Dear Members,
We, the EdTA Board of Directors and staff, are thinking of you, your students, and others who are affected by the COVID-19 situation.
As you work through the challenges you are facing, remember that theatre teaches resilience and empathy. Our students, who may be devastated by cancellations, will rely on the skills you have taught them to get through this.
Here’s what’s happening as of March 13, 2020:
Member support
- The EdTA office is open, with staff working in the office or at home utilizing our remote-access system. EdTA membership and event staff will continue to respond to phone calls and emails as usual throughout this disruption of normal routines.
- Membership induction packages will continue to be shipped daily.
- We want to give every opportunity to students during this time of event and performance cancellations. Don’t let those losses prevent you from honoring deserving students -- we encourage you to be flexible in awarding Thespian points for cancelled activities. Your students (especially seniors) may appreciate the recognition now more than ever.
International Thespian Festival
- All plans for International Thespian Festival scheduled for June 22-27 remain on track at this time.
- EdTA is in close touch with our ITF site hosts, Indiana University, who also are tracking this evolving situation. On March 10, as a precautionary measure IU suspended in-person teaching for two weeks following their spring break from March 23-April 5. Classes, and large events on campus, are expected to resume April 6. For more information see: Indiana University update page| Monroe County Health Department | Indiana State Health Department
- Please reassure students who were planning on participating in Thespys™ at any cancelled chapter event that they may participate in the ThespyTM Program at International Thespian Festival (ITF). The chapter qualification requirement will be waived for this year only and apply only to chapters that cancelled or postponed their event due to COVID-19.
- If your school is restricting travel, students may attend with their own chaperone.
Licensing Updates: Streaming Rights, Postponements, and Cancellation Options
Music Theatre International (MTI) reports: “At this time, we can offer a limited license to stream certain shows for amateur productions that were licensed before March 12, 2020. Complete an MTI Emergency Video Recording/Streaming License form.” See MTI’s website for more details.
Concord Theatricals reports: “Requests for recording or livestreaming are being handled on a case-by-case basis. Requests will be shared with the author’s representatives who are the ones who make the decision.” View Concord’s FAQ.
Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) reports: “Please be in immediate email or phone contact with your TRW licensing representative [regarding changes or cancellations]. The rights administered by TRW on behalf of the authors and copyright owners do not include broadcast/transmission/streaming and therefore we are unable to license or authorize this usage.” Read more.
Playwright Don Zolidis, author of some of the most popular short plays, including 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, and The Audition, has granted permission for his work to be livestreamed. See Zolidis’ March 9 post in the EdTA Community Open Forum.
Many companies, from costuming to ticketing, are offering flexibility. Reach out to those companies directly for solutions to your specific circumstances.
Online resources you can use now
- EdTA’s Theatre Educator Pro: Explore resources for teachers and students. If you are in a community shifting to online learning, take advantage of the tools here for distance teaching and remote lesson planning.
- EdTA Community: Connect with peers and colleagues from across the country and around the world who are going through the same challenges you are.
- Dramatics.org: Stories offer valuable resources for onstage, offstage, and backstage topics; again, use these materials to support your remote teaching.
Your health and well-being and that of your students is our first priority. Know that in this difficult time, your EdTA national office staff and your chapter leadership are here to support you. The nature of theatre is a communal activity, and we need each other more than ever.
With best wishes,
Julie Cohen Theobald, Executive Director
Gai Laing Jones, President
Scott Wilson, Vice President
And all members of the EdTA Board of Directors and EdTA Staff