West Virginia Theatre Conference
2006 Annual Conference
and Theatre Festival
"All the World's a Stage"
West Virginia University at Parkersburg and The Actors Guild
of Parkersburg hosted the 2006 Annual Conference and
Theatre Festival October 27-28, 2006. Attendees were offered an exciting line-up of
competitions, performances, workshops and fun.
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PLANNED WORKSHOPS*
No matter what your field or level of expertise,
we hope you will find something of interest and
enlightenment. And you will have the
opportunity to complete questionnaires regarding
this year's workshop and what you would like to see
offered at the 2007 Festival. (We know they're a bit
of a pain to complete when you are in a hurry to
join your friends but if you don't make your
thoughts known the conference can't very well act on
them.)
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| How to Create &
Establish Your Own Theatre Company With Only
Slashing Your Wrists a Few Times! |
Allison Ford,
Executive Director of Ford's Theatre Company in
Kansas will present this workshop. Allison
started her company in the summer of 2002 and has
been going strong ever since. Her insights and
experience would aid any student or community group
interested in learning how to get started and
pitfalls to avoid along your road to success. |
| Jump Start Your
Creativity With Theatre Games and Improvisations” |
David Sindledecker,
who is well known in the theatre world of West
Virginia and Ohio will take students and teachers
through the wonderful world of improvisation with
games to aid you in your warm-ups as well as
exercises that will inspire creativity and enhance
any ensemble. |
| Technical
Potpourri |
Mark Hoffland,
who served as Technical Director at Michigan State
University, will be offering a "Technical Potpourri"
with a little bit of everything for technicians as
well as "The Technical Wannabes." Mark's workshop
should be especially interesting as he holds his
M.F.A. in Acting but began working in the technical
area and now designs, directs, teaches classes,
build sets, and just about everything else including
selling popcorn and hot dogs. Mark is a great proof
of the value of being a "Theatre Person" who has
strengths in a variety of areas. (For those of you
interested in actually working in the theatre, it's
much easier to find work when you are able to work
in a variety of areas.) The workshop could also be
of assistance to teachers who are making their first
forays into the technical world. |
| Stage Makeup |
Make-up is something
most ladies are exposed to at an early age but then
need to shift approaches when they make the
transition to the stage. Gentlemen who take to the
stage, or to the subject, are far behind in
experience as most don't indulge in street make-up.
Andrew Clovis is prepared to take you to the
next step in his Make-Up Workshop through special
tips, innovative approaches, and special methods
that will enhance your skills in the make-up field. |
| How to Beg,
Borrow, & Steal Your Way into Creating the Perfect
Show Including the Proper Use of Cardboard, Duct
Tape, & Hot Glue to Create Wonders |
Naked actors?
An interesting idea but we are all acutely aware how
costumes play a great role in completing any
character. Dr. Patricia Gaston will be
conducting a workshop in costuming tentatively
titled, "How to Beg, Borrow, & Steal Your Way into
Creating the Perfect Show Including the Proper Use
of Cardboard, Duct Tape, & Hot Glue to Create
Wonders!" (We're still working on the title but you
get the general idea.) This is a great opportunity
for the experienced costumer to share some of their
own "tricks" with others and for the
not-so-experienced to learn of a variety of ways to
create magic from the discards of others. (Can
everyone say, "THRIFT STORES!?") Join Pat for a
workshop of fun while you learn a few new tricks to
keep in your own bag. |
| Nail That Audition |
Many will be coming
to the festival for the screening auditions to the
Southeast Theatre Conference. And there is always a
desire to improve so our audition is the best it can
be. (And we get the part we desire!) "Nail That
Audition," conducted by SETC representatives will
provide an opportunity for those auditioning on
Saturday to try out their material and receive tips
& coaching from two SETC representatives with a
wealth of experience. Depending upon scheduling and
interest, conferees may have the opportunity to
present an audition piece even if they are not a
part of the Saturday screening process. |
| Creating Your
First Film |
We aren't forgetting
those of you with an interest in cinema. Emmanuel
Ogwade will be presenting a workshop on Creating
Your First Film. It is becoming easier every day to
access filming equipment with digital movie camera
prices falling and such programs as iMovie but the
process still requires basic skills that are vital
to the process. Emmanuel will cover everything from
screenplaywriting tricks to camera use to the
wonders of editing. Attend and get some tips, create
your own movie, and then lobby WVTC to include the
subject at a future conference. |
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What is theatre without musicals? |
"What is theatre
without musicals?" we often hear. Professor H.G.
Young, Director of Music at WVUP will conduct a
Musical Theatre Workshop where students may
participate (Bring your music, please! Have it
learned or bring a second copy so you won't have to
share with the accompanist!) and receive tips from
Dr. Young to enhance your skills and improve your
musical presentation. If you don't have a prepared
piece but want to learn through observation, feel
free to attend and gain from the experience. |
| Oral
Interpretation |
It is amazing how
many theatre people are also involved with debate,
speech teams and the like. Participants in the
various fields seem to benefit greatly from working
in other areas, which strengthens them as a
performer in all areas. Professor Barbara Harris,
award winning university forensics coach, will be
offering a workshop in Oral Interpretation designed
to challenge and enlighten the participants as they
encounter a variety of skills that can broaden the
abilities of the actor, the public speaker, or the
debater. |
| Directors’
Seminar” |
Directors are always
looking for ways to enhance and improve their skills
and the "I want to direct!" or "They are forcing me
to direct!" types are frantically searching for a
jumping off point. Dr. David Wohl will be at
the festival with answers for both as he provides
tips & approaches for the beginning director, the
ones with many shows under their belts and all those
who are somewhere in between. Bring your questions,
ideas, & enthusiasm and join David for an
enlightening hour.
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| Five Easy Lessons |
All you need to know
about public presentations in five easy lessons.
Okay, that's an exaggeration but Dr. Lewis
Rutherford, who has more experience in speech,
theatre, etc. than we have space to document, will
offer a workshop addressing subject matter,
organization, presentation, and different methods
for different venues. This can be especially helpful
to conferees who work with presentational theatre
where quality contact with and persuasion of the
audience is paramount. Come and sit at the feet of a
master and learn a book's worth in only one hour! |
| Best Foot Forward |
It's tough enough
when you are told you are to direct your first show
but what if there is a great clamor for dance and
you don't know you left foot from left field? Some
are fortunate enough to know a dance teacher or have
some experienced dancers at your schools. And some
have professional Dancer/Choreographer/Author Joy
Held to get them started with her workshop
designed to help non-dancing directors learn the
basics of choreography so they may obtain
information and experience to get them started. What
steps to use, how to use them, and, above all, how
to notate them are just a few of the items Joy will
be covering during her workshop. |
*These are the
planned workshops and changes and/or alterations may be
required. Any comparison to actual people or events is
completely coincidental. Employees or relatives of employees
are not permitted to participate in this contest except for
Billy Bob, who is John's fourth cousin on his mother's side.
Price does not include state and local taxes. Always
remember to drink your Ovaltine!
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