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Contents
YOUTH
NY & THEATRE TRIP
CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP
AACT / ASCAP LICENSE
CARPENTER SQUARE BENEFITS OCTA
A MEMBER RESPONDS...
OKLAHOMA HISTORY THEATER
VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR NEEDED
CHECK OUT OUR FORUM
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CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP
Michael Jones resigned in October as our Executive Director. The office is still open and managed effectively by Darrelyn Hoffman. She will answer your requests for information, or find someone who can. She is there part-time, from 10:30- 2:30. Please leave a message if you miss her and she will return your call.
The Executive Committee of the OCTA Board of Directors will be responsible for operations of the organization for the time being. Each member on this committee has taken on a load of work in addition to their normal vocations and avocations. They have begun seeking help from other OCTA members and board members where possible, so if you get a call for 'help,' please respond. If your talent doesn't cost us any money, we'll be glad of your assistance.
Change is always difficult, but OCTA has been through change of leadership in the past. In such times it helps to just take a deep breath and start anew.
CARPENTER SQUARE BENEFITS OCTA
Carpenter Square Theatre will give the "house" on Thurs. January 18th at 7:30 as a donation to OCTA. The production is "Glimmer, Glimmer & Shine" by Warren Leight (author of "Side Man"). CST will pay for the royalties as well and the actors and crew will donate their time.
THANK YOU CARPENTER SQUARE!
If your theatre group can do the same in an upcoming production, we would be very grateful. OCTA needs your financial support; Every dollar raised by members and member theatres will help OCTA continue to help theatre grow and excel in Oklahoma.
A MEMBER RESPONDS...
As a founding theatre member of OCTA, I am proud of what has been done for each theatre, the state, as well as national and international recognition. OCTA has been a huge part of the arts. To look at what programs have been impacted by this group is astounding! To think of the artists and organizations that have grown with help from OCTA is mind-boggling and something of which we should all be proud. Because OCTA has been instrumental in promoting theatre, it is time all members step up and help in any way possible. There can be many ways to help ensure we stay around a long time! Call the OCTA office and let them know we are in this together. The curtain is not going to fall on OCTA~ it's CURTAIN UP!!!
Chuck Tweed
OKLAHOMA HISTORY THEATER
Oklahoma History Theater has Centennial plays, Royalty-free. Janice Montgomery reports that this organization has 5-10 original plays they have authored, but currently they have no acting troupe to perform them. They are offering the plays free of royalties for the centennial. Her website is www.historytheater.org; email: historytheater@yahoo.com Cell: 405-922-5760.
VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR NEEDED
Ina St. John is a new OCTA member. She is new to the Performing Arts Studio in Norman. They want to continue their Senior Radio Theatre so they can take it to libraries, nursing homes, etc. She is looking for a volunteer director to help them for a short time while they try to get up and running. They already have several radio scripts with which they can. In the future, they hope to have grants and possibly small admission fees so there might be able to pay a director. Her phone number is 405-364-8516; Email is ifstjohn@ou.edu.
CHECK OUT OUR FORUM
Be sure and go to our website BARGAINS !!
(1) See OCTA website/forum Theater seats for sale in Elk City
(2) "Let's make a Deal!" Par Cam 1000 watt bulbs for sale in Grove
OCTA BOARD MEMBERS
Executive Committee:
Suzanne Boles, Grove
President
Diane Chapel, Edmond
Vice President
Martha Cherbini, Muskogee
Treasurer
Vanessa Adams-Harris, Tulsa
Secretary
Fred Collins, Ardmore
Member at Large
Shonda Currell, Elk City
Immediate Past Pres.
