CAREER RESOURCES – ORGANIZATIONS

The Arthur Miller Society

The Arthur Miller Society is an incorporated, non-profit society whose primary aim is to promote the study of Arthur Miller and his work. Additional objectives include the promotion of productions of Miller’s plays and the fostering of continued interest in Miller’s work.

Website: http://www.ibiblio.org/miller/

AAP- The Association for Asian Performance

AAP began as a Focus Group of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, and is now an incorporated non-profit organization. AAP retains its own dues, which are separate from and in addition to any dues you may have to pay to ATHE. We hold our annual meetings at the ATHE conference and regularly co-sponsor conference events with other focus groups.

Website: http://www.yavanika.org/aaponline/

Association for Jewish Theatre

The association is open to all artists exploring aspects of Jewish culture from either an historical or contemporary perspective, whether they be Jewish themselves or not.”[The association held] its first general meeting [that year] and the first annual Jewish Theatre Festival was scheduled. . . . [It] took place at Marymount Manhattan College in June, 1980, thus fulfilling the association’s goal of bringing together theatre artists interested in investigating expression of Jewish identity and culture. Inspired by Black and Chicano theatre groups, the Jewish Theatre Association sees itself as part of the ethnic theatre movement and is connected to the upsurge in religious theatre of all denominations which is taking place throughout the country. (Tina Margolis and Susan Weinacht, “Jewish Theatre Festival 1980,”

Website:  http://www.afjt.com/

ATHE – Association for Theatre in Higher Education

The Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) is a comprehensive non-profit professional membership organization. Founded in 1986, ATHE serves the interests of its diverse individual and organizational members, including college and university theatre departments and administrators, educators, graduate students, and theatre practitioners.

Website: http://www.athe.org

Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers

ATPAM members are press agents, publicity and marketing specialists company managers and house and facilities managers who are devoted to the health, vitality and success of staged entertainment of all types. ATPAM is part of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC. As Local 18032 of the IATSE, ATPAM enjoys membership in the largest Union governing the entertainment business and with that, finds itself as part of vital, growing industry that encompasses stage, screen and television.

Website: http://www.atpam.com/

Black Theatre Network

For 25 years, the Black Theatre Network has collected, processed and distributed information that supports the professional and personal development of its membership (comprised of representatives from all areas of theatre, community and professional organizations, and academic institutions).  BTN is a non-profit organization run by volunteers.

Website: http://www.blacktheatrenetwork.org/

Canadian Association for Theatre Research

The Canadian Association for Theatre Research is a non-profit organization founded in 1976 to support and encourage research in theatre and performance studies in Canada, with a special interest in Canadian work. Our membership includes scholars, students, and theatre professionals from around the world who are leading developments in our field.

Website: http://www.catr-acrt.ca/

The Canadian Theatre Critics Association

An association of professional critics, entertainment writers and journalists from the electronic, broadcast and print media.Our objectives are:

• To promote excellence in theatre criticism
• To encourage the dissemination of information on theatre on a national level
• To encourage the awareness and development of Canadian theatre nationally and internationally through theatre criticism in all the media
• To improve the acceptance and publication of theatre criticism in Canada
• To promote and encourage excellence in Canadian theatre through national awards
• To improve the training opportunities, working conditions and status of theatre critics
• To promote a code of ethics for professional critics and their employers

Website: http://www.canadiantheatrecritics.ca/

The Drama League

Since 1916, The Drama League of New York has been at the forefront of providing the American Theatre community with talent, audiences, and prosperous support. It is one of the nation’s oldest continuously-operating, not-for-profit arts advocacy and education organizations. Through its many programs, initiatives and events, The Drama League works to indelibly transform the lives of artists and audiences by harnessing the unique social impact and creative dynamism of theatre. Its nationally-renowned, award-winning efforts have two fundamentally vital goals:
Through the Drama League Directors Project, we identify and nurture talented emerging artists at the very beginning of their careers, providing them with unparalleled tools and support for professional success – expert mentorship, network growth, new play development and lifelong creative opportunity.
Through the Drama League Audience Project, we transform the act of theatergoing by creating price-subsidized performances on Broadway, Off-Broadway and across the country, and supplementing them with educational programs that bring viewers intimately into the creative process — post-performance workshops, discussions, open rehearsals, meet-the-artist events, backstage tours, historical awareness, awards, and industry-wide convocations.

