CATR Conference 2022

Performing Emergence: RePlay, ReCollect, ReExist

metal statue of a dragon breathing fire outside a building

"Dragon Big Bang" [detail] photograph by Candace Dueck, University of Lethbridge

St. Thomas University

Act 1 - Online May 27-28

University of Toronto, Scarborough

Act 2 - Online June 6-7

University of Lethbridge

Act 3 - In-Person/Online June 12-14

Keynote Speakers

Dylan Robinson

Stó:lō scholar and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts at Queen’s University

Robinson-Dylan

Dylan Robinson is a Stó:lō scholar who holds the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts at Queen’s University, located on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. His research has been supported by national and international fellowships at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, in the Canadian Studies Program at the University of California Berkeley, the Indigeneity in the Contemporary World project at Royal Holloway University of London, and a Banting Postdoctoral fellowship in the First Nations Studies Program at the University of British Columbia.

From 2010-2013 Dylan led the SSHRC-funded “Aesthetics of Reconciliation” project with Dr. Keavy Martin that examined the role that the arts and Indigenous cultural practices played in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the Indian Residential Schools. This research led to a second collaborative project, “Creative Conciliation”, supported by a SSHRC Insight grant, to explore new artistic models that move beyond what many Indigenous scholars have identified as reconciliation’s political limitations.Dr. Robinson’s current research project documents the history of contemporary Indigenous public art across North America, and questions how Indigenous rights and settler colonialism are embodied and spatialized in public space. Funded by the Canada Research Chair program, this project involves working with Indigenous artists and scholars to collaboratively imagine new forms of public engagement and create new public works that speak to Indigenous experience. Dr. Robinson is also an avid Halq'eméylem language learner. Yú:wqwlha kws t'í:lemtel te sqwá:ltset!

Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu

Obsidian Theatre’s Artistic Director

Mumbi_Headshot-270x300

Mumbi Tindyebwa Otuis an acclaimed theatre creator and director raised in Kenya and Victoria, BC and based in Toronto. She recently won a Dora Award for her Outstanding Direction of The Brothers Size, which also won for Outstanding Production. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of the experimental theatre company IFT (It’s A Freedom Thing) Theatre and also recently directed the critically acclaimed plays: Trout Stanley(Factory Theatre), Here are the Fragments(The Theatre Centre/The ECT Collective),Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom(Soulpepper) and Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape(Obsidian/Soulpepper). Mumbi is also the recipient of a Toronto Theatre Critics Award, an Artistic Director's Award (Soulpepper), a Pauline McGibbon Award, a Mallory Gilbert ProtegeAward, a Harold Award, and has been twice nominated for the John Hirsch Directing Award. She is a graduate of Soulpepper Academy, York University and University of Toronto as well as Obsidian Theatre's Mentor/Apprenticeship Program.

Tara Beagan

ARTICLE 11’s Ntlaka’pamux / Irish cofounding Artistic Director

Alt teext Stuff about Tara media testing

Tara Beagan is proud to be Ntlaka’pamux and, through her late father’s side, of Irish ancestry. She is cofounder/director of ARTICLE 11 with Andy Moro, based in Mohkinstsis. Beagan served as Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts from February 2011 to December 2013. During her time, NEPA continued with traditional values for guidance, had an Elder in Residence, and named and moved into the Aki Studio. Beagan has been in residence at Cahoots Theatre (Toronto), NEPA (Toronto), the National Arts Centre (Ottawa) and Berton House (Dawson City, Yukon). During the pandemic she was Playwright "In Residence" at Prairie Theatre Exchange (Winnipeg). Seven of her 32 plays are published. Two plays have received Dora Award nominations (one win). In 2018, Beagan was a finalist in the Alberta Playwrights’ Network competition. In 2020, Honour Beat won the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama. Recent premieres include Deer Woman in Aotearoa (New Zealand), Honour Beat opening the 2018/19 season at Theatre Calgary, The Ministry of Grace at Belfry Theatre in Victoria, and Super in Plays2Perform@Home with Boca Del Lupo (Vancouver). Beagan was the 2020 laureate of the Siminovitch Prize for theatre, playwriting.

Dear CATR 2022 Delegates,

It is my greatest pleasure to welcome you to this year’s gathering. After two years of isolation, working at a distance, and endless fears for the health and safety of our families, our students and ourselves, we finally can start moving to what we do best in performance arts: public and in-person gatherings. The CATR 2022 is a hybrid conference with two Acts taking place fully online and one Act in-person and online at the University of Lethbridge. I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all organizers of this event, and specifically our local hosts St. Thomas University, University of Toronto Scarborough, and University of Lethbridge. There are more than 50 people who have been working diligently behind the scenes to bring this event into life. I am grateful to every person on the CATR 2022 team for their enthusiasm, loyalty, work ethic, and faith in this event and our organization. Without this work this event would not be possible. I would also like to thank our sponsors, academic and artistic agencies, publishers and individual donors who have provided funds for this event.

