Spring Conference 2018

Sponsored by Pittsburgh CLO

Up and Away is the astonishing, amazing, absolutely TRUE tale of the incredible brothers Joe and Jerry Jessup. Not much happens in Farmtown, USA. So, when Joe realizes he is destined for true greatness beyond small-town life, he high-tails it out of town to seek fame and fortune in “Big City.” When he finds trouble instead, jittery Jerry is forced to follow – and their boring life is turned upside down into a rip-roarin’ adventure! Toss in an eccentric billionaire, plucky reporter and outrageous villains, and you’ve got one epic tale. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll be amazed as five actors take on the roles of over 50 different characters in this world-premiere comedy guaranteed to keep the suspense high and the laughs rolling!

Brian Edward, comedian and host of Pittsburgh’s late night talk show ‘Burgh Vivant, is back for another raucous blend of comedy and cinema – with a splash of vermouth! This time, the renowned raconteur raises a martini glass and examines the best (and worst) of movie musicals through outrageous film clips, uproarious personal anecdotes, and devastating wit. Cocktails and hilarity will be served. From the obscure to the ostentatious, from THE SOUND OF MUSIC to MAME – no musical movie is safe!

Brian Edward is a cultural administrator, arts educator, performing and literary artist, director and playwright, an avid scholar of art and film, and a proud Pittsburgh native. He is the author of several produced plays including the nationally acclaimed touring musical Amish Burlesque, and has been a featured guest lecturer for the Berkshire Playwrights Festival. Locally he has performed with The REP, 12 Peers Theater, Little Lake Theater, Pittsburgh Opera, and The Pittsburgh New Works Festival, where he was named Outstanding Leading Actor in 2011 and 2012. Brian was named among the top supporting actors in Pittsburgh by the Post Gazette in 2001, and among the top leading actors in 2002.

No cover charge, cash bar. Saturday-Sunday Spark registration NOT required.

More info

Join us for breakfast and pick up your Conference packets and badges before heading to Pittsburgh CLO. (All Conference attendees welcome, whether or not you’re staying at the Omni. Packets will be available at Pittsburgh CLO after 8:30 for those who want to meet us there.)

John Dick is the CEO of CivicScience, Inc. and a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in new business formation, business development, marketing and communications. He is a frequent speaker at the Carnegie Mellon University Don Jones Center of Entrepreneurship, an accomplished writer with regular contributions to AdAge, the HuffingtonPost and Forbes and has appeared on Good Morning America, the AXS TV Grammy Prediction Special and as a speaker at numerous market research and business conferences.

How does marketing an individual show differ from marketing your institution as a whole? How can we develop strong artistic brands so that people trust us even if they’re unfamiliar with an individual title? How can a patron’s first entry point — a specific show, a special event, community engagement — lead them to other programming and a lifetime of loyalty?

Moderated by Jeff Loeb (The Hollywood Pantages), with Paige Beal (Point Park University), Ed Gilchrist (Walnut Street Theatre), Jamie Lilly (Village Theatre), James McNeel (City Theatre Company) and David Seals (TRG Arts).

Sponsored by R&H Theatricals and The Hollywood Pantages

Every theatre wants younger patrons, but no theatre wants to alienate its older patrons. How do you create a welcoming environment for all while addressing different economic, scheduling and physical needs? Following a brief panel discussion, we’ll break out into groups to strategize and discuss best practices, then reconvene to share.

Moderated by Dan Murphy (The Broadway Rose Theatre), with Beth Adele (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), Cheryl Farley (Ogunquit Playhouse) and Drew Nebrig (ZACH Theatre).

How can you respond quickly and appropriately to a world that changes rapidly, and patrons — or potential patrons — with more platforms than ever before? How can you capture positive buzz — and ticket sales! — with a show or an actor’s dedicated fan base? And how do you respond to a political moment sensitively?

Moderated by Aja Jones (Pittsburgh CLO), with Rachel Carlson (Yelp Pittsburgh), Dan McMahon (Goodspeed Musicals), Carolyn Miller (Creative Endeavor Office) and Andi Perelman (Pittsburgh Penguins).

GalaPro is a revolutionary, innovative app for accessibility and translation which enhances the audience’s experience for live shows. Patrons using the app can now enjoy the show in their own language with subtitles, dubbing, audio description, closed captioning, and amplification. All services are provided real-time, using voice recognition technology. GalaPro will be demoed on Wednesday evening during Up And Away. Learn more about the service at this special session, presented by Host Sponsor Pittsburgh CLO.

Tour Pittsburgh CLO’s historic main stage.

We know it can sometimes be hard to find your NAMT friends and colleagues after-hours, so we’ve chosen an “official” Conference bar! Join us for networking (or just fun) cocktails at the intimate classic cocktail lounge under the Omni William Penn. (Cash bar.)

Join us for a late night edition of MTAP artists and authors bringing their own unique and original songs for your entertainment.

No cover charge, cash bar. Saturday-Sunday Spark registration NOT required.

