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February 22,
2025
2025 General Information
2025 Conference Dates
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Conference Schedule
Conference Schedule
Time | Program | Location |
---|---|---|
7:45 – 8:30 AM | Opening Number Rehearsal | Center of Leadership |
8:30 – 9:25 AM | Registration | House Open | Center of Leadership |
9:30 – 10:25 AM | Opening Ceremonies | Center of Leadership |
10:25 – 10:45 AM | Controlled Dismissal
| Transition to Main Campus | Center of Leadership |
10:45 – 11:40 AM | Session 1
(All) Workshops
|
Thespys (Blue) | BACKStage Playground | Improv Prelims & How to | Various Locations
|
11:45 – 12:40 PM | Lunch (Blue) | Various Locations |
11:45 – 12:40 PM | Session 2 (Yellow) Workshops |
Thespys (Yellow) | BACKStage Playground
| Karaoke | Various Locations |
12:45 – 1:40 PM | Session 2 (Blue)
Workshops
Tech Thespys
BACKStage Playground
Karaoke | Various Locations |
12:45 – 1:40 PM | Lunch (Yellow) | Various Locations |
1:40 pm – 1:45 PM | Transition to Center for Leadership | |
1:45 pm – 2:45 PM | Beetlejuice, Jr performed by Warner Robins High School | Center for Leadership |
2:45 pm – 2:55 PM | Transition to Main Campus | COLLIDE stays at CFL | |
2:55 – 3:50 PM | Session 3 (All) Workshops | BACKStage Playground | Musical Theatre COLLIDE | Devised COLLIDE | Various Locations |
3:55 – 4:50 PM | Session 4 (All)
Workshops |
Improv Challenge | Various Locations |
4:55 – 5:50 PM | Dinner (Blue Track & Closing Showcase)
| GMC Cafeteria |
4:55 – 5:50 PM | Session 5 (Yellow) Workshops | BACKStage Challenge | Various Locations |
5:55 – 6:50 PM | Session 5 (Blue)
Workshops | BACKStage Challenge | Various Locations |
5:55 – 6:50 PM | Dinner (Yellow) | Closing Showcase Rehearsal | GMC Cafeteria |
6:50 – 7:00 PM | Transition to Center for Leadership | |
7:00 – 7:55 PM | Closing Showcase | Center for Leadership |
7:55 – 8:05 PM | Restroom Break | |
8:05 – 8:35 PM | Teaching Artist Showcase | Director’s Meeting in Green Room | Center for Leadership |
Tracks & Meal Locations
Tracks & Meal Locations
Bulldog Cafe | TopDog Cafe |
---|---|
LaGrange Academy | Academy for Classical Education |
Brookstone School | Deerfield Windsor School |
Georgia Military Prep School | Rainey McCullers School of the Arts |
Harris County Carver Middle School | St. Martin's Episcopal School |
Little Mill Middle School | White County Middle School |
Calvary Day School | |
Otwell Middle School |
Bulldog Cafe | TopDog Cafe |
---|---|
Putnam County Middle School | Liberty Middle School |
Buford Middle School | Union County Middle School |
Haynes Bridge Middle School | Morgan County Middle School |
Autrey Mill Middle School | The Mount Vernon School |
Valdosta Middle School | Hammond Creek Middle School |
Perimeter Christian School | Haralson County Middle School |
J S Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School |
Workshop Titles & Descriptions
Workshop Titles & Descriptions
Workshop Category | Workshop Title | Workshop Description | Presenter | Presenter Bio |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acting | No Bones About iIt (Skeleton Scenes) | In 50 minutes students will create 1-2 minute scenes from skeleton scripts with fun and innovative characters and situations. Come play with props, improvise, and explore with your imagination. | Cassandra Scott-Fortune | Cassandra is the Theatre Director at Newnan High School in Newnan, Georgia. She attended Columbus State University and graduated with a B.S.Ed and M.Ed in Theatre Education and has been teaching high school theatre since the fall of 2012. Cassandra is the director of Coweta County’s STARKids’ musical theatre camp programs for elementary and middle school students and co-director of STAR Productions’ high school program. She serves on the Georgia Thespian Conference Board coordinating the FreeStyle Festival and the Georgia Theatre Conference board coordinating secondary auditions. |
Acting | Improv: Let's Mess This Up! | Experience the power and fun of failure in this fast-paced workshop! Learn the guiding principles of improv through a series of warm-ups and games. Don't worry about thinking fast! Instead, embrace your instincts and celebrate your mistakes in this highly active workshop. Leave with a well-rounded understanding of fundamental improvisational tactics and how to harness the power of failure! | Gregory Hirsch | Gregory Hirsch is the founder and director of Chaos Theory Improv Team: the house improv team of Lionheart Theatre. In addition to coaching and performing with his improv team, he regularly teaches improvisational workshops at high schools in the Atlanta area and theatre conferences across the country. |
