Festival

The 2026 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference took place from Wednesday May 27th to Friday May 29th in Atlanta, Georgia

The 2026 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference took place from
Wednesday May 27th to Friday May 29th in Atlanta, Georgia

Hosted by the Alliance Theatre, the 2026 TYA/USA Festival & Conference invited theatremakers from across the world to connect, collaborate, and ignite the future of Theatre for Young Audiences.

The all-ages Festival showcased thirteen groundbreaking performances that span from immersive works for the very youngest audiences to bold new plays and musicals for teens and families, with a special focus on intergenerational storytelling and community connection. Our event was presented in conjunction with the Woodruff Art Center’s “Toddler Takeover powered by PNC,” and featured the premiere showings of the inaugural TYA/USA and Alliance Theatre for the Very Young Development Program.

Attendees learned new practices, exchange ideas, and advocate for the field by attending breakout sessions led by dozens of TYA leaders, as well as presentations from the TYA/USA Research & Scholarship Working Group, designed to advance and diversify scholarship and publications that measure the impact of theatre programming. The theme of the 2026 National Festival & Conference was ILLUMINATE — casting light on the voices, visions, and innovations that will guide our community through uncertainty. Together, celebrated the courage to create and question, engaged with the urgent questions facing our field, and sparked the collective energy needed to envision a brighter, more equitable world for all young audiences.

Hero Image features “RAIN: for babies and their carers” from Threshold.
Photo Credit: Jacquie Manning.

Post-Conference Event Hosted by Alliance Theatre

On Saturday, May 30th experience WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER’S TODDLER TAKEOVER POWERED BY PNC, a one-of-a-kind experience developed for children from birth through 5 years old will feature performances of Alliance Theatre’s Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young, art-making at the High Museum of Art, activities with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians, and much more.

After the event, meet the team from the inaugural project of the Alliance Theatre and TYA/USA TVY Development Program, Helping Hands, and engage in discussion with Alliance Theatre around the making of performances for very young audiences.

Schedule – May 30th, 2026:
9 AM – 2 PM: Toddler Takeover powered by PNC (full schedule announced in April 2026)
2 PM – 3 PM: Post Event Discussion with Alliance Theatre TVY Leadership and TVY Development Program Grantees

Registration costs $25 per participant and is managed by Alliance Theatre.

REGISTER HERE

Please note that this post-Conference event is an add-on to primary Conference registration. You MUST also register separately for the primary Conference event if you plan to attend programming from May 27th – 29th.

The 2026 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference will be presented in-person from May 27-29, 2026 in Atlanta, GA at the Alliance Theatre. For those who are unable to attend in-person, we will offer a Virtual Track from June 15 -22, 2026. Visit our Virtual Track page for more info on programming and to register.

Registration is now sold out for the 2026 TYA/USA Conference.

Please note that cancellations made before May 6, 2026 will be eligible for a full refund of registration fees.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations received after this date.

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Pricing & Registration Info

Emerging Career / Student/ Independent Artist Rates
These rates are open to anyone in the TYA field who self-identifies as an Emerging Career practitioner, Student, or Independent Artist.
Standard Rate: $225

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TYA/USA Member Rates
These rates are for all TYA/USA members, regardless of member type (i.e. individual, organizational, etc.).
Standard Rate: $350

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Non-Member Rate: $425
This registration rate is for those who are not currently members of TYA/USA.

Level	Regular Rate Rates beginning February 25, 2026 through May 13, 2026. Registration will close 2 weeks before the Conference start date.
Emerging Career / Student/ Independent Artist Rate	$225
Member Rate	$350
Non-Member Rate	$425

Featured Speakers & Breakout Session Presenters

Scroll to see our line-up of Pre-Conference facilitators, Conference speakers, Breakout Session presenters, and Breakout Session details.

Sara Morgulis

TYA/USA Executive Director

Sara is an award-winning theatremaker, educator, and nonprofit leader. She previously served as the Director of Education at New York City Children’s Theater, where she led with her personal mission of engaging young people through accessible and inclusive theatre practices. She is an Adjunct Faculty Member for the M.F.A Performing Arts Management Program at Brooklyn College and the Disability Services and Accessibility Consultant at CUNY’s MA in Applied Theatre program, where she received her Master’s degree. Her Master’s thesis research about training young people to be peer facilitators was published in a 2015 edition of RIDE: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance. In 2015, Sara received the TYA/USA Ann Shaw Fellowship Award, which funded a trip to London to visit Oily Cart Theatre and learn about their play development process. Sara used that research to co-create FIVE, a multi-sensory touring musical designed for students with disabilities, which has now toured to over 8,500 students in schools across NYC. Sara also served as Director of Programs at Actionplay, an organization dedicated to providing autistic, neurodivergent, and disabled teens and young adults with equal access to the theatremaking process. Sara has served on panels and presented workshops at many conferences, including the American Alliance for Theatre and Education Conference, the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability Conference, NYU Forum on Educational Theater, ARTWORKS Arts in Education Conference, and the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable Face to Face Conference. Sara was the Associate Artistic Producer of the 2019 UP CLOSE Festival and is a freelance TYA producer and director. In collaboration with The Kennedy Center’s David Kilpatrick, she devised New York City Children’s Theater’s first show for the very young, Please Bring Balloons. Her arts education work extends to CO/LAB Theater Group, Creative Arts Team, Miracle Project New York, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, and People’s Light. She previously served on the Museum, Arts and Culture Access Consortium Steering Committee and is a current Board Member of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. www.saramorgulis.com
Olivia Aston Bosworth

TYA/USA Board President

Olivia Aston Bosworth is an artist, educator, and producer who believes deeply in the power of theatre for young audiences, and the profound impact stories can have on people of all ages. As the Head of Youth and Family Programs at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA, Olivia manages educational programming for children birth through 5th grade and their families. She produces the Alliance Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young program, acting classes, drama camps, and family programming. Through each of these initiatives, she works to break down barriers to access to the arts for families regardless of age, economic status, and ability. Olivia is the creator of TODDLER TAKEOVER: AN ARTS FESTIVAL FOR THE VERY YOUNG at the Woodruff Arts Center. Alongside her counterparts at the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Olivia curates a series of workshops, performances, and arts experiences annually to welcome the youngest artists and arts patrons to the world of performing and visual arts. Most recently, Olivia co-created an original Theatre for the Very Young show, KNOCK, KNOCK, to serve as an annual winter tradition for families in Atlanta. Olivia has presented on Theatre for the Very Young best practices, performances, and applications at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) National Conference, the Georgia Association for the Education of Young Children (GAEYC) Annual Conference, the Southeastern Museums Conference, and at the TYA/USA National Festival and Conference, formerly One Theatre World in Chicago (2015), Bay Area (2017), and Atlanta (2019).

Olivia had the pleasure of serving as the Membership and Events Associate for TYA/USA in 2019-2020, producing over 100 virtual events and supporting the exponential growth of membership during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was Assistant Producer on the TYA/USA National Festival and Conference in Atlanta in 2019 prior to her formal role within the organization. Additionally, Olivia is a Part-time Assistant Professor of Theatre at Kennesaw State University. Olivia holds a M.A. in Creative and Innovative Education program at Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA), as well as a B.A. in Theatre and Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA).
Sammy Lopez

Breakout Session Presenter - Commercial Producing and Nonprofit Partnerships in TYA

Sammy Lopez (he/him) is a Tony Award–winning theatre-maker dedicated to uplifting historically excluded voices through the arts. He is a co-founder and producer at P3 Productions, whose Broadway credits include Call Me Izzy starring Jean Smart, How to Dance in Ohio, Job, and MEXODUS Off-Broadway at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre. He recently launched Third Wish Productions, a new branch of P3 devoted to creating innovative Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) works nationwide, beginning with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical, which made its world premiere at Seattle Children’s Theatre and is now on a national tour. In development, P3 is building the Broadway-bound musical Wanted (following runs at Paper Mill Playhouse and Signature Theatre), The Ninth Woman by Delta Rae, and Lyle Lyle Crocodile (Pasadena Playhouse). Sammy’s additional credits include Art, Sunset Blvd. (Tony Award), Just for Us, and A Strange Loop (Tony Award). He is also the Creative Producer at New York City Children’s Theater, co-founder of The Industry Standard Group (TISG), and a mentor with Theatre Producers of Color (TPOC). A graduate of Syracuse University, Sammy serves on the boards of New 42, TYA/USA, The Broadway League, CO/LAB Theater Group, and The Autistic Theatremakers Alliance.
Nina Meehan

Breakout Session Presenter - Commercial Producing and Nonprofit Partnerships in TYA

Nina Meehan (she/her) is an award-winning director and playwright creating theatrical experiences that resonate across generations. Her recent artistic work includes Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: The Musical (Pasek, Paul and McDonald), Wheels on the Bus, and the world-premiere of Grumpy Monkey, The Musical produced by Pasadena Playhouse. Nina’s work has reached over 1 million audience members worldwide. She specializes in adaptations, transforming cherished stories into dynamic theatrical experiences. She is a sought-after keynote speaker with a specialization in communication and creativity. Nina is a Doctoral Candidate in Creativity Studies and lives in Tahoe with her husband and three children.
Johamy Morales

Breakout Session Presenter - Commercial Producing and Nonprofit Partnerships in TYA

