Visit the Arts and Aging website to download the toolkit. For information on upcoming arts and aging workshops, technical assistance and other educational programs, email the National Center for Creative Aging.

Study Guide Now Available for the film Me and Orson Welles

The discussion study guide for Richard Linklater’s film Me and Orson Welles is now available and downloadable on the film’s website. This guide provides an excellent opportunity to facilitate classroom or group discussion about the writer and creative genius, Orson Welles, and also about the opening of his acclaimed theatrical production of Julius Caesar, a landmark moment in American theatre history.

Action: Visit the Me and Orson Welles website to download the study guide.

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

Call For Papers: ATHE's Emerging Scholarship Panel in Music Theatre/Dance Emerging Scholars Panel

The 2010 Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference will take place August 3-6 in Los Angeles, CA. Papers may address any area in the purview of the Music Theatre/Dance Focus group including: opera, operettas, musicals, dance theatre, performance art with music or dance elements and pedagogy in music theatre and dance. Submissions will be open to graduate students and scholars who have not presented at a national conference, and established scholars who have not presented or published in the areas of music theatre or dance.

Action: The deadline is January 30. Visit the ATHE website or email Ronald Zank for submission guidelines and information about requirements and the review process.

Save the Date: Arts in the One World Conference, March 17-March 21 in Providence, RI

This conference will take place at Brown University with the theme of Home: Composing the Rooted Local in the Rapid Global Environment. It will explore how the arts and social services compose, consider and translate community.

Action: Email Erik Ehn, head of playwriting at Brown University, if you are interested in coming or have recommendations as to structure or content.

Arts Reach National Arts Marketing Conference in March–TCG Member Discount!

UPDATED! This story was originally published in the November 2009 issue of the Bulletin.
TCG members are entitled to up to $160 off registration to the 2010 Arts Reach National Arts Marketing and Development Conference, scheduled for March 13–16, in New York City. TCG members will receive $80 off the Regular Conference, $40 off the Pre-Conference Day and $40 off the Post-Conference Day. The theme of the event is Coming Together, Setting the Course: Reinvent Your Future with the New Marketing and Fundraising Strategies of the Next Decade.

Action: Visit the Arts Reach website to view all of the conference offerings or to register online.

DEVELOPMENT

NEA Announces First Round of Grants for FY 2010

The NEA will distribute $26,968,500 in the first round of fiscal year 2010 funding to support 1,207 projects by not-for-profit national, regional, state and local organizations nationwide. Access to Artistic Excellence grants support the creation and presentation of work in the disciplines of dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, media arts, museums, music, musical theatre, opera, presenting, theatre and visual arts. Projects include commissions, residencies, workshops, performances, exhibitions, publications, festivals and professional development programs. Through this category, the NEA will fund 994 projects for a total of $23,828,500 million.

These awards to TCG member theatres were announced:

