Faculty will match up to $200 in donations made throughout the program. 9:15-10:15 Unbiased Gender in Theatre: The Purpose of this event is to discuss ways gender identity is evolving in theatre and ways we can create more inclusive art, be it in casting known work or creating new work. Our guest artists have personal experience in the field as gender non-conforming artists and bring their unique perspectives to (Bios of guests and how this topic relates to them)
Jeremy Ryan Mossman (he/she/they) is currently an assistant professor of Music Theatre at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre Performance from the University of Miami, and a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy with a focus in musical theatre voice from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. He is an Estill Master Teacher, 200-hour certified yoga teacher (500-hour certification has been completed), and working toward becoming a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. He has previously taught a variety of musical theatre crafts including voice technique, song interpretation, musical theatre history, contemporary vocal techniques, vocal pedagogy, voice & movement integration, and tap dancing at Western Michigan University, Oakland University, Wayne State University in Michigan, and St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario.
Jeremy has been a teacher, clinician, or presenter at several conferences and symposia, including a series of Estill Level 1 & 2 trainings in New York, Boston, and Milwaukee, the Musical Theatre Educator’s Alliance, The Voice Foundation, Michigan School Vocal Music Association, and in various cities in China, and most recently at the Estill World Symposium in London, England. He was the musical director at Broadway Break Thru in Kalamazoo, and resident voice faculty at the prestigious Broadway Theatre Project where he was promoted to director of music and voice during his last two seasons. Mossman’s pedagogical ideas have been published in The Vocal Athlete Workbook first and second edition, as well as The Singing Teacher’s Cookbook.
As a performer, Jeremy has been in national tours, regional theaters, and on cruise ships. Most recently, he developed and performed a solo song cycle using the music and lyrics of John Bucchino called, “This is How I Feel, This is What I Think,” which debuted at Carthage and went on to win the Julie Wilson Cabaret Award at the SaraSolo Festival in Sarasota, Florida in 2019.
At Carthage, Jeremy is a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, facilitated a student presentation from the LGBT-SA at last year’s Diversity Leadership Summit, and has taught an inclusive yoga class for the LGBTQIA+ this past October. He is honored to be a part of this conversation today.
Tommy Novak (they/them/their) is a non-binary, Chicago-based Equity actor, director, teaching artist and an adjunct professor of music theatre at Carthage College in Kenosha Wisconsin. In addition to being on faculty, Tommy has earned their Master's in Music Theater Vocal Pedagogy from Carthage.
Tommy has worked as an actor for both regional and international theater companies, including Utah Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Marriott Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Metropolis, Orlando Rep, Shawnee Summer Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago, First Stage Milwaukee, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Kwan Kwan Theater Jinan, iMusical Shanghai, and The Nanjing University Conservatory. Tommy is represented by Paonessa Talent.
As an actor, Tommy earned a 2016 Jeff Nomination for their performance as Max Bialystok in Night Blue’s production of “The Producers.” Tommy's production of Romeo and Juliet won the 2019 Broadway World Regional Award for Best professional production. As a teaching artist, Tommy is a member of the Music Theater Educators Alliance and has held several artist residences with several companies throughout The United States and China. They have performed and directed in China for two performance tours, including a 2018 cabaret and 2016 performance festival. Tommy is the directing specialist with Kwan Kwan Music Theatre School of the Arts in Jinan, and Uptown Musical theater in Chongqing, China. Tommy Novak has also led educational workshops in Shanghai, Xi’An, Beijing, Nanjing, and Huairou. A multi-talented theater artist, Tommy Novak has worked on several wardrobe, wig, make up, and costume crews for First Stage, Milwaukee Rep, Up and Coming, and Utah Shakespeare Festival. Follow Tommy on Instagram for current theatrical endeavors @tommy.j.novak or their website www.tommynovakactor.com
11:35-12:35 The Practices and Challenges of Color Conscious Casting: Join guest speakers Marti Gobel and Kelli Crump in this timely discussion. Kelli Crump holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory. Kelli is also a graduate of Central Michigan University and has studied Shakespeare at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. She is a recipient of the NAPAT Classical Acting Award and the VASTA Vocal Excellence Award presented by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Kelli has worked with many of our nation's most critically acclaimed and award winning professional theatre organizations including the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. She is extremely excited to work with such a talented community of theatre artists. For more than a decade, Kelli has worked as a teaching artist, bringing the gift of acting to a wide range of students. She prides herself on exposing others to the depth, richness, and excitement of live theatre.
