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If you met me six years ago, here are three things you’d never expect to hear me say:
I’m going to grad school.
I presented research at a national conference.
I attended a conference that changed my life.
I struggled as an undergrad student. Struggled hard. I couldn’t find balance. I felt like I was constantly chasing a train, never quite catching up. Sometimes I’d hop on the end, only to fall off immediately. I never expected to re-enter the world of tuition payments, assignment deadlines, scholarly journals, final papers, homework, readings that go on forever… you get it.
But I did. Then I created research that I felt so passionate about, that I couldn’t not try to share it with the world (or at least anyone that would listen). So I sent a proposal to the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, and was invited to present my work as a poster presentation.
That’s how I found myself flying to Seattle for the very first time with butterflies in my stomach and business cards in my purse.
It may sound dramatic (ha!), but this conference was actually life changing. I learned something from every session I attended, met incredible people, and went home ready to start my school year a month early. I’ve never been so surrounded by people that I wanted to hear more from; who also wanted to hear from me! It was beautiful to see a room full of theatre people and not a single ego in sight.
The staff at AATE went above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome and valued throughout the conference. I was struck by the amount of available opportunities to make connections, and create relationships. However, I also felt the freedom to create my own conference schedule, taking breaks to see Seattle when I wanted to. The balance between inclusion and fluidity was exceptional.
The variety of offerings and opportunities was remarkable. Here are some of the sessions/events I was able to experience.
Tools for Liberation: Activating collaboration and creation through prop design
Poster Presentations
Mime, Movies, and Making Waves: Approaching Activivism in First-Grade Drama
Skill Building for Young Directors
Devising “The Haunted,” An Immersive High School Theater Ghost Story
The Power of Playwriting in Education: Accessing Emotional Honesty in Storytelling
A Variety of Networking Sessions
Illuminating Hidden Histories of BIPOC TYA Artists and Drama Facilitators
Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Creating Activist, Antiracist Theater with Teen Girls & Nonbinary Youth
AATE Award Ceremony
All Conference Party
All this and I still had time to try some of Seattle’s best restaurants, explore Pike Place, delve into downtown, ride the Ferris Wheel with new friends, and meet up with my cousin in town!
I found tremendous value in almost everything I was able to encounter. Here are some one sentence highlights from sessions I attended:
“In most situations, failure and death are not the same thing.”
“Eliminate the word but.”
“Lower the stakes, not the bar.”
- Valerie Curtis-Newton, Keynote #1
“Your self-image is so powerful, it unwittingly becomes your destiny. - Oscar Micheaux”
- Mimes, Movies, and Making Waves
“What if the audience was the ghost?”
- Devising “The Haunted”
“There are no bad Ideas, but not every idea will stay in.”
“‘Cringe’ is proof the audience is paying attention.”
- Playwriting & Education session
I could go on and on, but I would be completely remiss if I didn’t mention the exhilarating, validating, meaningful experience I had presenting my research. The highlight for me was being able to share my work with others in the field and engage in meaningful conversations afterward. The feedback I received from the community was overwhelmingly valuable and humbling. For more information on the work I presented, visit this little site I created to supplement my poster. https://sites.google.com/emich.edu/feminism-musical-theatre/home
This experience also wouldn’t have been even as much fun or meaningful without my co-hort bud Sam Carter and the best professor ever Meriah Sage, who graciously allowed me to share a room with them. Imagine a sleepover with the coolest people you know, except you also get to learn stuff and explore a really neat city.
Overall, 10/10 would recommend!
-Lauren Neuwirth
Final year MFA
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