Access to Artistic Excellence Grants:
7 Stages: $15,000
About Face Theatre: $15,000
The Acting Co: $25,000
Actors Theatre of Louisville: $35,000
Actors Shakespeare Project: $10,000
African-American Shakespeare Company: $10,000
Alabama Shakespeare Festival: $20,000
Alley Theatre: $25,000
Alliance Theatre: $25,000
Amas Musical Theatre, Inc: $15,000
American Conservatory Theater: $20,000
American Repertory Theater: $35,000
American Repertory Theater: $20,000
Arizona Theatre Company: $20,000
Arden Theatre Co: $25,000
Arena Stage: $40,000
Arkansas Repertory Theatre: $10,000
Artists Repertory Theatre: $20,000
Atlantic Theater Company: $10,000
Barrington Stage Co: $25,000
Berkeley Repertory Theatre: $30,000
Borderlands Theater: $15,000
Center for Puppetry Arts: $20,000
Center Theatre Group: $35,000
CENTERSTAGE: $30,000
Cherry Lane Theatre: $15,000
Chicago Children's Theatre: $15,000
Chicago Dramatists: $15,000
The Children's Theatre Co: $35,000
Childsplay: $20,000
City Theatre Co: $15,000
The Civilians: $15,000
Classical Theatre of Harlem: $30,000
Cleveland Public Theatre: $10,000
Clubbed Thumb: $15,000
Collaboraction: $10,000
Company of Fools: $15,000
Contemporary American Theater Festival: $10,000
Cornerstone Theater Co: $35,000
The Coterie Theatre: $35,000
CounterPULSE: $10,000
Court Theatre: $25,000
Cultural Odyssey: $15,000
Curious Theatre Company: $10,000
The Cutting Ball Theater: $10,000
Dallas Children's Theater: $10,000
Dallas Theater Center: $35,000
Deaf West Theatre: $30,000
Denver Center Theatre Co: $20,000
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center: $20,000
First Stage Children's Theater: $15,000
Florida Studio Theatre: $15,000
Ford's Theatre: $35,000
The Foundry Theatre: $15,000
GALA Hispanic Theatre: $25,000
Georgia Shakespeare: $15,000
Goodman Theatre: $20,000
Guthrie Theater: $20,000
Hartford Stage: $20,000
HERE Arts Center: $35,000
The House Theatre of Chicago: $10,000
Huntington Theatre Company: $20,000
Indiana Repertory Theatre: $30,000
InterAct Theatre Company: $10,000
Intersection For The Arts: $10,000
Irondale Ensemble Project: $20,000
Japan Society: $25,000
The Jewish Theatre of San Francisco: $15,000
Jump-Start Performance Co: $20,000
Kansas City Repertory Theatre: $20,000
Kitchen Dog Theater: $10,000
La Jolla Playhouse: $25,000
Lark Play Development Center: $15,000
Lark Play Development Center: $30,000
Long Wharf Theatre: $20,000
Mabou Mines: $20,000
Magic Theatre: $15,000
Manhattan Theatre Club: $20,000
Marin Theatre Company: $10,000
McCarter Theatre Center: $25,000
Mint Theater Co: $15,000
Miracle Theatre Group: $15,000
Mixed Blood Theatre Co: $20,000
Mu Performing Arts: $10,000
The Neo-Futurists: $10,000
New Dramatists, Inc: $40,000
New Georges: $10,000
The New Harmony Theatre: $15,000
New Paradise Laboratories Theatre: $10,000
The Old Globe: $40,000
Oregon Children's Theatre: $20,000
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: $50,000
Pangea World Theater: $10,000
Paper Mill Playhouse: $15,000
Penobscot Theatre: $15,000
The People's Light & Theatre Company: $20,000
Perishable Theatre: $10,000
Perseverance Theatre: $15,000
Philadelphia Theatre Co: $20,000
Pig Iron Theatre Company: $15,000
Ping Chong & Company (FIJI): $25,000
The Play Company: $15,000
The Playwrights' Center: $30,000
Playwrights Foundation: $20,000
Playwrights Horizons: $20,000
Portland Center Stage: $15,000
Portland Stage Company: $10,000
Pregones Theater: $35,000
The Public Theater: $45,000
Round House Theatre: $30,000
San Diego Repertory Theatre: $20,000
San Francisco Mime Troupe: $12,000
Seattle Children's Theatre: $20,000
Second Stage Theatre: $25,000
The Shakespeare Theatre Company: $30,000
Shotgun Players: $10,000
Signature Theatre Co: $30,000
Signature Theatre Co: $40,000
Silk Road Theatre Project: $20,000
SITI Company: $15,000
Soho Repertory Theatre: $10,000
South Coast Repertory: $40,000
Southern Rep: $20,000
Steppenwolf Theatre Co: $35,000
The Studio Theatre: $15,000
Swine Palace Productions: $10,000
Syracuse Stage: $20,000
Talking Band: $15,000
Target Margin Theater: $15,000
Thalia Spanish Theatre: $20,000
Theater Breaking Through Barriers: $15,000
Theatre for a New Audience: $20,000
Theater J: $25,000
TheatreWorks: $40,000
Third Rail Repertory: $10,000
Triad Stage: $15,000
Trinity Repertory Co: $20,000
Two River Theater Co: $15,000
Unicorn Theatre: $15,000
Unity Theatre Ensemble: $10,000
Upstream Theater: $10,000
Utah Shakespearean Festival: $25,000
Victory Gardens Theater: $20,000
William Inge Center for the Arts: $20,000
The Wilma Theater: $20,000
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co: $30,000
Writers' Theatre: $10,000
Yale Repertory Theatre: $30,000
TOTAL: $3,002,000