My special thank you goes to the Wolastoqiyik, Wəlastəkewiyik / Maliseet, the Mi’Kmaq / Mi’kmaw and Passamaquoddy / Peskotomuhkati people, on whose land St. Thomas University is located, the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit people, on whose lands University of Toronto Scarborough stands, and the Blackfoot people, on whose territory University of Lethbridge is situated. We are grateful to the keepers of the land for this opportunity to gather on their territories.

My last and special thank you goes to each delegate of the conference: without your work, academic and practical, this organization and this conference would not have come together. I wish everybody the most fruitful, pleasant and happy time at Performing Emergence: RePlay, ReCollect, ReExist.

Yana Meerzon - President, CATR

__________________

Dear CATR 2022 Delegates,

In the framework of emergence, the whole is a mirror of the parts. Existence is fractal—the health of the cell is the health of the species and the planet—adrienne maree brown (2017).

Our scholarship is managing in a pandemic. We are managing in a pandemic. COVID-19 has made social and environmental problems more explicit and urgent than ever. We are challenged to reimagine drama, theatre, dance, and performance, and the means by which we gather to discuss them.

Performing Emergence: RePlay, ReCollect, ReExist is dedicated to creating space for scholarly, artistic, and activist exchange after the ‘before times.’

What can we learn about the concept of “emergence” as it influences and reflects theatre practices? How does theatre scholarship and practice respond to the ways in which Indigenous and racialized experiences, sexual orientation, and gender identity continue to be impacted by the pandemic, climate change, health care crises, and economic barriers and inequities? To borrow from Adolfo Albán Achinte’s concept of “re-existence” as it pertains to racialized, excluded, and marginalized people, how can we propel re-existence and empower identities, bodies, and ways of knowing at a moment when decolonizing efforts are a matter of survival?

Our Programming Committee has sought inclusivity and breadth in curating a conference that showcases the range of CATR members’ work in pandemic-related study and far beyond. Our Accessibility Committee has deftly guided us in making our sessions more accessible than ever. Our Digital Dramaturgy Committee has moved terabytes to achieve myriad immersive online and hybrid conference experiences. Our In-Person Host Committee is eager to welcome you to Lethbridge.

While CATR has a 45-year history of organizing the annual conference in large urban centres, for the first time we convene a hybrid conference across three small- and mid-sized campuses in three different provinces through our online hosts St. Thomas University and the University of Toronto Scaborough, and our hybrid in-person/online host the University of Lethbridge. Another first is that our 70+conference sessions run across seven full days!

With enthusiasm, we invite you to explore this conference program and thank the dozens of people who have made your annual CATR conference experience possible. And we look forward to seeing many of you in person (hurray!) in Lethbridge as we emerge, and perform our emergences.

Robin C. Whittaker - Conference & Programming Chair, CATR 2022

 

___________________________________________________

Chers délégués de l’ACRT 2022,

J’ai le plus grand plaisir de vous accueillir au rassemblement de cette année. Après deux ans d’isolement, de travail à distance et de craintes sans fin pour la santé et la sécurité de nos familles, de nos élèves et de nous-mêmes, nous pouvons enfin commencer à passer à ce que nous faisons le mieux dans les arts de la scène : des rassemblements publics et en personne. L’ACRT 2022 est un colloque hybride dont deux actes se déroulent entièrement en ligne et un acte en personne et en ligne à l’Université de Lethbridge. J’aimerais exprimer mes sincères remerciements et ma gratitude à tous les organisateurs de cet événement, et plus particulièrement à nos hôtes locaux, à l’Université St. Thomas, à l’Université de Toronto Scarborough et à l’Université de Lethbridge. Il y a plus de 50 personnes qui ont travaillé avec diligence dans les coulisses pour donner vie à cet événement. Je suis reconnaissant à tous les membres de l’équipe de l’ACRT 2022 pour leur enthousiasme, leur loyauté, leur éthique de travail et leur foi en cet événement et en notre organisation. Sans ce travail, cet événement ne serait pas possible. Je tiens également à remercier nos commanditaires, les agences académiques et artistiques, les éditeurs et les donateurs individuels qui ont fourni des fonds pour cet événement.