Acting | Creating a Character | Students will each create a character from a list of people and situations. The students will determine where the character has been, where the character is going, and what the character wants, and a physical action to enhance the character. The students will work in pairs or small groups to create a semi-improvised scene to perform for the group. | Jeff Sargent | Jeff Sargent recently retired from teaching. He had taught theatre arts, general music, and high school chorus during his career. Jeff remains active as a performing actor and musician. He has served as an adjudicator for this conference for the last two years. |
Acting | Uh...Errr...Um...Theatre Games for Public Speaking | Good public speaking skills can help actors on stage, too! We will explore the basic communication process and then focus the majority of our session practicing techniques to improve our delivery. Be prepared to actively participate in a variety of theatre games throughout our time together! | Tony Kemp | Currently an administrator and adjunct faculty member at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, Tony continues his theatre involvement through ongoing community theatre roles in the Middle Georgia area, as well as with his work as a committee member with the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards. He has previously performed in South Carolina and Ohio, and has also served as a judge for regional and state literary events, past GA Thespian Conferences, and theatre conferences in Alabama and Florida. Favorite roles include “Buddy” in Elf, “Amos Hart” in Chicago, “Emmett Forrest” in Legally Blonde, Beauty and the Beast’s “Cogsworth,” and “Lord Farquaad” in Shrek. To all participating students and troupes: break legs! |
Acting | Historical European Martial Arts for the Actor | This workshop teaches the actor to examine why a character uses specific weapons/armor, why the weapons/armor were chosen in the historical context of the play/work, and then has the actor wield/wear accurate reproductions of arms/armor. This leads to a better understanding/implementation of character movement, physical projection, and textual relationship to enhance the individual performance. Emphasis is placed on Shakespeare’s plays. | K. Ken Johnson | K. Ken Johnston graduated with degrees in Theatre and English from LaGrange College where he received the Ingrid Bergman Scholarship and the Irene Arnett Drama Award. He is certified in Historic Character Interpretation by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. As the Director of History Now, he interprets, among others, the historic characters of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Benedict Arnold, the Marquis de la Fayette, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln. Additionally, he conducts workshops on the use of Historical European Martial Arts in stage combat and in character development and physicality for the actor - with an emphasis on performing the plays of Shakespeare. A SAG-AFTRA member, he has starred in the Emmy Award winning productions "Founders or Traitors?" (as Admiral Lord Howe) and "Freedom Bound" (as Scottish Indentured Servant James Selkrig), both produced by Colonial Williamsburg and airing on PBS, starred as George Washington in "The Real George Washington" on the National Geographic Channel, and appeared on the Food Network, The Travel Channel, and in commercials on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. He has performed in Shakespearean theatre, children’s theatre, improv comedy, full contact jousting, low budget indie movies, and toured with a rock band in North America/Europe. |
Dance/Movement | Dance Me if You Can! | Come explore musical theatre dance with Ms.Luke | Chasity Luke | Chasity Luke is a passionate high school theatre teacher with five years of experience. With a Master of Education in Theatre Education, She dedicates her career to helping students discover more about themselves and the world around them through the transformative power of theatre. |
Dance/Movement | Hadestown: Dancing in the Dark | In this workshop, we will dance to "When the Chips are Down" from Hadestown, but our focus won't only be dance. We will explore how we can tell a very intentional story through dance as a vehicle and what choices we make through movement that can heighten the dark and creepy natural of the show. | Gabrielle Hines | Gabrielle Hines is a Coatesville, PA native and graduate of Muhlenberg College with degrees in theatre and music. Gabrielle studied theatre and music at Goldsmiths University in London, England. Past credits include Mary Ellen in SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical, Charlaine in Ain’t Misbehavin’, Grace in Annie, Danielle in Bring it On: The Musical, Lady in Brown in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf, and Yvonne inSunday in the Park with George. Offstage, Gabrielle has choreographed Georgia Ensemble Theatre and Conservatory’s Oliver, Jr., directed and choreographed S.T.E.A.M Team, Frozen, The Glitch, and Aesop's (Oh So Slightly) Updated Fables, Revival Productions’ Ruby: The Ruby Bridges Story, and Limelight Theatre Company’s elementary, middle, and high school productions of Matilda. |
