TCG National Conference
The TCG National Conference is the only nationwide gathering of the not-for-profit professional theatre community. Previous conference topics have included Artistry in a New Century, Building Future Audiences, and Creating the Future: Theatre in a Polarized World.
2008 Conference
TCG’S 2008 National Conference will be held in conjunction with the 2008 National Performing Arts Convention: Taking Action Together in Denver, Colorado, from June 10-14, 2008. There will be discreet sessions for TCG members to meet with our own TCG programming at the Denver Center Theatre Company. In addition, we will join with the rest of the performing arts field at the Colorado Convention Center and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in an exploration of the performing arts sector and its place in American culture.
The National Performing Arts Convention will build an effective national performing arts community, by identifying the issues which unite us and the goals we can strive for together. TCG, along with Dance/USA, Chorus America, Early Music America, OPERA America and the American Symphony Orchestra League are aligning resources in order to gather best practices, build cross-disciplinary networks and ultimately strengthen our individual organizations. Using the highly effective AmericaSpeaks methods and tools for public deliberation and dialogue, our national service organizations will join together to propel us forward into establishing a strong and viable nonprofit performing arts sector and an important place in the life of Americans.
2009 Conference
The TCG National Conference, the largest nationwide gathering of the not-for-profit professional theatre community, will be held in the eastern region of the United States in June 2009. TCG theatres and theatre service organizations in these regions have been invited to submit proposals to host this important event. The final deadline to sumbit a propsal was Septmeber 24, 2007, and proposals from potential host cities for the 2009 National conference are now under review.
Past Conferences
2007 Conference
The 2007 TCG National Conference, Artistry in a New Century, hosted by the Twin Cities theatre community, was held in the new Guthrie Theater facilities from June 7-9, 2007 with a pre-conference day at Penumbra Theatre on June 6th. A new world, a new country, a new audience, new art - the 2007 TCG National Conference turned its attention to creating theatre for today and tomorrow with Artistry in a New Century. The conference engaged master artists and creative thinkers in the quest to craft theatre that resonates in our communities - locally, nationally and globally. The two and a half days of the conference investigated the creative process, new models of developing work and the artist as a catalyst for social change.
2006 Conference
The 16th TCG National Conference, Building Future Audience, was hosted by the Atlanta theatre community at the Woodruff Arts Center, home of the Alliance Theatre, from June 8-10, 2006. The conference began with Blue Ocean Strategy, a strategic planning pre-conference workshop led by Ralph Trombetta. The conference built on previous conversations about the widening polarization in American society and turned more specifically to issues of social organizing and connection.
The conference’s plenary speeches included Anne Bogart’s “The Role of the Audience,” Colin Greer’s “The Politics of Belonging,” Kevin McCarthy’s “Understanding Arts Participation as a Behavioral Process,” a panel entitled “Who is the Audience of the Future?” with Guy Garcia and Wendy Puriefoy, moderated by Susan Booth and a closing address from TCG’s former executive director, Ben Cameron.
2005 Conference
The 15th TCG National Conference, the only nationwide gathering of the not-for-profit professional theatre community, was held in Seattle, Washington, from June 16-18, 2005, jointly hosted by ACT Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. It focused on "Creating the Future: Theatre in a Polarized World." Over 800 theatre professionals from 15 countries and 38 states gathered in Seattle for three days of plenary sessions, breakouts and vital conversation. Click on the links below or to the left for more information about the conference and our host theatres.
Also, Leadership for Artistic Directors, a joint program of Theatre Communications Group, Dance USA and National Arts Strategies, was presented as a preconference event June 15-16, 2005.
2003 Conference
Over 600 theatre professionals—artistic and management leaders, trustees, artists and others—from across the country and around the world, gathered in Milwaukee from June 11-14, 2003 to explore Courage, Creativity and Change.
Compelling speakers, performances, TCG awards, a wide array of breakout sessions, late night gatherings and the lively Milwaukee theatre community, all contributed to an extraordinary event.
2001 Conference
Over 670 theatre professionals—artistic leaders, management leaders, trustees, artists and others—explored The Role of Live Theater in a Digital Culture in Philadelphia from June 20-23. Speakers, special presentations, performances, conversation, late night gatherings and Philadelphia's lively theatre scene all contributed to the conference experience. New additions to the conference program included a vendor fair and the open space meeting approach. The conference also celebrated TCG's 40th anniversary with videos, special guests, and the introduction of the TCG Awards.