Website: http://dramaleague.org/

Dramatist Guild of America

The Dramatists Guild of America was established over eighty years ago, and is the only professional association which advances the interests of playwrights, composers, lyricists and librettists writing for the living stage. The Guild has over 6,000 members nationwide, from beginning writers to the most prominent authors represented on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theaters.The Guild is governed by a Board of Directors elected from its membership, and which currently includes such writers as Stephen Sondheim (West Side Story, Gypsy, Into the Woods), Edward Albee (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, A Delicate Balance), Marsha Norman (‘night, mother), Tony Kushner (Angels In America), John Patrick Shanley (Doubt), John Guare (Six Degrees of Separation), Lynn Nottage (Intimate Apparel) and Rebecca Gilman (Spinning Into Butter). The current president of the Guild is Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell). Past presidents have included Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, Moss Hart, Alan Jay Lerner, Robert Sherwood, Robert Anderson, Frank Gilroy, and Peter Stone. Past Guild members have included Eugene O’Neill, George S. Kaufman, Arthur Miller, Lillian Hellman, Frank Loesser, Frederick Loewe, and Tennessee Williams.

Website: http://www.dramatistsguild.com/

EdTA – Educational Theatre Association

The Educational Theatre Association is a professional organization for theatre educators. In addition to providing professional development, advocacy, and networking support to its members, EdTA operates the International Thespian Society, an honorary organization for high school and middle school theatre students. It publishes Dramatics, a monthly magazine for students and teachers, and Teaching Theatre, , a quarterly journal for theatre education professionals. EdTA’s annual Thespian Festival is the premiere showcase for high school theatre, drawing students and teachers from throughout the United States and abroad.

Website: http://schooltheatre.org/

The Jim Henson Foundation

The Jim Henson Foundation was founded in 1982 by Muppets creator Jim Henson to promote and develop the art of puppetry in the United States. Each year the Foundation introduces thousands of adults and families to the magic of puppet theater through grant-making and public awareness efforts.  Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over 600 grants to more than 200 American puppet artists for the creation and development of new work.

Website:http://www.hensonfoundation.org/

ASSITEJ – International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People

ASSITEJ proposes to unite theatres, organizations and individuals throughout the world dedicated to theatre for children and young people. ASSITEJ is dedicated to artistic, humanitarian, and educational efforts and no decision, action or statement of the Association shall be based on nationality, political conviction, cultural identity, ethnicity, or religion.

Website: http://www.assitej-international.org/english/home.aspx

TYA/USA

TYA/USA is the United States Center for the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ), and a national membership organization that strengthens the artistic and cultural impact of theatre for young audiences by empowering, connecting and inspiring our members – thereby fostering a global appreciation of the field’s excellence.

Website:  http://www.assitej-usa.org

International Brecht Society

The origins of the International Brecht Society go back to the late 1960s when a group of young Germanists in North America organized for two consecutive years well-attended seminar sessions on Bertolt Brecht at the annual conference of the Modern Language Association, a professional organization that represents the interests of all language and literature scholars and teachers in North American institutions of higher learning

Website: http://wiu.edu/users/brecht10/

International Centre for Women Playwrights

ICWP is a non-profit membership organization devoted to supporting women playwrights worldwide and is overseen by an elected volunteer Board of Trustees. Membership dues vary according to members’ means and ability to pay, with the option of deferred dues in exchange for service to the organization. We are run entirely by volunteer playwrights, directors, performers and others who give up some of their time to ensure women playwrights from various cultures can discuss and develop their work.

Website: http://www.womenplaywrights.org/

IFTR – International Federation for Theatre Research

The International Federation for Theatre Research exists to promote collaboration and the exchange of information between individuals and organisations concerned with theatre research. To this end the Federation supports conferences and publications and assists its members in all such activities and projects.

Website: http://www.firt-iftr.org

ISPA – International Society for the Performing Arts

The International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) is a not-for-profit international network of performing arts professionals who come together with the shared goal of strengthening the arts internationally by building leadership ability, recognizing and discussing field-wide trends and deepening global exchange through the arts.

ISPA is a network of over 350 individuals, organizations and institutions from more than 40 countries around the world.  Members include some of the world’s most significant presenting organizations, independent artists, performing arts organizations, artist managers, cultural policy groups, foundations, consultants, and many others who share the desire to advance the field of the performing arts on a global scale.

Website: http://www.ispa.org

AICT- International Society of Theatre Critics

The IATC draws together more than two thousand theatre critics, through some fifty National Sections. Founded in Paris in 1956, the IATC is a non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization benefitting under statute B of UNESCO.The purpose of the IATC is to bring together theatre critics in order to promote international cooperation. Its principal aims are to foster theatre criticism as a discipline and to contribute to the development of its methodological bases; to protect the ethical and professional interests of theatre critics and to promote the common rights of all its members; and to contribute to reciprocal awareness and understanding between cultures by encouraging international meetings and exchanges in the field of theatre in general. The IATC holds a world congress every two years, seminars for young critics twice a year, as well as symposiums, and contributes to jurys. English and French are the association’s two official languages, and its place of incorporation is Paris.