Je remercie particulièrement tous les Wolastoqiyik, Wəlastəkewiyik / Maliseet, les Mi’Kmaq / Mi’kmaw et passamaquoddy / Peskotomuhkati, sur les terres desquels se trouvent l’Université St. Thomas, les Hurron-Wendat, les Seneca et les Mississaugas du Credit, sur les terres desquels se trouve l’Université de Toronto Scarborough, et les Pieds-Noirs, sur le territoire desquels se trouve l’Université de Lethbridge. Nous sommes reconnaissants aux gardiens de la terre pour cette occasion de se rassembler sur leurs territoires.

Mon dernier et spécial remerciement va à chaque délégué du colloque ACRT : sans votre travail, académique et pratique, cette organisation et ce colloque ne se seraient pas réunies. Je souhaite à tout le monde le moment le plus fructueux, agréable et heureux à Réaliser l’émergence : Rejouer, rappeler, réexister.

Yana Meerzon - Président de l’ACRT

___________

Chers délégués de l’ACRT 2022,

Dans le cadre de l’émergence, le tout est un miroir des parties. L’existence est fractale – la santé de la cellule est la santé de l’espèce et de la planète – adrienne maree brown (2017).

Notre bourse est gérée pendant la pandémie. Nous gérons en temps de pandémie. La COVID-19 a rendu les problèmes sociaux et environnementaux plus explicites et urgents que jamais. Nous sommes mis au défi de réinventer le théâtre, la scène, la danse et la performance, ainsi que les moyens par lesquels nous nous réunissons pour en discuter.

Réaliser l’émergence : Rejouer, rappeler, réexister se consacre à la création d’un espace d’échange savant, artistique et militant après le « temps d’avant ».

Que pouvons-nous apprendre sur le concept d'«émergence » tel qu’il influence et reflète les pratiques théâtrales ? Comment l’érudition et la pratique du théâtre réagissent-elles à la façon dont les expériences autochtones et radicalisées, l’orientation sexuelle et l’identité du genre continuent d’être touchées par la pandémie, les changements climatiques, les crises des soins de santé, les obstacles et les inégalités économiques ? Pour emprunter au concept de « réexistence » d’Adolfo Albán Achinte en ce qui concerne les personnes radicalisées, exclues et marginalisées, comment pouvons-nous propulser la réexistence et renforcer les identités, les corps et les modes de connaissance à un moment où les efforts de décolonisation sont une question de survie ?

Notre comité de programmation a recherché l’inclusivité et l’étendue dans la tenue d’un colloque qui présente l’éventail des travaux des membres de l’ACRT dans les études liées à la pandémie et bien au-delà. Notre comité de l’accessibilité nous a habilement guidés pour rendre nos séances plus accessibles que jamais. Notre comité de dramaturgie numérique a déplacé des téraoctets pour réaliser une myriade d’expériences du colloque immersives en ligne et hybrides. Notre comité d’accueil en personne est impatient de vous accueillir à Lethbridge. Bien que l’ACRT organise le colloque annuel dans les grands centres urbains depuis 45 ans, pour la première fois, nous organisons un colloque hybride dans trois universités de petite et moyenne taille dans trois provinces différentes par l’intermédiaire de nos hôtes en ligne, de l’Université St. Thomas et de l’Université de Toronto Scaborough, et de notre hôte hybride en personne / en ligne de l’Université de Lethbridge. Une autre première est que nos sessions 70+ du colloque se déroulent sur sept jours complets !

Avec enthousiasme, nous vous invitons à explorer ce programme des colloques et remercions les dizaines de personnes qui ont rendu possible votre expérience annuelle du colloque de l’ACRT. Et nous avons hâte de vous voir nombreux en personne (hourra !) à Lethbridge alors que nous émergeons et réalisons nos émergences.

Robin C. Whittaker - Président du colloque et de la programmation de l’ACRT 2022

St. Thomas University

Online May 27-28

St. Thomas University is situated on the traditional territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Wəlastəkewiyik / Maliseet whose ancestors along with the Mi’Kmaq / Mi’kmaw and Passamaquoddy / Peskotomuhkati Tribes / Nations signed Peace and Friendship Treaties with the British Crown in
the 1700s.

Friday May 27th

10:30-12:30 AST

Welcoming Remarks

and

Keynote - Dylan Robinson

12:30-12:45 AST

BREAK

12:45-14:15 AST

Indigenous ReExistence in Practice (Paper Panel)

Moderator Kailin Wright. Papers by Sara Schroeter and Virginie Magnat.

