Thursday, June 26, 2014

Cultural Data Project Orientations

Free | Easy | Attend In Person or Online

Why does data matter? The Cultural Data Project (CDP) can help your organization view, analyze, and talk about your internal data in new (and even exciting!) ways. Our training sessions set the groundwork for you to use data thoughtfully and effectively, always with the goal of strengthening your organization's ability to do what you do best.

Getting Started with the Cultural Data Project - New User Orientation 
In this introductory session, we'll discuss how consistent data collection can help your organization make decisions, plan for the future, and build convincing cases to stakeholders. Our new user orientation will also provide an overview of working with the CDP, including:
-registering your organization
-navigating the CDP website
-entering your organization's data into a CDP Data Profile

Designed with first-time users of the CDP in mind, this session will also provide tips on how to help your organization get the most out of the CDP through our useful reporting tools and other resources.

"Data + Stories = Impact" Workshop 
How many times in the past month have you told a story about your organization to report out to a board member, appeal to prospective patrons, apply for a grant? How many data points did you need to gather and analyze in order for your stories to have impact? In our interactive, hands-on workshop, learn how the CDP's reporting features can help you combine your organization's story and data to: -effectively communicate with stakeholders
-highlight accomplishments for funders
-raise important issues with policymakers

From recruiting new board members to embarking on capital campaigns, this session will demonstrate how to use data to support your talking points and effectively make your case.

New User Orientations
Monday, July 21, 2014 10:00am - 11:30am CT - Chicago Cultural Center

Data + Stories = Impact
Monday, July 21, 2014 1:00pm - 2:30pm CT  - Chicago Cultural Center

CDP sessions can be attended by executive directors, board members, development directors - anyone with an interest in strengthening your organization.

Unable to participate? Click here for additional training opportunities.

Questions? Visit www.culturaldata.org or contact the CDP Help Desk at info@culturaldata.org or 1-877-707-3282.

Kokandy Productions Seeking New Musical Submissions

Kokandy Productions seeks submissions for their 2015 and 2016 New Musical Staged Reading Series. Works must have complete script/score (orchestrations not necessary) in order to be considered, but may be at varied points in their development (eg, a piece may have had previous readings or workshops, or this may be the first time it will be heard). Playwright(s)/composer(s) will work with Kokandy Co-Artistic Director Allison Hendrix to develop and rewrite the piece for the six months prior to staging. Chicago-based artists only. Please submit cover letter with brief description of the piece and its history, along with pdf of complete script and score to allison@kokandyproductions.com for consideration.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Industry Ticket Offers

Grounded - American Blues Theater at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, is offering $15 industry tickets available for Thursday performances through July 13. Use promo code INDUSTRY when purchasing tickets. Call (773) 404-7336 or in person. For more information, click here.

The Qualms - Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted,  is offering $15 tickets to the first weekend, July 3 through July 6 and $20 Tickets to shows July 9 through July 20. Excludes Saturday nights. Use code “17288” for July 3-6 and use code “17289” for July 9-20 online at steppenwolf.org or call Audience Services at 312-335-1650. Tickets must be reserved at least one hour before performance. Subject to availability.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

20% Theatre's Annual Yard Sale

20% Theatre company will be holding their annual yard sale this Saturday June 21st from 9am - 5pm and Sunday June 22nd from 9am - 3pm at 4022 N. Paulina (Paulina and Irving Park). This yard sale will be perfect for designers or other theatre companies looking to save some money on props, costumes or set pieces. All proceeds will go to benefit 20% Theatre's 12th Season: Our History, Our Voices.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

USITT-USA 2015 National Exhibition

SUBMIT DESIGNS BY JULY 14, 2014 TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE NATIONAL EXHIBITION!

The main theme of the Prague Quadrennial 2015 is Shared Space: Music, Weather, Politics 2011 - 2015. PQ 2015 invites participating countries to explore design as a performative environment that influences not only spatial relations of elements of performance but also determines mental relations (narrative, social, past or future) as well as relations between the performance and audience in contemporary performance.

The artistic leadership of the 2015 PQ have challenged National Exhibition Curators to revisit the power of theatre/performance and imagination and discover the powers and responsibilities of design that use, yet exceed the theatrical.

National Exhibition curators have been given a choice between three themes for their exhibit; Weather, Music, or Politics. PQ 2015 plans to exhibit presentations in multiple spaces in the very center of Prague. Visitors are encouraged to explore thespecifics of each locale in connection with the city both when working on their country’s presentations and when exhibiting in the specific spaces in Prague.

