It's Showcase Week which is an incredible chance for our amazing Theatre Conservatory seniors to share their hard work. On Thursday seniors' parents are invited to attend the Open Dress Rehearsal. Friday night there will be a FREE public screening of 19 short films created by the class of 2023. I am super excited to announce that 92 representatives from 47 schools are coming to Booker T to watch our seventy showcasing seniors make magic across a variety of disciplines. Showcase 2022 will feature actors, artists, designers, directors, filmmakers, playwrights, singers, and stage managers. If you have a senior showcasing, I can say that the entire Guild echoes me when I say Break a Leg! If you are the parent of a younger student, I invite you to volunteer during Showcase. I cannot think of a more rewarding opportunity to learn what Senior Showcase is all about.
All of the volunteer opportunities can be found RIGHT below here- so please make sure to check them out and sign up if you can (even if it is just to provide snacks for our hungry Seniors and their Junior buddies).
Can you use a google spreadsheet and like creating a deadline and sticking to it? Then we need your help with the playbill! If you know Canva that’s even better but not necessary for the assistant. Please email playbill@btwtheatreguild.com with inquiries.
Musical Theatre
Kudos to the MT students who performed in the Black Box over the weekend. Mr Miller explained the premise and parameters used to make their song selections from either New Musicals or those that Flopped (fewer than 50 performances). Keep an eye out for more information about how you can see these talented performers at their upcoming dinner fundraiser at the Sammons Center on February 23rd.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The film showcase on Friday night differs from all of the other Theatre Conservatory Showcase events because parents, students, and the public are encouraged to attend. As a reminder, senior parents are gently reminded not to approach any college reps in attendance. We want to make sure that the reps have an opportunity to speak with showcasing seniors during the limited time set aside for that purpose.
Playbill Ad Deadline is Nov 20th
Ads for the 10 Minute Play Festival can be purchased using this link to the Theatre Guild website.You can also use the link to see the details about how to use your Guild membership benefits and how to submit an ad.
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT!
Surprise!
On Friday during flex, the Senior Parent Committee organized a hands on project for the class of 2023 to encourage the students to attend. The Committee then surprised each senior with a Rise Up trucker hat to celebrate their hard work.
If you are interested in helping decorate the Senior Balcony that will be used by the students over the weekend, you should contact Mariah Taylor. Questions about how you can become involved on the Senior Parent Committee and help before Showcase?
3. Come to the Black Box for Open Rehearsal on Thursday Nov 17th.
The schedule may change a bit to accommodate those who are showcasing in other conservatories. During the first three rotations, students who will be performing monologues at showcase are going to rehearse
9:15 am arrival for parents attending Rotation 1
Rotation 1 Tech Theatre Students who will be showcasing in Acting
Rotation 2 Musical Theatre also showcasing in Acting
12:20-1:20 Lunch (no flex bell schedule in effect)
1:25 7th period (Afternoon rotations will start)
Rotation 3 Acting students (those not showcasing in Tech or MT)
Rotation 4 Playwriting/ Physical Theatre Students
***The Open Rehearsal schedule is arranged based on what areas a student showcases in. For example, a senior showcasing in acting AND tech theatre will be in Rotation 1. Rotation 3 is reserved for actors who will be performing monologues (but do not showcase in Tech or Musical Theatre). Ask your student to confirm which rotation they will be in especially if they plan to showcase in the Visual Arts/Dance/Music showcase events as that can affect their rehearsal schedule.
4. Volunteer to decorate the College Rep Hospitality Room
Senior parents are invited to remain on campus after open rehearsal to help set up the College Rep Hospitality Space in Ms Price’s classroom. Sign up to volunteer on Thursday at 4:30pm (Note that the other shifts that occur during showcase events are not open to senior parent volunteers) https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4cada72ba4fb6-volunteer
5. Attend the Film Showcase
Parents, students and all film lovers are invited to this first public screening of the collection of BTW Senior Film Students' short films. All are welcome to attend the Film Showcase in the MAT at 7pm.
It's Showcase week! Look who is coming!
Over 85 representatives from 47 schools have registered to attend Theatre Showcase in person.
AMDA College of the Performing Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA)
Arcadia University
Austin Peay State University
California Institute of the Arts
Carthage College
Circle in the Square Theatre School
College for Creative Studies
Colorado State University
Columbia College Chicago
Cornish College of the Arts
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising of Los Angeles
Hope College
Hussian College Los Angeles
KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts
Long Island University Post
Long Island University: Brooklyn
Midwestern State University
Missouri State University
Montclair State University
North Carolina A&T State University
Northern Arizona University
Pace University
Point Park University
Rider University
Rockford University
Santa Clara University
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Southern Methodist University
Texas State University
Texas Woman's University
The Hartt School - University of Hartford
The Neighborhood Playhouse
The New School - College of Performing Arts
The New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts
The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Houston
University of Miami
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of North Texas
University of Northern Colorado
University of Oklahoma
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Austin
University of the Arts
Webster University
20 schools have chosen the asynchronous virtual option.
Brenau University
Butler University Jordan College of the Arts
Coker University
Elon University
Marymount Manhattan College
Nazareth College
New World School of the Arts
Pepperdine University
Purchase College
Sam Houston State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern University
Stephens College Conservatory for the Performing Arts
Playwriting & Physical Theatre Showcase 1:30-3:30pm (Students only. No parents.)
College Fair in Commons 3:30-6:00 (1st half hour reserved for seniors. Parents are welcome.)
Film Showcase 7-9pm (Parents & public invited to screening)
Senior Tech Set Up in Commons (tbd after College Fair)
Nov 19 Showcase Saturday (All events for students only. No parents invited)
Acting (Spoken/Musical) Showcase 9-11am
Tech Theatre Showcase 11am - 1pm
Callbacks 1pm-5pm
Nov 21 Cyber Monday / Virtual Showcase
Pegasus in the Wild
Over the summer and throughout the school year, many of our talented Theatre Conservatory students & faculty can be spotted on stage, creating magic behind the scenes or even on screen. Be sure to check out theTheatre Guild Facebookgroup for opportunities to catch a Pegasus. And let us know where you have spotted a Pegasus in the wild! You can submit the information via Facebook or contact VP Communications Kathy Gameros via emailcommunications@btwtheatreguild.com
Spotlight on the Guild
Founded to support both Theatre Conservatory students and faculty, the Theatre Guild asks members to donate their time and money every year. This occasional eNews feature is intended to highlight some of the ways that you can learn more about the Theatre Guild.
Karon Cogdill Scholarship
In 2021, when Karon Cogdill retired as the Theatre Conservatory Directory, the Guild chose to honor her with an annual scholarship awarded to a graduating senior (or seniors) intending to pursue further studies in theatre. In just two short years, a total of $6000 has already been awarded to three deserving students who will continue on their path like dandelion seeds.
When Ms Cogdill passed away in August 2022, there was an outpouring from students who described how they carried a piece of her with them as they drifted away in time or distance or both. It became undeniable that Ms Cogdill had become a human version of the beautiful dandelion pantomime which had played an integral role in each mime performance. The powerful dandelion metaphor was introduced as a visual explanation for the seeds of migration in Growing of America. As the mime troupes throughout the years can attest, the dandelion became a common thread running through all subsequent mime shows and now as a beautiful explanation of Ms Cogdill's legacy.
You may contribute to the Karon Cogdill Scholarship fund online using this link. For a limited time, donors will have the opportunity to receive a dandelion pin in recognition of their gift. If you have additional questions, please reach out to Scholarship Chair Cindi Wakefield at scholarships@btwtheatreguild.com
