ATCANY2026 | Annual Conference November 13-15, 2026 

Early Bird $100 September 21, 2026 through October 25, 2026. Full Price $150 October 26, 2026 and after.

Members and Member Guests Only

The American Theatre Critics/Journalists Association 2026 annual conference celebrating theater and theater makers in New York City will be held November 13-15, 2026.

The conference planning committee (David John Chávez, Jay Handelman, Lou Harry, Bill Hirschman, Gerard Raymond, and Martha Wade Steketee) began meeting in Spring 2026 to assemble a spectacular program. Details are posted when finalized. Instructions to register for various ticket types are located below the agenda.

Scheduled sessions appear in the Agenda below.

Stay tuned to this page and weekly ATCA newsletter for the latest developments in the evolving agenda.

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PRICE

• $100 Early Bird registration for full conference, available September 21, 2026 through October 25, 2026 [midnight Eastern] for all ATCA member types (Active, Associate, Affiliate, Alumni, and Emeritus)
• $150 Full Price registration for full conference, available October 26, 2026 [12:01 am Eastern] through end of conference for all ATCA member types (Active, Associate, Affiliate, Alumni, and Emeritus)

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AGENDA
[Session content and timing subject to change based on availability of invited guests.]

ATCANY2026 agenda one-page handout [final revision [posted mm-dd-26]
ATCANY2026 Presenter Bios and Headshots [final revision] [posted mm-dd-26]

All times are Eastern.

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PRE-CONFERENCE OPTIONAL EVENT
THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 12, 2026

venue : The Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab at the Library for the Performing Arts
* 111 Amsterdam entrance: turn right at elevator, Lab on right
* 40 Lincoln Plaza entrance: head down hall, turn right, take elevator or walk stairs to “L”, Lab on left

4:00 pm CELEBRATION OF THE 5TH YEAR OF THE EDDIE. Panel discussion, testimonials, slide show, sweet treats, and conversation to toast and remember ATCA member Edward Medina — supporter of under-represented writers about the arts and especially the theater arts. The Prize bestowed in his name is just the beginning of his legacy. His widow and ATCA member Nate Hinkle and others will host this informal session. This year’s Eddie winner will be honored during a separate session on a later date during the conference.

5:00 pm SCREENING OF CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL. The Theater on Film and Tape Archive recorded CATS: The Jellicle Ball, a drag-inspired revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sometimes beloved and often maligned original CATS production during the final days of the revival’s historic Broadway run in summer 2026.  A screening of the video will be held in the Fierstein Lab as arranged with TOFT director Doug Reside and Lab director session host Adam Wassilchalk. Attendees will be required to obtain free tickets in advance (purchased at no cost) AND sign an attendance sheet for the Library’s purposes when arriving at the venue.

SEPARATE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AS SPACE IS LIMITED. Only individuals who have purchased conference tickets may reserve for this session. Follow the instructions for purchasing a conference ticket first, then select the free “ATCANY2026 | Eddie Celebration + CATS [screening]” ticket option. Limit of 50 (due to size of Lab space) with paid conference registration. See area beneath the Agenda below for available tickets.

Event scheduled to conclude by 7:30pm. Those who may need to depart for earlier evening curtains may leave at any point in the screening.

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FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 13, 2026

venue: Club 135 by Industrious at 135 West 50th Street
* meeting on 2nd floor of the venue

Coffee, tea, and drinks provided by the venue.

9:00 am PROGRAM OPENING. ATCA members meet-and-greet, welcome, introduction of new members, committee chairs, and board members, discussion of themes of the weekend.

10:00 am PERSPECTIVES IN CRITICISM. ATCA’S lecture series inaugurated with remarks by Clive Barnes in 1992 continues with theater critic and author Chris Jones, who currently writes for multiple outlets including Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News, and directs the National Critics Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Introduced by ATCA member Jonathan Abarbanel. ATCA host: David John Chávez.

11:00 am WORKSHOP: Inside an Audition with actor/educator Allan K. Washington. What makes for a winning audition? What do actors need to do to prepare? What does it feel like to have your career on the line as you perform a two-minute monologue out of context? At this interactive session, Actor/Educator Allan K. Washington not only tells but also shows. He’ll share insight while coaching participating actors — and maybe a journalist of two — on audition techniques. No need to bring a monologue. ATCA host: Lou Harry.

12:30 pm BREAK: Lunch provided by ATCA.

