INSIGHTS Fall/Winter 2018-2019 - Volume 29, Issue 1

International Museum Theatre Alliance INSIGHTS Fall/Winter 2018-2019 - Volume 29, Issue 1

HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING Whether You like it or not

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME alloween at Discovery Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza, Place Science isn’t cele- July Fourth, Easter, Thanksgiving, brated in a big way, but Memorial Day – but the calendar is Hwe do observe the some of the chock full o’ lesser known holidays traditions. The most enduring of and days of observance that lend these is our annual staff pumpkin themselves to innovative program- carving contest. Each department ming. Pi Day (March 14), Arbor - from CEO’s office to Exhibits, Day (April 26), National Explosive from Labs to Aquarium to Public Ordnance Disposal Day (May Experiences, from Sales to Café, 4), White Cane Safety Day (Oct. Douglas Coler Facilities to Maintenance, about 15), National Aviation Day (Aug. IMTAL President 22 different teams in all -is issued 11), Lost Sock Memorial Day a pumpkin. We’re given three days (May 9), Yellow Pig Day (July 17), to design and execute a themed, Fibonacci Day (Nov. 23), Space IN THIS ISSUE carved pumpkin. There are few Exploration Day (July 20) and restrictions (the gourd must at least so many, many more. If you’re be pierced in some way) and the looking for program ideas, consult Looking Ahead ...... 2 results are always creative, surpris- your municipal calendar or search Historic Holidays without ing, and delightful. The museum online. Marketing departments, by Tiny Tim ...... 3 visitors cast ballots for their favorites the way, love holiday and special over the course of the weekend, and day programming. It gives them The Washingtons at Home: the winning department receives a a reason to seek out local media Using Seasonal Programming pizza party. It’s a way to acknow- coverage, and it can spur the to Tell New Stories ...... 6 ledge the season without having to customer base to plan a day or two drape the entire place in those cob of not-the-usual visit. 2018 Conference Recap ...... 8 web strands. Many of our institutions celebrate - Douglas Coler Get Involved ...... 12 holidays. The “big ones,” of course – IMTAL President 2 IMTAL INSIGHTS EDITOR’S CORNER ello, readers! I know you’ve Douglas Coler. It was a lovely convening been waiting with baited breath in my home institution, the Natural for this latest “Fall” issue, History Museum of Los Angeles County. Hwhich has now become lovingly known We also hear from IMTAL founder as the “Fall/Winter” issue. Ya know... and Director of Museum Theatre and adaptation! I’m sure you’re all too fam- Research at Conner Prairie History iliar with that concept in your work with Museum, Catherine Hughes, as well as Museum Theatre. Make a plan, set a Elizabeth Keaney, Character Interpreter schedule, and yet all great intentions at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, cannot overcome the will of life’s great about their approach to Seasonal Pro- scheme. We had some delays getting this gramming. We’d love to hear from you issue out because of new life transitions about what sort of seasonal programming for myself and our graphic designer, your institution embarked upon in 2018. Elysia Segal. So with the blessing of the Always feel free to share and comment rest of the Board, this is a double-season on any of the articles past and present. issue! I want to take this opportunity to And if you’d like to write an article thank Elysia for her brilliant work re- for the Spring issue, take a look at our Ilana Gustafson, Insights Editor designing the Insights newsletter. We “Submission Guidelines” section and hope you’ve enjoyed the new look she send me your proposal! Inspired by the Want to write for Insights? created a few issues back. experience of getting this issue out, the Submission guidelines are In this issue we take a closer look theme for Spring will be “Adaptation! available online at: at highlights from the 2018 IMTAL When Things Don’t Go as Planned.” http://imtal-us.org/insights. Conference with our Board President, - Ilana Gustafson LOOKING AHEAD...

ABOUT THE AWARDS SAVE THESE DATES! Jon Lipsky Award for Excellence in Playwriting Deadlines for the Lipsky and IMTAL awards the Lipsky Award to the IMTY Awards are approaching! play that best exemplifies standards of excellence and best practices in Museum Submit your play or nomination by Theatre. For criteria and submission March 31, 2019 to be considered. guidelines, visit: www.imtal-us.org/lipsky.