The Artistic Director and Curators for the USITT-USA National Exhibition have chosen Weather for the theme of the 2015 exhibit. Weather is an apt choice as a metaphor for performance. It doesn't discriminate, and crosses all economic, ethnic, and social lines. Weather has the power to affect and/or alter lives, both for the good and otherwise. It has the ability to connect distant lands and varied regions. Weather also connects to the other PQ themes of Music and Politics. Weather screams and whispers. It is rhythmic, percussive and melodic. Politics are inherent in weather can be found from the debate on global warming to the response time and funding of FEMA. The beauty and power of weather is the stuff of a designer’s dreams.

How to Participate:
The exhibition is open to all designers and performances originated in the United States between June 2011 and June 2015. Deadline for submissions is July 14, 2014. Curators will announce designs chosen for inclusion in the exhibition by July 28, 2014. There is a $30.00 non-refundable entry fee for each designer that submits material to the curators for consideration.

Click Here for More Information

Monday, June 16, 2014

Industry Ticket Offers

The Merry Wives of Windsor - First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W 31st St, Oak Brook, are offering $10 industry tickets to industry professionals for Weds. and Thurs. evenings at 8:15 PM July 9 - August 7. Tickets are on an "as available" basis and may be purchased at the door. Professionals must bring a union card, a headshot/resume, tech resume, or business card indicating employment in the theater business. NOTE: This is an outdoor performance. Picnics are welcome. Bring your own lawnchairs or blankets, or rent a chair for $2 at the site.

Juno - TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave. is offering $22 industry tickets available any Wednesday night (7:30PM) or Saturday night (8PM) through the end of the run, with code INDUSTRY22. Regular prices $35-$45. Buy online (http://www.timelinetheatre.com/tickets - additional fee applies) or via phone (773.281.8463 x6).

The Strange - The Ruckus Theatre and Athenaeum Theatre Productions at The Athenaeum Theatre 2936 North Southport Ave is offering $8 industry tickets for all performances. The Strange is only an hour, so you can come to the 5pm show on Saturday 23rd or 28th and be out in time to make it to your own call! Tickets can be booked online at athenaeumtheatre.org, via telephone at 773.935.6860, or in-person at the box office using code STRIKE. A resume, headshot, or business card must be presented at pick-up.

Rehearsal Space Availability with Pride Films and Plays

Pride Films and Plays has a rehearsal space in a great location on Wilson and Clark. We have evening rehearsal space open for $25 per night from July 2 to 20. Also rehearsal space in the fall for $30 per night starting Sept 21. Additional four hour blocks are available here and there.

Email pridefilmsandplays@gmail.com with REHEARSAL in the subject line for more details.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Reinstate the Tony Award Categories for Sound Design

On Wednesday, the Tony Awards Committee decided to eliminate the awards for best sound design. No direct explanation was given, but reports following the decision say it was partially due to sound design being more of a "technical" craft rather than an art form. On the contrary, sound design is a theatrical design art that is a critical part of the collaborative art of theatre. The American Theatre Wing should continue to honor excellence in sound design as it does for scenery, costume and lighting design, and as it has done since 2008. Sound designers are an important part of the theatrical community whose vital contributions cannot be ignored or dismissed. Tell the committee to reverse this decision now!

Rehearsal Space Available

Rehearsal rooms and mainstage space available for rehearsal rental for theater, music, classes, photography, film shoots et al. Self-serve portal allows you to book your times online up until midnight the night before; stage time can be booked via management. $12/hour for standard rehearsal room usage, mainstage rents for rehearsals, film shoots, photography projects, or classes at $36/hour. Gorilla Tango Bucktown: gorillatango.com/portal to book today.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Industry Ticket Offers

River See - Links Hall, 3111 N. Western Ave. Chicago, IL, is offering 20 $10 industry tickets per show for the June 19 preview at 7PM and for the 3PM matinees on Sunday June 22 and 29. Call 773-281-0824 for more information; purchase tickets at linkshall.org.

The Strange - The Ruckus Theatre and Athenaeum Theatre Productions at The Athenaeum Theatre 2936 North Southport Ave is offering $8 industry tickets for all performances after June 12th. Tickets can be booked online at athenaeumtheatre.org, via telephone at 773.935.6860, or in-person at the box office using code STRIKE. A resume, headshot, or business card must be presented at pick-up.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Rehearsal Spaces Available at Collaboraction

Collaboraction has two black box theaters and a rehearsal studio of North Milwaukee in the Flat Iron Arts Building available. Please contact info@collaboraction.org for more information on rates and availability.