App, Paper, Scissors: Dramaturgies of Emergence in Participatory Performance (Curated Panel)

Moderator Jenn Stephenson. Papers by Mariah Horner, Jenn Stephenson, and Hamish Hutchison-Poyntz

14:15 - 14:30 AST

BREAK

14:30-16:00 AST

Performing Care: Gender and Labour in Precarious Times (Curated Panel)

Moderator Shelley Scott. Papers by Morgan Johnson, Alexandra Simpson & Peyton Lebarr, and Lisa Marie DiLiberto & Susie Bupree

Sh!t-Disturbers: Contract Instructors as Disruptors & Change-Makers Phase I (Seminar)

Led by Neil Silcox. Participants: Rebecca Comer, Rosanna Saracino, Steffi Santhana Mary, Leah Cherniak, Mandy Roved, Nicole Wilson, Kevin Hobbs, and Matt Jones.

*Note: this session is open to pre-accepted participants only.*

More information coming soon.

16:00-16:15 AST

BREAK

16:15-17:45 AST

Strengthening Structures, Freeing Art Practice: An International Theatre Collaboration Roundtable (Roundtable)

Led by Deneh'Cho Thompson. Participants: Jack Patterson, Makram Ayache, and Vanka Salim

CONTINUED: Sh!t-Disturbers: Contract Instructors as Disruptors & Change-Makers Phase I (Seminar)

Led by Neil Silcox. Participants: Rebecca Comer, Rosanna Saracino, Steffi Santhana Mary, Leah Cherniak, Mandy Roved, Nicole Wilson, Kevin Hobbs, and Matt Jones

*Note: this session is open to pre-accepted participants only*

17:45-18:00 AST

BREAK

18:00-19:30 AST

Wreckonciliatory Acts (Roundtable)

Led by Jill Carter. Participants: Spy Dénommé-Welch, Lindsay Lachance, and Monique Mojica.

19:30-19:45 AST

BREAK

19:45 AST

 

Ice Age Coming (Performance)

By Corenski Nowlan

Saturday May 28th

10:30-11:00 AST

Get together in Kumospace

11:00-12:30 AST

ReCollecting Settler Encounters: Motherhood, Nationhood, Minstrelsy (Paper Panel)

Moderator Jess Riley. Papers by Kailin Wright, Roberta Barker, and Taylor Graham.

Leading in the Crucible: Theatre Leadership, Mentorship, and Emergence in a World in Crisis (Part I) (Roundtable)

Led by Scott Mealey. Participants: Nina Lee Aquino, Sue Balint, Susan Bennett, and Stephen Johnson.

12:30-12:45 AST

BREAK

12:45-14:15 AST

Emergences from and Reexamination in Archives (Curated Panel)

Moderator Justin Blum. Papers by Kathryn Harvey, Jessica Riley, and Amanda Attrell

Leading in the Crucible: Theatre Leadership, Mentorship, and Emergence in a World in Crisis (Part II) (Roundtable)

Led by Scott Mealey. Participants: Nina Lee Aquino, Sue Balint, Susan Bennett, Stephen Johnson, Ric Knowles, Yvette Nolan, Kelly Thornton, and Marlis Schweitzer.

14:15-14:30 AST

BREAK

14:30-16:00 AST

Impossible Archives, Emergent Archives (Curated Panel)

Moderator Marlis Schweitzer. Papers by Olivia Michiko Gagnon, Colleen Kim Daniher, and Kristin Moriah.

Performance Training as Research (Curated Panel)

Moderator Christine (cricri) Bellerose. Papers by Christine (cricri) Bellerose, Virginie Magnat, and P Megan Andrews

16:00-16:15 AST

BREAK

16:15-17:45 AST

Rückenfigur: 365 Days; or, a durational meditation of the solitary in a pandemic (Performance)

Filmed Performance Art by Sorouja Moll.

Screening and Q&A

Refusing Climate Fatalism through Site-Specific Theatre (Curated Panel)

Moderator Kathleen Gallagher. Papers by Kathleen Gallagher, Christine Balt & Nancy Cardwell, and Lindsay Valve & Munia Debleena Tripathi.

17:45-18:00 AST

BREAK

18:00-19:30 AST

RePlaying Institutional Challenges, Emerging with Solutions (Paper Panel)

Moderator Kimberley McLeod. Papers by Jessica Watkin and Cyrus Lane.

Performing as/in Response to the Nonhuman (Roundtable)

Led by Conrad Alexandrowicz. Participants: David Fancy, Gwen Dobie, Christine Bellerose, Katrina Dunn, Lin Snelling, and Tom Stroud.

19:30-19:45 AST

BREAK

19:45 AST

Ice Age Coming (Performance)

By Corenski Nowlan

University of Toronto, Scarborough

Online June 6-7

For thousands of years, the land on which the University of Toronto operates has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, this meeting
place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Monday June 6th

10:30-12:30 EST

Welcoming Remarks

and

Keynote - Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu

12:30-12:45 EST

BREAK

12:45-14:15 EST

Performing ReExistence in the 21st Century (Paper Panel)

Moderator Kailin Wright. Papers by Naila Keleta-Mae, Christine Balt, and Sheetala Bhat.