Johamy Morales (she/her) is an award-winning director and a 25 year veteran of theatre for young audiences dedicated to producing new works, community engagement and social justice through the arts. Johamy currently serves as the Artistic Director for Seattle Children’s Theatre. She served as a Board Member for Red Eagle Soaring, a TYA Advisor for Reimagine: New Plays by BIPOC, and as a Trustee for Theatre Communication Group (TCG), where she advised on the Rising Leaders of Color program and TCG’s Education Conference for four consecutive years. Johamy has worked with various schools, nonprofit organizations and the US State Department, nationally and internationally. Johamy holds an MFA in acting from The Ohio State University, with a specialization in devising new works, and a BA in Theatre from San Diego State University.
Tim McDonald

Breakout Session Presenter - Commercial Producing and Nonprofit Partnerships in TYA

Timothy Allen McDonald is Founder and CEO of iTheatrics and Junior Theater Festivals Worldwide (Atlanta, Sacramento, Europe, Australia, New Zealand; annual audience 25k+). iTheatrics adapts Broadway Junior and Youth Edition musicals for Music Theatre International, Concord, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LW Entertainment. An award-winning librettist, arts educator, and textbook author, McDonald’s credits include James & the Giant Peach, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, Willy Wonka, Between The Lines, The Big One-Oh!, The Book Thief, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile The Musical, and Breathe (Library of Congress, Audible). He co-authored The iTheatrics Method, the first textbook for musical theatre educators.
Nicole B. Adkins

Breakout Session Presenter - Intentionality, Collaboration, Creativity: Launching an Artist-and Community-Centered Professional TYA Start-Up on a Shoestring in Uncertain Times

Nicole B. Adkins (she/her) is an award-winning playwright, teaching artist, dramaturg, and Literary & Education Director at Discovery Stage Company. She teaches at Kennesaw State University and Hollins University’s Playwright’s Lab. Co-author of Playwriting and Young Audiences: Collected Wisdom and Practical Advice from the Field (2017), her nature-inspired plays have been produced nationwide in museums, gardens, and hospitals. She is passionate about ecology, community, and theatre for young audiences. www.nicolebadkins.com.
Jodye Underwood

Breakout Session Presenter - Intentionality, Collaboration, Creativity: Launching an Artist-and Community-Centered Professional TYA Start-Up on a Shoestring in Uncertain Times

Jodye Underwood is a director, choreographer, movement director, educator, and mom. She is a Part-Time Assistant Professor of Theatre & Performance Studies at Kennesaw State University and founder of Discovery Stage. Her career has centered on theatre for young audiences and artists, with a focus on connecting performance to community life. She values imagination, movement, empathy, and shared stories, and is grateful to her family for their support.
Dr. Jessica Rosa Espinoza

Breakout Session Presenter - Intentionality, Collaboration, Creativity: Launching an Artist-and Community-Centered Professional TYA Start-Up on a Shoestring in Uncertain Times

Dr. Jessica Rosa Espinoza, playwright/ lyricist for young audiences, has partnered with organizations including Discovery Stage Co., Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Alliance Theatre. Most recently she adapted her picture book The Ugly Butterfly into a musical touring schools this spring. Founder of Partner Learning, she leads arts integration work with schools and arts/ cultural organizations. Jessica is a professor in University of North Georgia’s graduate Curriculum & Instruction program, emphasizing interdisciplinary learning.
Javaron Conyers

Breakout Session Presenter - Intentionality, Collaboration, Creativity: Launching an Artist-and Community-Centered Professional TYA Start-Up on a Shoestring in Uncertain Times

Javaron Conyers is an actor, writer, educator, and nature lover with a B.A. in Theatre for Youth. He now works in Atlanta, GA as a Teaching Artist who spreads his love for arts integration, a baker, and an Actor. His most recent credits include The Melvin Invention (Alliance Theatre), Fireflies in Winter (Discovery Stage), Ruthless (HBO+), Head Over Heels (Marietta Theatre Co.), All Smiles (Alliance Theatre), Vice Principals (HBO). Thank you Discovery Stage!
Lauren Lee

Breakout Session Presenter - Intentionality, Collaboration, Creativity: Launching an Artist-and Community-Centered Professional TYA Start-Up on a Shoestring in Uncertain Times

Lauren Lee (they/any), Production & Education Associate at Discovery Stage Company, is honored to join their colleagues with TYA/USA! Their directing credits include Aesop’s Fables: On Stage (Woodstock Arts), The Annual Coming Out Monologues (KSU), and Fireflies in Winter (DSC). They’ve also worked as assistant director/actor on The Seedling, Opossum & the Season Stone, and The Beauty Project: Through the Looking Glass. Lauren thanks their friends, mentors, twin sister, and dog, Cricket.
West Hyler

Breakout Session Presenter - Listen and the Power of Teen-Centered Programming

West Hyler is the Director and Writer of “Listen” as well as the Executive Director of the South Carolina New Play Festival and formerly the Producing Artistic Director of the Obie-Winning New York Musical Festival. He was a Scene Director and Story Writer for Cirque du Soliel’s first Broadway Musical “Cirque du Soleil Paramour”, the Director of the award-winning “Air Play”. In the US his shows have played at St Louis Rep, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, Kennedy Center, New Victory, Seattle Children’s Theater, Cape Fear Regional Theater, Lean Ensemble Theatre, 59E59, Big Apple Circus, Lincoln Center, and in Las Vegas at the Venetian, Bellagio, Paris, and Flamingo. Internationally he’s directed in China, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, England, Singapore, South Africa and currently has four productions running in Bulgaria. MFA in from University of California, San Diego.
Katie O'Kelly

Breakout Session Presenter - Listen and the Power of Teen-Centered Programming

Katie has worked nationally and internationally as a Producer, Production Manager, and Stage Manager with organizations including South Carolina Children’s Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Spoleto Festival USA, CalArts Center for New Performance, Triad Stage, and Wuzhen Theatre Festival in China. Formerly Director of Operations at Triad Stage and Producing Associate on Hadestown. She holds an MFA in Creative Producing and Management from CalArts.
Amanda Pintore

Breakout Session Presenter - Negotiating Power, Risk, and Possibility in Immersive Performances for the Very Young

Amanda Pintore (she/her) is a director, choreographer, and educator focusing on movement and dance education, devised theatre, and making theatre and dance performances with and for 0-6 year-olds. She is an Assistant Professor in Theatre for Youth and Community and Acting at Arizona State University and is an award-winning author for her book Theatre and Dance with Children as Artistic Partners: Devising Performance for the Very Young.
Jisun Myung

Breakout Session Presenter - Negotiating Power, Risk, and Possibility in Immersive Performances for the Very Young

Jisun Myung is a performance artist and musician. She worked as music director for various productions and has been playing for dance classes at Arizona State University. Her most recent work is the Miyeokguk (seaweed soup) Project – A performance of identities of Korean women diaspora and their reproduction stories (AZ Commission on the Arts grant 2022).
Olivia Herneddo

Breakout Session Presenter - Negotiating Power, Risk, and Possibility in Immersive Performances for the Very Young

Olivia Herneddo (she/her) is an interdisciplinary performer and experience designer. Computer-driven technologies and non-traditional collaborators, from chatbots to very young children, enable her to share fantastic worlds and build stories. In 2022, Olivia directed, designed and performed in Hello, World!, an immersive performance for very young children featuring 360 projection and VR scenic design. Olivia holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Digital Media & Performance from Arizona State University.
Johanna Smith

Breakout Session Presenter - Puppetry as a Foundational Practice in TVY

Johanna Smith (professorjohanna.com) is a Professor of Theatre Education, Improvisation, Entrepreneurship, and Puppetry at California State University, San Bernardino. She has served as an artist and educator for professional theatres, museums, colleges, libraries, public schools, private schools, and preschools around the world. She is a frequent presenter on puppetry as an accessible and powerful tool for educators and is the author of the award winning education text Puppetry in Theatre and Arts Education: Head, Hands, and Heart (Methuen Drama/Bloomsbury, London).
Aretta Baumgartner

Breakout Session Presenter - Puppetry as a Foundational Practice in TVY

Aretta Baumgartner (arettabaumgartner.com) has been a professional puppeteer since 1992, and has presented hundreds of workshops, master classes and keynotes all over the country. She served multiple terms as President of Puppeteers of America and as Education Director at Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts. Aretta performs regularly as a puppeteer, actor and backing vocalist and is dedicated to using puppetry as a tool to unlock potential, passion and story in every human she meets.
Erica Berman Thompson

Breakout Session Presenter - Youth Leading the Very Young at Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM): Training Youth Actors to Facilitate TVY Experiences‬

Erica Berman (she/her) is the Director of Education at Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM), where she established the Young Company Touring Show and consulted on building a TVY practice and productions. As a playwright, Erica’s plays have been produced all over the country, including three TYA productions. Erica recently wrote and directed the TVY play Winnie the Pooh (and his pals, too)! BA: Theater, Mount Holyoke College. MA: Theater Education, Emerson College.
Lindsay Gleason

Breakout Session Presenter - Youth Leading the Very Young at Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM): Training Youth Actors to Facilitate TVY Experiences‬

Lindsay Gleason (she/her) is the Associate Education Director at Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM) where she develops and facilitates in-house theater education programs, community based residencies, and outreach events for families across Madison and beyond! Lindsay has also contributed to CTM’s work as a theater artist. Some recent credits include The Velveteen Rabbit (Director) and The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza (Choreographer). B.A. Theatre: Directing and Dramaturgy and Social Entrepreneurship, North Central College.
Elizabeth Coen

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Audience Engagement and Funding Strategies - Chair