3:00 pm SESSION: Broadway Bound: the Musicals That Never Made It To Broadway. Robert W. Schneider, author, director, and theater producer returns to the annual conference to discuss his Broadway Bound podcast. ATCA host: Lou Harry.

Additional programming being finalized.

Program day will conclude by 5pm to allow travel to evening performances.

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SATURDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2026

venue: Theater555 at 555 West 42nd Street

10:00 am SESSION: Kelundra Smith in Conversation with [a playwright to be finalized]. Kelundra Smith, ATCA member, cofounder of ATCA’s BEID committee and Edward Medina Prize, and director of publishing for TCG will lead the conversation and record the session for an upcoming edition of the American Theatre Offscript podcast.

11:00 am SESSION: Fifth Annual ATCA Edward Medina Prize for Excellence in Cultural Criticism. Presentation of the 2026 award to [a writer to be announced] followed by a Critics in Conversation discussion with the 2025 Medina prize winner. ATCA host: Nate Hinkle.

12:00 pm SESSION: Relief Hitters: The Whirlwind World of Understudies, Swings, and Standbys. The show can’t go on without backup. But what’s life like for those superheroes who do it all (without forgetting who they are today). Panelists includes Maria Briggs (currently understudy and swing for Schmigadoon!) and Jodi Bluestein (understudy for A Walk on the Moon.) ATCA host: TBD.

Program day will conclude by 1pm to allow for matinee performances.

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SUNDAY | NOVEMBER 15, 2026

venue: Museum of Broadway at 145 West 45th Street

CONFERENCE ATTENDEES HAVE FREE ACCESS TO MEETING ROOM AT VENUE. ATCA SPACE RENTAL AGREEMENT IN ADDITION ALLOWS FOR 25 MUSEUM ADMISSIONS FOR THIS DATE AT NO EXTRA COST. Only individuals who have purchased general conference tickets may reserve these limited FREE tickets (additional available for purchase at the site). Follow the instructions for purchasing a conference ticket first, then select the free “ATCANY2026 | Museum of Broadway” ticket option. Conference sessions should run through 1pm and museum exploration with ticket access will be available Sunday until 6:30pm.

9:30 am: PROGRAM OPENING. Group members convene in a Museum of Broadway conference room where sessions will take place. Museum exploration to follow.

10:00 am SESSION: Waiting for Lefty for the 21st Century. Clifford Odets crafted a workers’ call to arms in 1935 that speaks truth to power in a way that the revival’s creative minds contend continues to speak to audiences today. This session will unpack the Classic Stage Company revival of Waiting for Lefty with producing artistic director Jill Rafson and others to be announced. ATCA host: Martha Wade Steketee.

11:00 am SESSION: Casting With the Pros. Karyn Casl, Casting Director at The Telsey Office, will take attendees through the casting process, from scene selection and self-tapes to callbacks. ATCA host: Bill Hirschman.

Program day will conclude by 1pm to allow for matinee performances.

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CONFERENCE FORUM

The ATCANY2026 conference forum has been established for ATCA members who are registered for the conference. This area, opened when tickets become available and viewable only by registered attendees, will allow attendees to discuss Ticket offers (as arranged through planning committee member Lou Harry), Ticket sharing “plus one” arrangements and other related topics, Housing options suggested by attendees, and other items of interest to conference attendees. Forum topics will be created for registered ATCA members to share information. NOTE: adding registrants into the conference forum is a manual not automatic process so there may be some delay between conference registration and forum access activation.

• Once you’ve registered for the conference, make sure you’re logged in as an ATCA member. 
• Follow THIS LINK to the ATCANY2026 conference forum after registering. 
• Return to the forum for updates on tickets and housing discussions.

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REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

ATCA MEMBERS wishing to register for the conference will take the following steps.

• Make sure you’re logged as a member. (If you have forgotten your password, contact webmaster Martha Steketee for assistance.)
• Click the EVENTS dropdown menu at the far right of the page.
• Select CONFERENCE REGISTRATION.
• Scroll to the bottom of the event page to view tickets visible only to members.
• Members may purchase guest tickets at the member rates using the same procedure. If purchasing more than one ticket, select the total number of tickets desired first, and provide name and email for each attendee ticket in a following screen.
• Registered conference attendees may also select the free RSVP ticket items for any bonus events yet to be scheduled. Access to free tickets is reserved for regular conference ticket holders only.

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