Chicago Theater (anti-) Conference Held 8/5-7

Theater Wit in association with the League of Chicago Theaters will once again coordinate and host the second annual Chicago Theatre (anti-) Conference, August 5-7, 2011 at its new home at 1229 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago.

Theater Wit will be the scene of a jam-packed weekend of community-driven presentations of key importance to Chicago performing arts organizations large and small, with as many as 30 different sessions covering every aspect of creating and producing the performing arts. Unlike most such industry trade events, however, each session will start with a speaker presentation limited to only 12 minutes, with the majority of time reserved for group discussion, knowledge sharing and Q&A.

In addition, Theater Wit is carving out time for everyone to gather for food, drinks and socializing throughout the weekend, including the (anti-) Conference Kick-Off beer and wine mixer, Friday, August 5 at 8 pm in the Theater Wit lobby, plus evening parties at Theater Wit's nearby restaurant partners.

"The Chicago Theater (anti-) Conference isn't intended to be a traditional business conference where everyone grabs a coffee and donut, listens to long presentations while poking around their iPad, then tries to squeeze in a relevant question during an abbreviated Q&A period," said Theater Wit Artistic Director and Anti-Conference organizer Jeremy Wechsler. "Instead, the (anti-) Conference is strategically designed to foster communication, not be a traditional teaching/education conference."

Sessions will promote conversation on topics such as new work development, fundraising, audience building, online strategies, selling your work outside Chicago, grant applications, local government interactions, season programming, venue management, rental challenges, and more. Session leaders at last year's inaugural Anti-Conference included Martha Lavey, Artistic Director, Steppenwolf Theatre; Don Hall, Artistic Director, WNEP Theatre; Katherine Lamkey, Actors Equity; Paul Botts, Director, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Roche Schulfer, Executive Director, Goodman Theatre; Kris Vire, Theater Editor, Time Out Chicago; and Wendy Whiteside, Artistic Director, American Blues Theatre. To suggest a session topic or speaker for the 2011 (anti-) Conference, send an email to ctac@theaterwit.org.

The registration fee for the weekend is $45 in advance; $75 onsite, and includes three catered evening parties and lunch both days. View the conference schedule, submit session proposals or reserve online at TheaterWit.org or call the Theater Wit box office, 773.975.8150 for more information.

In addition to theaters, dance companies, performance artists, independent artists, designers, production professionals, performers, directors, choreographers, video artists, music ensembles, orchestras, and opera companies are encouraged to participate.

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