Dr. Elizabeth Coen is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Houston. A specialist in community-based program design, she has collaborated with numerous organizations to develop and implement arts-based programming to support the health, well-being, and academic achievement of young people. Prior to her arrival in Houston, she served as Education Director of the Intiman Theatre in Seattle and managed Seattle Children’s Theatre’s creative partnership with Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools. Her interdisciplinary research and applied theatre work has been presented at Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA), the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, and the Mid-America Theatre Conference, among other venues. She has published articles with Theatre History Studies, the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, Performing Arts Resources, and the anthologies Teaching Performance Practices in Remote and Hybrid Spaces and Dramaturgies of the Real World (forthcoming). A proud alumna of AmeriCorps, she is a champion of public service for the public good.
Reba Troxler, PhD

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Audience Engagement and Funding Strategies - Presenter

AFFILIATION: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
PAPER TITLE: “Engagement with Live or Virtual TYA and Students’ Prosocial Skills”

Dr. Reba Troxler has a background in child development and education research. She completed her PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology with a quantitative emphasis at George Mason University in 2019. Much of Reba’s work is focused on children’s development of social-emotional skills in various contexts. Reba has worked in multiple research labs and roles to develop skills in research design and methodology, data collection and management, observational coding, measure development, and advanced statistical analyses. Reba currently serves as the Research Analysis Manager in the Research and Evaluation office of the John F. Kennedy Center’s Education Division. In this role she focuses on statistical analyses, research and evaluation design, dissemination of results in multiple formats to varied audiences, and contributions to grant applications and reports.
Roxanne Schroeder-Arce

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Audience Engagement and Funding Strategies - Presenter

AFFILIATION: Dean, Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts, Ohio University
PAPER TITLE: “Funding for the Arts During a Drought: Remaining Thirsty and Hopeful”

Roxanne Schroeder-Arce is an administrator, scholar, artist, teacher and arts advocate. She serves as dean of the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts at Ohio University where she is also a professor of theater. Before Ohio, she was associate dean of UTeach Fine Arts and an associate professor of theatre education at the University of Texas at Austin. She also served as an assistant professor of theatre education at both Emerson College in Boston and California State University at Fresno. Her artistry, pedagogy and scholarship are intertwined and deeply inform her higher education leadership. She received her MFA in drama and theatre for youth from the University of Texas at Austin and her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from Emerson College. Schroeder-Arce’s research interests include culturally responsive theatre education and cultural representation in theatre for young audiences. Her plays have been presented to children and families in multiple theatres, schools and community spaces throughout the United States. As an engaged leader, Schroeder-Arce consistently offers extensive academic, community, national and international service. A product of Upward Bound and a first-generation college attendee, she has also taught in TRIO programs as well as public schools. Schroeder-Arce has led professional development programs with teachers throughout the United States and internationally in countries such as Costa Rica, South Korea and Switzerland.
Deborah Wicks La Puma

Breakout Session Presenter - A Big Time Co-Commission Extravaganza!

Composer and orchestrator Deborah Wicks La Puma is one of the most produced Theatre for Young Audiences artists working today, and a recipient of the Harold Oaks Award for Sustained Excellent in TYA. Some of her most popular musicals include ELLA ENCHANTED (based on the book by Gail Carson Levine), FRIDA LIBRE, and CINDERELLA: A SALSA FAIRYTALE with playwright Karen Zacarías, and the off-broadway hit SHE PERSISTED (based on the book by Chelsea Clinton) with playwright Adam Tobin.

Deborah has created four musicals with bestselling children’s author Mo Willems: ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE’S WE ARE IN A PLAY; NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE and DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS: THE MUSICAL. In the 2025 holiday season their latest collaboration THE PIGEON GETS A BIG TIME HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA premieres across the country.

A proud Mexican-American and “Navy brat” who grew up in Brazil, Portugal and California, La Puma is a member of TYA/USA, ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild. Mother to three daughters and Mimi the Cat, La Puma lives in Southern California with her PR agent and loving husband, Chris.
Jeff Frank

Breakout Session Presenter - A Big Time Co-Commission Extravaganza!

Jeff is recognized as one of the top directors in the field with an expertise in developing new work for theTYA field, including TYA versions of THE WIZ, PETER PAN AND WENDY, and BIG: THE MUSICAL, along with co-commissions of GOOSEBUMPS THE MUSICAL, and JUDY MOODY AND STINK. His work to bring RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER to the stage with the support of Character Arts won universal praise from audiences and critics alike.
Adam Tobin

Breakout Session Presenter - A Big Time Co-Commission Extravaganza!

Adam is a Senior Lecturer teaching screenwriting at Stanford University. Working with composer Deborah Wicks La Puma, Tobin wrote the script and lyrics of SHE PERSISTED: THE MUSICAL, a New York Times Critic’s Pick and winner of the Off-Broadway Award for Best Family Show, and of THE VELVETEEN RABBIT at Palo Alto Children’s Theater. He is thrilled to be working with Mo Willems and this team to realize THE PIGEON GETS A BIG TIME HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!
Dr. Megan Alrutz

Breakout Session Presenter - A Big Time Co-Commission Extravaganza!

Megan Alrutz is a director, dramaturg, and scholar with over 25 years of experience in theatre and entertainment for youth and families. Her visually dynamic work has been produced or presented by the Alliance Theatre, The New Victory, BAM, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Orlando REP, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Arts on Horizon, and Metro Theater. Megan is Director of Creative for Mo Willems’ Hidden Pigeon Company and a professor at The University of Texas at Austin.
Reba Askari

Breakout Session Presenter - Playing the Long Game: Building Sustainable Partnerships Between Universities and TYA Theatres

Reba Askari is the Artistic Director of the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, where she leads professional productions, develops new play programming, and builds community partnerships. With over 15 years in senior leadership, she is dedicated to creating inclusive theatre for young audiences. Her artistic vision centers on new play development, sensory theatre, and Theatre for the Very Young, expanding access to the transformative power of live performance for children and families.
SeifAllah Salotto-Cristobal

Breakout Session Presenter - Playing the Long Game: Building Sustainable Partnerships Between Universities and TYA Theatres

SeifAllah Salotto-Cristobal is a father, husband, educator, and storyteller traveling across the country designing for Theatre, Opera, Dance, Concerts, and Live Events. He is the Associate Professor of Lighting Design, Co-Chair, and Head of Production and Design in the Department of Theatre at the University of Southern Maine where he brings his knowledge and experience to help shape the next generation of holistic storytellers. Seif is a proud member of USA 829. www.seif.design
Zac Alfson

Breakout Session Presenter - Scrappy, Smart, and Strategic: Rethinking Marketing in the Real World

Zac Alfson is an arts leader, strategist, and community-builder based in Orlando. He leads marketing and communications at Orlando Family Stage and is the founder of Morning Glory Strategies, a consultancy focused on creative strategy and civic impact. A 2024 Next City Vanguard, Zac pairs expertise in audience growth and brand development with his own artistic practice exploring story, place, and belonging to help organizations connect purposefully with the people they serve.
Kristen Silton

Breakout Session Presenter - Scrappy, Smart, and Strategic: Rethinking Marketing in the Real World

Kristen is a seasoned arts management professional with extensive marketing and development experience with Atlanta-based arts non-profits. She has promoted both performing and visual arts events, increasing visibility and brand awareness for individual artists and large organizations. She holds expertise in digital marketing including website development, social media strategy and content creation.
Bailey Hill

Breakout Session Presenter - Scrappy, Smart, and Strategic: Rethinking Marketing in the Real World

Bailey is a digital storyteller, content director, and arts advocate based in Orlando. She leads social media at Orlando Family Stage and is the founder of Captivate Digital Creative, an agency focused on bold storytelling and imaginative digital campaigns. A lifelong dancer and lover of live theatre, Bailey champions the vital role the arts play in shaping confident, creative young people. Blending expertise in narrative-driven content with a deep belief in the power of performance, she helps organizations connect authentically and inspire the communities they serve.
Colin Peterson

Breakout Session Presenter - TYA GAMESLAM!!!!

Colin Peterson (he/him) is an autistic self-advocate, facilitator, and theatre director who believes everyone’s voice matters. At Nashville Children’s Theatre, he spent 15 years growing programs, creating the nation’s first inclusive sensory room, and championing fair pay for artists. Honored in 2025 with a Nashville Business Journal Diversity Award, Colin is also a projection and sound designer. He lives in Madison, TN with his neurodivergent wife, two spirited kids, and their energetic dog.
Alicia Fuss

Breakout Session Presenter - TYA GAMESLAM!!!!