Real Participatory Bodies ... and Killjoys (Paper Panel)

Moderator Peter Kuling. Papers by Naomi Bennett, Caitlin Gowans, and Mary Tooley.

14:15-14:30 EST

BREAK

14:30-16:00 EST

Relational Acts of Research and Theatre Practice (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Kathleen Gallagher and Andrew Kushnir

Canadian Soundings (Working Group)

Led by Sasha Kovacs and Michael Elliott. Participants: Virginie Magnat, Moira Day, Katrina Dunn, Meredith Scott, Shannon Holmes, and Shannon Vickers.

First Story Walk (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Jill Carter, Jon Johnson, Charlotte Big Canoe

* Note: The walk will take approximately two hours. *

16:00-16:15 EST

BREAK

16:15-17:45 EST

Ethnographies: Cosplay, Striptease, Worldmaking (Paper Panel)

Moderator Michelle MacArthur. Papers by Xavia Publius, Jessica Thorp & Julia Matias, and Becky Gold, Magdalena Kazubowski-Houston, & Rajat Nayyar.

CONTINUED: Canadian Soundings (Working Group)

Led by Sasha Kovacs and Michael Elliott. Participants: Virginie Magnat, Moira Day, Katrina Dunn, Meredith Scott, Shannon Holmes, and Shannon Vickers.

CONTINUED: First Story Walk (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Jill Carter, Jon Johnson, Charlotte Big Canoe

17:45-18:00 EST

BREAK

18:00-19:30 EST

CATR Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Report Session (Praxis Workshop)

19:30-19:45

BREAK

19:45 EST

University of Toronto Press Launch (TRIC, CTR)

Tuesday June 7th

10:30-11:00 EST

Get together in Kumospace

11:00-12:30 EST

Re-Collecting Roundtable: Audiences, Spectatorship, and Participation After the Pandemic (Roundtable)

Led by Kelsey Blair. Participants: Kelsey Blair, Kelsey Jacobson, Signy Lynch, Asif Majid, Scott Mealey, and Jenn Stephenson 

RePlaying the More-Than-Human and the Environment (Paper Panel)

Moderator Kimberley Richards. Papers by Natalie Doonan and Emma Morgan-Thorp.

12:30-12:45 EST

BREAK

12:45-14:15 EST

Welcome to Grounds for Goodness! A Participatory Glimpse of a Multi-Year Community Arts Project Navigating COVID Times (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Ruth Howard (Jumblies Theatre)

Academic Jobs Workshop (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Laura Levin and Sarah Robbins

14:15-14:30 EST

BREAK

14:30-16:00 EST

Parallel Paths (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Alana Gerecke and Justine A Chambers

ReCollecting Practices, ReAligning Industries (Paper Panel)

Moderator Shana MacDonald. Papers by Ilana Khanin, Neil Silcox, and Gordon Portman.

16:00-16:15 EST

BREAK

16:15-17:45 EST

CONTINUED: Parallel Paths (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Alana Gerecke and Justine A Chambers

Performing Health and Care (Paper Panel)

Moderator Kelsey Jacobson. Papers by Maria Meindl, Julia Gray, and Magdalena Kazubowski-Houston.

Réexister: Narrative et Territoire. (Paper Panel)

Moderator Sebastian Samur. Papers by Patricia Blanchet and Marie-Hélène Massy Emond

17:45-18:00 EST

BREAK

18:00-19:30 EST

Performing Complaint: Working on theatre and performance institutions (Seminar)

Led by Signy Lynch, Sarah Robbins, and Jenn Boulay. Participants: Rebecca Comer, Shannon Hughes, Julia Matias, Gabriela Petrov, Angela Sun, Jessica Thorpe, and Jessica Watkin

*Note: this session is open to pre-accepted participants only*

Digital Performance (Working Group)

Led by Kimberley McLeod and Shana MacDonald. Participants: Peter Kuling, Sebastian Samur, Catherine Quirk, Taylor Graham, David Bobier, Michelle MacArthur, Naomi Bennett,Tara Harris, Michael Wheeler, and Laura Levin.

Moving Together to Reclaim and Resist (Working Group)

Led by Jenn Cole and Melissa Poll. Participants: Julie Burelle, Jill Carter, Selena Couture, Adron Farris, Kelsey Blair, Leah Decter, Virginie Magnat, Kimberly Richards, Ken Wilson, Alana Gerecke, Elan Marchinko, Jimena Ortuzar, Nazli Akhtar, Emma Morgan-Thorp, and Cara Mumford.