Challenge America Grants ($10,000)
The Acting Company/Guthrie Theater (with University of Illinois at Springfield)
Gamut Theatre Group
The Globe Theatre
Kennedy Center - Theater for Young Audiences (with VSA arts of Ohio)
Sierra Rep
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
TOTAL: $60,000

Action: Visit the NEA website to see the complete listing of projects receiving grant support.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH

Foundation Center Releases Foundations' Year-end Outlook for Giving and the Sector

According to this recently released report, foundation giving is likely to decline by more than ten percent in 2009.

Action: Visit the Foundation Center website download the full report.

NEA Releases 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts

The full report, which details a decline in overall attendance at arts events, is now available for download.

Action: Visit the NEA website to download the full report.

Selected Findings from the Artists and the Economic Recession Survey Released

This survey sought to understand artists’ financial circumstances more than a year into the recession, their strategies for adaptation and their needs and concerns at this time.

Action: Visit the Leveraging Investments in Creativity website to download the report.

Broadway League Releases The Demographics of the Broadway Audience for 2008-09 Season

This report, published annually, compares current theatre-going habits to previous seasons in predicting trends for the future. The analysis is based on extensive survey data gleaned from audience questionnaires distributed throughout the 2008-09 Broadway season in New York City.

Action: Visit the Broadway League website to read the full press release. Email Elisa Shevitz for a complete copy of the report or for further information.

RESOURCES

New Software Programs in Development from Fractured Atlas and Patron Technology

National arts service organization Fractured Atlas recently began work on a project to develop an open source, community-developed event ticketing system called ATHENA, supported by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Patron Technology is currently in the testing phase of their new product, PatronManager, a Customer Relationship Management system created specifically for arts and not-for-profit organizations. It will provide a central location to perform, manage and store virtually every business transaction.

Action: Visit the ATHENA website to learn more about Fractured Atlas’ open source ticketing system. Visit the Patron Technology website to learn more about PatronManager

NEW TCG MEMBERS

A Red Orchid Theatre

1531 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610-7752
tel (312) 943-8722
fax (312) 943-9185
arot@aredorchidtheatre.org
www.aredorchidtheatre.org
Kirsten Fitzgerald, Artistic Director
Cristofre Kayser, General Manager
Christian Chadd Taylor, Board President

Bloomington Playwrights Project

107 W 9th St
Bloomington, IN 47404
tel (812) 334-1188
bppwrite@newplays.org
www.newplays.org
Chad Rabinovitz, Producing Artistic Director
Gabe Gloden, Managing Director
Sonja Johnson, Board President

Company One

539 Tremont St, Studio 202
Boston, MA 02116-6306
tel (617) 292-7110
info@companyone.org
www.companyone.org
Shawn LaCount, Artistic Director
Sarah Shampnois, Managing Director
Victoria Marsh, Board Chair

Silk Road Theatre Project

680 S Federal, Suite 301
Chicago, IL 60605
tel (312) 857-1234
fax (312) 577-0849
info@srtp.org
www.srtp.org
Jamil Khoury, Artistic Director
Malik Gillani, Executive Director
Frank Buttitta, Board President

St Louis Black Repertory Company

1717 Olive St, 4th Fl
St Louis, MO 63103-1724
tel (314) 534-3807
fax (314) 534-4035
info@theblackrep.org
www.theblackrep.org
Ron Himes, Producing Director
Richard J Mark, Board Chair

Teatro IATI

64 E 4th St
Suite 4E
New York, NY 10003
tel (212) 505-6757
info@teatroiati.org
www.teatroiati.org
Vivian Deangelo, Artistic & Executive Director
Winston Estevez, Associate Artistic Director
Joseph Sadigur, Board Chair

TCG DEADLINES

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