Alicia Lark Fuss (she/her) delights in creating theatre with and for young people. She has directed productions for Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Repertory Theatre, and Middle Tennessee State University. Previously, Alicia served as Director of Education at NCT and was the Director of Arts Education for the Tennessee Arts Commission. She holds an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences (UCF) and a BA in Theatre Arts (FSU), and has served on the executive boards of TYA/USA and AATE.
Gillian McNally

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Learning-Centered Pedagogy and Community Building - Chair

Gillian McNally serves as Professor of Theatre Education at the University of Northern Colorado, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate level theatre education students and produces the yearly Theatre for Young Audiences production. She served on the board of TYA/USA for 10 years and is the recipient of the Alliance for Colorado Theatre’s Higher Education Theatre Educator of the Year Award. Her writing is published in ArtsPraxis, Stage of the Art, Youth Theatre Journal, Incite/Insight, and Theatre for Young Audiences Today. She has essays published in the books Signs of Change: New Directions in Theatre Education and The Reflexive Teaching Artist: Collected Wisdom from the Drama/Theatre Field. She was chair of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education national conference. A proud Longhorn, she holds an M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre for Youth from The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Rosalind M. Flyn

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Learning-Centered Pedagogy and Community Building - Presenter

AFFILIATION: The Catholic University of America
PAPER TITLE: “Engagement with Live or Virtual TYA and Students’ Prosocial Skills”

ROSALIND M. FLYNN served as the head of the M.A. in Theatre Education (MATE) degree program at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. From 2007 – 2026. She is also a Teaching Artist for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts who has conducted arts integration workshops nationwide and online. Her articles on educational drama have been published in Language Arts, Dramatics, Youth Theatre Journal, Teaching Theatre, English Journal, Teaching Artist Journal, The Reading Teacher, Distance Learning, Journal for Learning through the Arts, Literacy Learning: The Middle Years, and ArtsPraxis. Dr. Flynn is also the author of two books on the educational uses of drama—A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension (co-author Lenore Blank Kelner) and Dramatizing the Content With Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre, and three published plays for young performers. She is currently writing a full-length play for high school students.
Steven James Higginbotham

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Learning-Centered Pedagogy and Community Building - Presenter

AFFILIATION: Professor and Chair of the Theatre Department, Coastal Carolina University
PAPER TITLE: “Stories that Soar!: Creating Collaborative Partnerships to Transform Educational Communities”

Steven James Higginbotham has worked as a director, choreographer, educator, performer, and leader in collegiate, community, and professional arts organizations for over 25 years. He holds a B.F.A. in Theatre Education (University of Arizona) and an M.F.A. in Directing (Florida State University). His artistic projects have been featured at the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival, La MaMa Umbria, Carousel Music Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, Huntington Playhouse, and others. For more, please visit www.stevenjameshigginbotham.com.
Cyndi LaFrese

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Learning-Centered Pedagogy and Community Building - Presenter

AFFILIATION: Arts Integration Program National Licensing Manager, Literacy Connects
PAPER TITLE: “Stories that Soar!: Creating Collaborative Partnerships to Transform Educational Communities”

Cyndi LaFrese holds a BA in Theatre Arts from University of Arizona. She joined the Stories that Soar! ensemble in 2011 and immediately connected with its mission to amplify youth voice through the Arts. She has performed in TYA productions throughout southern Arizona, including You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. As Arts Integration National Licensing Manager, Cyndi performs, develops curriculum, facilitates workshops, and works as a teaching artist.
Dallas Thomas

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Learning-Centered Pedagogy and Community Building - Presenter

AFFILIATION: Director of Arts Integration Programs, Literacy Connects
PAPER TITLE: “Stories that Soar!: Creating Collaborative Partnerships to Transform Educational Communities”

As Director of Arts Integration Programs at Literacy Connects, an Arizona nonprofit, Dallas is leads a mission-driven team of artists and educators who empower youth through the arts. She holds a BFA in acting from Oklahoma State University and has worked in theatre education, program development, and production management since 2005. Having performed and taught throughout Oklahoma and Arizona, Dallas champions creative expression, community building, and storytelling as catalysts for empowering and amplifying youth voices.
Brian Fahey

Breakout Session Presenter - Fostering Local TYA / Amplifying National TYA

Brian Fahey is the Senior Director of Education for the Paramount and State Theatres in Austin, TX, where he presents a season for family and school audiences and oversees a department that serves over 25,000 youth annually. He holds an MFA in Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities from The University of Texas at Austin and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Jason Neulander

Breakout Session Presenter - Fostering Local TYA / Amplifying National TYA

Jason Neulander is a writer, filmmaker, and theater director based in Austin, Texas. His “live-action graphic novel” The Intergalactic Nemesis toured to more than 175 venues around the world between 2010 and 2017. His film Fugitive Dreams (2024) is 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and streams on Amazon. His newest project is a live-action graphic novel adaptation of Treasure Island called Jane Hawkins and the Pirate’s Gold.
Noel Gaulin

Breakout Session Presenter - Fostering Local TYA / Amplifying National TYA

Noel Gaulin is the Artistic Director of Theatre Heroes who has partnered with the Paramount and State Theatres to premiere three local theatre for youth productions: Jack London’s Call of the Wild which has toured nationally for eight years to over 100,000 young audience members, Gretel the Musical which is published and performed at several colleges and universities, and Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows which launches its forty-one city national tour this season.
Spring Karlo

Breakout Session Presenter - Fostering Local TYA / Amplifying National TYA

Spring Karlo is Co-Director of Holden & Arts Associates (HAA), a booking agency that represents performing arts companies (national and international) touring in North America with a focus on work for Youth & Family audiences. Spring joined HAA in 2011 and became a Co-Director in 2017. She is a board member of NAPAMA, Glass Half Full Theatre, and the Arts Commission of the City of Buda, TX; and serves on the WAA PD committee.
Susanna Brock

Breakout Session Presenter - Out Of The Box: Creating & producing portable theater for ages 2-5 with Spellbound’s “pop-up show” model

Susanna Brock is a Swedish, New York-based theater maker, performer, director, arts administrator and educator who creates multi-sensory and interactive theater with and for young audiences. She has worked in Stockholm, Paris, Kampala, Nairobi, and New York where she has facilitated and performed in school and community-based programs. She is part of the shared leadership group at Spellbound Theatre and has been a teaching artist and lecturer with places like ArtsConnection, The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Brooklyn College and NYU.
Rebecca Gerrard

Breakout Session Presenter - Out Of The Box: Creating & producing portable theater for ages 2-5 with Spellbound’s “pop-up show” model

Rebecca Gerrard is a Scottish New York-based theater maker, performer, facilitator and producer who has been devising new work for young audiences in Scotland and the USA for over a decade. As well as touring small and larger scale productions across NYC and the USA, Rebecca also creates and facilitates theater and sensory-based programming with young people and adults in daycares, schools, prisons, museums and community centers.
Mateo Hernandez

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Multicultural and Anti-Racist Theatre Practice - Chair

Mateo Hernandez (they/he) is a queer, Latinx director, playwright, dramaturg, applied theatre practitioner, pedagogue, and scholar. They have worked with companies such as ZACH Theatre, UrbanTheatre Co., Filament Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, and Creative Action. Mateo is the 2023 recipient of the Don and Elizabeth Doyle Fellowship from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education. They are a member of the Board of Directors for Teatro Vivo in Austin, TX. Mateo holds both a MFA and BFA from The University of Texas at Austin. mateohernandez.org
Aashna Rai

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Multicultural and Anti-Racist Theatre Practice - Presenter

AFFILIATION: Northwestern University, Department of Theatre (undergraduate)
PAPER TITLE: “Theatre as Refuge: Facilitating Identity, Agency, and Belonging through Youth Migration Narratives”

A multilingual performer and researcher, Aashna is passionate about the impact of the arts both on and offstage. She is forever excited to explore the inner workings of the human psyche as both artist and scientist, with majors in theatre and cognitive science at Northwestern University. Currently working on her senior honors thesis in theatre education, she has previously worked with Family Focus Evanston, District 65, Imagine U Productions, the Kennedy Center, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She has also presented in the Undergraduate Working Group at ASTR 2025 and worked as an Apprentice for TYA/USA last year! Passionate about increasing accessibility and inclusion in the arts, she serves on the executive boards of Northwestern’s BIPOC theatre group, Vibrant Colors Collective, and Seesaw Theatre, a multisensory theatre group aimed at children with neurodiversity and/or disabilities.
Michael Haverty

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Multicultural and Anti-Racist Theatre Practice - Presenter

AFFILIATION: PhD candidate, Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Georgia State University and Producing Artistic Director, The Object Group
PAPER TITLE: “Rehearsal for the Revolution: the role of performing arts education in the development of antiracist identities in White children”

Michael is a PhD candidate at Georgia State University in the department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Michael’s research focuses on arts-based and creative education, critical literacy education, critical parenting, and arts-based research methods. As producing artistic director of The Object Group since 2012, Michael has written, directed, and produced over fifty multidisciplinary collaborations, theatrical and cinematic originals and adaptations for all ages blending puppetry, film, and education. Productions created for the Alliance Theatre, Georgia Aquarium, High Museum of Art, 7 Stages Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, Dad’s Garage Theatre, Kennesaw State University, and Penobscot Theatre. Michael is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award for theatre and has successfully written and managed over fifty grants and awards from government and foundation sources to support his work. He is currently working on a history of critical education through performing arts for young audiences in the US since 1900.
Taylor St. John

Research & Scholarship Working Group: Multicultural and Anti-Racist Theatre Practice - Presenter

AFFILIATION: Director of Education and Engagement, Orpheum Theatre Group
PAPER TITLE: “Playing Through Our Differences: How Creating a Fictional Play Can Open Up Real Dialogue”

Taylor St. John (he/him) currently serves as the Director of Education and Engagement at the Orpheum Theatre Group in Memphis, TN. At the Orpheum he directs the Neighborhood Play Program (a community-playmaking program) and the Teaching Artist Training Program. As a teaching artist, he has developed and led programs for the nationally recognized Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, the award-winning BarringtonStage Company, Florida Studio Theatre, the Bloomington Playwright’s Project, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. As a theatre director, he works at the intersection of theatre, community, and education. He has published articles in Southern Theatre, The Journal for Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed, and ElevAATE: Perspectives in Theatre and Education. He holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Memphis and degrees in Theatre and Education from Indiana University.
Pearl Cleage