Dance/Movement | Dance Hall With Mr. Hall | You will learn an upbeat and energetic combination from a Broadway-style show. We will discuss ways to improve your technique and explore various methods for learning choreography quickly, so you can excel in your next dance call! | DeAnte' Hall | DeAnte’ Hall is an experienced theatre educator, director, and choreographer who has dedicated five years to teaching middle and high school students at the Academy for Classical Education. Among his career highlights, he had the honor of dancing for Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of the legendary Duke Ellington. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a Minor in Dance, as well as a Master’s in Theatre Education, both from Columbus State University. Passionate about the performing arts, particularly dance, Mr. Hall enjoys sharing his expertise and creative choreography with students of all ages, inspiring them to grow as artists and individuals. His commitment to fostering talent and creating impactful theatrical experiences defines his work as an educator and mentor. |
Dance/Movement | Laban and Cirque: Making Moves | Learn about Laban’s 8 Efforts of movement and how circus performers use these techniques on the ground! Whether an experienced or new performer, this interactive workshop will provide an overview of the Laban/Bartenieff efforts, a cirque-warm up, hilarious group exercises, and a Q&A with a cirque instructor/performer.
**Students will not leave the ground in this workshop. No experience necessary. All bodies/abilities welcome! | Karen DeLeo | Karen integrates over 20+ years of theatre experience including into her work as an aerial instructor, choreographer, and performer. Karen teaches across multiple apparatus, but specializes in lyra (aerial hoop), dance trapeze, aerial hammock (sling) and silks. It's their mission to educate, engage, and excite others while disrupting stereotypes about circus and aerial. She specializes in incorporating physical theatre techniques for character work and acting for movers of all kinds. Recent performances and work include performances for the Georgia Innocence Project, City of Lawrenceville, and Megalopolis (unc. rigging crew/proof of concept for aerialists). Learn more at www.karenaerial.com . |
Dance/Movement | Performing with Ms. Pay | In this workshop, students will have FUN! We will focus on how to perform with the entire body, especially the face. By exploring body language and performance quality, students will learn how to expand outside their comfort zone with different techniques and exercises. We will build community, empower individuality, and gain self-awareness with confidence through movement. | Pytron Parker | Pytron Parker is a Georgia native, who has built a life around the performing arts. She has been changing artists' lives for over 17 years through dance education, artist development, and storytelling. Pytron’s enjoys performing onstage, serving as the choreographer on production teams and loves sharing her gifts with others nationally and internationally. Pytron is honored to be welcomed back to teach at the Junior Thespian Conference! PytronParker.com @payparker |
Dance/Movement | Never Again! | Participants will learn a dance choreography to Revolting Children from Matilda. We will focus on character work and energy - the combo will be beginner/intermediate level. | Maggie Walls | Maggie Walls is the Executive Director of Momentum Arts, a non-profit performing arts school in the Atlanta suburbs. Ms. Walls has been teaching dance and theatre for over 35 years, and is an award-winning dancer, choreographer, and director. Momentum Arts has produced more than 70 full-length productions in the past 7 years, and has won dozens of awards at events like the Georgia Theatre Conference, the Junior Theater Festival, and the Southeastern Theatre Conference. |
Dance/Movement | Historical Dance and Movement for the Actor | Travel back in time to experience dance from the late 18th and early 19th century. Your dance mistress will lead you through two, beginning level English Country Dances. In addition to learning the dances, you will also have the opportunity to interpret the dances as an upper class aristocrat, as well as a lower/middle class individual of the period. | Kat Nagar | Kat is the artistic director of the Atlanta Historic Dance Company. She is a performer, teacher, and choreographer of historical social dance. As well as a dance historian, she is a historical costumer and create some of the costumes worn in performance. In addition to hosting several period balls, she has worked as a dancer and choreographer in the film industry. |
