August 11, 2025

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PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Welcome Back, Pegasi!

Happy Back to School! I'm sure this week will be full of emotions and getting back to a routine for your student and family. We wish you a smooth transition into the new academic year and look forward to seeing you at our Back to School Guild Welcome Dinner and Meeting on September 2.

Stay tuned to our Theatre Guild Newsletter throughout the year for updates and information. Feel free to email anytime with questions.

Fly high!

Alicia Schortgen
TG President 2025-26
president@btwtheatreguild.com

Thank You

A shout out to the volunteers who made Pegasus Pick Up and End of Summer Bash huge success!

Pegasus Pick Up

Summer Bash Parents

Summer Bash Students

Save the Date for the Annual Theatre Guild Back to School Dinner

What: Theatre Guild Back to School Dinner

Who: Faculty, Parents & Guardians

When: Tuesday September 2nd at 7:15 p.m. (after PTSA)

Where: El Fenix 1601 McKinney Ave, Dallas TX 75202

Next steps: Look for RSVP information in future newsletters

The September meeting will be held at the Back to School Dinner on Tuesday September 2.

The 2025-26 Season: Save the Dates Fall Semester

The first two mainstage shows of the 2025-2026 season have been announced. Save the dates and read on for audition information.

Terra Nova, by Ted Tally

September 25-26 and October 1-3 in the Brierley Experimental Theatre (aka The Black Box)

Directed by: Ms. Price

Auditions: After school on Monday, August 18th or Tuesday August 19th.

Men on Boats, by Jaclyn Backhaus

October 22-24

Directed by: Ms. Cotie

Auditions: After school on Monday, August 18th or Tuesday August 19th.

Audition Information

Auditions for the mainstage shows Terra Nova and Men on Boats will be held on August 18th and 19th after school.

All Theatre Conservatory students are invited to audition.

Students should prepare a 1 minute contemporary monologue from a published play. (Freshman are allowed to use their BTWHSPVA audition monologue IF it fits these requirements.) The students are expected to have read the play that their monologue comes from and may be asked questions about their choices based on the character, motivations etc during the audition.

More information will be provided to students by the Theatre Conservatory faculty.

Digital Call Board

The Digital Call Board has been updated with current audition information. Follow the link for auditions, assignments and relevant information for students.

BTW Digital Call Board

Students are also STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to regularly visit the Campus Callboard on the second floor.

Additional 2025-2026 Season Dates

November 14 - The Musical Theatre Practicum Class will present a revue style performance in the Brierley Experimental Theatre (aka The Black Box).

November 23 - Members of the Improv class will perform at Stomping Ground Comedy.

December 9-12 - The annual Ten Minute Play Directing Festival is the directorial debut for the members of the Senior Directing Class who will each select, cast, rehearse and bring a short original play written by a Booker T student playwright to the stage. The members of the Stage Management, Lighting Design and Sound Design classes will also be taking the opportunity to show their work in this multi-day festival in the Black Box Theatre.

Theatre Yard Sign Order

Preorder your yard sign by September 9!

Signs will be available to pick up during the fall performances in September and October. This will be the LAST opportunity to get a sign during the 2025-26 school year, so be sure to get your orders in!

There are two ways to purchase a sign:

1) Become a Theatre Guild member! Memberships purchased at the 9th grade four-year, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond level receive a sign. If you purchase your membership by September 9, you will have a sign ready for you!

2) Complete the form below to purchase a sign. We encourage you to also become a guild member at the Basic, Copper, or Silver level

THEATRE YARD SIGN ORDER FORM

*If you pre-ordered a sign already but did not pick it up during Flight School or Pegasus Pick Up, you can pick it up at the first theatre show.

Pegasus in the Wild!

We don't want to miss an appearance or accomplishment! We rely on our guild members to let us know where to spot a Pegasus in the wild. If your Pegasus is in a non-Booker T production, please let us know. Our talented kids are so busy we need your eyes and ears to make sure we get the word out. Please include viewing dates, ticket links and any other details that will help us spot a Pegasus in the Wild. Alumni are Pegasi as well so keep those tips coming in too!!!

SENIOR PARENT MEETING

The Theatre Conservatory faculty will be providing an overview of the upcoming school year focusing on deadlines, opportunities and events (like Senior Showcase) that are intended for Theatre Seniors. Please join them if you are able.

August 13 | 6-7:30pm | Black Box

Students in the Class of 2026 are welcome to attend BUT may find it repetitive of the information provided during school day conservatory meetings.

SENIOR SHOWCASE HEADSHOTS

This year Theatre Seniors will be getting their headshot photos taken during the school day in the first week of classes. The Senior Headshots are the official photos used for the Showcase materials and hung outside the Black Box Theatre.