19:30-19:45 EST

BREAK

19:45 EST

CONTINUED: Performing Complaint: Working on theatre and performance institutions (Seminar)

Led by Signy Lynch, Sarah Robbins, and Jenn Boulay. Participants: Rebecca Comer, Shannon Hughes, Julia Matias, Gabriela Petrov, Angela Sun, Jessica Thorp, and Jessica Watkin.

*Note: this session is open to pre-accepted participants only*

CONTINUED: Digital Performance (Working Group)

Led by Kimberley McLeod and Shana MacDonald. Participants: Peter Kuling, Sebastian Samur, Catherine Quirk, Taylor Graham, David Bobier, Michelle MacArthur, Naomi Bennett, Tara Harris, Michael Wheeler, and Laura Levin.

CONTINUED: Moving Together to Reclaim and Resist (Working Group)

Led by Jenn Cole and Melissa Poll. Julie Burelle, Jill Carter, Selena Couture, Adron Farris, Kelsey Blair, Leah Decter, Virginie Magnat, Kimberly Richards, Ken Wilson, Alana Gerecke, Elan Marchinko, Jimena Ortuzar, Nazli Akhtar, Emma Morgan-Thorp, and Cara Mumford.

University of Lethbridge

In-Person/Online June 12-14

Oki. The University of Lethbridge's Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone. The University of Lethbridge acknowledges and deeply appreciates the Siksikaitsitapii peoples’ connection to their traditional territory. We, as people living and benefiting from Blackfoot Confederacy traditional territory, honour the traditions of people who have cared for this land since time immemorial. We recognize the diverse population of Indigenous Peoples who attend the University of Lethbridge and the contributions these Indigenous Peoples have made in shaping and strengthening the University community in the past, present, and in the future.

Sunday June 12th

8:45-10:45 MT

Welcoming Remarks

and

Keynote - Tara Beagan

10:45-11:00 MT

BREAK

11:00-12:30 MT

(Plenary) Istotsi: The Land We Live On

By Making Treaty Seven (MT7)

Film Screening with Q&A

12:30-12:45 MT

BREAK

12:45-14:15 MT

LUNCH/LAUNCH Playwrights Canada Press.

Host: Annie Gibson

14:15-14:30 MT

BREAK

14:30-16:00 MT

Youth, Activism & Performance: Issues That Matter (Seminar)

Led by Nicola Elson. Participants: Heather Fitzsimmons Frey, Caroline Howarth, Belarie Hyman Zatsman, and Abigail Shabtay.

Compass (Praxis Workshop)

Led by lo bil

Presence, Absence, Divergence (Paper Panel)

Moderator Andy Houston. Papers by Kelsey Jacobson & Jacob Pittini, Claire Borody, and Nancy Curry

16:00-16:15 MT

BREAK

16:15-17:45 MT

Gallery Tour

Led by Josie Mills

*Note: This event is in-person only*

VibraFusionLab: Reimagining theatre through vibration and visual sound (Praxis Workshop)

Led by David Bobier

Storied Pasts and ReCollected Stages (Paper Panel)

Moderator Sasha Kovacs. Papers by Heather Davis-Fisch, Heather Fitzsimmons Frey, and Grahame Renyk

17:45-19:30 MT

BREAK - Dinner on Your Own

19:30 MT

Programming TBD 

Monday June 13th

8:45-9:15 MT

Coffee

9:15-10:45 MT

Forging Right Relations: Indigenous People of Turtle Island and Ireland (Roundtable)

Led by Paul Halferty. Participants: Joseph Naytowhow, Cheryl L'Hirondelle, James Kelley, and Paul Halferty

Demystifying Performance: Studies on Screen Acting and Embodied Cognition (Curated Panel)

Douglas MacArthur, Javid Sadr, and Aaron Taylor

The Places We've Scene (Paper Panel)

Moderator Ric Knowles. Papers by Andy Houston, Robert Motum, and Kelly Richmond

10:45-11:00 MT

BREAK

11:00-12:30 MT

Foley Workshop (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Nicola Elson

Research-based Theatre: ReImagining, ReIgniting Interdisciplinary ReSearch through Performance (Praxis Workshop)

Led by George Belliveau

The Role of Performing Objects in Teaching, Learning, and Creating Theatre (Curated Panel)

Moderator Grahame Renyk. Papers by Gabrielle Houle, Gabriel Levine, and Mia van Leeuwen & Stefano Muneroni

Balik-bayan/(Re)turning to Home: (Re)curing, (Re)inscription, and (Re)configuration of Philippine-Canadian Theatre (Curated Panel)

Moderator Dennis D. Gupa. Discussant Marc Perez. Papers by Alecks Ambayec, Allen Baylosis, and Karla Comanda

