Theatre Education Resources

Organizations

• American Alliance of Theatre Education

The American Alliance for Theatre & Education serves and inspires a growing collective of theatre artists, educators, and scholars committed to transforming young people and communities through the theatre arts.

www.aate.com

• Educational Theatre Association (EdTA)

A national nonprofit organization with approximately 90,000 student and professional members. EdTA’s mission is shaping lives through theatre education by: honoring student achievement in theatre and enriching their theatre education experience; supporting teachers by providing professional development, networking opportunities, resources, and recognition; and influencing public opinion that theatre education is essential and builds life skills.

https://www.schooltheatre.org/home

• Southeastern Theatre Conference

SETC is the strongest and broadest network of theatre practitioners in the United States. We provide extensive resources and year-round opportunities for our constituents. Our services, publications, and products contribute significantly to the careers of emerging artists, seasoned professionals and academicians. SETC energizes the practical, intellectual and creative profile of theatre in America.

www.setc.org

• Tennessee Theatre Association

The Tennessee Theatre Association provides members with workshops, programs and seminars and with the opportunity to meet, work with and learn from each other as well as from invited theatre professionals from other states. TTA also serves as a liaison between Tennessee, regional, and national theatre organizations.

https://www.tntheatre.org/

• Association for Theatre in Higher Education

An advocate for the field of theatre and performance in higher education, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) serves as an intellectual and artistic center for producing new knowledge about theatre and performance-related disciplines, cultivating vital alliances with other scholarly and creative disciplines, linking with professional and community-based theatres, and promoting access and equity.

http://www.athe.org/

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State and Local Arts Councils

These are places to begin searches of available grants and other important resources.

• Tennessee Arts Commission

http://tnartscommission.org

The Tennessee Arts Commission was created in 1967 by the Tennessee General Assembly with the special mandate to stimulate and encourage the presentation of the visual, literary, music and performing arts and to encourage public interest in the cultural heritage of Tennessee. The mission of the Tennessee Arts Commission is to cultivate the arts for the benefit of all Tennesseans and their communities.

• ArtsBuild

http://artsbuild.com

Established in 1969, ArtsBuild (formerly Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga) is a private, nonprofit united arts fund and arts council. ArtsBuild provides a united voice for all cultural organizations and activities in Hamilton County.

Arts Advocacy

• Americans for the Arts

https://www.americansforthearts.org/about-americans-for-the-arts

The mission is to serve, advance, and lead the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America. Connecting your best ideas and leaders from the arts, communities, and business, together we can work to ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.

• Tennesseans for the Arts

https://www.tn4arts.org/

TFTA's mission-and our passion-is to advocate for the arts at all levels as a strong, unified voice throughout Tennessee. We actively support local arts organizations and the work of the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Local Theatres and Organizations

• Chattanooga Theatre Centre

The Chattanooga Theatre Centre serves Chattanooga by providing the community with show stopping performances. It also provides several classes and workshops throughout the entire calendar year in acting, dancing, and other aspects of design. The also provide opportunities to work (paid and on-paid) in the creative process of designing, building, and performing in their shows.

http://www.theatrecentre.com/

• Barking Legs Theatre

Barking Legs Theater is a superb, intimate concert hall and performance venue that has established a reputation as a great place for musicians and listeners alike. We are known throughout the Southeast as a venue with great acoustics and remarkable intimacy. Barking Legs is a listener’s dream, where each note and word rings clearly, promoting the sort of rapt attention impossible in the typical club or barroom setting. Performers love it! Our 80 fixed seats all have great sight lines and we can accommodate overflow crowds up to 175. Our in-house events offer a concession area and you are invited to take your beverages with you into the theater. And if you’re curious about the name, its origin stems from the “bark leggins” that were worn by scouts and woodsmen of the Appalachian region in the last century.

http://barkinglegs.org/

• The Tennessee Theatre

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and honored as the Official State Theatre of Tennessee, today's Tennessee Theatre has something for everyone: classical music, vintage films, dance, Broadway, and stellar performances by today's hottest musicians and yesterday's favorites. Local arts organizations such as the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Opera, at UT Cultural Attractions use the Tennessee Theatre throughout the year. The Theatre is also the site of special events; wedding receptions, private parties, corporate meetings, and other functions are enhanced by its magnificent interior. Under the guidance and oversight of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, the Tennessee is managed and operated by A.C. Entertainment.

http://www.tennesseetheatre.com/

• Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Their mission is to lead with excellence in the performing arts and arts education, creating meaningful and relevant experiences to enrich lives, strengthen communities, and support economic vitality.

http://www.tpac.org/ 

Helpful Resources

• Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg offers over 50,000 free piece of literature that have entered public domain, including scripts!

https://www.gutenberg.org/

• Theatrefolk

Theatrefolk offers a many resources including “free stuff” that you can look over and pulls ideas and material for your lesson plans

www.theatrefolk.com

• The Drama Teacher

Another great online site to find material and support to pull from, this online site has a wide range of activities and articles about all sorts of subjects within theatre.

http://www.thedramateacher.com

• TN Theatre Standards

This page contains the links to access the standards required by TN to be implemented into the classroom.

https://www.tn.gov/education/districts/academic-standards/arts-education.html

• National Core Arts Standards

This link takes you to the page where you can find the core standards for the art disciplines. This site can help you utilize and define standards on a new level to better understand the teaching layout.

http://www.nationalartsstandards.org/

• Playbill

Playbill is the preeminent destination for all things theatre and has become an internationally known symbol of the arts since 1884. Playbill Magazine can be found in theatres and classical arts venues throughout the country. Playbill also features an abundance of resources from quizzes to program builders.

http://www.playbill.com/features

Tips and Suggested Readings:

 Be familiar with the major theoretical approaches to acting:

Konstantin Stanislavski

Jerzy Grotowski

Uta Hagen

Viola Spolin

Sanford Meisner

Lee Strasberg

Stella Adler

Anne Bogart

Augusto Boal

Below are two lists compiled with suggested reading material for Theatre. There is a lot more beyond this list, so never stop looking! If you feel there is something that should be added, please let us know!

Recommended Reading List for General Theatre

Recommended Reading List for Theatre Education