Updated 7.17.24
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE | 9
SESSION BLOCK 2 Thursday , 2:45pm-4:00pm
A Bit of the Bard : Using “ Original Practice ” Cue Scripts to Engage and Empower Student Actors Track : High School Presenters : Mary T . Christel & Kevin Long Location : Zermatt / Gstaad ( Lucerne Level ) – Swissotel Chicago
Kevin Long has been working with actors and non-actors to interact with Shakespeare ’ s text and its challenging language as an introduction to watching a performance at Chicago Shakespeare Theater or performing scenes as part of CST ’ s Shakespeare Slam . He has developed a modified version of “ original practice ” rehearsal techniques used by Shakespeare ’ s actors to get student actors “ novice and experienced , eager or reluctant ” to try on Shakespeare ’ s language and characters . This workshop will introduce a series of “ Folio Clues ” embedded by the Bard to guide actors ’ preparation and to speak that language with intent and understanding . Those Folio Clues will be applied to reading through cue scripts , containing only the lines for a character and the phrases that proceed ( or cue ) each line . Participants will work through a scene in small groups to experience how this “ original practice ” rehearsal approach works and how it introduces Shakespeare ’ s language to student actors and varying abilities . The session will provide instructions for selecting effective scenes and creating cue scripts from Open Source Shakespeare .
Balancing Arts Educator Care : Orienting Systems for Structure and Harmony . Tracks : College / University , High School , PreK-8 Presenters : Samuel Leopold & Courtney Bryan Devon Location : Montreux 1 ( Lucerne Level ) – Swissotel Chicago
Join us in a dynamic workshop that will explore the multifaceted journey of teaching artists as they navigate the intersection of artistic expression and arts education . In this participatory session , we will address key questions that help guide teaching artists to cultivate best practices and a sense of holistic well-being . During this session , we will uncover strategies to holistically integrate teaching artists into school communities , fostering connections that go beyond the classroom . Learn how to create and scaffold robust support systems , offering resilience against burnout . We will invite participants to consider how they can navigate the intricate dynamics of managing relationships and workflows as a teaching artist . Participants will investigate careoriented systems for meaningful collaborations with professional peers , emphasizing care for collaborators and self alike . Collectively , we will investigate the multiple intersections of identities as artists , educators , and global citizens , fostering a space where these different parts of ourselves can coexist harmoniously . Understand how these structures support trauma-informed practices , promoting a caring environment for both students and educators . The workshop will conclude with a thought-provoking exploration of radical resource mobilization for arts educators , promoting the embodiment of personal well-being and harmony . Together , we will embark on a journey of growth , ease , and resilience , equipping teaching artists with the tools they need to flourish in their dual roles as artists and educators .
Creating Promenade Theater in High School Tracks : College / University , High School , Playwriting , Youth Theatre Presenter : Andrew Geha Location : Lucerne 1 & 2 ( Lucerne Level ) – Swissotel Chicago
Promenade Theater , or open-world immersive theater , invites the audience into the world of the play , allowing them to wander throughout the space and interact with whomever they wish . In the fall of 2023 , we devised a forty-five-minute performance piece featuring eleven student actors , each with their own unique storyline , arc , and character track . This workshop will examine the successes and challenges of our process , and how we reached the finish line , creating a show that one parent asked us to perform " thirty more times ."