TYA/USA News & Events

In addition to the play readings, the festival participants observed a presentation on the 2011 ASSITEJ International Congress, an International playwright slam, a US playwright's slam, and the Theatre for Young Audiences Membership meeting.  Participants also took advantage of networking opportunities, a special event for the NEXT generation of TYA professional, and "lunch around discussions" focused on topical subjects pertinent to the field. Since its inception in 1991, New Visions/New Voices has assisted in the development of 73 new plays, musicals, and operas from 67 playwrights and 31 composers working with 47 US and five international theater companies. 

 

New Visions New Voices co-founding director Deirdre Kelly Lavrakas (left) and Kim Peter Kovac (right) with New Visions/New Voices 2010 Discussion Facilitator, Todd London (center)

Membership Meeting 2010
Our annual Membership Meeting is to be held during New Visions / New Voices. The meeting is currently scheduled for Friday, May 21, 2010 from 4-5:30 p.m.

May 2011 the TYA/USA community will return to the city that hosted the first One Theatre World in 1995.  One Theatre World is a major national gathering specifically designed for the professional community devoted to theatre for young audiences. TYA/USA is excited to partner with Seattle Children's Theatre for this celebration of American and international TYA artistry. TYA/USA will host a 3-4 day gathering during the week May 9-15, 2011.
 
Seattle has established itself as a major artistic and theatrical center. Recently the New York Times profiled the Seattle theatre community in an article titled, "A Permanent Theater Festival on Puget Sound." It's a joy to announce that TYA/USA will celebrate its community amidst this beautiful Northwest setting.
 
Throughout the convening, TYA members will have an opportunity to explore the Seattle TYA scene first-hand. Seattle Children's Theatre will have a production running--a new play by Steven Dietz--and we look forward to visiting other member theatres while in residence.
 
In keeping with the international aspect of One Theatre World, we chose a week that coincides with Seattle's International Arts festival Giant Magnet, formerly the Seattle Children's International Festival. The Festival is excited to work with us, and has offered us a wonderful ticket rate and expressed a desire to explore other ways to collaborate.
 
One Theatre World will also provide us an opportunity to hear from leaders within the field and learn new approaches from each other. We are working to create a series of hands-on working sessions so that you will walk away with plans to implement and ideas to use  in every department. Individual artists will have an opportunity to hone skills and discover new talents.
 
Yes, budgets are tight and 2011 presents a number of options for gathering and professional development, but the best way to remain engaged is to recharge the creative batteries. The TYA/USA Board hopes that you will plan to participate in the Seattle One Theatre World May 2011.
 
We look forward to seeing you in Seattle in May 2011.

Mark your calendars for May 11, 12, 13, 2011 in Seattle!  TYA/USA's One Theatre World is a festival of showcases, productions, workshops and seminars and promises to be every three years and promises to be a terrific event.

TYA/USA is proud to announce a series of Master Classes and Moderated Conversations designed to connect, educate and strengthen the professional artists devoted to creating excellent theatre for young people in the United States.
 
Phone Forum Series #1-Engaging Audiences and Teachers

Phone Forum Series #2- Theatre for the Very Young

The Phone Forums are weekly teleconferences where a limited number of participants will discover and discuss the latest ideas and techniques available to the TYA community.

The conversations offered at TYA/USA will focus exclusively on issues, practices and unique challenges that affect the TYA community.
 
Phone forums present the unique opportunity for each participant to connect with peers across the country; improve and expand the skills needed to strengthen your department and theatre; and the new approaches and techniques will transform the field's best practices.

Enrollment is limited--sign up for Phone Forum Series #1 by February 19! Find out more about the Phone Forums here.

TYA/USA President Lenora Inez Brown has been selected as a member of the 2011 World Congress Advisory Board.  The Congress Advisory Board is a forum of important contributors and individuals with experience working with big international events. The board will work in close cooperation with the organizers of the World Congress, providing counseling and expertise.  To learn more about the Congress Advisory Board.

New book on ASSITEJ now available

Order a copy of The ASSITEJ Book 2008-2009 for $15 per copy+ shipping, and receive The ASSITEJ International Festival Guide 2009 FREE!

To order email info@tyausa.org- please allow two weeks for order processing and shipping.

The ASSITEJ Book 2006-2007 is still available too! Contact us with your order!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! COMING SOON! 

First Stage Milwaukee's THRIVE symposium October 14-16, 2010  click here for more information.    

International Performing Arts for Youth
IPAY SHOWCASE 2011 will be held in Tampa, Florida from January 19 - 22, 2011.  Register here. 

ASSITEJ International 17th World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Young Audiences "Building Bridges, Crossing Borders" will take place in Copenhagen - Malmoe May 20-29, 2011.  Click here for information.

“RED BALLOON” Adventure Theatre Washington Dc

To read the latest news from IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth) click here.

From TYA Member at Large Kim Peter Kovac: "If you don’t know IPAY, I think it’s to your benefit to check it out, and perhaps go to Showcase.  It’s a terrific organization of folk mostly involved with booking and touring productions – education directors at performing arts centers, agents, touring performers.  There’s a strong international component, and they’re doing lots of exciting education work and professional development.  As more TYA/USA theaters start to book some performances, there are some natural partners in the mix.  The IPAY leadership includes some of the smartest and most creative folk in the biz, and I wholeheartedly support their efforts to reach children and young people with quality performances."

17^th ASSITEJ World Congress

Copenhagen-Malmoe May 20^th-29^th, 2011

Building Bridges, Crossing Borders

From 20–29 May 2011 we invite the whole world to Copenhagen and Malmoe – to take part in a magnificent event celebrating the ideals and visions of ASSITEJ:

Children and Young People – their cultural experiences and cultural identity

Performing Arts – new inspiration, quality development and diversity

International collaboration – exchange of experiences and inspiration across borders

Every third year theatre professionals from all over the world congregate to celebrate this event – and in 2011, ASSITEJ Denmark and ASSITEJ Sweden share the responsibility and privilege of hosting and organising this extraordinary event.

Not only many ASSITEJ members from all over the world will join the party. The ASSITEJ PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES will be a significant event for the entire Öresund Region. A cornucopia of international performances will be presented to children and young people in Copenhagen and Malmoe, to their parents and grandparents and to everyone, who already has – or now will find – an interest in exciting, innovative theatrical expressions and new international visions and outlooks.

For the first time ever the congress takes place in two cities simultaneously. Copenhagen and Malmoe (connected by the magnificent Öresund Bridge) share the ASSITEJ 2011-Congress due to their close relations as neighbouring cities and the constantly increasing integration in the commercial, cultural and daily life of the population of the Öresund Region, which - due to its infrastructure and dynamism- offers all possibilities for a progressive and future orientated congress.

This is reflected in the overall theme of the Congress and Performing Arts Festival -
”BUILDING BRIDGES, CROSSING BORDERS” in all of its diversity of associations - and in the concrete everyday life of the Congress.

We look forward to welcoming you in Copenhagen and Malmoe in 2011!

The World Congress  Executive Board  

For more information click here! 

The deadlines for performance applications are:

1 September 2009 (1st round)

1 March 2010 (2nd round)

1 September 2010 (3rd round)

ASSITEJ INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER # 50   The newsletter announces International Festivals and ASSITEJ International Projects, as well as news from some of the ASSITEJ Centers.

Ann Shaw Fellowships
are offered annually. For more information: Ann Shaw Fellowship