IMTY Award IMTAL recognizes the importance of 2019 IMTAL CONFERENCE decision makers to the future of museum Indianapolis, IN theatre. The IMTY Award was established Tentatively August 22-25, 2019 to recognize Senior Staff members who Exact dates and details to be announced. have demonstrated strong support for Stay tuned for more! museum theatre. For more, visit: www.imtal-us.org/imty. VOL. 29, ISSUE 1 3 HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING

The Curtis Family in Conner Prairie by Candlelight

Historic Holidays without Tiny Tim Photo credit: Conner Prairie Conner credit: Photo

— By Catherine Hughes — onner Prairie bestows lon- of the program developers to show Friend” who arrives on Christmas gevity on its popular annual that the inhabitants of the town Eve. German immigrant and Inn events. There are several were not in agreement as to how owner, Mrs. Zimmerman and sons Cnow well into their third decade, this event should be recognized. bring Belznichol to life, along with like the ever popular Headless The secular versus the religious a reading of Jesus’s birth from the Horseman Festival in October. among them attempt to persuade book of Luke. Meanwhile, Ezra Among these, the venerable Conner attendants to their view. It was a Higbee and several other rowdies Prairie by Candlelight has offered purposeful narrative, scripted to celebrate with raucous songs and visitors since 1982 insight into reveal the diversity of beliefs. stories around a fire. The store how people viewed the notion of Cranky Mr. Fenton spews the owner Mr. Whitaker muses to his Christmas in the early 19th century. righteousness of his Scotch-Irish, wife on the future of consumerism if Each December since, groups of Presbyterian faith. He knows the the day is made a holiday across the 15-20 guests have promenaded Bible very well, and believes there nation. Generations of guests have through Prairietown homes on just isn’t any justification for pagan joined in the fun each year. It’s not December 24, 1836, hearing the celebrations, such as those Dr. uncommon to hear a grandparent stories of recent immigrants to the Campbell is offering that evening telling a young child of how they frontier and the traditions they at his soiree. On the other hand, brought the child’s parent when have brought with them. For many the Curtis family has brought with they were young. years, these stories were exclusively them from New York the Knicker- There have been changes white and Christian. The religious bocker History and the legends through the years. In 1997, a scene overtones were obvious, but from of Washington Irving, and they portraying Hannah and Shemu’el the beginning, it was the intention share a reading of “The Children’s Ullman, a Jewish couple emigrating 4 IMTAL INSIGHTS HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING from Germany, was added and keen to look over the school house a bit more toward St. Nicholas immediately received positive com- as a model for the school she hopes than their Methodist faith might ments from guests. This scene to set up in the Settlement. normally suggest. The biography continues to receive consistent high Choices about the programming of the composite character for Dr. praise. The Ullmans represent a elements have been made according Campbell was made Presbyterian new immigrant group to Indiana. to the historic record, as well as by birth and Episcopalian by his They were headed to Rising Sun to popular demand and contemporary marriage to Mrs. Campbell, which join a relative who had gone before them, but got lost on the National “The historically-accurate notion that Christmas was Road and broke a wagon wheel near Prairietown, forcing them to not widely or uniformly celebrated initially proved spend several nights there until it less satisfying to some guests.” was fixed. The Ullmans share the story of Chanukah. concerns, such as diversity and allows his character a wider berth In 2016, a scene at the School inclusion. When holiday programm- for discussing the shift toward more House was adapted to include a new ing first began around 1979, it celebratory and secular holiday character, Christmas Guilford, who featured wreaths and familiar traditions. has recently arrived in Indiana from Victoriana. As staff worked to bring There are other festivities at Philadelphia. She is a free African- in more historic authenticity to the Conner Prairie. Breakfasts and American woman following her holiday program, visitors resisted. Dinners with Santa sell out. Our brother to a newly created farming The historically-accurate notion Gingerbread Village display has community of free people of color that Christmas was not widely or dwindled in recent years to a nearby, the Roberts Settlement. uniformly celebrated initially proved crossroads, but there is a push to Again, we heard from guests their less satisfying to some guests. Giving revive submissions. Programming appreciation for another perspective slightly to popular opinion, The has fluctuated inside and outside of the holiday season. Christmas, so Curtis Family’s story, relying on over the break between Christmas named for her date of birth, is also their Dutch heritage, was stretched and New Year’s Day. While Candlelight might be an old-timer, The Ullmans in Conner Prairie by Candlelight holiday programming cannot be not static. The competition is fierce. The adjacent city of Carmel began a Christkindlmarkt last year, attracting around 150,000 people. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis offers its hugely popular Jolly Days Winter Wonder- land. The light displays win awards for the Christmas at the Zoo celebration at the Indianapolis Zoo. On- going planning and Photo credit: Conner Prairie Conner credit: Photo VOL. 29, ISSUE 1 5 HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING

adjustments are necessary. In Photo credit: Conner Prairie order to allow larger crowds, this year Conner Prairie by Candlelight will have guests tour at their own pace, rather than in groups following a set route. In its second year, there is a short two- character play, Tales at the Holidays: Letters from the Civil War, using song, dancing and puppetry to tell the intriguing story of brave mail couriers during the Civil War. For the first time, Christmas lights will be added to the front of the Welcome Center. Feet through the door will tell if these tweaks work. Cranky Mr. Fenton, beloved Christmas curmudgeon, might decry the wish to get more people The Campbell’s soiree in on site celebrating the season, but Conner Prairie by Candlelight that just makes reveling all the sweeter. Just ask the rowdies!  Conner Prairie’s mission: to inspire curiosity and foster learning about Indiana’s past by providing engaging, individualized and unique experiences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Catherine Hughes is Director of Museum Theatre and Research at Conner Prairie History Museum. In her work there, she has overseen operations across the grounds, been part of the team developing Create.Connect, an exhibition combining history and science, and partnered with Asante Children’s Theatre to create a performance initiative, Giving Voice: African-American’s Presence in Indiana’s History. She also teaches Museum Education at Indiana University-Indianapolis and has developed and taught a Museum Theatre course in Butler University’s theatre department. A theater practitioner, educator and researcher, she has worked at the Atlanta History Center; the Museum of Science, Boston; Catherine Hughes and the London Science Museum. She founded the International Museum Theatre Alliance (IMTAL), and is the author of Museum Theatre: Communicating with Visitors through Drama. She has spoken widely on the use of theatre in museums and received a PhD in Theatre Education from The Ohio State University. 6 IMTAL INSIGHTS HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING Photo credit: George Washington’s Mount Vernon The Washingtons at Home: Using Seasonal Programs to Tell New Stories

— By Elizabeth Keaney —

Keaney) as they went about their morning duties. Each character Elizabeth Keaney and Brian Hilton interpreter moved through different portray Martha and George Washington sites of the historic area and met in at George Washington’s Mount Vernon the Botanical Garden where they engaged visitors and answered ount Vernon, George the years before the Revolutionary questions together. Washington’s iconic home War. The majority of guests who A few successes: on the banks of the visit Mount Vernon associate the • The majority of visitors who joined MPotomac, has welcomed over 85 the program from the beginning Washingtons with the Revolutionary million visitors since opening to War and the presidency; having stayed throughout its entirety. the public in 1860. During the a younger George and Martha • As each character moved about spring season it is not unusual for Washington allows visitors to learn the estate they attracted more guests. daily attendance to reach more about the early experiences that • Visitors’ questions centered on than 8,000. Most of these guests shaped the lives of the couple who the theme of the program, which are students who come to Mount would later be considered Father highlighted the daily duties of the Vernon in order to learn about and Mother of the country. The Washingtons. This is quite a switch the Washingtons and others that Character Interpretation depart- from other programs which focus lived and worked on the estate. ment, along with the Director of on the Revolutionary War and Though the Mansion is the crown Interpretation, created a “moveable presidency. jewel of the estate, Mount Vernon feast” experience that invited guests • Anticipating that visitors would encourages guests to explore the to explore overlooked spaces, like to “continue the conversation,” entire property including the specifically the Lower Garden and an afternoon “audience” with the Pioneer Farm, Education Center, the Botanical Garden. Washingtons was presented and and Museum. The intended outcomes of the many attendees of the morning To implement new strategic program included illuminating the program returned for the session. initiatives, the Visitor Engagement lives of the Washingtons before Things to change: division has launched interpretive they entered a national (and inter- • The routes were not equal in programs to activate spaces across national) stage, and offering activities length, which meant that one group the estate. One such program, to visitors in the historic area. At the was standing in direct sun for a Summer Solstice, 1769, was part of start of the program, guests chose longer period than we would have a larger expansion of character to join Colonel George Washington liked. interpretation which highlights (portrayed by Brian Hilton) or Mrs. • Expand the time that characters George and Martha Washington in Washington (portrayed by Elizabeth are engaging visitors together. VOL. 29, ISSUE 1 7 HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING

• Improve communications between Character Interpretation and other departments involved in or adjacent to the program to aid in inviting passers-by to the program Due to the success of the program, a second performance was scheduled for October 28, 2018. Fall Harvest with the Washingtons follows a similar format with the above changes made. By thinking creatively about interpretive holiday programming, Mount Vernon moved forward with the goal of activating the historic area with immersive experiences. 

