Theatre Arts Community Outreach Activities

The School of Theatre Arts is committed to providing community outreach programs, connecting the work done on the University campus with organizations, individuals and schools throughout the Tucson community. Such community programs provide oru community with valuable programs and also offer undergraduate and graduate students across the School the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge in community-based theatre so they will continue such work once they leave the University.

What follows is a listing of current community outreach programs in the School of Theatre Arts. For general information about community outreach, please contact Bobbi McKean at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 520-621-5620.

Arizona Repertory Theatre

Adventure Matinee Season
Each season of the Arizona Repertory Theatre includes at least four special matinee performances, scheduled especially for junior and high school students. In addition, each production of the season includes a special performance night for teachers to preview the production. Teachers receive 1 complimentary ticket and are invited to a pre-show discussion. Educational materials and classroom visits are also offered in connection with several of the productions each year. Contact Peggy Collins at 520-621-3363 to reserve tickets.

High School Theatre Workshops
Each season, two special high school workshops are offered in conjunction with the Arizona Repertory Theatre productions. These workshops are held on campus prior to the Adventure Matinee performance and are designed to prepare students for attending the production and to provide insight into what studying theatre arts at the University level entails. Contact Bobbi McKean at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 621-5620 for more information.

School of Theatre Arts Touring Productions

Encore!
Outreach to schools and community. A self-supporting song and dance ensemble that performs original musical revues written and directed by musical theatre faculty members. Educational study guides and post-performance musical theatre workshops for students are available on request. Contact Jenny Goelz at 520-621-1277

etc... the Educational Theatre Company
etc... was created to give students in the BA in Teacher Certification program the opportunity to produce plays and educational programs for young audiences. The company is committed to producing quality scripts and developing new plays for young audiences. While the School of Theatre Arts faculty serve as advisors for etc. . ., productions are student directed, designed and acted. The productions are performed first on campus and then toured to area schools during the fall semester of the academic year. Contact Laura McCammon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 520-621-8741 for more information.

Stories on Stage
Students in the Stories on Stage company work collaboratively on the development of a theatrical performance in the spring semester based on children's literature through techniques such as improvisation, rehearsal exercises, text analysis and creative writing exercises. The finished performance is toured to local elementary schools and libraries for young children and their families. At the end of the semester there is one campus performance open to the public in either the Marroney or Tornabene (formerly Laboratory) Theatre. For information, please contact Barbara McKean at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

School of Theatre Arts Educational Outreach Programs

Southern Arizona Theatre Teachers Forum
The School of Theatre Arts hosts an annual fall workshop for area theatre teachers to discuss current issues in theatre education and provide professional development opportunities. Throughout the year, the School provides information on local events and opportunities through a teacher listserv. Contact Laura McCammon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 520-621-8741 for more information.

Arizona Thespian Conference
Undergraduate and graduate students and faculty in the School of Theatre Arts participate as workshop leaders, performers and judges during the annual state-wide conference for high school thespians. Contact Laura McCammon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 520-621- 8741 for more information or see http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/BThompson1/index.cfm.

Southern Arizona Acting Festival (SAAF)
The Southern Arizona Acting Festival (SAAF) is an intensive one day regional acting festival for middle and high school students. Hosted by the School of Theatre Arts, SAAF features events that stress basic performing skills in acting and musical numbers. Events are non-competitive (rating only - no rankings) and are designed to be an enjoyable learning experience for all participants. Contact Dr. Laura McCammon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 520-621-8741 for more information.

English Speaking Union (ESU) Shakespeare Competition
Since 1986, the Arizona Branch of the ESU has sponsored an annual Shakespeare Competition for high school students from approximately 20 southern Arizona high every year. The Shakespeare Competition is designed to encourage students from public, independent and parochial high schools to understand and appreciate some of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets. The regional competition is hosted by the School of Theatre Arts and held on one of the School's main stages. The local winner's prize is a trip to New York to compete in the English-Speaking Union's National finals at the Lincoln Center where he or she competes against about 60 students from other ESU Branches across the country. The National winner's grand prize is all expenses paid summer course at Oxford University. Contact Bobbi McKean at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 621-5620 for more information or see http://www.esuus.org/.

Arizona Youth University Wildcat Theatre Arts Camp
Each summer the School of Theatre Arts and Arizona Youth University team up to offer two one-week day camps for middle school students interested in theatre arts. Students participate in classes in acting, improvisation and production. Contact Bobbi McKean at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 621-5620 for more information or see http://www.ceao.arizona.edu.

Summer On Stage
This intensive workshop in acting and production provides high school students from across the region the opportunity to study with theatre professional. Summer on Stage is a partnership with the School of Theatre Arts and Arizona Theatre Company, the state's leading professional theatre company and Childsplay, Inc., Arizona's award-winning professional theatre for young audiences. Students will develop their creative potential through an intensive process that leads to a fully mounted production of a scripted work. The final production will be performed at the Temple of Music and Art, the beautifully restored home of Arizona Theatre Company. Contact Alison Terry, Education Coordinator, ATC, at 520-884-8210, ext. 8506 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information or see http://www.aztheatreco.org.

Theatre Arts Educational Internships
Undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Theatre Arts participate in the several internships in theatre education and outreach with professional theatre in Tucson and across the country. Currently, students have the opportunity to intern with the Arizona Theatre Company, the Seattle Children's Theatre and Seattle's Book-It Repertory Theatre. Contact Laura McCammon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 621-5620 for more information.