Breakout Session Presenter - Something to Say: the Palefsky Collision Project's 25th Anniversary

Pearl Cleage is Distinguished Artist in Residence at the Alliance Theatre. She serves as the city’s first Poet Laureate and is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dramatists Guild. Flyin’ West, Blues for an Alabama Sky, What I Learned in Paris, and Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous are among the plays she has premiered at the Alliance. She served as playwright to the Palefsky Collision Project for fourteen years and collaborated with her husband, writer Zaron W. Burnett, Jr., and artist Radcliffe Bailey on In My Granny’s Garden, a picture book for children that became an interactive theater piece for very young audiences. She is the author of eight novels, including What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, an Oprah Book Club selection and New York Times bestseller. Cleage and Burnett were recently honored by Mayor Dickens who announced the new Pearl Cleage and Zaron W. Burnett Center for Culture and Creativity in Atlanta’s West End. Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard grows out of Cleage’s active role in Jackson’s first campaign and her two years as a member of his administration. She is the mother of Deignan Lomax, and the proud grandmother of Michael, Chloe, Bailey, Averie and Ethan.
Liz Magovern Davis

Breakout Session Presenter - Something to Say: the Palefsky Collision Project's 25th Anniversary

Liz Magovern Davis is a dedicated arts and education leader with 20 years of combined experience as a public school teacher and administrator at prominent arts and culture organizations including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC) and Woodruff Arts Center (Atlanta, GA). As Head of Secondary Curriculum & Partnerships at Alliance Theatre, Liz oversees a broad portfolio of innovative programs designed to elevate teacher practice and improve student outcomes and serves as Producer of the Palekfsky Collision Project. George Washington University (BA); University of Maryland (M.Ed). Exceptionally lucky mom to Riley (age 8) and Everett (age 4).
Maya Lawrence

Breakout Session Presenter - Something to Say: the Palefsky Collision Project's 25th Anniversary

Maya Lawrence is a Big Apple raised, Georgia Peach based multidisciplinary artist using art’s power to heal and transform the world through love.

This proud Spelman College alumna spends her magic as a BOLD Resident Artist at the Tony award winning Alliance Theatre. As Resident Artist she is a poet, playwright, director, performer, producer, and teaching artist while managing the Spelman Leadership Program- an innovative fellowship designed to be an accelerator for young Black women’s leadership into cultural institutions, which she was the inaugural fellow of in 2016. The culmination of her fellowship resulted in her founding of the Allyship Program, a theater-based anti bias workshop curriculum designed to build alliances using theater, supporting corporations, organizations, rehearsal rooms, and individuals young and ageless to become their most authentic & empathetic selves.  Maya’s work is rooted in art as a public health tool, community organizing and activation, and collective empowerment through storytelling.
Sam Provenzano

Breakout Session Presenter - Something to Say: the Palefsky Collision Project's 25th Anniversary

Sam Provenzano is a director, dramaturg, and teaching artist based in Atlanta—where she is a resident artist and teen programs manager at the Alliance Theatre. She has more than a decade of experience making work as an educator and director with institutions across the globe. Sam has her MFA in Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities from the University of Texas at Austin with a focus in theater for young audiences, museum theater, and new play development.
Laura L. Wood, PhD

Breakout Session Presenter - Something to Say: the Palefsky Collision Project's 25th Anniversary

Laura L. Wood, PhD is an Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Drama Therapy at Lesley University. She is the Past-President of the North American Drama Therapy Association and the current Chair-Elect for the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies. Her research focuses on community mental health and recovery processes using the arts. Her global contributions through research, teaching, and consultation have helped advanced drama therapy and creativity in counseling.
Patrick McColery

Breakout Session Presenter - Something to Say: the Palefsky Collision Project's 25th Anniversary

PATRICK McCOLERY is an Atlanta based theatre artist. A former Artistic Associate with the Alliance Theatre, he directed their annual Palefsky Collision Project for emerging artists from 2012-2023, world premiere collaborations with Distinguished Artist in Residence, playwright Pearl Cleage. He’s also directed for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Opera, The Center for Puppetry Arts, Synchronicity, Kennesaw State University, and events for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Southeast Anti-Defamation League, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Atlanta, and annual King Day events at the Woodruff Arts Center from 2012-2024. He was Assistant Director/Producer for seven seasons with Jerry’s Habima Theatre, a company featuring adult actors with developmental disabilities. Patrick is also an actor (AEA) and has appeared in productions at the Alliance, Theater Emory, Synchronicity, Center for Puppetry Arts, 7 Stages, and many others. Patrick is a proud recipient of the Nurturing Youth Award from Hands On Atlanta, one of the largest community-based volunteer service organizations in the United States.
David Koté

Breakout Session Presenter - Something to Say: the Palefsky Collision Project's 25th Anniversary

David Koté is an award-winning director, actor, and educator. He began at Tri-Cities High School of Visual and Performing Arts and acclaimed Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta. Koté earned a B.A. degree in speech and theatre arts from Dillard University and M.F.A. in directing from Indiana University. His theatre credits include The Roommate, Jitney, Pill Hill, In the Red and Brown Water, Purlie, Flyin’ West, Once on this Island, Times, The Last Season, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, My Children! My Africa! and Macbeth. He has also appeared in HBO’s A Lesson Before Dying, CBS’s Mama Flora’s Family and TNT’s Passing Glory. He has performed in South Africa, Belgium, Amsterdam and all over the United States. Koté served as Director of Theatre Arts at Tri-Cities High School Visual and Performing Arts Magnet where he received many awards for his work including The Charles Loridans Foundation for excellence and leadership in theatre education. Kote’s production of The Color Purple at Actor’s Express is winner of 6 Suzi Bass Award including Outstanding Production Musical and Outstanding Direction Musical.
Jonathan Shmidt Chapman

Breakout Session Presenter - Spreading Wonder: Theater for the Very Young as a Tool for Community Impact

Jonathan Shmidt Chapman is an internationally-recognized leader in the fields of TYA and Jewish Education. He has created original TYA at Lincoln Center, Alliance, Kennedy Center, and SCT. He is the co-founder of Trusty Sidekick, and served as Executive Director of TYA/USA; Producer, Family Programming (Lincoln Center); and Associate Director, Artistic Programming (New Victory). He is the founder of K’ilu Company, reimagining Jewish education through sensory theater. He has taught at NYU and Northwestern.
Jordan Zelvin

Breakout Session Presenter - Spreading Wonder: Theater for the Very Young as a Tool for Community Impact

Jordan Zelvin is a Chicago teaching artist harboring a deep passion for new work and TVY. Jordan has extensive experience in child-centered, play-based learning and immersive theater as a means to discover identity, community, and life-long curiosity. As a TYA artist, she’s worked with The Alliance Theatre, NTYA, Oil Lamp Theater, Strawdog Theatre, The Second City, The Annoyance, and iO Theater. Jordan is the Associate Artistic Director and Lead Teaching Artist for the K’ilu Company.
Elizabeth Brendel Horn

Breakout Session Presenter - Bringing Theatre Bedside in Children’s Hospitals

Elizabeth Brendel Horn is an Associate Professor of Theatre for Young Audiences and Creative Drama at Northwestern University. Previously, she taught at the University of Central Florida in partnership with Orlando Family Stage. Elizabeth is a playwright, director, scholar, and applied theatre artist.
Grace Hall

Breakout Session Presenter - Bringing Theatre Bedside in Children’s Hospitals

Grace Hall (she/her) is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist with an emphasis on performance, directing, TYA, and lighting design. She is originally from Los Angeles, California and is a current Junior at Northwestern University where she is pursuing a BA in Theatre with modules in Theatre for Young Audiences and Theatrical Design. She is a member of Purple Crayon Players and has served as Co-Tour Manager and Technical Director. In 2024, Grace conference directed the Inclusive Theatre Festival through SeeSaw Theatre. She also has experience in Creative Drama teaching in Evanston/Skokie District 65 public schools. Recently, Grace has been engaging with Theatre for the Very Young through classes and performances at Northwestern University. She was a student and co-devisor in the TVY class that created Splish Splash, a Day on the Lake for the Goodman Theatre and recently performed as Autumn in the Wirtz Center’s production of Imagine That! She is thrilled to be presenting on Bedside Pediatric Theatre.
Madelyn Cantzler

Breakout Session Presenter - Bringing Theatre Bedside in Children’s Hospitals

Madelyn Cantzler is a senior finishing her last quarter at Northwestern University. She grew up performing in musical theater and has found a home in Theater for Young Audiences. Working with young kiddos under 5 is her passion and Madelyn has devoted the last three years to nothing but Theater for the Very Young. Most recently, she helped create Northwestern’s Imagine That! and Splish Splash. She is so excited to share about Bedside Pediatric Theatre at this year’s conference!
Abigail Pierson

Breakout Session Presenter - Bringing Theatre Bedside in Children’s Hospitals

Abigail Pierson is a sophomore at Northwestern University studying Theatre and Psychology with a concentration in Theatre for Young Audiences. Passionate about making theatre accessible to all young people, she has spent years performing for children in her community through Papermill Playhouse’s Children’s Theater on Tour and teaching theatre in her NJ hometown. At Northwestern, she is actively involved in student theatre as a director, stage manager, and performer.
Tvesha Gupta