Elizabeth Keaney as Martha Washington

Photo credit: George Washington’s Mount Vernon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Elizabeth Keaney is a Character Interpreter at George Washington’s Mount where she portrays young Martha Washington. She earned her M.A.T. in Museum Education from The George Washington University and has taught history, art, science, and, language arts in museums since 2001. In 2012, Elizabeth produced the first museum theatre programs at National Museum of Women in the Arts, and is a former board member of IMTAL- Americas. She can be reached at [email protected]. Elizabeth Keaney

Want to write for Insights? Short article, essay, opinion piece, announcement, photo... if it has to do with Museum Theatre, we’re interested!

For more information and next issue’s theme, visit http://imtal-us.org/insights or contact [email protected]!

Deadline for Spring 2019 issue is March 15, 2019. 8 IMTAL INSIGHTS 2018 CONFERENCE RECAP All photos: Elysia Segal and Ilana Gustafson Segal All photos: Elysia

A Recap of the 2018 Lighting the Spark, IMTAL Global Conference September 10-12, 2018 at the Feeding the Flame Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

— By Douglas Coler —

Dinosaur Encounters at NHMLA

was asked by our editor, Ilana on Sunday to visit some of the sented by Craig Gibson and Gustafson, to write a recap of wonderful museums that are situated Jonathan CK Williams, and Lighting the Spark, Feeding the in Exposition Park and get caught featuring Brian Meredith in the IFlame , our recent 2018 Global up in the festivities and traffic extraordinarily detailed T. Rex full Conference in Los Angeles. I was surrounding the Super Clasico body puppet. This was followed by a filled with ideas and inspiration from soccer match, happening that discussion of the program and a visit those intensely packed three days. very evening in the L.A. Memorial to get close up and hands on with I was there, I opened and closed Coliseum (also in Exposition Park), more of the museum’s collection the conference, I attended all the between the two biggest teams in of puppets and to learn about their sessions. How hard could this be? Mexican history, Club America operation from the hard working And yet, more than a month after and CD Chivas de Guadalajara. team of performers who bring that request, and nearly two months (We pretended the hoopla was for them to life. There were several past the end of the conference, I IMTAL returning to the west coast). times throughout the conference struggled. I have so many notes from The Board met at The Natural (this was the first) when I think we those days that to translate them History Museum, and joined some all would’ve been quite content to to this forum would prove utterly of our fellow attendees at The Lab have the session go on for several confusing to our readers, and in the Gastropub attached to our home more hours. I certainly felt joy interest of space, I’ve opted for a base hotel. After cocktails and tall and wonder and a healthy sense of session by session recap. tales, the evening was still young professional jealousy, but this team A few folks arrived early enough and some ventured off to explore earned all the institutional support the city. they have. An amazing, dedicated The next morning, we group of artists, to be sure. gathered in the North This terrific start was followed American Mammal Hall by a lively workshop with Brent at NHMLA to kick off Blair, PhD, of USC’s Theatre the conference. We were Department. Brent’s session was warmly welcomed by a callback to those heady times at Laurel Robinson, the school/conservatory, when we were museum’s Director of all convinced that theatre can save Programs. Immediately the world. We all knew this going following, we were treat- in, of course, but most of us hadn’t ed to a performance of experienced the bone-deep truth of Dinosaur Encounters, pre- that in many years. He followed this Conference attendees get a behind-the-scenes look at the NHMLA puppet collection VOL. 29, ISSUE 1 9 2018 CONFERENCE RECAP with a keynote presentation focusing work with Asante Children’s that such programming presents. on his involvement in Liberation Theatre and their shared desire to The SMM team is tight-knit, and Arts and Community Engagement expand the collaborative process. A they are risk takers. Their audiences (LACE), “a praxis that employs fascinating look at popular theatre in an interactive the dedicated hard method towards the aim of socio- work of defining and political transformation, popular refining what success education, and community healing.” looks like. It was, ultimately, much more than Shelsea’s Cultural even that succinct statement, and Dimensions for Inquiry- painted a powerful picture of the Based Learning ex- work that is being done, and what plored how being yet needs to be done as we develop actively open to the The Science Museum of Minnesota our programming to fit the new cultural perspectives team discusses theatrical gaming paradigms we’re encountering in in our communities our world. can lead to a better museum are fortunate to share in the creation After lunch, Elysia Segal of the experience for all visitors. Both of their technological, intellectual, New York Transit Museum showed Shelsea and Catherine presented and philosophical games. us in A New Train of Thought: Using thoughtful, challenging workshops As the final session of the day, Aaron Technology to Enhance Interactive that gave no easy answers but Bonds and Johnny Marquis of The Storytelling just how far one can encouraged continued vigilance Children’s Museum of Indianapolis go with simple technology and and awareness. presented Pushing the Limits: Merging limited budget to engage the digital Theatre as the Lab Rat: Exploring Technology, Special Effects and Creative natives who are, increasingly, our Museum Theatre and Theatrical Gaming Writing to Break New Ground in Museum visitors. Elysia’s creativity, joy, and as a Research Project, presented by Theatre. Their clear-eyed, practical enthusiasm, and her rapping skills, Stephanie Long, Darius Dotch, Rita approach to was a reminder that were on full display. Boersma, Melanie Wermacher, and exciting, memorable work starts The group was then split for Michael Ritchie of Science Museum concurrent workshop sessions from of Minnesota was an in-depth look with clear-eyed, practical planning, Conner Prairie’s Catherine Hughes at how SMM uses museum theatre and successful programming is an and Shelsea Ochoa from Denver to support the emerging field of evolutionary process. Museum of Science and Nature. gaming science. It was thrilling, and The long day ended with an Catherine’s session - Breaking Down not a little bit intimidating, to learn authentic Oaxacan meal at the Pieces of Collaborative Museum about the many script variations, fits Guelaguetza in the heart of Los Theatre - focused on Conner Prairie’s and starts, and technical challenges Angeles. I’m going to assume that