12:30-12:45 MT

BREAK

12:45-14:15 MT

LUNCH/LAUNCH Talonbooks. Host: Kevin Williams

14:15-14:30 MT

BREAK

14:30-16:00 MT

Emerge into the Land: A Listening Walk on the Coulee Edge (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Annie Martin and Sandra Cowan

*Note: This event is in-person only and will involve approximately 45 minutes of walking*

Somatic Engagement (Working Group)

Led by Christine (cricri) Bellerose and Ursula Neuerburg. Participants: Camille (Renarhd) Burger, Virginie Magnat, Eury Chang, Gabriela Petrov, Maria Meindl, Naomi P Bennett, Majero Bouman, Conrad Alexandrowicz, P Megan Andrews,
 Lisa Ndejuru, Sanja J Dejanovic, Kelly Mullan, Christine Brault, Ramona Benveniste, Ray Louter, Daniella Vinitski, and Jenn Boulay.

Environmental Stewardship in Theatre and Performance Education (Working Group)

Led by Hope McIntyre and Kimberly Richards. Participants: Anna Griffith, Justine Conte, Selena Couture, Dennis Gupa, and Taylor Graham.

Course Correction: Reorienting Approaches to Space in Theatre and Performance (Working Group)

Led by Katrina Dunn. Participants: Alessandro Simari, Danielle Howard, Shauna Janssen, Laura Levin, Alana Gerecke, Keren Zaiontz, Sandra Chamberlain-Snider, Cordula Quint, and Jayna Mees.

16:00-16:15 MT

BREAK

16:15-17:45 MT

Beyond Trigger Warnings: Shaping Content Conversations Between Productions and Audiences (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Charlie Peters

CONTINUED: Somatic Engagement (Working Group)

Led by Christine (cricri) Bellerose and Ursula Neuerburg. Participants: Camille (Renarhd) Burger, Virginie Magnat, Eury Chang, Gabriela Petrov, Maria Meindl, Naomi P Bennett, Majero Bouman, Conrad Alexandrowicz, P Megan Andrews, 
Lisa Ndejuru, Sanja J Dejanovic, Kelly Mullan, Christine Brault, Ramona Benveniste, Ray Louter, Daniella Vinitski, and Jenn Boulay.

CONTINUED: Environmental Stewardship in Theatre and Performance Education (Working Group)

Led by Hope McIntyre and Kimberly Richards. Anna Griffith, Justine Conte, Selena Couture, Dennis Gupa, and Taylor Graham.

CONTINUED: Course Correction: Reorienting Approaches to Space in Theatre and Performance (Working Group)

Led by Katrina Dunn. Participants: Alessandro Simari, Danielle Howard, Shauna Janssen, Laura Levin, Alana Gerecke, Keren Zaiontz, Sandra Chamberlain-Snider, Cordula Quint, and Jayna Mees.

17:45-19:30 MT

BREAK - Dinner on Your Own

19:30 MT

Programming TBA

Tuesday June 14th

8:45-9:15 MT

Coffee

9:15-10:15 MT

CATR Scholarly Awards Ceremony: Saddlemeyer, O'Neill, Plant, and Godin Awards

Hosted by Kimberly Richards

"President's Award" Presentation

Presented by Yana Meerzon

10:15-12:30 MT

CATR Annual General Meeting

12:30-12:45 MT

BREAK

12:45-14:15 MT

LUNCH

Celebrating CATR's Lifetime Achievement and Honorary Associateship Recipients for 2022

Presented by the Board of Directors

14:15-14:30 MT

BREAK

14:30-16:00 MT

Performing New Emergence: What Future Exists for the Prairie Theatre Sector? (Roundtable)

Led by Taiwo Afolabi. Participants: Christine Brubaker, Yvette Nolan, Ibukun Fasunhan, and Cali Sproule

Rhetoric and Reckonings: An empirical reading of the siloes and shifts in post-secondary Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies programs in Canada (Curated Panel)

Moderator Barry Freeman. Papers by Barry Freeman, Malika Daya, Keira Mayo, and Scott Mealey.

Training as Research, Apprenticing with Land (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Christine (cricri) Bellerose

16:00-16:15 MT

BREAK

16:15-17:45 MT

Challenging the Taboo of Emotion in Theatre Practice (Praxis Workshop)

Led by Tom Stroud, Ines Buchli, and Gayle Murphy

Performing Retro: (re)Visiting, (re)Activating, and (re)Playing the Past through Resistant Forms of Nostalgia (Roundtable)

Moderator Susan Bennett. Papers by Benjamin Gillespie, Michelle MacArthur, and Julia Henderson.