Dance/Movement | Leave it All on the Floor | This workshop is all about dancing your heart out with emotions and storytelling through body movement. We will work on facials while dancing and leaving it all on the floor. This dance workshop is a mix of Jazz, Contemporary, and Liturgical style dancing. Come have fun, sweet and leave it ALL on the floor. | Rashawd Ford | Rashawd is the former director of Peachtree Academy and now is the assistant director/ choreographer for Alcovy High School Theatre Department. He has been acting, dancing and singing for many years and loves working with kids, especially within the theatre community. He worked in various production in the state of Georgia and Alabama with Netflix, Snapchat, HBO, BET+, and many more. #AMDA |
Musical Theatre | Your Voice, Your Power: The Vocal Arts Workshop | This workshop will allow students to understand how to deconstruct a character, plan out a song, and enhance their overall performance. We will breakdown the fundamentals of singing, breathwork, and acting skills while working on songs from popular genres. | Victoria Wilson | Praised for her extensive range and strong characterization, Soprano Victoria Wilson has appeared on stage in a variety of roles encompassing the repertoire of opera and theater across the world. Also, Victoria is the owner of Daughter of Music, LLC, a music company in Atlanta, GA specializing in voice, guitar, drums and piano lessons as well as entertainment legal services. She is an alumnus of Georgia State University (M.M., Vocal Performance, 2014) and Tougaloo College (B.A., Vocal Performance, 2012). In addition, Victoria is a highly recommended masterclass clinician and adjudicator for various voice and piano competitions. www.daughterofmusicllc.com |
Musical Theatre | Quit the (Voice) Crack | The dreaded voice crack! This session is all about how to manage the crack, why it happens, and how to train around it. We will also explore the mysteries of the mix! Be ready to sing something that is causing you issues! Have 16 bars with a track prepared. I prefer MP3 to using YouTube links. | Lori Van Lenten | Lori Van Lenten, creator of FitVoice – Physical Training for the Athletic Singer earned her Bachelors Degree in Choral Music Education from Florida State University and a Master in Vocal Pedagogy for Musical Theatre from Westminster Choir College at Rider University. She is also certified in Somatic Voicework(tm) through the LoVetri Institute. It was through this advanced study, and the extensive work as voice teacher and Musical Theatre Director, with singers of all ages and experience, that led to her research. Lori considers herself to be a “Functional Voice Teacher” meaning she teaches based on the science and function of the voice. There are fundamental vocal techniques that serve as the foundation for all types of vocal performance, but different styles of singing require different uses of the voice. She is also a self proclaimed “voice health nut,” and is very conscientious about the care and protection of her students’ voices. Lori has spent years studying the growth and development of the voice in order to help each singer grow and meet their individual goals. Follow her through VOCE Studios or Lessons With Lori V. for information on how you can schedule a private in-person or on-line coaching session. |
Playwriting | Stone Soup: Creating Theatre Together with Art and Music | INTRO TO DEVISING WORKSHOP - We will combine our individual creativity to weave together an original theatre piece using art, music, and creative movement in 90 minutes. Bring your collaborative spirit and your wildest imagination! | Marcia Faith Harper | Marcia Faith Harper started her theatre journey at the Springer Theatre Academy in Columbus GA and received her BFA in Theatre Performance from Columbus State University in 2019. She also earned her International Studies Certificate from CSU with a capstone devised theatre project entitled Invisible Voices. Her professional performance credits include West Side Story and The Great Gatsby at the Springer Opera House in Columbus GA and a national tour of A Christmas Carol with Nebraska Theatre Caravan, among others. She has taught at the Springer Theatre Academy and the Alliance Theatre, and is a teaching artist, arts advocate and creative based in Atlanta, GA. “Do your job well, treat people with kindness, and empower others to do the same”. |
Puppetry | Puppety Stuff Big or Small, Build it All! | Learn a cardboard building technique that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE! With this super-fun method; you can build puppets, masks, props, or nearly anything with this fast, easy, and budget friendly method. | Qate Bean | QateBean (she/they) is an Atlanta-based creator, performer, fabricator, teaching artist, and puppeteer. For 15 years they have taught, designed, built, and performed with puppets live or on film. QateBean is the founder of HumanBean Puppets & Things, and is BEAN! of the best friends puppetry/magic duo Bean&Bear. |
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