Website: http://www.aict-iatc.org/

ITI – International Theatre Institute

The purpose of the International Theatre Institute is to promote international exchange of knowledge and practice in theatre arts in order to consolidate peace and friendship between peoples, to deepen mutual understanding and increase creative co-operation between all people in the performing arts.

Website:  http://www.iti-worldwide.org/

The League of Professional Theatre Women

An advocacy organization for reinforcing the positive image of, promoting the visibility of, and increasing the opportunities for women in the arts and entertainment industries, more particularly the professional theatre, thereby enriching the culture with the infusion of women’s creativity.

• A support system for women in theatre, in which they serve as resources for each other by mutual sharing of experiences, insights and work.
• A center for the exchange of information and skills that women can utilize in their careers.
• A means of linking women in the professional theatre with colleagues in college and university theatres, and with women in other performing arts organizations in the United States and abroad.
• A forum for ideas relating to art and its effect on society.

Website: http://www.theatrewomen.org/

Live Playwrights Society

The Live Playwrights’ Society: For Play Writers, Readers, Observers & Critics aims to foster a community of playwrights, actors and critics. To set the tone, we begin the evening with a reading from an established play and a brief discussion of that play. We then take turns having our own works read. After each reading there is a period of discussion and constructive criticism intended to help the playwright refine his or her piece.

Website: http://www.liveplaywrightssociety.org/

MATC – Mid American Theatre Conference

The Mid-America Theatre Conference invites papers that examine perceived limits and/or innovations in historical scholarship, pedagogies, and practices (specifically acting, directing, and playwriting). This year’s conference theme asks that we pause to reflect on questions that might emerge from innovation and boundary busting: Where do we encounter theatrical limits? How do we morph our language, curricula, and staging practices to speak across generational or technological barriers? What constitutes responsible (or irresponsible) envelope-pushing in theatres, scholarship, and the classroom?

Website: http://www.wiu.edu/matc

MLA – Modern Language Association

Founded in 1883, the Modern Language Association of America provides opportunities for its members to share their scholarly findings and teaching experiences with colleagues and to discuss trends in the academy. MLA members host an annual convention and other meetings, work with related organizations, and sustain one of the finest publishing programs in the humanities. For over a hundred years, members have worked to strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature.  MLA conference hosts number of drama related sessions.
Website: http://www.mla.org/

NETC – New England Theatre Conference

The New England Theatre Conference is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing its members with professional services, career development, and recognition awards in the live theater arts. Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, NETC proudly supports quality theatre and promotes excellence in all divisions of theatre. A recognized voice for practitioners in youth, secondary, university, community and professional theatre, NETC continues to expand its support of New England theatre in addition to nurturing and promoting new theatre activity.

Website: http://www.netconline.org/index.php

NADT – The National Association for Drama Therapy

The National Association for Drama Therapy was incorporated in 1979 to establish and uphold rigorous standards of professional competence for drama therapists.  The organization maintains requirements that must be met to qualify as a registered drama therapist (RDT). NADT promots drama therapy through information and advocacy.

Website: http://www.nadt.org/

PSI – Performance Studies International

PSi is a professional association founded in 1997 to promote communication and exchange between scholars and practitioners working in the field of performance. The organisation has staged numerous international conference and festival gatherings that have moved between the discourse and practice of performance. PSi conferences have been held across the U.S.A. and the U.K. and in Germany, New Zealand and Singapore. PSi is always interested in developing proposals for new events and regional initiativesthat will help to develop the international nature of the performance studies field. If you have a strong network of collaborators, good facilities and a proposal for an event we would be happy to hear from you.

Website: http://psi-web.org

SAA – The Shakespeare Association of America

The Shakespeare Association of America (SAA) is a non-profit, academic organization devoted to the study of William Shakespeare and his plays and poems, the cultural and theatrical milieu in which he lived and worked, and the various roles he has played in both Anglo-American and world culture ever since. The Association holds annual meetings in different North American cities so that its members can exchange ideas and discuss strategies for reading, teaching, researching, and writing about Shakespeare’s works and their many contexts. Sessions at these conferences include formal papers, seminars, workshops, film screenings, and theatrical performances.

Website: http://www.shakespeareassociation.org/

Theatre Leaders

The mission of IATL is to encourage, support and promote cultural leadership in the field of theatre and performing arts. Regardless of their gender, religion, ethnicity, age or political orientation, the members of the association gather in the spirit of shared values and the belief that theatre is not a commodity, but a cultural necessity of humankind.

