Professional Development

NYSTEA is a certified professional development provider in New York State.

The New York State Theatre Education Association is proud to offer professional development for educators.

Our next PD opportunity is September 23, 24, and 25, 2022. Further details and registration forms to follow.

Are you interested in professional development in your area? Please contact us at info@nystea.org.

Here's what we did on our October 2, 2021 Virtual PD Day!

Basic Details
Saturday, October 2, 2021
9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
PD delivered on Zoom (register here)
Eight hours of CTLE

Class Information
Preparing for Tech
In this workshop, Susan Brandt will lead a discussion regarding the planning, preparations scheduling methods for technical rehearsals beginning with paper tech and ending with opening night. We will discuss milestones, deadlines, support documents and obstacles that crop up during the tech process. Be prepared to participate in a lively discussion of tech.

Produce a Stress-Free Improv Show
Produce a fast-paced, user-friendly high school Improv Show with minimum risk. Receive guidelines, show rules, marketing tips, and numerous game lists from Jim Hoare, someone who has produced over 100 high school improv shows. Improv is an ideal way to motivate creative thinking, collaboration and communication, all crucial skills for the 21st century. It helps with spontaneity, develops confidence and a sense of humor. It emphasizes teamwork and trains actors to enjoy rather than fear taking risks. Improv Shows can also provide additional revenue for your theatre department.

Successful Auditioning for College and Professional Work
Leo Ash Evens will diffuse the workload and stress of college and professional auditions by walking you through the essential steps on helping your students become more competitive. How important is material selection? Where should they apply? How do they strike a competitive balance in their school list? What do audition rooms really look for? All of these questions and more will be answered as Leo enthusiastically engages the joy and hard work that's necessary when your students are competing in college and professional auditions. Don't miss these easy, accessible tips that students can begin implementing now. Tip #1: Start early!

Michael Chekhov Archetypal Gestures
Getting high school actors and actresses in their bodies and playing actions, active verbs, tactics, and objectives to their partners in scene work can be challenging. This workshop is a brief look into the Michael Chekhov Psycho-Physical Approach of physically playing gestures to partners, whether in scene study, ensemble work, improvisation, production or rehearsal. Since action=active verb=objective=PSYCHOLOGICAL GESTURE in the language of M. Chekhov, we will embark upon a physical introduction to ARCHETYPAL GESTURES. These gestures can free the tense , the tentative, the doubting, or the confused student into making clearer, more specific, and more committed choices that can answer the Stanislavski/Meisner question: "What are you doing to your partner?"

This workshop will examine the Archetypal Psychological Gestures of expansion, contraction, embrace, tear, uplift and smash. Such gestures may contain multiple active verbs that the student can play. For instance, the Gesture of Expansion can contain the active verbs of: to welcome, to greet, to invite and to make comfortable. We will also specifically define and employ the energy used in playing gestures and objectives, termed by M. Chekhov as "The Invisible Body". Radiation, or sending the energy of the gesture to the partner, will be practiced and investigated. The workshop will conclude with partner exercises in executing gestures, sending and receiving.

Schedule
8:30-9:00 Coffee Clutch (Join us early to see your friends and share your stories.)

9:00-10:00 Keynote

10:00-11:30 Class #1 (two options)
Produce a Stress-Free Improv Show (Jim Hoare)
Preparing for Tech (Susan Brandt)

12:00-1:00 Annual Meeting for Members

1:00-2:30 Class #2 (two options)
Successful Auditioning for College and Professional Work (Leo Ask Evans)
Michael Chekhov Archetypal Gestures (James Luse)

2:30 Closing Presentation: The Q Center

Keynote Speaker: Eric Ulloa

Eric Ulloa is a 2020 American Theatre Wing Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist and a 2020 Kleban Prize Award Finalist.

Eric is the author of “26 Pebbles,” which had its world premiere at The Human Race Theatre Company. The play was featured in American Theatre Magazine, The NY Times and won the Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Award for 2017. “26 Pebbles” was named one of the Top Ten Plays of 2017 by Samuel French and one of the top produced plays nationally of 2018.

Eric is the librettist of the musical, “Passing Through,” which had its World Premiere at Goodspeed Musicals in Summer 2019.

Eric is the writing assistant to Oscar Winner Alex Dinelaris on his upcoming screen adaptation of Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse’s “Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical.”

Eric wrote the “Viva Broadway: Hear Our Voices” special, writing for such luminaries as Lin Manuel Miranda, Antonio Banderas, Chita Rivera and many more.

Eric is the author of the play “Reindeer Sessions.”

Eric is the co-creator of “Meet the Alpha Beats” for Nickelodeon’s Noggin.

On the other side of the footlights, Eric was in the Original Broadway Company of “On Your Feet: The Story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan.” Eric starred in 7 Deadly Sins under the direction of Moises Kaufman. Eric has appeared on The 2016 Tony Awards, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and A Capitol Fourth.

Closing Presentation

The Q Center will focus on Best Practices for Creating Affirming Environments, with a focus on school & theater programs. We can discuss and share the tips and skills to build inclusive environments. The Q Center is an LGBTQ Youth program at ACR Health, working with youth & young adults ages 5-29 and their families. Through the program, we offer safe spaces and support, education, and care management.