Professional Development Courses
For more information, contact Mandi Tapia.
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Live, Online Workshops with a Q & A session following the presentation!
Additional Pre-Recorded sessions for a total of ten (10) workshops!
Our presenters ~
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Interview with Broadway Actress: Jalynn Steele
Jalynn Steele, Presenter When :: June 4 at 1:00 PM Where :: Zoom - Live Event Jaylynn Steele starred on Broadway in ‘The Lighting Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical’ and Off Broadway in ‘Sistas: The Musical‘. Jalynn Steele has graced many platforms and stages with her powerhouse talent. Born and raised in LaMarque, Texas, she studied Musical Theatre at Sam Houston State University and started her professional career touring internationally with the company of Fosse. She’s performed in many shows with Norwegian Cruise Lines and worked with many greats in Musical Theatre throughout her course. She’s excited have a chance to tell the story of her journey for Texas Thespians. |
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Building Blocks of Elementary Theatre: Not As Scary As It Sounds (Still Kinda Scary)*
David Bankston, Presenter When :: June 11 at 1:00 PM *Prerecorded workshop Session Summary: Teaching and directing young children can seem like a daunting task to many, but take it from a first-year elementary theatre teacher… It isn’t all that scary! Learn all about how to approach theatre with a younger audience and how to be successful when you may not know what you’ve gotten yourself into. David Bankston received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre at Texas State University. He currently teaches at Whitley Road Elementary in Keller ISD, which launched theatre at the campus this previous year. |
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Musical Theatre for a Stay at Home Audience
C. Nicholas Morris, Presenter When :: June 18 at 1:00 PM Where :: Zoom - Live Event Session Summary: How are we teaching musical theatre and dance online? Does virtual learning have you stumped and hitting your head against the wall? In this session, you will have the opportunity to talk with seasoned director and choreographer, C. Nicholas Morris, and how he modified the calendar, curriculum, engaged students, and struggled with his own disappointments and frustrations. Join us as we prepare for the next season of instruction, whether it is in person or online. C. Nicholas Morris has been in the education and entertainment industry for 30 years as a professional performer, choreographer, director, and teacher of all ages and abilities serving in professional regional theatres, theme parks, schools, and universities. He danced with the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet for 18 seasons and is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association. Nicholas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Speech Communication with Teacher Certification and a Masters of Arts in Education with a Concentration in Communication. He taught five years at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and will go into his third year this fall at Keller High School. |
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Thoroughly Modern Theatre/Creating a Multi-District Online Tournament
Jennifer Minor, Presenter When :: June 25 at 1:00 PM *Prerecorded workshop Session Summary: This session will teach components of a virtual theatre tournament in order to create an effective online experience for students growing their skills in theatre. In the course, we will navigate how and what to set up for a tournament in the different online platforms available. In the end, you'll not only receive this information, but you will also have access to adaptable templates to ease your own experience setting up an online tournament. Jennifer Minor has taught theatre for 11 years in Fort Bend ISD. She has had the pleasure of creating and heading up the FBISD Theatre Camp for 7 years. She has done it all from hosting UIL OAP at the high school and middle school levels, judging middle school UIL OAP and contest managing for high school UIL OAP, to hosting a one-of-a-kind middle school theatre tournament for 5 years. She is passionate about figuring out new ways to get students engaged in theatre and is elated to bring new resources and ideas to teachers across the state. |
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The Teaching of Dramaturgy
Darla Jones, Presenter When :: July 2 at 1:00 PM Where :: Zoom - Live Event Session Summary: This session will offer a full dramaturgy unit which can be used for both classroom and productions. Perfect for virtual learning, Darla will lead you through articles, script and book suggestions, and sample questions to uncover those hidden gems in a script. Darla Jones holds an MA in Theatre Education from the University of Houston. For the past 18 years, she has taught it all - grades 3-12 and college level courses from Creative Dramatics to Theatre I-IV to Tech Theatre to Intro to Cinema. Darla is proud to be a member of the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA) family. When she's no longer teaching, Darla wants to be a dramaturg! |
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Exercise Your Writes: Teaching Playwrighting and Devising in your Classroom and Remotely