Breakout Session Presenter - Bringing Theatre Bedside in Children’s Hospitals

Tvesha Gupta is a sophomore at Northwestern University studying Theater and Management for the Creative Industries. She is excited about creating theater that is accessible for all and loves making Theater for Young Audiences that promotes learning and imagination. She’s participated in many children’s shows including Cinderella, a circus adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, and led a few theater circus camps for young kids. At Northwestern, she participates in student theater as a director, performer, and fight and intimacy director.
Paul Brewster McGinley

Breakout Session Presenter - From Spark to Sunset: Trusty Sidekick’s Atlas

Paul B. McGinley (he/him) is an arts leader, educator, and artist with a background in theater production. Guided by values of belonging and emergence, he has designed programs, led planning and operations, produced work for kids and families, and directed and stage managed off-Broadway and regionally. He serves as Director of Education at Paper Mill Playhouse, but his favorite roles are uncle and husband.
Emily Bruner

Breakout Session Presenter - From Spark to Sunset: Trusty Sidekick’s Atlas

Emily is a Theater Maker and Educator who creates at the intersection of art and accessibility. She works as a Teaching Artist for Park Avenue Armory, Lincoln Center Moments, New Victory Theater, CO/LAB Theater Group, and New York Historical. She was a company member of Trusty Sidekick Theater Company and is the co-founder of Cloud St., a transdisciplinary collective seeking to facilitate encounters with art for everyone.
Jenn Adams-Carasquillo

Breakout Session Presenter - Stages of Healing: Health Partnerships that Power TYA

Jennifer Adams-Carrasquillo is an arts educator and theatre artist with over 20 years of experience designing inclusive, community-centered programs for young people and families. As the Senior Director of Education at Orlando Family Stage, she leads innovative initiatives that fuse arts, literacy, early childhood development, social change, and health and wellness, serving thousands of students annually from early childhood through adolescence. A passionate advocate for educational equity and creative empowerment, Jennifer’s work spans directing, curriculum design, playwriting, early childhood development, and leadership of cross-sector partnerships. She holds an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Central Florida and is committed to building a more empathetic, creative, and inclusive world.
Dr. Monisha Seth

Breakout Session Presenter - Stages of Healing: Health Partnerships that Power TYA

Monisha Seth, MD earned her medical degree and completed her residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She practiced Internal Medicine for more than 20 years with AdventHealth Medical Group and now serves as Director for Medical Strategy and Experience for the Central Florida Division of AdventHealth, where she leads initiatives that enhance patient and provider engagement.
A classically trained violinist who studied at the Juilliard School, Dr. Seth was part of the multidisciplinary leadership team that developed and implemented a specialized Performer Health program supporting the well-being of performing artists. She also serves as President and Co-Founder of Franklin’s Friends, an all-volunteer animal welfare organization.
Teresa Mairn

Breakout Session Presenter - Stages of Healing: Health Partnerships that Power TYA

Teresa Mairn is a purpose-driven executive serving AdventHealth for more than 20 years, holding various roles in strategy, business development and marketing. Currently, Teresa is the executive director of strategic partnerships and innovation, where she leads a dedicated team providing direction for AdventHealth’s partnerships, experiential marketing & event activation, corporate sales, and emerging products. She is passionate about building long-term relationships with major brands to create new initiatives that positively impact the community. Teresa was instrumental in the development of the renewed alliance with Walt Disney World Resort creating a health ecosystem for guests on vacation and an elevated pediatric experience to ease anxiety and promote healing at AdventHealth for Children; the partnership with the Orlando Magic to extend the lifetime of Orlando Magic athletes on the court through sports science and predictive analytics and a destination sports medicine and performance facility at the AdventHealth Training Center; and the partnership with the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts where she helps to lead the development of programs and research focused on the intersection between the performing arts and healing.
Jay Hayden

Breakout Session Presenter - Theatre of the Oppressed as a Tool for Youth Liberation

Jay Hayden (they/them) is a Los Angeles–based artist and educator. An alumnus Emerging Leader Fellow with TYA/USA, they founded Trans Futures on Stage—an annual call to action for TYA organizations to produce plays by TGNC artists about TGNC youth, now in its inaugural year. Jay serves on the Trans Rights Advisory Board for ACLU Nebraska and canvasses for Doctors Without Borders. They spent seven years as a resident actor and educator with The Rose Theater in Omaha, where they are currently mounting the co–world premiere of Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress. They hold a license to teach English (Grades 7–12) and serve on the board of Pedagogy/Theatre of the Oppressed.

Commercial Producing and Nonprofit Partnerships in TYA

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 1: Thursday, May 28th from 9:30am to 10:45am

Theatre for Young Audiences is at a crossroads. Traditional nonprofit models often struggle to sustain new musical development, while commercial producers seek meaningful entry points into the TYA field. This session explores opportunities for partnership—how nonprofit theatres and commercial producers can collaborate to rethink business models, share risk, and expand reach. Using recent examples such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, participants will consider new frameworks that advance both artistic integrity and financial sustainability.
Presenters
- Sammy Lopez
- Nina Meehan
- Johamy Morales
- Tim McDonald
Intentionality, Collaboration, Creativity: Launching an Artist and Community-Centered Professional TYA Start-Up on a Shoestring in Uncertain Times

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 1: Thursday, May 28th from 9:30am to 10:45am

Join Discovery Stage Company’s founding team for an interactive session on launching a professional TYA start-up with intentionality, creativity, and collaboration—on a shoestring budget in uncertain times. Through hands-on exercises and discussion, participants will explore building artist- and community-centered programs, fostering inclusive partnerships, producing school tours, and navigating fundraising, marketing, and administrative challenges. Leave inspired with practical tools to grow sustainable, values-driven TYA programming with accessibility, inclusion, and generosity at its core.
Presenters
- Nicole B. Adkins
- Jodye Underwood
- Dr. Jessica Rosa Espinoza
- Javaron Conyers
- Lauren Lee
Listen and the Power of Teen-Centered Programming

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 1: Thursday, May 28th from 9:30am to 10:45am

Teen actors make up a large portion of youth artists onstage and are a viable audience hungry for work that speaks to their lives, but too often are overlooked. This session explores how Listen, a teen-centered work which premiered at the South Carolina Children’s Theater, thrived by leaning into technology, immersive experiences, and contemporary dance culture. West Hyler will explore the collaboration process of creating an immersive production with Teens, and Katie O’Kelly will explore the challenges and successes of producing a teen-focused immersive piece and the feedback received from audiences. Following the discussion, there will be breakout interactive activities.
Presenters
- West Hyler
- Katie O'Kelly
Negotiating Power, Risk, and Possibility in Immersive Performances for the Very Young

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 1: Thursday, May 28th from 9:30am to 10:45am

Using Red—an immersive dance performance for children aged 12 to 36 months—as a case study, this workshop explores how adult artists and toddlers can co-create performance spaces that navigate risk, joyful chaos, and rough-and-tumble play. Participants will engage with footage from both the research and performance phases of Red to experiment with power dynamics and examine the boundaries artists may (or may not) set for these audiences. This participatory workshop includes playful devising, live music, and dialogue on experimental performance practices for very young children.
Presenters
- Amanda Pintore
- Jisun Myung
- Olivia Herneddo
Puppetry as a Foundational Practice in TVY

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 1: Thursday, May 28th from 9:30am to 10:45am

In this session we will explore WHY puppetry operates as a source of wonder in Theatre for the Very Young. We’ll articulate how puppetry meets developmental and educational needs of the youngest of audience members, suggest timelines and tips of how to best integrate puppet artists into the creative process, and share techniques for developing intimate, tactile, participatory, sensory-friendly puppetry experiences. Join veteran puppetry educators Aretta Baumgartner and Johanna Smith for a lively exploration of all things Puppetry in TVY!
Presenters
- Johanna Smith
- Aretta Baumgartner
Research & Scholarship Working Group: Audience Engagement and Funding Strategies

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 1: Thursday, May 28th from 9:30am to 10:45am

Chaired by Elizabeth Coen, PhD, Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Houston

– Reba Troxler, “Engagement with Live or Virtual TYA and Students’ Prosocial Skills”
– Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, “Funding for the Arts During a Drought: Remaining Thirsty and Hopeful”

In the first part of the session, researchers will deliver short paper presentations on their projects. In the second part, researchers will work with attendees in small groups to address a specific research challenge or question of relevance to their project.
Presenters
- Elizabeth Coen, PhD
- Reba Troxler
- Roxanne Schroeder-Arce
Youth Leading the Very Young at Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM): Training Youth Actors to Facilitate TVY Experiences‬

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 1: Thursday, May 28th from 9:30am to 10:45am

Participants in this session will gain tools and techniques for equipping young actors to be facilitators in the context of Theater for the Very Young. As a team with a five year practice in this work, the Education Department at Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM) will guide participants through the benefits, considerations, and strategies for casting, training, and supporting young actors as TVY facilitators in a variety of artistic and educational contexts.
Presenters
- Erica Berman Thompson
- Lindsay Gleason
A Big Time Co-Commission Extravaganza!

