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Announcing our 2007 fall conference September 21 - 23, 2007 Kellogg Center on the campus of MSU East Lansing, MI |
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Scroll down to for details about workshops, hotel accommodations,
room rates, fun activities, the Kellogg Center facilities,
registration
fees, how to register online and more.
We have arranged for a wide variety of theatre-related topics to appeal to many interests
Be A Clown [Angela Howard and David Wendelberger]
Wanna’ be a clown? Here is a great place to get started – your face! A clown’s make-up is one of his or her most distinguished features. In this class, you will learn the philosophy behind a clown’s make-up. You will also be given techniques and ideas for creating your own clown make-up design and learn how to apply it. We will also talk about how an actor can use “clown techniques” to become a better actor. Needed for this class is Ben Nye’s Professional Cream Palette in the “Primary Color” form. How many shows could your group do involving clowns? Or take this workshop just to expand your own theatrical skills
Angela has a MFA in production design with an emphasis on costume design [including hair styling] from MSU. She also has an MFA in musical theatre from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Angela has taken numerous clown workshops & performed in a clown-based production by 500 Clown founder, Adrian Dansig.
David is working on his MFA in performance at MSU. He has a BFA in Acting from Roosevelt University. David taught various circus acts for CircEsteem, founded by Ringling Brothers clown, Paul Miller. He also performed in a circus-based show called Tserk Us.
Collaboration for Designers and Directors [Kirk Domer and Rob Rosnowski]This workshop offers solutions on how best to work together on a production team. Everything from vocabulary choices to practical hints aimed at fostering a healthy collaboration will be discussed. This workshop hopes to find the best solution to create the best production.
Kirk is head designer and Assistant Professor of Productions: Scenery at MSU. He has a BA from Ashland University and his MFA in Scene Design from the U. of Wisconsin, Madison. He was resident Scene Design for the Ohio Opera Company, designed the scene for the world premiers of A Friend of Napoleon and Pride and Prejudice. The is a member of USIAT and had done design work for theatres in the Lansing area.
Comedic Acting Presented [Rob Rosnowski]This workshop offers practical tools for approaching comedic scenes from an acting and directing point. Can funny be taught? Can a sense of humor be learned? This workshop aims to cover these larger issues.
Rob is currently the Head of Acting at MSU. He came from New York where he was the National Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Actors’ Equity Association for Actors and Stage Managers. He has starred in numerous off-Broadway productions and was an original cast member of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and is part of that cast recording. He has directed and written several award winning short and feature length plays.
Costuming the Play on a Budget [Ginger Keena]This workshop will help make big time costume ideas for amateur production look like Broadway. It will help to make designs from cast off clothing, which many theaters have, and how to make elegantly frugal costumes.
Ginger’s costuming credentials date back to her childhood when she costumed her puppets at age 6. After several key costuming experiences, she landed at Grosse Pointe Theatre in 1984 and has been building costumes ever since. She is particularly interested in period plays that help tell the story. She also uses her credentials as a clinical psychologist to design costumes that convey both the exterior as well as interior lives of the characters
Creating Period Hairstyle: Angela HowardTwo distinct period hair styles will be demonstrated during this workshop which is all that time will allow. BUT, you will be able to take away with you lots of resource information that you will be able to purchase/access when it comes time to create specific hairstyles for your community theatre productions.
See Angela’s bio above
Not Your Kid's Classroom Play: Evelyn Weymouth
You’ve all experienced it – the play with 10 (or 110) young people on stage all stumbling over their lines and blocking, waving at Mom and Dad or speaking so softly that even a microphone can’t find their voice. It doesn't’t need to be that way. This workshop reveals one company’s approach to high quality theater for children by children. This will help you start or maintain a youth theater.
Evelyn has her BA from MSU and an MA from the U of M [as in University of Minnesota for all you Spartan fans] She has been active in theatre since 1958 and began working with young people in 1970. She founded of All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre in 1989.
Puppetry: The Use & Manipulation of Puppets By June Stoppels and Mary RileyThey will show the class how to manipulate the puppets, especially the movement of the mouth. Ideas will be given on how to use high and low voices, with different dialects, and voices that indicate a puppet voice rather than a human voice. The class will be able to manipulate the puppets, giving some practice putting on a few short shows. The class will also make sock puppets, so you can have a puppet to practice mouth and arm movement.
June is a free-lance educational consultant in Performing Arts and Puppetry. She received her BA from Hope and MA from MSU. She does extensive in-service work in puppetry. She has published Puppets, Puppets, Everywhere , a puppet how-to book available through Pioneer Drama Service. She has published various puppetry articles in teacher magazines as well.
Mary has been a 4-H leader of drama and clown clubs, taught students to create and perform with puppets, taught drama tactics, comedic movement and clown character development. She is an instructor at Michigan State Expo Days in storytelling, puppet making.
