KCACTF Region 5 Festival 57: Full Schedule

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3:30pm CST

Launch. Relaunch. Quarantine. Zoom. Re-Re-Launch. Hiatus. Fly. Starting a theatre in the time of the plague

Monday January 20, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST

TheatreMidwest, a professional non-profit theatre, was founded in 2018. After a brief anecdotal run-down of how the process has brought us to 2025, please bring your questions for some discussion. We can talk about starting a theatre 'in general' or focus on specific strategies gleaned through the last 5ish seasons...benefits, pitfalls, all the stuff you are eager to talk about.

Presenters

Tom Woldt

TheatreMidwest

TOM WOLDT is Founding Artistic Director of TheatreMidwest (2018.) As a Theatre Educator, he was Professor and Chair at Doane College, Simpson College, and University of South Dakota, and had other part-time/guest-artist activities. For KCACTF, Tom is a former Region 5 Chair, National... Read More →

Monday January 20, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST
Marriott Sioux City (3rd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Workshops

Area Faculty Development, Talking about Theatre, Representation Equity and Diversity

9:30am CST

Driving the Action: Active Analysis for Creative Artists

Tuesday January 21, 2025 9:30am - 12:00pm CST

Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Stanislavsky’s latter practice known today as Active Analysis is a powerful tool for quickly integrating the givens of a script into an actor’s body. Learning the tool can be anxiety-inducing for beginning actors as they don’t have the script in hand as a crutch. This workshop introduces the concepts of action & counteraction as the driving force of a scene. Then we'll explore the scaffolding techniques I’ve developed to prop the students up while they explore the freedoms that Active Analysis offers, curtailing anxiety and streamlining the embodiment of the role.

Presenters

Joelle Arp Dunham

Kansas State University

Joelle Ré Arp-Dunham, PhD, MFA, (she/her) is an educator, director, actor, consent and staged intimacy consultant and choreographer, currently teaching at Kansas State University. She served as the Producing Artistic Director of the Circle Ensemble Theatre Company in Athens, Georgia... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 9:30am - 12:00pm CST
Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Workshops

Area Acting and Directing, Faculty Development, Playwriting, Representation Equity and Diversity

2:00pm CST

Staging Resistance: Historical & Contemporary Queer Theatre in the United States

Wednesday January 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm CST

Renaissance Savery Roosevelt

Are you familiar with queer theatrical traditions in the United States? Have you questioned what you know about the theatrical canon and tradition? Are you aware of the various queer shows making waves through performances? Well, if any of these questions have struck you, this is a session you’ll want to attend. In this interactive and discussion-based workshop, we will discuss the historical traditions of queer performances in the United States and what shows are happening contemporarily.

Presenters

Cody Allyn Page

Assistant Professor of Theatre, Cottey College

Dr. cody allyn page earned his Bachelor of Humanities in Communications from Penn State, his Master of Arts in Educational Theatre for Colleges and Communities from NYU Steinhardt, and his Ph.D. in Theatre with a Graduate Certificate in Performance Studies from BGSU.Their research... Read More →

Wednesday January 22, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm CST
Renaissance Savery Roosevelt 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Workshops

Area Faculty Development, Talking about Theatre, Representation Equity and Diversity

9:30am CST

Equity and Inclusion within the Costume Shop

Thursday January 23, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am CST

Renaissance Savery Roosevelt

This is a continuation of the workshop on diversity and inclusion within the costume shop. After attending USITT, there is more to be discussed about equity and inclusion of all in the costume shop. That includes the costume shop, costume shop management, costume employees, makeup and hair department, and the fitting rooms. This will be a lecture-based workshop with discussion so be sure to bring your notebooks and thoughts as we go on this journey together.

Presenters

Kylie McDonald

University of North Dakota

Kylie McDonald is currently a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Theatre Arts Department and Costume Shop Manager at the Burtness Theatre. She holds an MFA in Costume Design with a secondary in Lighting Design. Her areas of discipline include costume design, patterning, draping... Read More →

Thursday January 23, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am CST
Renaissance Savery Roosevelt 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Workshops

Area Design Technology & Management, Talking about Theatre, Representation Equity and Diversity

11:00am CST

Thinktank: Theatre Equipment Uprgades

Thursday January 23, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST

Renaissance Savery Roosevelt

This intensive thinktank workshop addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing technical theatre programs today: managing and modernizing technical resources within realistic budget constraints. The session brings together technical directors, production managers, and theatre administrators to develop practical strategies for equipment management, upgrades, and financial planning.