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 2: Thursday, May 28th from 11:15am to 12:30pm

Once upon a time, seven theatres from across the country came together to commission THE PIGEON GETS A BIG TIME HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!, based on characters from bestselling author Mo Willems. In this breakout, artistic teams will share discoveries made in writing, workshopping, and contracting, along with strategies for managing communication and creative decision-making across multiple, simultaneous premieres.
Presenters
- Deborah Wicks La Puma
- Jeff Frank
- Adam Tobin
- Dr. Megan Alrutz
Performance: The Birthday of The World

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 2: Thursday, May 28th from 11:15am to 12:30pm

Alliance Theatre – Atlanta, GA
Created by Jonathan Shmidt Chapman
Inspired by the book Birthday of the World by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen

How can you repair the world, finding one spark at a time? Gather around and lean forward as we share a gift with you – a story about how the world was born and how it needs your help to be filled with light again. Based on the beautiful children’s book by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen and drawing from Jewish folklore, this immersive performance brings a timeless and timely story to life through gentle storytelling, visual wonder, and sensory play.
Performance: Rhythm and Thread

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 2: Thursday, May 28th from 11:15am to 12:30pm

Alliance Theatre – Atlanta, GA
Created by Andrea Washington
Composition by Eugene H. Russell, IV
Inspired by the work of Faith Ringgold
This piece features textiles by Marquetta Johnson and is performed in her memory.

It’s moving day, and Cassie is helping her grandparents, Gigi and Pop Pop, sort through the attic. Among the dusty boxes, Cassie discovers a collection of Gigi’s quilts, each one a patchwork of stories and adventures waiting to be told. Inspired, Cassie weaves her own tales, transforming the attic into magical worlds while Gigi and Pop Pop join in, sharing laughter and memories stitched into every quilt. Together, they create one final quilt, tying old and new threads into a tapestry of love. Rhythm & Thread celebrates family, imagination, and the beauty of storytelling through the art of quilting.
Playing the Long Game: Building Sustainable Partnerships Between Universities and TYA Theatres

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 2: Thursday, May 28th from 11:15am to 12:30pm

Partnerships don’t happen overnight. This session explores how the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine’s Maddy’s Theatre and the University of Southern Maine built a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship over several years. Presenters will share their multi-year collaboration—from internships and faculty involvement to co-productions and community programming—highlighting how long-term partnerships can elevate TYA’s visibility, nurture future theatre-makers, and expand access for families. Attendees will leave with practical insights for cultivating partnerships in their own communities.
Presenters
- Reba Askari
- SeifAllah Salotto-Cristobal
Research & Scholarship Working Group: Learning-Centered Pedagogy and Community Building

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 2: Thursday, May 28th from 11:15am to 12:30pm

Chaired by Gillian McNally, Professor of Theatre Education of the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Northern Colorado

– Rosalind Flynn, “A Push To Publish: Please Share Your Research!”
– Steven James Higginbotham, Cyndi LaFrese, & Dallas Thomas – “Stories that Soar!: Creating Collaborative Partnerships to Transform Educational Communities”

In the first part of the session, researchers will deliver short paper presentations on their projects. In the second part, researchers will work with attendees in small groups to address a specific research challenge or question of relevance to their project.
Presenters
- Gillian McNally
- Rosalind Flynn
- Steven James Higginbotham
- Cyndi LaFrese
- Dallas Thomas
Scrappy, Smart, and Strategic: Rethinking Marketing in the Real World

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 2: Thursday, May 28th from 11:15am to 12:30pm

What if your most powerful marketing ideas aren’t waiting for a bigger budget, but hiding inside the limitations you already face? This session explores how challenges like limited time, staff, or assets can fuel smarter, more creative campaigns. Together, we’ll examine real-world examples, share proven strategies, and co-create guiding principles to design impactful marketing in less-than-ideal conditions leaving you with fresh ideas and renewed confidence.
Presenters
- Zac Alfson
- Kristen Silton
- Bailey Hill
TYA GAMESLAM!!!!

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 2: Thursday, May 28th from 11:15am to 12:30pm

You think that the Song Slam is fun?! Wait till you get into a room with 30+ theatre professionals playing and sharing their favorite theatre games!

In this interactive, curated session, participants will be invited to share their favorite games to promote ensemble, theatre skills, devising, or are just plain fun. Learn from your colleagues from around the country in a session where new games will be explained, practiced, and assessed as learning and rehearsal tools! Don’t have a game? That’s okay! Come to play, learn, and add some new fun to your tool kit.
Presenters
- Colin Peterson
- Alicia Fuss
Fostering Local TYA / Amplifying National TYA

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 3: Thursday, May 28th from 2:00pm to 3:15pm

Outside of a traditional commissioning model centering on a financial investment, how can presenters support artists to develop new work to tour? This session explores the relationship between a presenting organization (The Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas) three Austin based companies creating TYA (Chemistry Laboratories, Theatre Heroes, Glass Half Full Theatre), and the agency representing two of the companies (Holden & Arts Associates.) The Paramount has supported the development of their shows Call of the Wild, Wind in the Willows, Treasure Island Reimagined: Jane Hawkins and the Pirate’s Gold, Petra and the Wolf, and Maebelle’s Suitcase (La Maleta de Maebelle) all of which have premiered or will premiere with the Paramount Theatre before touring nationally.
Presenters
- Brian Fahey
- Jason Neulander
- Noel Gaulin
- Spring Karlo
Out Of The Box: Creating & producing portable theater for ages 2-5 with Spellbound’s “pop-up show” model

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 3: Thursday, May 28th from 2:00pm to 3:15pm

Are you looking to devise and produce Theater for the Very Young on a small budget? Are you interested in bringing theater out into the community and meeting families where they are? In this interactive session, participants will learn about Spellbound’s “pop-up show” model that has brought original small scale theater to hundreds of classrooms, libraries, parks, and museums. Get ready to create, discuss and leave with an idea for your own pop-up show!
Presenters
- Susanna Brock
- Rebecca Gerrard
Performance: The Birthday of The World

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 3: Thursday, May 28th from 2:00pm to 3:15pm

Alliance Theatre – Atlanta, GA
Created by Jonathan Shmidt Chapman
Inspired by the book Birthday of the World by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen

How can you repair the world, finding one spark at a time? Gather around and lean forward as we share a gift with you – a story about how the world was born and how it needs your help to be filled with light again. Based on the beautiful children’s book by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen and drawing from Jewish folklore, this immersive performance brings a timeless and timely story to life through gentle storytelling, visual wonder, and sensory play.
Performance: Rhythm and Thread

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 3: Thursday, May 28th from 2:00pm to 3:15pm

Alliance Theatre – Atlanta, GA
Created by Andrea Washington
Composition by Eugene H. Russell, IV
Inspired by the work of Faith Ringgold
This piece features textiles by Marquetta Johnson and is performed in her memory.

It’s moving day, and Cassie is helping her grandparents, Gigi and Pop Pop, sort through the attic. Among the dusty boxes, Cassie discovers a collection of Gigi’s quilts, each one a patchwork of stories and adventures waiting to be told. Inspired, Cassie weaves her own tales, transforming the attic into magical worlds while Gigi and Pop Pop join in, sharing laughter and memories stitched into every quilt. Together, they create one final quilt, tying old and new threads into a tapestry of love. Rhythm & Thread celebrates family, imagination, and the beauty of storytelling through the art of quilting.
Research & Scholarship Working Group: Multicultural and Anti-Racist Theatre Practice

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 3: Thursday, May 28th from 2:00pm to 3:15pm

Chaired by Mateo Hernandez, MFA

– Aashna Rai, “Theatre as Refuge: Facilitating Identity, Agency, and Belonging through Youth Migration Narratives”
– Michael Haverty, “Rehearsal for the Revolution: the role of performing arts education in the development of antiracist identities in White children”
– Taylor St. John, “Playing Through Our Differences: How Creating a Fictional Play Can Open Up Real Dialogue”

In the first part of the session, researchers will deliver short paper presentations on their projects. In the second part, researchers will work with attendees in small groups to address a specific research challenge or question of relevance to their project.
Presenters
- Mateo Hernandez
- Aashna Rai
- Michael Haverty
- Taylor St. John
Something to Say: the Palefsky Collision Project's 25th Anniversary

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 3: Thursday, May 28th from 2:00pm to 3:15pm

The Alliance Theatre Palefsky Collision Project is a singular summer intensive in which a diverse group of teens “collide” with a source text to present an original work. In this interactive session, participants will explore (3) new resources created to mark the milestone of the program’s 25th anniversary: third-party research, an album, and a how-to manual to serve as a roadmap for national communities invested in elevating the voices of teens with something to say.
Presenters
- Liz Magovern Davis
- Pearl Cleage
- Maya Lawrence
- Sam Provenzano
- Laura Wood, PhD
- Patrick McColery
- David Koté
Spreading Wonder: Theater for the Very Young as a Tool for Community Impact

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 3: Thursday, May 28th from 2:00pm to 3:15pm

What happens when TVY is utilized outside of a traditional theater context, transforming family programming in other sectors? This interactive workshop explores ways to activate TVY in unexpected places, sharing key findings from The K’ilu Company’s four years of running Ark Adventures – an international program that reimagines TVY in synagogue spaces. Participants will gain insights on applying the building blocks of TVY to a range of settings, offering exciting possibilities for artists, audiences, and communities.
Presenters
- Jonathan Shmidt Chapman
- Jordan Zelvin
Bringing Theatre Bedside in Children’s Hospitals

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 4: Friday, May 29th from 1:00pm to 2:15pm

Bedside theatre can transform a child’s hospital room into a space of whimsy, imagination, and play. Explore two bedside shows, “Let’s Go Camping!” (for 2 to 5-year-olds) and “Color Quest” (for 6 to 10-year-olds) created specifically with hospital patients in mind. We’ll consider how this medium impacts show content, script format, design and technical elements, and performer/facilitator training. Through performance, script excerpts, interactive exercises, and discussion, session participants will explore our existing model and imagine new possibilities for pediatric bedside theatre.
Presenters
- Elizabeth Brendel Horn
- Grace Hall
- Madelyn Cantzler
- Abigail Pierson
- Tvesha Gupta
From Spark to Sunset: Trusty Sidekick’s Atlas