Kelli is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA. Some stage credits include: Hair, Doubt, Hairspray, The Laramie Project, Little Shop of Horrors, Hamlet, Chicago, and Tartuffe. Film/TV credits include: HBO's LOOKING, ABC's When We Rise, Being Flynn with Robert DeNiro, The Normals, and The Storyteller.
Marti Gobel Marti is an actor, director, and teaching artist. In her role as Educational Coordinator for Renaissance Theatreworks in Milwaukee, she enjoys the time she spends encouraging diversity at all levels of Performance Theatre.
Ms. Gobel earned her BA in Performance Theatre (Philosophy, minor) from UW Whitewater and completed an Acting Internship at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre (2008-2009). Marti has served as a lead teacher at FirstStage Theatre Academy in Milwaukee as well as a lead teacher and program designer for UPROOTED Theatre's education department. A JF Kennedy Center trained teaching artist, Marti also serves as adjunct professor at Marquette University. Marti actively engages in public speaking opportunities and advocacy campaigns to encourage diversity in the arts. The mother of four enjoys living a life dedicated to the arts with her husband of 28 years.
12:35-1:35 Roundtable: 2021-2022 Mainstage Season Proposals: This roundtable discussion is creating a space for students to bring forward suggestions for shows they would like to see done on our mainstage in the coming season. We will work together to draft the most thorough proposals possible and discuss what we really want to see and be a part of as a student body. Bring your ideas and scripts if you have them.
1:40-2:40 Theatre of Protest: Guest speaker Jocelyn Prince discusses theatre of Protest. Learn what it means and how it happens. Jocelyn Prince (she/her/hers or they/them/theirs) is a Principal at ALJP Consulting. She is also on faculty in theater and performance studies at Northwestern University and an associate member with Beehive Dramaturg Studio NYC. Jocelyn is a graduate of Bradley University and Northwestern University and has worked with theaters across the country including Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Public Theater, Court Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Cleveland Play House, and Yale Repertory Theatre. Jocelyn is a frequent staffer and volunteer with the Democratic Party. She was a staff field organizer for the 2008 Obama for America, 2016 Hillary for America, and 2020 Kamala Harris for the People campaigns.
Alumni Panel Q&A: Alumni Marie Treadway (‘17), Austin Winter (‘18), and Austin Nelson (‘18) talk about life after graduation and working in the arts industry. Marie Treadway is a National KCACTF award winner for her performance at Carthage in A Seat at the Table. She now works in the Milwaukee and Chicago area as an actor and director. She can also be seen on Chicago Med as nurse Trini. Austin Winter has been working as an actor and costume designer in the Milwaukee area with notable credits at First Stage and the Milwaukee Rep.
Queer Theory and Making Queer Theatre: Guest Speaker Amber Marie Palmer discusses what it is like working as a queer person in the theatre industry and what it is like to create theatre specifically for queer artists. She will touch on her experiences as a performer, what it is like creating new work, and some history of how queer stories have been told. Amber Marie Palmer’s plays have been seen at Activate Midwest, Flint Repertory Theatre, Bristol Valley Theatre, Pegasus PlayLab, Tipping Point Theatre, and elsewhere. Awards and publications include City Theatre's National Award for Short Playwriting (finalist, 2019 and 2020), Best Men's Monologues 2019 (Smith and Kraus), Tipping Point Theatre’s Sandbox Play Festival (2nd place, 2019) and Gary Garrison 10 Minute Play Award (Region 3 finalist, 2018). Amber was Artist-in-Resident at The Mitten Lab in 2019 and resident playwright at Queer Theatre Kalamazoo in the 2019-2020 season. They currently are on the board for StageQ in Madison WI and are pursuing a PhD in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies at the University of Wisconsin Madison. MFA: Western Michigan University 2020. Amber's one act play "Theresa's Breasts" can be seen at Women's Theatre Festival's 2020 Occupy The Stage this fall.
Closing Ceremonies: Closing Ceremonies will feature a performance of a staged reading by alumni playwright Emma Swain (20’), and a preview of the KCACTF devised theatre submission.