Join TANYS on Saturday, May 15 from 1:00-3:00pm EDT for Timeless Theatre, Modern Times: An Afternoon of TANYS Workshops. A trio of talented educators with years of theatre experience inside and outside the classroom will lead interactive workshops on three of the hottest, most-requested topics:

 

• Virtual Acting: Creating a Character with Siouxsie Easter, Professor of Theatre at Wells College

• Directing the Community Theatre Actor with Craig Hutchison, Adjunct Professor at Borough of Manhattan Community College and leader of Black Orchid Theatre Group

• Technology of Virtual Performances with Amanda Morrison, Performing Arts Department at Indian River High School and board President of Little Theatre of Watertown

 

The sad news is: these workshops will run concurrently, so you can only choose one. So plan with your colleagues to attend all three, then share notes afterwards!

 

Cost is $15 for current/paid Individual TANYS members, $20 for non-members.

 

Deadline to register is THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021. Click here to register!

 

CRAIG HUTCHISON is an Adjunct Professor in the Speech, Communication, and Theatre Arts Department at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (part of the City University of New York system.) He is also head of the Black Orchid Theatre Group at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in New York City. He has directed, stage managed, designed, or lit more than 100 shows. He has been the General Manager of the Landers Theatre in Springfield, Missouri, and General Manager of Memorial Hall in Joplin, Missouri. He has taught in Oklahoma, Kentucky, New Mexico, Missouri, and New York. He is a member of the Board of Directors of TANYS.

DIRECTING THE COMMUNITY THEATRE ACTOR

As a community theatre director, you deal with individuals who see themselves quite differently than you may. There are those who have no ego and will happily play whatever role you want them to do, and even how you want them to do it. But more likely, actors will show up all set to star in your production - and, thereby, "save" the show for you. We'll discuss how to successfully manage actors, from the unripe to the well-seasoned.

Craig Hutchison

VIRTUAL ACTING: CREATING A CHARACTER

In this interactive workshop, we will explore fully inhabiting our online squares with vibrant characters. Through physical and vocal work, plus strategies about how to deal with the challenges of online acting, participants will gain confidence in this art form.

SIOUXSIE EASTER is a director and educator who teaches at Wells College in Aurora, NY, where she has been for the last 17 years. This summer Siouxsie will be the U.S. Professor at the Advanced Studies in England Theatre Summer School in Bath, UK. She and her Wells students have won numerous awards from the Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS). Siouxsie is a proud mom to two kids, two cats, and one betta fish.

Meet your workshop presenters!

TECHNOLOGY OF VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES

With a half-dozen virtual shows under her belt, Amanda has endured "trial by fire" to figure out good operating procedures, and wants to help others through the process. She will cover:

- Preliminary process and requirements before jumping into software and tech

- Setting up the tech before the actors get in

- Running the whole process for the show

- Post performance processing and backup plans

- Tips and tricks she had to learn the hard way

AMANDA MORRISON has worked backstage, on production teams, and with set construction for Little Theatre of Watertown and Watertown Lyric Theater, and serves as President on the LTW Board. Doubt, her directorial debut for LTW, received several awards including Best Long Performance at the 2017 TANYS Festival. In the Performing Arts Department at Indian River High School, she enjoys helping students grow in their craft. Previously, she was lead photographer at the Watertown Daily Times, where she won multiple state awards and honors, was internationally recognized for her photojournalism work, and was selected as an attendee for several workshops including the Kalish Workshop for photo editing.