How do we uplift trans stories and cast authentically? Transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people have always been essential to the creation of theatre, but representation has only taken off in the last ten years. Many theatres are interested in telling stories that feature trans narratives, but find themselves unsure how to proceed with casting roles or actors that fall outside the binary, particularly in our current political climate. In this workshop, you will gain tools to help you figure out who you are looking for, where to find them, and how to make them feel comfortable during the casting and rehearsal process. 

Theatre Advocacy Project was created by theatre artists who saw needs in their workplaces for systems, structures, models, tools, and resources, and decided to make them! Sounds kind of familiar, as Momentum started much the same way…..

Join 2 founders of TAP, Caylin and Collette, as they discuss

• why a nonprofit model

• how to see and address needs in theatre

• individual change v. systemic change

• as well as the resources that are available to theatre companies and individual artists from TAP.

Virtual, recorded. PWFF. Registration required.

If you've ever wanted to try writing, but don't know where to start, join University of Michigan Playwriting Lecturer Emilio Rodriguez in his unique method that has helped him teach everyone ages 5-95 how to write a play.

1/3 Science, 1/3 Tools, and 1/3 Q&A, this is going to be relevant resourcing session for any artist!

This workshop will guide you through the basics of getting started with grants with the goal of lessening the overwhelm and making them more obtainable to you.

This class invites participants to reimagine their relationship to conflict storytelling and draw on prior experiences with movement outside of traditional stage combat training.

This interactive session is designed for anyone in the arts seeking to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment in their creative practice. Participants will explore key concepts such as diversity, race, and microaggressions through engaging discussions and real-world scenarios tailored to the arts. The session concludes with a group activity that can be easily integrated into rehearsals or creative processes.

Explore the depths of vulnerability and audience relationship through clown. Play with finding the fun in character and how to be in partnership and relationship to everything available to you on stage. Dare to meet your own clown, and discover how our inner clown can help us approach any art. 

Disability Justice was built in theatrical spaces. How do we continue the work to curate accessibility for all theater makers? In this workshop, participants will explore the origins of disability justice, define the concept of access needs and explore how to make our spaces more accessible for all. 

In this playwriting workshop, participants will learn the art of crafting authentic and dynamic dialogue that brings their characters to life on the stage. Through a series of exercises and discussions, writers will explore how to reveal character traits, relationships, and emotions through subtle and nuanced dialogue

Join the amazing film and theatre actor and acting coach Clare Lopez, founder of “The Wholehearted Actor” for this brand new PWFF workshop on mindset!

PWFF

Art can be a way to broach hard topics. But sometimes, in our desire to “have the conversation” or “be relevant”, we cause harm.

The 2024 Creating Change Conversations are focused on taking our learning on anti-racism and unsettling, disability justice, LGBTQIA2+ equality, and education and integrating them into our art making- whether in professional spaces or classrooms.

CONTENT NOTICE: below will be mentioned topics of artwork that have caused harm in the past and may cause harm in the future. These words may be activating to some.

Our Creating Change Conversation Series is back for our 5th season! These conversations really are the heart of what we do here, because each group of panelists helps all of us to think through: HOW DO WE MAKE THE ARTS MORE EQUITABLE

We’re exciting to bring Charlie Baker of Xploring Gender back, with an offering perfect for Pride Month!

Join us for an empowering training session where we delve into the profound question: How do we unsettle the story of our bodies to live and thrive in them? This workshop invites you to explore the transformative power of language and movement in reshaping our relationships with our bodies and understanding the bodies around us.

Physical story-telling is key for both dance and theatre work. In this PWFF workshop, Sydney Schwindt will lead you through the foundations of creating character movement and sharing it with the audience!

This workshop, The Essentials of Trauma-Informed Creative Practices, is for creatives in the arts and education who are interested in navigating the creation of new work during difficult times. This essentials workshops will dive into the primary principles of the method in order for participants to be able to fold it into their personal and professional practices. With an emphasis on educational content, the facilitator will explore the brain science behind stress, burnout, trauma, and creativity. Key discussion points will include: the stress cycle, trauma stewardship, trauma exposure responses, types of creativity, and our autonomic nervous system.

Storytelling is at the heart of cultural change and artists have a special place in the environmental crisis that we are facing. Come explore what is eco-storytelling, how nature and movement are linked, and how we can perpetuate natural empathy through story.

Join the amazing film and theatre actor and acting coach Clare Lopez, founder of “The Wholehearted Actor” for this brand new PWFF workshop on mindset!

PWFF

A new PWFF playwriting workshop with Luis Roberto Herrera

Molly W. Schenk, creator of Trauma-Informed Creative Practices is back, hosting a 90min PWFF workshop for teachers. Molly will be leading us through 3 Trauma-Informed Practices for the first day of school.

Virtual and Recorded.

Our Creating Change Conversation Series is back for our 5th season! These conversations really are the heart of what we do here, because each group of panelists helps all of us to think through: HOW DO WE MAKE THE ARTS MORE EQUITAB

Our Creating Change Conversation Series is back for our 5th season! These conversations really are the heart of what we do here, because each group of panelists helps all of us to think through: HOW DO WE MAKE THE ARTS MORE EQUITAB

A PWFF movement workshop with Suzanne Ankrum-Harris.

Boundary and closure practices can support performers in all genres in separating “the work” from “the artist”. In this 3 hour workshop we will use lecture, personal reflection, interactive exercises, and group discussions to define and create boundary and closure practices. Each participant will leave with tools and resources to enter and exit the next performance process confidently and safely.

Come delve into renaissance masked comedy and see why it is relevant for artists today! Learn about the historical characters and then try them on for yourself. We will explore history, character physicalization, and stylized movement.

Explore the art behind the make up, striped shirt, and beret! Mime teaches the actor physical specificity which is at the core of all physical comedy. We’ll get a taste of how to create shape with your body, how to manipulate objects, and storytelling. 

An introduction to playwriting

The Bake-Off is designed to help people words on pages in a safe space. It’s also a quick exercise to put into your toolkit for days when writers block won’t let you be great. It’s geared towards all skill levels and all forms of creative writing.

This workshop will focus on assessment and action steps for creating productions that are strive for better cultural competency. Participants will examine their own organization/institution’s interactions with BIPOC artists and plan actions for improving their current working/learning environment.

Click through for more details