Presenters

Tetta Askeland

Southwest Minnesota State U

Tetta M. Askeland is a scenic designer and educator currently based in Minnesota. She received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern College and received her MFA in Scenic Design and Technology from Kent State University. In addition to freelance work, Askeland teaches theatrical... Read More →

Nadine Schmidt

Professor of Theatre, Theatre Program Coordinator, Producer, Southwest Minnesota State U

Nadine Purvis Schmidt is Professor of Theatre, Producer, and Program Coordinator at Southwest Minnesota State University. Acting credits include The Tempest (Prospero), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania), Macbeth (First Witch, Malcolm) and Hamlet (Gertrude), with Bare Bodkins... Read More →

Sheila Tabaka

Southwest Minnesota State U

Sheila Tabaka is a theatrical director and costume designer, teaching at Southwest Minnesota State University. She attended the kilt making apprenticeship at the Kiltmakery in Edinburgh, Scotland and is now the owner of Caledonia Kilts. Tabaka is a past chair of KCACTF Region 5 Design... Read More →

Thursday January 23, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST
Renaissance Savery Roosevelt 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Workshops

Audience Faculty Only
Area Design Technology & Management, Faculty Development, Representation Equity and Diversity, Talking about Theatre

9:30am CST

Building Spaces of Acceptable Risk: Mental Health Coordination in Theatre

Friday January 24, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am CST

Marriott Salon A (2nd Floor)

This workshop will introduce students and faculty to the burgoning field of mental health coordination in theatre and film. Attendees will learn how to cultivate rehearsal and performance practices that establish and respect individual boundaries and allow actors to do challenging work without causing mental or emotional harm to themselves. Other topics will include ways to self advocate, character de-rolling, and exercises for regulating the body in the rehearsal space.

Presenters

Carrie Pozdol

Intimacy Director

Carrie Pozdol is an actor, director, intimacy choreographer, and mental health coordinator based in eastern Iowa. Carrie has her BA in theatre from Simpson College and has extensive training in intimacy choreography and coordination with Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) and Intimacy... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am CST
Marriott Salon A (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Workshops

Area Faculty Development, Acting and Directing, Representation Equity and Diversity, Talking about Theatre

11:00am CST

Building Spaces of Acceptable Risk: Mental Health Coordination in Theatre

Friday January 24, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST

Marriott Salon A (2nd Floor)

Presenters

Carrie Pozdol

Intimacy Director

Friday January 24, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST
Marriott Salon A (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Workshops

Audience Faculty Only
Area Faculty Development, Acting and Directing, Representation Equity and Diversity, Talking about Theatre

11:00am CST

Social Justice in Performance: Applied Theatre Games and Scenes

Friday January 24, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST

Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Want to learn about social justice theatre action? This workshop explores games and scene work for building theatre with community. Join us for improvisation games by Viola Spolin and theatre for social change work by Augusta Boal.

Presenters

M. Heather Carver

University of Missouri

M. Heather Carver is a Professor in the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Missouri where she directs the Center for Applied Theatre and Drama Research. Partnering in the workshop are her graduate students and Center Associate Directors: Darrell Bailey... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST
Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Workshops

Audience Students Only
Area Representation Equity and Diversity

12:30pm CST

AI in Theatre Panel

Friday January 24, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm CST

Marriott Salon G (2nd Floor)

Join us for a groundbreaking panel discussion that examines the intersection of artificial intelligence and theatre. This comprehensive workshop brings together theatre practitioners, technologists, accessibility advocates, and audiences to explore how AI is reshaping the landscape of theatrical creation and experience.

Presenters

Tetta Askeland

Southwest Minnesota State U

Jacee Casarella

Co-Volunteer Coordinator, Augustana University

Jacee Casarella is an Assistant Teaching Professor, Resident Designer, and Technical Director at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. She is also the Co-Volunteer Coordinator for Region 5, VP of Social Media & Publications for USITT Northern Boundary, and Production Manager for... Read More →

Colin Hogan

Des Moines Area CC

Carl Lindberg

College Fair Coordinator, Des Moines Area CC

Carl Lindberg (he/him) is an actor, director, and Professor and Chair of the Theatre & Acting Programs at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). He has also served DMACC as a District Chair and a Director of Guided Pathways. He has worked at regional theatres (Steppenwolf (upcoming... Read More →

Festival Leadership

Emily Cherry Oliver

Region 5 Co-Chair, University of North Dakota

Emily Cherry Oliver is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of North Dakota, as well as the Co-Director of the UND AI and Human Innovation Initiative. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and an MFA in Directing, seamlessly integrating both disciplines... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm CST
Marriott Salon G (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Workshops

Area Acting and Directing, Design Technology & Management, Faculty Development, Playwriting, Representation Equity and Diversity, Talking about Theatre