Keynote speaker Brent Blair conducts a LACE workshop with conference attendees 10 IMTAL INSIGHTS 2018 CONFERENCE RECAP

most everyone was as exhausted is stunning in its innovation and and excited as I was after day one. its simplicity. The ark’s animals Day two began with a slight are created from found objects transportation snafu as our journey and everyday items: gears and to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum teapots and ropes and suitcases, was delayed by a wayward bus umbrellas and bedsheets and mops driver. We arrived later than we’d and kitchen whisks, drums and expected, and yet were still treated to brooms and marbles. We shared the amazing Ice Age Encounters, again the space with dozens of children presented by the NHM team in their who were as enchanted as we were. other home. It’s one thing to know And then, Belize Wilheim and Julia you’re going to see a Saber-toothed Garcia Combs enveloped us in their Cat puppet. It’s quite another to dance/movement piece, The Whole feel the hairs stand up on your neck World is a Narrow Bridge. Deeply IMTAL dinner at Guelaguetza when that cat saunters across the moving, intense, joyous, profound, stage. These are performers who and loving, all woven in around are at the top of their game. After the animals, the ark, and us. After the show, we were privileged to this, we assembled in the beautiful have Betsy Zajko, Drew McCourt, amphitheater and listened as an Eli Presser, Liza McNeely, and incredible storyteller treated us Rachael Caselli share the secrets of to the ancient Nigerian tale of the creating, operating, and performing flood. Group discussion followed, this magnificent specimen. Eli and finally, reluctantly, we put our also shared much more about the lives in the hands of our perplexed puppetry work that this team does, bus driver for the return to the hotel. and we got hands on with some Our final day was once again of the many creatures they work hosted among the mammals, and with. This was another one of those began with Keeping the Human in sessions that could’ve gone all day History: Empathy, Costumed Historical and nobody would’ve complained. Interpretation, & Reaching Underserved Kudos to Ilana Gustafson and her Communities, presented by Stephanie team. Vickers of the University of North After lunch, the Alleged bus Alabama. Stephanie’s program was driver delivered us to Bel Air and about WWI volunteers called the Eli Presser brings to life a the Skirball Cultural Center. The Four Minute Men. This was a Saber-toothed Kitten marionette permanent installation, Noah’s Ark, glimpse into a time in U.S. history