Reusing Stock Scenery: Working within a Budget By Kirk DomerThis workshop offers practical alternatives when using stock scenery. Designing on a dime? Have a 40% coupon at JoAnn Fabrics? This workshop will provide a list of tools and techniques that can spice up the 4 x 8 platform and the muslin cover flat. See Kirk’s bio above.
Strategies for the [Less Experienced] Board Volunteer By Dennis Dupre
Session I is for those who are considering joining or may have recently joined a non-profit board. Topics to be discussed are members’ essentials, commitment pledge, the ten responsibilities of a nonprofit board, board liability, choosing a nonprofit board, where to go from here.
Dennis retired in 2003 after thirty three years in Accounting/Finance Management in the automotive arena. He currently acts as a consultant for DESC – the Detroit Executive Service Corps – a nonprofit group specializing in providing consulting services to the nonprofit community.
Strategies for the [Experienced] Board Volunteer By Dennis DupreSession II is for those who are currently serving and have some experience with nonprofit boards. Topics to be discussed are the growth and challenges of nonprofit organizations, corporate vs. nonprofit boards, board life cycles, the ten responsibilities of a nonprofit board, board work process, the ideal board and board self renewal.
Tax Deductions for Volunteers: Can I Deduct That? By Lori GramerThis workshop is set up so that you get the most back from your taxes as a volunteer to a community theater. Lori will discuss what can and can not be taken as a deduction. You may be surprised as to what the IRS allows.
Lori is a former owner of H&RBlock franchises and a 35-year veteran of tax-preparation and consulting. She also has extensive experience in grant writing.
Ventriloquism for Dummies By Cathy Gartland
Want to do the dummy correctly in Annie? Do you want to do Avenue Q with the puppets? How about Nunsense? This workshop will teach you the basic techniques for becoming a ventriloquist. From “throwing your voice” to making your puppet come to life. You will be introduced to all the how-tos and what-for's. Beware, it takes practice.
Cathy, from Holland Community Theatre, has participated in every aspect of theatre. She learned to throw her voice as a child and that began her love of ventriloquism. She entertains at parties, banquets, schools and churches. She has volunteered for the New Kids on the Block handicap puppet program
Round Tables: We will also be offering four roundtables Sunday morningTom Klunzinger: Keeping your actors and techies
Joanne Berry: Adjudication brush up for those who have already had training
Betsy Willis: Effective techniques to use in rehearsals
P@W: How to start a play writing group in your areaRoundtables are designed to provide a supportive environment in which
participants can exchange ideas that work. It is networking at its best.
...and our traditions continue as well
Collins' Cocoa Hour
[cocktails available at the cash bar]
Costume Parade and Contest
[bring your best clown costume; prizes awarded]
Door Decorating Contest
[best representations of the theme will win prizes,
please confine your decorations to your hotel room door;
not the walls and hallway]
Raffle for our Scholarship Program
[bring a gift - ask your group to donate a gift.
All proceeds to our student scholarship fund]
Saturday Night Banquet
If you are not dressing for the costume contest, please plan on dressy attire.
It is definitely a dress up event either way.
Dressing up for our banquet is one of our oldest traditions....and we are re-introducing another tradition
At each fall conference we plan to have a friendly competition among all
CTAM member groups featuring some aspect of the theatre arts.
This is a way for theatre groups to display their best work and to learn from each other.
In 2007 each group is asked to bring an example of their "best built" costume
All costumes must be fully hand built
Nothing purchased or created from pre-existing clothes
Fabric taken from another clothing source & used to build your costumes is ok
Plan to bring your own mannequin to display your costume
Judges will evaluate all entries and awards will be presented
In years to come we are considering contests in makeup, set design,
hand built props, best program,
best newsletter and more. Here is your chance to show off your best work in a friendly atmosphere
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HOTEL AND KELLOGG CENTER INFO
Special CTAM room rates: $90 per room per night with 1- 4 people per room
Call 1 - 800 - 875 - 5090
to make your room reservation.
CTAM room rates are guaranteed only through August 29th so don't wait
The Kellogg Center in on the MSU campus in East Lansing
The Center will provide CTAM with our own little corner of the world
[CTAM registration, workshop rooms, banquet facility, restaurant, coffee shop,
lounge areas, auditorium - everything in one basic area of the conference center]
All the hotel rooms have been recently re-furbished
The entire facility is nonsmoking
Convenient parking structure is attached to the conference center
No refrigerators in the room; byo your own ice chest if you want
No schlepping up and down hills
While the entire facility is very nice, there is a very friendly, casual ambiance
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FALL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
$85 for Associate Members $95 for all others only IF payment is received by August 29th |
After August 29th, $100 for Associate Members $110 for all others |
Click here to register on line 
This is for the fall conference registration
You have to call 1-800-875-5090 to make your own hotel room reservation