Other Board Members:
Phillip Blender, Bartlesville
Sharon Burum, Duncan
Ruthie Carrico, Bartlesville
Tim Duncan, Norman
Ron Friedberg, Broken Arrow
Merrisue Lucardeaux, Oklahoma City
Paula McGee, McAlester
Mary Patterson, Oklahoma City
Tom Pixton,Elk City
Doobie Potter, Oklahoma City
Tim Smith, Pauls Valley
Advisory Board:
Tom Cowley, Ponca City
Jack Liggett, Bartlesville
Jimmy Vaughn, Oklahoma City
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YOUTH
It's time to get the word out about your summer youth theatre plans! Put your information on the OCTA Webpage-Forum at http://www.octaforum.org
MUSKOGEE LITTLE THEATRE FINDS CAMP SUCCESS WITH M.T.I. SHOWKITS
For theatres looking for ideas for Youth Summer Camp, take a look at M.T.I.'s Broadway Jr. Showkits. After two summers of Youth Theatre Camps which involved several one-week sessions based on different themes, and though filled to capacity, Muskogee Little Theatre wanted a better learning experience for youth. We made the decision to evaluate the camp and restructure it based on the evaluation results. We invited students, parents, and educators to participate in the evaluation process. The focus group concluded that not only was a longer camp experience wanted, but one that was geared towards the students getting a "total" theatre experience with learning and involvement in all aspects of theatre. Muskogee Little Theatre found the answer in M.T.I.'s Broadway Jr. Showkits. An established program with successful results based on formal evaluation. MTI is dedicated to the idea of theatre as education and shares with educators the goal of raising the next generation of theatre artists and audiences. MTI has taken a leading role in education by creating the MTI Theatrical Resources, a theatrical tool box designed to ensure the success of the arts learning experience. Broadway Junior is a complete package which includes a first-timer's "How To" guide to producing Broadway's most beloved musicals, custom tailored to children. The kit includes student libretto/vocal books featuring memory pages for students, as well as facts and brain-teasers about of the show. Included is an enrichment guide that ties the themes of the show to learning by integrating language arts, history, math, art, science, music, and more. Also included is a Family Matters Book for parents that guides them through the show process and provides positive ways they can contribute. The Production Handbook includes a calendar template and suggested curriculum schedule.
Muskogee Little Theatre's 2006 Summer Youth Theatre Camp was a 6-week camp that culminated with a 2 week-end run of Disney's Aladdin, Jr. The camp sessions were Monday - Friday from 1pm - 5pm. Students were grouped by age into 4 groups that rotated hourly through acting; music; choreography; and stagecraft. Every Friday we invited various instructors to do workshops in areas such as lighting/light design; stage make-up; costuming; and stage combat (a favorite). This production was totally student-driven. The students made all of the props; designed and painted the set; ran lights and sound; and performed to sold-out crowds and rave reviews. Muskogee Little Theatre highly recommends this Showkit to make your summer camp a well-disciplined, structured, educational and memorable theatre experience for your youth.
OCTA BEGINS EXPANSION OF IN-SCHOOL BASIC THEATRE TRAINING
Want to get in on an fun and valuable program with school students? The in-school basic theatre training project may be what you need if you can't sponsor summer theatre camps… or even if you can!
The program to introduce school students to theatre began In March, 2004 when The Oklahoma Arts Council gave OCTA a grant to design a curriculum for the project and test it in selected schools using theatre teacher-artists from OCTA theatres.
The goal of the program is not to develop young performers, thought that can be a real by-product. Rather it is to give Oklahoma students information about the roots of theatre, the practice of theatre, and of the many and diverse tasks of production and management that go into creating a theatrical presentation. It is hoped that it will lead to an appreciation of theatre and begin to build audiences for the performing arts in the future.
A curriculum provides the basis for five introductory lessons: What is theatre and how did it begin?; Types of stages and stage directions; The collaborative process; An actor prepares; and, The importance of the audience.
The Grove Community Playmakers got to work and developed the program for their school system. A task force was formed to decide the structure of the program. This group chose to present the lessons in nine fourth grade classes in the spring semester of 2006. The program was supported by the Superintendent of the Grove Public Schools, the Principal of the Upper Elementary School, and the nine fourth grade teachers. One hundred eighty-three students took part in the first effort, 80 boys and 103 girls. Playmakers' theatre teacher-artists instructed the students and developed the more specific lesson plans which gave form to the curriculum --exercises and theatre games that created an enjoyable learning opportunity for fourth grade students. High school speech & drama students performed for the classes in the final lesson, providing an change for the students to become 'the audience.'
As the fourth grade students progress to fifth grade, The Playmakers will once again work with all classes. In 2007 they will help the 5th grade students write a script for their end-of-semester program using Oklahoma's history as the content for the program. They will continue to work with these students as they go through mid-school. Additionally, every year, there is a new 4th grade class. As long as the school system allows the program and The Playmakers have the volunteers, the program will continue.
Three more community theatres will present this curriculum in their school systems in 2007: Elk City, Muskogee, and Lawton. Vanessa Adams-Harris will organize the training for Beggs and the KIPP school in Tulsa. The program doesn't have to be as extensive as Grove's; you can tailor it to your own circumstances. Be creative and share your successes with other theatres providing the training. If you are interested in learning more about this project in order to participate in the future, please call the OCTA office, 401-236-0788 or email us.
Plans are to put the curriculum on the OCTA webpage very soon as a 'work in progress.' As community theatres apply the basic curriculum to different grade levels, the specific exercises they use will be added to the curriculum.