Your Own Personal Resilience (Paper Panel)

Moderator Heather Davis-Fisch. Papers by Liam Monaghan, Ric Knowles, and Sasha Kovacs.

17:45-18:00 MT

BREAK

18:00-18:30 MT

Closing Remarks Mentorship Roundtable

Led by Christine (cricri) Bellerose

18:30-19:00 MT

BREAK

19:00 MT

Banquet. University of Lethbridge Science Commons Atrium.

*Note: this event will be in-person only*

Contacts

For inquiries related to the CATR 2022 Conference web page, please email Josh at josh.catr@gmail.com

For inquiries related to the Theatre Agora website in general, please email Jake at info@theatreagora.ca

For inquiries involving CATR membership, please email Alessandro at register.catr@gmail.com

For all other inquiries, please email Baz at baz.catr@gmail.com

Credits

Conference Committees and Staff List


CONFERENCE CHAIR
Robin Whittaker

 

CONFERENCE CO-HOSTS
Robin Whittaker (STU, May 27-28), Barry Freeman and Carla Melo (UTSC, June 6-7), Shelley Scott and Justin Blum (U Lethbridge, June 12-14)

COMMITTEES

Conference Advisory Committee: Yana Meerzon (Board President), Andy Houston (Board Vice-President), Katrina Dunn (Board Treasurer), Alessandro Simari, Robin Whittaker (Board Atlantic Rep, Conference Chair)

Organizing Committee: Robin Whittaker (Co-Chair), Baz Skinner (Conference Coordinator, Co-Chair), Josh Carroll (Technical Director), Yana Meerzon, Katrina Dunn, Andy Houston, Alessandro Simari, Barry Freeman, Justin Blum, Shelley Scott, Matt Jones, Sebastian Samur, Fraser Stevens, Signy Lynch, Carla Melo, Becky Gold

In-Person Host Committee: Shelley Scott (Chair), Baz Skinner (Conference Coordinator), Amanda Berg (Fine Arts Operations Manager), Justin Blum, Mia van Leeuwen, Nicola Elson, Christopher Grignard

Programming Committee: Robin Whittaker (Chair, STU), Taiwo Afolabi (U Regina), Eury Chang (UBC), Jenn Cole (Trent U), Matt Jones (PhD), Yana Meerzon (U Ottawa), Carla Melo (UTSC), Jess Riley (U Winnipeg), Alessandro Simari (PhD), Kailin Wright (St. FX), Christine (cricri) Bellerose (PhD), Jenn Boulay (U of T student), Shelley Scott / Justin Blum (U Lethbridge)

Fundraising and Financial Management Committee: Katrina Dunn (Chair), Taylor Graham, Alessandro Simari, Alice Hinchliffe, Lauren McLean

Digital Dramaturgy Committee: Fraser Stevens (Co-Chair), Signy Lynch (Co-Chair), Josh Carroll (Technical Director), Andy Houston, Matthew Tompkins (Accessibility Liaison)

Translation Committee: Sebastian Samur (Chair, Translation Coordinator)

Accessibility Committee: Becky Gold (Chair), Drea Flyne, Jess Watkin, Jayna Mees, Megan Johnson, Nicola Elson, Matthew Tomkinson, Stefan Honisch, Jenn Boulay

Communications Committee: Matt Jones (Communications Coordinator), Amanda Attrell, Shaghayegh Yassemi, Fan Yi

STAFF
Conference Coordinator: Baz Skinner
Communications Coordinator: Matt Jones
Technical Director (Mar-June):  Joshua Carroll
Technical Director (Oct-Feb): Fraser Stevens
Accessibility Coordinator: Becky Gold
Translation Coordinator: Sebastian Samur
Membership and Registration Coordinator: Alessandro Simari
Translation Team: Gabrielle Houle
Synchronous Zoom Assistants: Taylor Graham, Fan Yi

FOR THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THEATRE RESEARCH

Board of Directors: https://catracrt.ca/board-of-directors

Scholarly Awards Coordinators

Jean-Cléo Godin Award
Joël Beddows (Chair), Art Babyants, Alexandre Gauthier

Ann Saddlemyer Award
Ric Knowles (Chair), Kristin Moriah, Paul Halferty

Richard Plant Award
Jimena Ortuzar (Chair), Siyuan Liu, Benjamin Gillespie, Matt Jones

Patrick O’Neill Award
Michelle MacArthur (chair) Nikki Cesare Schotzko, Jenn Cole, Heather Fitzsimmons Frey, Kim McLeod, Dennis Gupa

Robert G. Lawrence Prize Committee
Jessica Riley (chair), Lindsay Lachance, Peter Kuling, Carla Melo, Michelle MacArthur, Eliza Gardiner