More info.

Jennifer is a Director in the Labor & Employment and Litigation Groups at the Firm.

Jennifer defends corporate clients in the defense of all manner of employment discrimination claims under federal and Pennsylvania law including, but not limited to, claims under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1973, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the ADEA, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Jennifer also represents corporate clients in the areas of complex business and commercial litigation including commercial lease disputes as well as contract and business tort disputes involving service agreements, distribution agreements, purchase agreements, technology license agreements, and shareholder agreements.

Jennifer serves as lead local counsel in Western Pennsylvania for a large automobile manufacturer, managing a team of attorneys in breach of warranty suits.

What role can the marketing department play in helping everyone feel welcome and comfortable in our theatres? From physical accessibility for patrons with disabilities, to cultural and economic barriers we may not realize are there, we can all work to provide better access and comfort.

Moderated by Pamela Adams (Atlantic Theater Company), with Jennifer Birnie (Pittsburgh Musical Theater), Vanessa Braun (Pittsburgh Cultural Trust), Kenneth Foster (Spektrix), Drew Francis (Red Mountain Theatre Company) and Patrick Jordan (barebones productions).

Networking Coffee Break

Audiences used to rely on critics and other “tastemakers” to steer them towards new works. As arts coverage shrinks, how do theatre-goers learn about unfamiliar titles? Who and what helps them decide what to see? How can we help drive that conversation?

Moderated by Angela Grant (North Carolina Theatre), with Laura Greenawalt (City Theatre), Tim Kashani (Apples & Oranges), Mara Nadolski (Pittsburgh in the Round) and Nick Ronan (AudienceView).

Sponsored by The Musical Company and Ticketmaster

Casual conversations on valuable topics.

What Are Companies Looking for in Corporate Sponsorship Proposals
Led by Wynne Fedele (Pittsburgh CLO), with Joseph B. Smith (Dollar Bank), Dan Donovan (Giant Eagle) and Neil Parham (Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield)

How Can Theatres Be More Like Tech Startups?
Led by John Dick (CivicScience)

Alternative Revenue Streams
Led by Angela Grant (North Carolina Theatre)

Maximizing Your Customer Journey: Before, During and After
Led by Kenneth Foster (Spektrix)

Times change; should our repertoire change with them? How can we address classic musicals with dated social elements in both programming and marketing? Should we? What happens when sensitivity to one group of audience members alienates another?

Moderated by Wayne Bryan (Music Theatre Wichita), with Kwofe Coleman (The MUNY), Sean Flahaven (The Musical Company), David Kimple (Samuel French) and Carol Marquis (Maine State Music Theatre).

A tour of Point Park University’s still-under-construction Pittsburgh Playhouse, in the heart of downtown.

When Point Park University envisioned the new Pittsburgh Playhouse, one of its foremost considerations was to create a state-of-the-art learning center where all students at the University could merge their energy, talent and ambition in a central location. The University also wanted to continue its commitment to respect the architectural rhythm and historic integrity of the neighborhood. The new Pittsburgh Playhouse does all of that and more while also offering its theatre patrons a unique opportunity to experience 100 percent of the theatre experience.

Set to open in the fall of 2018, the Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University is a 90,000-square-foot building, which cost $60 million to build and furnish and is located on 1.6 acres of land along the Forbes Avenue corridor in the city’s central business district. The new building, connected at all three levels to two historic buildings, houses three theaters that includes a proscenium/thrust stage theater seating 535, a studio theater seating 250 and an intimate black box theater with 100 seats. Additionally the building features production areas, a sound stage, prop shop, café and technical spaces for the theater and cinema arts programs.

Because this is an active work site, space on the tour is extremely limited. You must register to attend this add-on. Please click here to register (if space is still available).

Pittsburgh CLO invites you to wrap up the Spring Conference and begin the Spark Festival in fabulous Pittsburgh style at the Andy Warhol Museum. Cocktails, light food and beverage and exclusive access to the museum are included.

The Andy Warhol Museum holds the largest collection of Warhol’s artworks and archival materials. They are one of the most comprehensive single-artist museums in the world and the largest in North America.

You may add this on to your registration for either the Conference or the Festival (or both) for $50.

Chicago hip-hop sensations, the Q BROTHERS will bring their unique and exciting brand of performance to Pittsburgh for the first time as part of the SPARK festival Late Night Series. Best known for the New York Times Critics’ Pick, Othello: The Remix (NAMT Festival 2015), brothers JQ and GQ, along with their deejay Jackson Doran, will storm the CLO Cabaret stage on Friday, April 6 with Q GENTS. Q GENTS is the Q Brothers’ two-man hip-hop version of William Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona. Over 20 characters are played by two actors who never leave the stage in this 75-minute wild ride!

No cover charge, cash bar. Saturday-Sunday Spark registration NOT required.

More info.

Multiple presentations and a late-night cabaret. Details coming soon!

Multiple presentations and a closing reception. Details coming soon!