This format forms the basis for a "cohort study" as it focuses on the same specific population each time data are collected. If there is anyone needing a research project who would like to set up the methodology and research tools for such a study, please contact The Playmakers at 918-786-8950. Although the OCTA project is not a 'study,' evaluations are conducted at each stage. Evaluating students when they reach eighth grade might give us useful information about the effectiveness of this kind of program in developing audiences or theatre participants for the future. The classes could be questioned when they are Seniors, also, to see how many of these students had become "theatre audiences" or "theatre participants." The Playmakers are keeping students names and attendance for just such possible research projects.
Come visit our website!
NY & THEATRE TRIP
USAO 2007 NEW YORK ART & THEATRE TRIP
TUES., MAY 22, THROUGH SUN., MAY 27, 2007
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is sponsoring a 6 day, 5 night ART & THEATRE Tour to New York City from Tuesday, May 22, 2007 through Sunday, May 27, 2007. The tour is open to anyone who would like to join us and includes: round-trip airfare, OKC to New York (Newark); round trip transportation between the airport and the hotel; accommodations for five nights at the Edison Hotel in the Heart of the Theatre District at 47th and
Broadway; tickets to two major Broadway plays chosen by the group leader; an introductory seminar about New York which will include tips on what
additional shows to see, how to get half-price tickets to plays and art events, and advice as to subways, tipping, and sightseeing, as well as a New York Guidebook with lots of trip specific information. 6 Days in New York City for less than $1,200.00
In addition to the basic tour, there will be a Theatre add on package and an Art/Museum package. With the Theatre package you can add one, two,
or three additional plays chosen by the group leader, Roger Drummond. The Art package will consist of visits to the Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, and a small gallery tour led by USAO Art Professor, Tim Sullivan. There will be plenty of free time to
see more plays and/or museums and for individual shopping, sightseeing, and other adventures. USAO Independent Study credit is available for students, but not required.
TOUR COSTS FOR 2007
USAO Student Rate(Quad Room) $ 1,149.00 each
Non Student rates:
Quad rate (four to a room) $ 1,249.00 each
Triple Rate(three to a room) $ 1,499.00 each
Twin Rate (two to a room) $ 1,549.00 each
Single Rate (one to a room) $ 1,849.00 each
Costs for the Art and Theatre add on packages will be based on the number and type of plays and/or museums selected.
*based on current airport fees and fuel surcharges, any significant increases will need to be added.
DEPOSIT A $300.00 deposit is due by March 5, 2007, with the balance due by April 2, 2007. All deposits become non-refundable after March 6, 2007. Trip cancellation insurance is available. $100.00 will hold a spot on the tour until March 5, 2007.
TO JOIN THE TOUR, Please Contact:
Roger Drummond,Tour Leader (405) 361-2554
email facdrummondr@usao.edu
Jackie Knapp,Art (405) 574-1303 email facknappj@usao.edu
Tim Sullivan,Art (405) 574-1301 emailtsullivan@usao.edu
USAO Mailing Address 1727 W. Alabama Ave., Chickasha, OK, 73018
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE USAO
WEBSITE: http://www.usao.edu/
Click on News & Events and then on 2007 New York Art & Theatre Trip.
AACT / ASCAP LICENSE
AACT / ASCAP LICENSE
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the American Association of Community Theatres (AACT) have agreed to a new license designed to meet the needs of community theatres. It will cover the theatre for a year at all its venues for copyrighted pre-show,intermission, and post-show music played by means such as CDs and tapes. It does not cover live performers in a musical revue or in instrumental concerts or performances.
Theatres that sign up through the AACT office at the beginning of the membership year will receive a 20% discount. Since the program is getting a late start this year, theatres that sign up by Jan 1, 2007 will get an extra 10% discount. AACT member theatres that miss the AACT group deadline must sign up directly with ASCAP to receive a 10% discount. The license year is the same as the AACT membership year, September 1-August 31.
For more information, contact the AACT office: info@aact.org ;
8402 BriarWood Cr, Lago Vista, TX 78645; 866-687-2228 toll-free | 512-267-0711 phone | 512-267-0712 fax
JOIN OCTA TODAY !!
If you are not a current OCTA member, this newsletter has been sent to you as a courtesy. Get in on the fun by joining OCTA today and receiving all the benefits OCTA has to offer. Just download a membership form from our website http://oktheatre.org and mail your information and money to the office. Once you are a member, you will be added to our newsletter list and continue to receive the monthly "fun facts to know and tell". (While you are on our website, check out the FORUM and see how much you and your organization can benefit from being an OCTA member!
Oklahoma Community Theatre Association wishes you and yours a very happy and safe holiday season.
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