Join us this October for our first ever Educator Appreciation Week!
This October, join the Dramatists Guild for our very first Educator Appreciation Week. We'll be celebrating the vital bond between dramatists and educators, who often work together to nurture creativity within their communities.
Our week of special online programming will enable you to examine the landscape of higher education, discover the non-traditional ways through which writers can become teaching artists, consider whether a teaching job is right for you, and more. Participants will also engage in lively conversations about the landscape of theatre, and the role that education can play in shaping the next generation of artists.
Please note that panelists are subject to change.
Monday, October 4
When and How to Enter the Higher Education Sector
Eastern Time: 7pm
Central Time: 6pm
Mountain Time: 5pm
Pacific Time: 4pm
Panelists: Carlos Murillo of DePaul University, Kate Snodgrass of Boston University, and Julianne Wick Davis of BerkleeNYC
Moderated by Marsha Norman, DG Education Committee Co-Chair
This webinar on entering the higher education sector is a practical session designed to help participants create teaching statements, craft resumes, and discover the best way to do a job search in higher education.
Tuesday, October 5
Non-Traditional Educational Spaces, Students, and Structures
Eastern Time: 7pm
Central Time: 6pm
Mountain Time: 5pm
Pacific Time: 4pm
Panelists: Interdisciplinary artist and activist Raquel Almazan, Rebecca Gilman of Texas Tech University, educator and playwright Francesca Piantadosi, San Diego Playwrights founder Thelma deCastro, and Tamara Drew of Storycatchers Theatre
Working playwrights often teach theatre in a variety of non-traditional spaces, including at detention centers, prisons, senior centers, and other community outreach programs. Some dramatists also work as teaching artists for theatre companies. Join us for a conversation with innovative theatre practitioners about their work, and learn practical ideas that you'll be able to utilize in any classroom space.
Wednesday, October 6
To MFA or Not MFA
Eastern Time: 11am
Central Time: 10am
Mountain Time: 9am
Pacific Time: 8am
Panelists: Vichet Chum of Brown University and KJ Sanchez of University of Texas at Austin
Is a Master’s degree right for you? Hear from professors in the field as they discuss today's higher education landscape and the opportunities that are available for working artists.
Dramatists Guild Institute (DGI) Open House
Eastern Time: 7pm
Central Time: 6pm
Mountain Time: 5pm
Pacific Time: 4pm
Hosted by DGI Executive Director Tari Stratton, this two-hour event will highlight four of the Institute's most popular courses, giving you a taste of what it's like to take a DGI class. You'll also hear from current DGI instructors, C. Julian Jimenez, Rona Siddiqui, and Sheri Wilner, who will share teaching insights and methodology.
The Dramatists Guild Institute offers hands-on, rigorous training for writers at all skill levels, providing students with an engaging and empowering educational experience. Now, more than ever, the opportunities for self-expression and connection through storytelling sustain us and reinforce our community of dramatists.
Thursday, October 7
What I'm Teaching Now
Eastern Time: 7pm
Central Time: 6pm
Mountain Time: 5pm
Pacific Time: 4pm
Panelists: David Valdes and Jonathan Dorf
Are you a teacher looking for ways to invigorate your curriculum and lesson plans? Join us for a discussion that will provide you with tools, resources, and lesson ideas to help you introduce your students to a broader array of playwrights and plays that may not be on your radar. You'll also have the opportunity to join breakout rooms with fellow educational professionals, and to take part in conversations on what they are currently teaching in their classrooms.
Friday, October 8
Creating Equitable Spaces for Students
Eastern Time: 7pm
Central Time: 6pm
Mountain Time: 5pm
Pacific Time: 4pm
Panelists: Michael Chemers of UC Santa Cruz, Gregg Henry of The Kennedy Center
The Dramatists Legal Defense Fund will present their toolkit: Dramatic Changes: A Guide to Producing Live Stage Works on College Campuses in the 21st Century. How do stakeholders on college campuses resolve the tensions that have arisen between the value of free expression on the one hand, and the intense and overdue imperative to advance values of diversity, equity, and inclusion on the other?
These are the questions that this document attempts to explore, while providing practical guidance and observations about the challenging process of presenting theatrical productions on college campuses today.
For more information regarding Educator Appreciation Week, please contact Amy VonMacek at avonmacek@dramatistsguild.com.