Events

Jason Zinoman, Perspectives in Criticism

Jason Zinoman You had to be there, of course — which was one of his themes. This is all about live theater, after all, and in performance, Jason’s talk was animated and funny, full of impromptu sidebars. But for the basic speech, with its mix of...

Concluding, and the Convention Hat

Schwarzwald Haus, one part of the extensive Bavarian Inn, where most ATCAns stayed. Shepherdstown, WV, July 21 — Yesterday was packed. In addition to the Perspectives in Criticism talk by Jason Zinoman and the reorganization of the ATCA executive committee and the Foundation board, we saw two more plays, including...

ATCA elects new leadership

There were no barricades in the streets. With the sweetness of demeanor for which theater critics are famed, the ATCA executive committee elected Jonathan Abarbanel (Chicago, duelingcritics.net) its new chair. Then the overlapping board of Foundation ATCA elected Jay Handelman (Sarasota Herald-Tribune) its new president. More info on brief press release to...

More conference notes

Zinoman, Pressly, Boland, Handelman, Butler, McKowen Shepherdstown, WV, July 20 — It’s hard for even a conscientious note-taker to keep up as the conference barrels along. Thursday there was a workshop on “Monetizing your Website,” with Brad Hathaway, Bill Hirschman, Mark Lowry and Lorraine Treanor. Yesterday we had a morning...

The Daumier goes to W.V.

By popular demand, here’s the unofficial logo of this year’s conference. The caricature on the left is of a mountaineer (like the WVU mascot); the one on the right is of Daumier’s caricature of a self-important critic (ATCA’s logo).  Here, the two seem mutually unsure of...

Now for something completely different

Outside the Lost Dog: always a gathering Well, not completely different, since coffee is (some) critics’ best friend. So here’s a word on the three coffee shops in Shepherdstown, home of CATF, host of ATCA’s annual conference. I’m still high on the three-shot Wet Dog (one...

New members

Bob Schneider, Russell Warne, Mark Dewey, Erin Keane, Steven McKnight. Thursday, July 18, Shepherdstown, WV — New ATCA members at the annual conference at CATF include (left to right), Bob Schneider, New Haven, CT; Russell Warne, Salt Lake City; Mark Dewey, Bluemont, VA; Erin Keane, Louisville; and Steven McKnight, Falls Church, VA. Missing:...

Excom works all day; ‘Modern Terrorism’ at night

Wednesday evening, July 17 The ATCA executive committee put in a long day on reports, discussion and debate, as these snapshots testify. The results will show up at membership meetings the next few days. But tonight, the conference proper began with a welcoming dinner at Byrd Hall, Shepherd...

July 17-21, 2013: Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, W.V.

Check out the new conference brochure (download pdf). Five plays, panels, speakers, dinners, a host of historical sites and more, plus transport, etc. THE AMERICAN THEATRE CRITICS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE,July 17-21 at the CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATER FESTIVAL IN HISTORIC SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V.CLICK HERE TO REGISTER The venue: The theaters of Shepherd University.  The dates: Wednesday, July...