WHO: All Theatre Conservatory Seniors

WHAT: Schedule your headshot session with Jordan Fraker

WHEN: August 12 & 13 during the extended flex period from approx 9:30 until 12

WHERE: MAT Lobby at Booker T. Washington

COST: $70 per person (to be paid in advance via Venmo)

Seniors can use this Sign Up Genius link to sign up to choose either Tuesday (Aug. 12) OR Wednesday (Aug. 13th) during extended flex.

Theatre Seniors may have also received this link directly from the Theatre Conservatory via Remind.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CA4A92EA0F5C07-57743886-theatre

How to pay for it: Each Senior will be expected to pay $70 before they are photographed. Additional optional photos will be available for $50 each.

If paying the $70 fee is a hardship, please reach out to Ms Price, Mr Gavitt or Ms Cotie. All seniors need to have their headshots for Showcase and the Theatre Conservatory does not want a financial hardship to keep any Theatre Seniors from participating on August 12 or 13th.

VENMO QR CODE FOR PAYMENT IS BELOW.

Advice from Jordan Fraker on what to wear...

I recommend solid colors whenever possible. Some subtle patterns are acceptable, but please lean towards solids.

Your shoes and pants will not be in the shot, so no need to worry about that part! Just wear anything that is comfortable.

We are spending 10 min per person, so please try to eliminate any wrinkles or dust from your clothes in advance, before walking into the room for your session.

If you bring a couple top options with you and want my opinion, I'm happy to give it. But you do not want that conversation to eat up too much of your session time. The more prepared you are, the better the outcome. Have confidence in the choice you make and just know that I'll make ya look good.

...and about your hair

I will have a hand mirror in the room that you can look at just prior to your session, but please run to the restroom before walking in so you can spend a minute on placing your hair where you'd most likely want it to lay.

If your hair goes past your shoulders, I find it photographs best to bring your hair toward the front, at least on one side. It adds volume and frames the face nicely. In a photo, if your hair is behind your shoulders, it can look great as a side profile, but not for a frontal headshot. However, if you typically put your hair up in a bun or in a ponytail, and this is your preferred look, I leave this decision completely up to you. If in doubt, ask one trusted friend what they think.

Please be thoughtful of how your hair will likely appear during the showcase in November, and style it that way. Recognizability.

During the Session

I will photograph probably about 30-50 frames per person, more or less, and will get straight on, turned to the left, and turned to the right angles. I will narrow it down to about 1/3 of the shots we got for your individual gallery.

We will be getting a variety of expressions. Depending on your goals, the expression may be a rather important factor. I will pose and direct you accordingly, so don't worry about any of that. Just buy into the process and have fun with it!

After the Shoot

Once everyone has been photographed, I will create individual galleries that will be emailed to you. You will have a certain window of time to select your favorite image.

You can submit the information via Facebook or contact Communications Chair Heather Guild via email communications@btwtheatreguild.com

Look here for information from the PTSA

The PTSA has launched Pegasus Central!

This is BTWHSPVA's new website-based newsletter that is intended to be a one-stop-shop for all the links that parents need every day. Check it out and bookmark it!

Pegasus Central

The 2025 All School Musical is produced by the Booker T Washington PTSA which means questions about Guys & Dolls should be directed to the PTSA and you will find lots of helpful information on the All School Musical page on the PTSA Membership Toolkit website and in the PTSA newsletters. For example, the playbill for the All School Musical is not a Theatre Guild playbill and any feeding of the kids will be overseen by the PTSA.

Facebook

Instagram

Follow the Theatre Guild on Facebook and Instagram

Facebook Groups for Current Classes

If you are the parent or guardian of a Theatre Conservatory student you are invited to join the individual class Facebook group for additional information & updates about everything that is going on at Booker T.

Seniors: BTW Theatre Guild Class of 2026 Facebook group

Juniors: BTW Theatre Guild Class of 2027 Facebook group

Sophomores: BTW Theatre Guild Class of 2028 Facebook group

Freshman: BTW Theatre Guild Class of 2029 Facebook Group

All four class specific Facebook groups are private. These groups are open to members of the Theatre Guild and you will need to provide your BTW student's name and answer the questions in order for your request to join to be approved.

Or click here to join Remind for the Theatre Guild!

Important Dates

August 12 -13 Senior Showcase Headshots
August 13 Senior Parent Meeting
Sept 9 Theatre Guild BTS Dinner & Meeting
Sept 25-26 Main Stage #1 in Black Box Theatre
Oct 1-3 Main Stage #1 in Black Box Theatre
Oct 22-24 Main Stage #2 in Black Box Theatre
Nov 17-21 Senior Showcase Week at BTWHSPVA
Nov 21 -22 Senior Showcase / Theatre
Nov 23 Improv at Stomping Ground Comedy
Dec 9-12 Ten Minute Play Festival

Check out the Theatre Guild website for more information. For the most up to date & comprehensive Booker T calendar entries, you can check the BTWHSPVA Activities Calendar. The Dallas ISD 2025-26 Approved Calendar includes district wide information including school holidays, professional development days and grading periods.

SUBJECT: Theatre Guild eNews - 8/11