IATC Thalia Prize 2008

Start thinking about possible recipients for the 2nd Annual Thalia Prize, which will be presented at the IATC World Congress in Bulgaria next year. The first prize was presented to Eric Bentley last fall in Seoul.

The Thalia Prize is intended to honor a personality who has made a major contribution to theatre in the world, one such as to change the nature of critics' thinking about theatre. Mr Bentley's name was chosen after consultation among IATC's several thousand national and individual members in some fifty countries worldwide. He received the Thalia Prize 2006 as an award for the distinction of his writings in and about the theatre and their continuing relevance today.

Photo: Bentley accepts the 1st Thalia Prize in Seoul. ©Glenn Loney

International University “Global Theatre Experience”

International University “Global Theatre Experience” (IUGTE) is the non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 2000 by the group of experts in the field of social science, culture and art. ATCA has not worked with IUGTE, so we cannot comment on their professionalism or credibility. Shelia Gordon is their U.S. member and she teaches at the Southwest Missouri State University. She may be reached at 417-836-6611 or SheilaGordon@MissouriState.edu.

Here is IUGTE's latest message:

International Performing Arts Lab
July 25 - 30, 2007
http://www.iugte.com/projects/OstrenkoLab.php


THEATRE METHODS 07
July 30 - August 02, 2007
http://www.iugte.com/projects/TheatreMethods07.php

International meeting, creative process, accommodation, meals, mountains, waterfalls and more...

Bovec, Slovenia
See you in the green treasury of Europe!

New York, New York

Thanks to all of the committee members who came to New York and joined us for the Friday meeting. Thanks doubly to those who attended the business meeting on Sunday. We will be posting official meeting minutes soon, but don't forget that early-bird registration for the Annual Conference is March 1. We want to see all of you there and at a great rate!

Please think about applying for an IATC seminar, whether Young or Experienced. Definite info will be available soon, along with an official application to send to Larry.

International Pen

Jonathan Abarbanel shares that the British-based org International Pen is planning a meeting in Guanajuato, Mexico in 2008. This will take place in conjunction with the Festival Internacional Cervantino (International Cervantes Festival). Pen is "a place where writers from all cultures meet to discuss, debate and communicate."

If you'd like more information, e-mail Jonathan or visit www.internationalpen.org.uk

IATC Young Critics Message

This is a message from a Young Critic from Romania. ATCA members Gwen Orel and Randy Gener worked on this project as a result of their time in Seoul at the Young Critics Seminar.


Dear Senior Critics,

As you might know, in Seoul the young critics decided to take part in a practical work which is contributing to a monthly newsletter containing a 300-500 words article dedicated to a new performance happening in each other’s country. From the 17 young critics present in Seoul, 10 put the challenge to the test. The result of their work can be seen at:

www.extraordinary-young-critics.org

Please send it to other people if you find it interesting. And please get into contact with each of the authors if there is an issue you agree or disagree.

Wishing you all a blessed new year and a lot of inspiration,
Respectfully,
Ioana Moldovan (Bucharest / Romania)

Randy Gener's story on Seoul

Make sure you read pp. 66-72 of the January issue of American Theatre
magazine. ATCA member and YCS participant Randy Gener wrote about his
experience in Seoul. The article ends with the following:

Randy Gener's trip to Seoul was funded in part by a grant from the
Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association.

Help create the International Survey

As you may know, some members of ATCA aren't sure why there is a need to have an International Committee and don't know or recognize the opportunities this section of the organization presents to them.

As such, I am proposing to conduct a full survey of our membership to find out what they think and how international theatre affects their work as professional critics.

I hope that our committee can devise 10-20 questions for the survey. Please send your question ideas back to the group by FRIDAY, JANUARY 19. We'll finalize them shortly thereafter, send the survey to the membership and present our findings during the NYC meeting next month. We'll be using surveymonkey.com to create the survey and compile the findings. You can see samples on that site to get an idea of what will be sent out. We can have Y/N questions, multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank, so be creative!

Here are some ideas I have to get you started. Please comment on these and/or add your own.

1. Do you review works by non-American playwrights? (Don't forget that includes Shakespeare, Beckett, Moliere, David Hare, Pinter, etc.)

2. Do you review works directed by foreign-born directors?

3. Have you ever applied to a Young Critics Seminar?

4. Have you ever applied to a Cultural Bridges Seminar?

5. How often do you travel outside of the U.S.?

6. How many languages do you speak?

You get the idea! Have fun and get your ideas in by January 19.

Thanks,
Kerri