The 2022 National Conference on Outdoor Theatre Program

Tuesday, Oct. 18

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM     Welcome and Dinner – Host Hotel – Fairfield Inn & Suites
Traditional sharing of successes and challenges from the past year.
Welcome: SETC – Clay Thornton. Host Organizations – John Tissue and John Russell

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM     Roll Call and Company Exchange – Host Hotel – Fairfield Inn & Suites
Traditional sharing of successes and challenges from the past year.
Facilitators:  Clay Thornton and Lance Culpepper

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Wednesday, Oct. 19

8:30 AM – 8:50 AM    Morning Coffee Hour – Museum of the Cherokee Indian (MCI)
Coffee and breakfast snacks available.

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM    Roll Call and Company Exchange – MCI
Traditional sharing of successes and challenges from the past year.
Facilitators:  Clay Thornton and Lance Culpepper

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM    Wormfarm Institute: Fostering a Cultureshed – MCI       Wormfarm Institute presentation PPT link
Located in Sauk County, Wisconsin, Wormfarm Institute is known for cultivating connections between rural and urban neighbors, art, food, and the land. By investing in its “cultureshed” Wormfarm has developed its regional culture by developing artistic efforts that involve artists, farmers, chefs, scholars, and more! Their annual programs integrate culture and agriculture to create cross-sector collaboration through their residency program and events like their 50-mile self-guided excursion that includes artwork, pasture performances, poetry, and local nourishment. In this session, we will hear about the founding of Wormfarm and how they’ve become an evolving laboratory of the arts, ecology, and fertile ground for creative work.
Presenter:  Donna Neuwirth, Wormfarm Institute, Founder and Executive Director
Introduction: Julie A. Richardson

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM     Lunch Break – MCI
Lunch is provided for conference attendees.

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM     Board Development Session:  Board Roles and Responsibilities – MCI
Available to Board members of attending theatres, virtually and free of charge. This session will focus on sustainability, profitability, and capacity building for non-profit boards. Specifically this presentation will provide an outline of best practices, responsibilities and expectations, for Board and staff relations for non-profits. Spirited discussion guaranteed!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88593821686?pwd=VTZyc1prS29JSVVhaHNmd0d4c2gwUT09          Meeting ID: 885 9382 1686      Passcode: 104658
Presenter:  Greg Walker Wilson, Walker Wilson Consulting
Introduction: John Tissue

2:30 PM – 3:45 PM     Community Partnerships:  How Montford Park Players Opened Their Doors – MCI
Responding to the needs of the Asheville community, Montford Park Players utilized their venue to support ballet rehearsals, potluck gatherings and everything in between. Hear from Montford Park Players’ Executive Director, John Russell, as he discusses the benefits of partnerships and community.
Introduction: Lisa Ludwig

4:00 PM     Transportation to Asheville, NC – Departing from MCI
Shuttle provided for attendees for day trip to Montford Park.

5:30 PM     Reception and Dinner – Montford Park
Provided by Montford Park Players.

7:00 PM     Performance:  Scenes from HAMLET – Montford Park, Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
Tickets to this performance are provided by Montford Park Players at no cost. This is an outdoor performance.

8:30 PM     Transportation to Cherokee, NC – Departing from Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
Shuttle provided for attendees back to host hotel.

10:00 PM     After Hours Wine Down – Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel & Casino Resort
Optional networking opportunity for conference attendees.

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Thursday, Oct. 20

8:45 AM – 8:55 AM     Coffee and Conversation – Unto These Hills, Mountainside Theatre
Coffee and breakfast snacks available.

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM     Tour of UTH Campus and OIV – Unto These Hills, Mountainside Theatre
Unto These Hills debuted on July 1, 1950. Join local leaders on a tour of the historic Cherokee Mountainside Theatre, followed by an interactive visit to Oconaluftee Indian Village.
Facilitator: John Tissue

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM     Lunch Break – MCI
Lunch is provided for conference attendees.

12:30 PM – 2:00 PM    Getting it Right with Cultural Appropriation and Accurate Portrayals of Native Americans – MCI
A presentation on what cultural appropriation is and how the members of the
National Conference on Outdoor theatre can appropriately portray the customs practices and ideas of Native Americans in our productions. Beyond cursory land acknowledgments, this presentation and discussion will focus on how we should present Native American culture and roles in our plays responsibly and authentically. This session offers space for attendees to discuss Outdoor Theatre with an EDIA lens.
Presenter:  Shana Bushyhead-Condill, Executive Director of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Introduction: John Tissue

2:15 PM – 3:30 PM     Run the Show:  An Introduction to QLab Technology – MCI
Whether you are sinking your technology, running the show, or designing, QLab makes managing your audio, video, and lighting needs an effortless job. In this session, attendees will learn more about the possibilities that come with QLab’s user-friendly system.
Presenter:  Shawn Paul Evans, Professor of Theater at the Department of Theater, Dance, and Film Studies at Washington and Lee University
Introduction: Marina Hunley-Graham

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM     Tour:  Museum of the Cherokee Indian – MCI
Optional opportunity for attendees. Experience 13,000 years of Cherokee history at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

5:15 PM – 6:45 PM     Reception, Dinner and Awards – Stand 3, Unto These Hills, Mountainside Theatre
The prestigious Mark R. Sumner Award will be presented to an individual who has made major contributions to the field of outdoor theatre. The Scott J. Parker Volunteer Award will recognize an exceptional volunteer within Montford Park Players outdoor theatre community.
Welcome: John Tissue and Toni Simmons Henson
Presentation of the Scott Parker Award: John Russell
Presentation of the Mark R. Sumner Award: Brandon Smith

7:30 PM – 9:45 PM     Performance:  DRACULA – Unto These Hills Mountainside Theatre (Curtain 8pm)
Tickets to this performance are provided by Unto These Hills at no cost. This is an outdoor performance.

10:00 PM – 10:45 PM     Post Show Wine Down – Stand 3, Unto These Hills Mountainside Theatre
Optional networking opportunity for conference attendees.

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Friday, Oct. 21

8:45 AM – 8:55 AM     Coffee and Conversation – MCI
Coffee and breakfast snacks available.

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM     Closing Session – MCI
Reflection and looking forward.
Facilitators:  Clay Thornton and Lance Culpepper