The Shakespeare Society

The Shakespeare Society has grown into a nonprofit cultural organization, presenting entertaining and challenging programs that combine stage performances by outstanding actors with illuminating commentary by noted Shakespearean writers, scholars, and directors.Past participants have included Harold Bloom, F. Murray Abraham, Stephen Greenblatt, Liev Schreiber, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Kathleen Chalfant, Michael Cumpsty, Jefferson Mays, Marcia Gay Harden, Patrick Stewart, Sir Peter Hall, Derek Jacobi, Philip Bosco, Marjorie Garber, Ralph Fiennes, Ron Rosenbaum, Richard Easton, John Guare, and Claire Bloom

Website: http://www.shakespearesociety.org/

The Society for Theatre Research

The Society’s achievements during its first sixty years include the setting up of the umbrella organisation, the International Federation for Theatre Research; the insertion into the act, which abolished the censorship powers of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, of a clause that ensured that the good Lord’s more positive function, as a repository of the script for every play given public performance, be continued by the British Library; and the creation, after a twelve-year campaign, of a dedicated Theatre Museum on its own site. More recently it has campaigned to save that Museum, and its failure to date is due in part to that indifference against which George Devine so presciently warned when he said ‘There is no limit to its possible scope and practical usefulness except that which may be imposed by the indifference of the very people in whose interests it has been founded,’ meaning the theatre community.

Website: http://www.str.org.uk/index.html

TCG – Theatre Communication Group

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, was founded in 1961 with a grant from the Ford Foundation to foster communication among professional, community and university theatres. Today, TCG’s constituency has grown from a handful of groundbreaking theatres to nearly 700 member theatres and affiliate organizations and more than 12,000 individuals nationwide. TCG offers its members networking and knowledge-building opportunities through our conferences, events, research and communications; grants approximately $2 million per year to theatre companies and individual artists; advocates on the federal level and serves as the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute, connecting its constituents to the global theatre community. TCG is the nation’s largest independent publisher of dramatic literature, with 10 Pulitzer Prizes for Best Play on our booklist; it also publishes the award-winning AMERICAN THEATRE magazine and ARTSEARCH®, the essential source for a career in the arts. In all of its endeavors, TCG seeks to increase the organizational efficiency of its member theatres, cultivate and celebrate the artistic talent and achievements of the field and promote a larger public understanding of, and appreciation for, the theatre.

Website: http://www.tcg.org/

THS – Theatre Historical Society of America

THS is the only organization in the U.S. which exclusively records and preserves the rich architectural, cultural and social history of America’s theatres. Through its collections and publications, THS makes available information on more than 15,000 theatres, primarily in the United States, and encourages further research in these areas.Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, approximately 16 miles west of Chicago’s loop, THS is on the second floor of the York Theatre building. The Society also operates The American Theatre Architecture Archive, which contains an extensive collection of photographs, slides, negatives, books, blueprints, clippings, videos, printed programs, and other material on historic theatres, primarily in the U.S.

Website: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~angell/thsa/welcome.html

Theatre Library Association

The Theatre Library Association is a non-profit, educational organization established in 1937 to promote the collection, preservation, and use of theatrical and performing arts materials. Membership includes librarians, scholars, curators, archivists, performers, writers, designers, historians, collectors, and students.Recognizing the need for documenting theatre as both an art form and as a factor in a community’s social and educational life, leading theatre curators, librarians and historians met in June 1937 under the chairmanship of Harry M. Lydenberg, director of The New York Public Library, to discuss the issue. Among those present were the curators of the Harvard Theatre Collection, the Brander Matthews Dramatic Museum of Columbia University, the William Seymour Theatre Collection at Princeton University, the Museum of the City of New York, and the New York Public Library Theatre Collection. It was on this occasion that the group founded and successfully launched the Theatre Library Association. George Freedley, curator of the Theatre Collection of The New York Public Library, was appointed its first president, and it was formally adopted as an affiliate of the American Library Association the following year.

Website: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/affiliates/affiliates/tla.cfm

USITT – Association for Performing Arts and Entertainment Professionals

The USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo is a focal point for performing arts and entertainment professionals. The Conference offers over 175 sessions featuring design, technology, costume, sound, architecture, management, engineering, and production. Held in a different North American city each year, the conference attracts over 3,800 attendees from all over the world who share their knowledge and expertise with one another. Stage Expo showcases businesses, products, services, and educational opportunities in the performing arts and entertainment industry. With over 150 exhibitors, Stage Expo provides conference attendees with the opportunity to see the newest and best products and services on the market today. Stage Expo is also the setting for special technical and design exhibitions, as well as craft demonstrations.

Website: http://www.usitt.org