Tress Kurzym, Presenter When :: July 9 at 1:00 PM *Prerecorded workshop Session Summary: Join Tress Kurzym as she teaches devising and playwrighting with secondary theatre students. This session will give you tips and activities on how to get your students writing, making strong acting choices and showcasing their work in new and exciting ways. As a transplanted Texan and former Texas Thespian troupe Director, Tress Kurzym has over 20 years in Theatre Education. She has served as a secondary theatre educator and director in Texas public schools and as a teaching artist for regional theatres in both the US and UK. She teaches applied improvisation to small businesses and corporations and leads the Theatre Education program at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE). Tress is the founder and teaching artist of her business StagePlay Learning. StagePlay Learning is a studio based theatre class that teaches life skills through theatre skills to elementary and secondary students. It is located in the MetroEast of St. Louis, MO. She misses bluebonnets and Blue Bell and is looking forward to talking shop with some of the best educators in the great state of Texas. |
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Interview with Broadway Stage Manager, Sarah G. Harris
Sarah Harris, Presenter When :: July 16 at 1:00 PM Where :: Zoom - Live Event Session Summary: Sarah will be sharing her journey from high school to college to Broadway along with tips about what makes the industry's job market tick. She will also highlight the effects of the current pandemic, how the Broadway community is coping, and comment on what the industry might look like moving forward. Sarah G. Harris is a New York based stage manager who has been working on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions for the last four years. She was most recently the Assistant Stage Manager of the Tony-nominated musical, Come From Away. Other Broadway credits include: The Crucible, Once On This Island, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Sarah also stage managed Make Believe and The Underlying Chris at Second Stage Theater. As a freelance stage manager, she has also worked numerous corporate events, galas, award shows, developmental readings, labs, and workshops of new plays and musicals. Favorite event credits include: Skittles Commercial - The Broadway Musical, Target Big Show, and Goalkeepers with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. |
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Production Planning 101
Jacob Thomas, Presenter When :: July 23 at 1:00 PM *Prerecorded workshop Session Summary: It was years into my tenure as an educator that a mentor sat me down and said, “ do it like this!!”. Production calendar, show bible and rehearsal report. These are the tools of organized production and are opportunities for student leadership. I offer a refresher for veterans and a game changer for noobs. Let’s get started!! Jacob Thomas is a 30 year veteran of the stage and 20 in the classroom. He has credits from NYC to Dallas. He is also the founding member of Rockwall Summer Musicals, a father of 3 and husband to Holly. When you do not plan, you plan to fail. Let’s get organized!!! |
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Behind the Scenes with Steward Savage
Steward Savage, Presenter When :: July 24 at 1:00 PM Where :: Zoom - Live Event Session Summary: Come sit with Steward Savage as we delve into his experiences in choosing scripts, past productions, experiences in UIL OAP and more! Have your questions ready, as this session is interactive and your questions will help lead our discussion! Steward Savage is an award-winning director who has led his students at Carnegie Vanguard to UIL One Act Play State multiple years, and won the State Championship in 2014 and 2016. Through his professional and regional work on Broadway and Off, in Connecticut and in Pittsburgh, Mr. Savage shares his wealth of talent with his students and encourages growth with his high expectations and the arts. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Steward's philosophy is to create living, adventurous art which engages artists and audiences in imaginative reflection on the complexities of contemporary life. He presents bold, original, well-crafted productions that represent a range of voices, viewpoints, and styles. |
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Start Your Own Improv Troupe!
Matthew Peters, Presenter When :: July 30 at 1:00 PM Where :: Zoom - Live Event Session Summary: Start an Improv Troupe....FOR FREE! and guarantee an audience! Want to start an Improv Troupe at your school but don't know how? This workshop will give you everything you need to start an improv troupe including games list, show set up, how to audition, how to run the shows, how to run rehearsals, and how to guarantee an audience! Matt Peters has been teaching for the past 12 years after graduating from Texas A&M University. After college, Mr. Peters taught World Geography and Theater 1 at Elsik High School in Alief ISD for 4 years. For the past 8 years he has been teaching Theater 1, Productions 1 - 3, and Musical Theater 1 - 3 at The Woodlands High School. He is a speech coach and also the director in charge of the 2016 and 2018 Best High School Improv Troupe in Texas, the TWHS Improv Troupe (Funky Bunch!). |
Prerecorded Sessions include:
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June 11
June 25 July 9 July 23 |
David Bankston - Building Blocks of Elementary Theatre
Jennifer Minor - Thoroughly Modern Theatre/Creating a Multi-District Online Tournament Tress Kurzym - Exercise Your Writes: Teaching Playwriting and Devising in your Classroom and Remotely Jacob Thomas - Production Planning : Preparing for a New Normal |