Ice Age Encounters at the IMTALers try their hands La Brea Tar Pits and Museum at Bunraku puppetry VOL. 29, ISSUE 1 11 2018 CONFERENCE RECAP that is largely overlooked, and her performance reminded us, yet again, how powerful simple, straightforward costumed interpretation can be. We had concurrent sessions again for late morning. Judy Fort Brenneman of Greenfire Creative conducted her workshop Burning, Burning, Burning: The Transformative Power of Story, an interactive session that taught techniques to help “convert chaos to clarity.” Sue Ellen Winstead of the Littleton Museum presented You Masterful storytelling and The Whole World with historical is a Narrow Bridge at Skirball Cultural Center Can Do It All (with a little help from interpretation. your friends), a step by step narrative The discussion was everything of how she mounted the first you’d imagine a group of passionate, theatrical production her institution intelligent people would be like, had ever done, the lessons she and it honestly made me proud to learned, and the pitfalls she be associated with such folks. encountered. The conference was everything Our final session was presented we hoped it would be, except for by Lisa Hayes. Decolonizing Interp- the poor, misguided bus driver. retation: Using Theatre to Facilitate It showed us that we who are Difficult Conversations began with IMTAL are still, as ever, a vital a reading of Lisa’s short play part of museum culture, in the U.S. Telling the Story of a Landscape, and and around the world. It renewed transitioned into an examination our commitment to education of The Accoceek Foundation’s and sharing of ideas, techniques National Colonial Farm and their and technologies. The sharing of intention to include honest por- Stephanie Vickers performs trayals of the original indigenous our weaknesses, of our strengths, as a WWI volunteer occupants of the land, the European our desires, and settlers on that land, and the our fears, and it reminded us that A reading of the short play enslaved peoples who worked that Telling the Story of a Landscape land. Who’s story is the truth? once the spark is Who’s story matters? Where do we struck, the flame that draw the line, and where does that it creates needs to be leave those whose stories are not fed. Feed it a regular told? This closing session sparked diet of compassion an amazing, far ranging discussion and hope, daily meals of the value we place on those of curiosity and joy. stories, the struggle to shine a light Tend to it, and not on underserved communities, the only will it keep you lives left unexamined in the process, warm, that flame and the responsibility that comes will light the way.  12 IMTAL INSIGHTS GET INVOLVED! Here’s Your Chance to Change the World! Want to get involved with IMTAL but aren’t sure how? It’s a slippery slope! New year, new you... • Help with next year’s conference planning • Submit articles, news, photos and ideas for Insights • Share IMTAL with friends and colleagues • Send a photo to post on the IMTAL website • Write up a blog post for the IMTAL Facebook page

Snow day but today! • Become an At-Large IMTAL Board Member • Submit a script for the Jon Lipsky Award for Excellence in Playwriting For more information, visit: http://imtal-us.org/Lipsky • Nominate your leader for the IMTY Award For more information, visit: http://imtal-us.org/IMTY

Want to be in the next issue of Insights? Check out the submission guidelines then send your article, photo, or news to [email protected] by March 15, 2019 for the Spring 2019 issue! IMTAL BOARD KEEP UP Douglas Coler, President Discovery Place Science - Charlotte NC ...with IMTAL online and on social media! [email protected]

Todd D. Norris, Vice President Connect with IMTAL Americas on: Indianapolis Children’s Museum - Indianapolis, IN Website www.imtal-us.org [email protected]

Facebook www.facebook.com/IMTALAmericas Annie Johnson, Treasurer Twitter @IMTALAmericas Minnesota Historical Society - St. Paul, MN [email protected] Instagram @IMTALAmericas for posts and pictures about IMTAL news and events! Elysia Segal, Secretary/Webmaster Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum - New York, NY [email protected] / [email protected] Tag us when sharing your own museum theatre-related posts and tweets so we can help spread the word. Nora Quinn, Outreach Officer National Constitution Center - Philadelphia, PA [email protected] ...and don’t forget to check out our online archive for past issues of Insights! Ilana Gustafson, Publications Officer Natural History Museum - Los Angeles, CA [email protected]

The International Museum Theatre Alliance (IMTAL) is a nonprofit, professional membership organization and an affiliate of the American Alliance of Museums. Editor, Ilana Gustafson IMTAL’s mission is to inspire and support the use of theatre and theatrical technique to cultivate INSIGHTS Graphic Design, Elysia Segal emotional connections, provoke action, and add public value to the museum experience. STAFF