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 4: Friday, May 29th from 1:00pm to 2:15pm

For 13 years, Trusty Sidekick Theater Company roamed NYC on a shoestring, conjuring sensory adventures and immersive worlds for kids and families. In 2024, the company took its final bow—but not without leaving behind a treasure chest of methods and lessons learned. Join former company members for a hands-on session passing on Trusty’s devising tools, introducing a free atlas to chart your own quests, and exploring how sunsets can spark bright new beginnings.
Presenters
- Paul Brewster McGinley
- Emily Bruner
Performance: Helping Hands (2026 Alliance Theatre & TYA/USA TVY Development Program Grantee)

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 4: Friday, May 29th from 1:00pm to 2:15pm

Created by Jack Romans and Cameryn Richardson
Originally developed with support from the Alliance Theatre and TYA/USA TVY Development Program

Two friends disturb a resting trash spirit and hijinks ensue. Flomo, a very determined clown, seeks a place to rest while Peepa, their spirited and playful counterpart, is ready to play. This initial conflict causes them to awake and upset the spirit resting nearby, but just throwing their trash away doesn’t solve things. However, through experimentation, Peepa, Flomo, and the spirit find that they can do more than they imagined with the things they initially considered trash. With each new idea, they bring audiences along on a journey to upcycle, create, and ultimately, enjoy the items we typically throw away. Each family will have the chance to consider: what can I do with my helping hands? How can we reduce our waste and create something exciting for ourselves or our communities along the way?
Performance: RAIN: for babies and their carers (Toddler Takeover)

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 4: Friday, May 29th from 1:00pm to 2:15pm

Filament Theatre (Chicago, IL) & Threshold (Victoria, Australia)

RAIN: for babies and their carers is an intimate performance installation work created specifically for babes in arms and crawlers.

Audiences are invited to participate in an experience that responds to the generosity of rain. Carers and their littlest ones are immersed in an intimate and mindful installation space full of surprise, delight and opportunities for connection through sound, touch and performance.

Produced by Filament Theatre in partnership with Threshold

Featuring: Alexandra Plattos Sulack. Ariya Hawkins, Caroline M. Watson, Lucía Mier y Terán Romero, Roxanne Fritton, and Sonia Goldberg

Rain: for babies and their carers was originally created by Edwina Cordingley, Liz Francis, Nikita Hederics, Sarah Lockwood, Carolyn Ramsey, Alicia Stafford and Mardi Thorpe.

North American Production Directed by Ellie Levine
Installation Artist & Associate Costume Designer: Emily Brink
Association Lighting Designer: Ellie Humphrys
Audience Engagement Designer: Molly Bunder
Reading: ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 4: Friday, May 29th from 1:00pm to 2:15pm

Alliance Theatre – Atlanta, GA

ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that will spark critical conversations and meaningful action in communities across the country. The Alliance Theatre Teen Ensemble will stage readings of a script comprised of six (6) new 10-minute plays by teen writers confronting gun violence as part of the ENOUGH! Nationwide Reading.

Holding Space by Abby Dougherty
Oh Look, Another School Shooting! By Matias Finley
Nobody Cares About Death by Ian Hodges
The Perfect Victim by Payton Aurora Jones
We Didn’t Have to Meet Here by Pace Rundlett
Under Wraps by Olivia Stanley

Founded in 2019 by director Michael Cotey, ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence (enoughplays.com) calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that spark critical conversations and inspire action in communities nationwide. The initiative promotes playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation’s spirit of activism and giving tomorrow’s playwrights a platform to develop their voices today. Across four program cycles, ENOUGH! has received more than 700 short plays from teen writers. More than 140 organizations have participated in the first three Nationwide Readings (2020, 2022, and 2023) engaging over 14,000 audience members and nearly 3,000 artists. ENOUGH! has been featured by PBS NewsHour, NPR, and BBC, and has earned national recognition including the 2024 Theatre for Young Audiences/USA Community Impact Award and the 2023 Goldin Foundation Exemplary Project Award. ENOUGH! 2025 is sponsored by The Civis Foundation, Change the Ref, Dramatists Guild of America, Newtown Action Alliance, and Playscripts, an imprint of Concord Theatricals.
Stages of Healing: Health Partnerships that Power TYA

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 4: Friday, May 29th from 1:00pm to 2:15pm

How can theatre for young audiences serve as a catalyst for health, healing, and community well-being? This interactive session, led by Orlando Family Stage in collaboration with AdventHealth for Children, explores innovative intersections between healthcare and the arts. Drawing from our ongoing Performer Health Initiative and Be a Mindleader collaborations, we will share practical models, innovative funding avenues, and advocacy approaches. Participants will engage in dialogue and activities that highlight how theatre can foster resilience, empathy, and connection, powerful tools for both individual healing and community well-being. Through guided activities, examples, and facilitated conversation, participants will:
● Discover the power of partnership between arts and health organizations
● Engage in dialogue about the role of theatre in supporting mental health and resilience for youth
● Gain practical strategies to embed health and wellness perspectives and practices into their own programming
● Explore collaborative models that bridge the arts, healthcare, and community well-being.

This session will provide participants with tools and inspiration to reimagine how their artistic work can align with holistic wellness, while also posing critical questions about the responsibility and potential of TYA to support thriving communities.
Presenters
- Jenn Adams-Carasquillo
- Dr. Monisha Seth
- Teresa Mairn
Theatre of the Oppressed as a Tool for Youth Liberation

BREAKOUT SESSION BLOCK 4: Friday, May 29th from 1:00pm to 2:15pm

This hands-on workshop explores how Theatre of the Oppressed techniques can ignite youth empowerment and collective action. Participants will engage in exercises drawn from Boal’s practice, discovering adaptable tools for helping young people name power, challenge injustice, and reimagine their communities. Designed for artists and educators who want to move beyond theory, this session offers practical strategies to transform classrooms and rehearsal rooms into spaces of liberation.
Presenters
- Jay Hayden

Featured Performances

Into The Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale

Alliance Theatre - Atlanta, GA

Written and Directed by Mark Valdez
Original songs by Christian Albright and Christian Magby, Brandon Bush, Annmarie Milazzo, Divinity Roxx, Jacob Ryan Smith, and Eugene Russell IV
Inspired by the stories of Beatrix Potter
Presented by special arrangement with Frederick Warne & Co Limited

Journey down the rabbit hole for a delightful musical adventure. All the neighborly forest animals have gathered in the rabbit’s den (under Mr. McGregor’s Garden) to throw a surprise party for Peter. And the biggest surprise of all – for the first time ever, they’ve invited you to join them! But the animals soon realize Mr. McGregor has terrible plans for the land around Peter’s burrow. Peter must face his fears and, together with his friends, gather a community to help save his home. Featuring beloved characters from the classic Beatrix Potter tales and a variety of original songs, this new tale encourages us to acknowledge our fears and work together to overcome challenges.
Listen

Created and Directed by West Hyler
Performed by Alliance Theatre’s Teen Ensemble

Listen is an immersive headphone-play set during a high school prom. Audience members don silent disco headsets and choose between three audio channels—Blue, Green, and Red, each following a different student DJ and storyline. The experience is built for teen performers and audiences and the action happens across multiple physical spaces. The structure encourages both audience agency and teen relevance as characters confront issues of identity, trust, post-high-school ambition, and belonging.

Originally commissioned and produced by South Carolina Children’s Theatre, Greenville, South Carolina
The Birthday of the World (Toddler Takeover powered by PNC)

Alliance Theatre - Atlanta, GA

Created by Jonathan Shmidt Chapman
Inspired by the book Birthday of the World by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen

How can you repair the world, finding one spark at a time? Gather around and lean forward as we share a gift with you – a story about how the world was born and how it needs your help to be filled with light again. Based on the beautiful children’s book by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen and drawing from Jewish folklore, this immersive performance brings a timeless and timely story to life through gentle storytelling, visual wonder, and sensory play.
Rhythm & Thread (Toddler Takeover powered by PNC)

Alliance Theatre - Atlanta, GA

Created by Andrea Washington
Composition by Eugene H. Russell, IV
Inspired by the work of Faith Ringgold
This piece features textiles by Marquetta Johnson and is performed in her memory.

It’s moving day, and Cassie is helping her grandparents, Gigi and Pop Pop, sort through the attic. Among the dusty boxes, Cassie discovers a collection of Gigi’s quilts, each one a patchwork of stories and adventures waiting to be told. Inspired, Cassie weaves her own tales, transforming the attic into magical worlds while Gigi and Pop Pop join in, sharing laughter and memories stitched into every quilt. Together, they create one final quilt, tying old and new threads into a tapestry of love. Rhythm & Thread celebrates family, imagination, and the beauty of storytelling through the art of quilting.
Song Slam Cabaret

The Song Slam Cabaret features performances of 10 original songs from TYA musical theatre writers with music direction by Deborah Wicks La Puma!

FEATURED SONGS AND SONGWRITERS
“Frog in My Throat” by Jacob Ryan Smith
“I Wanna Be Like You” by Jesse J. Sanchez
“Never Be A Loser” by David Mallamud & Peter Charles Morris
“Second Daughter’s Second Day” by Tyrone Robinson & Jacqueline Woodson
“Blue as the Midnight Sky” by Katie Berger Wood & Jessica Rosa Espinoza
“Progress” by Chad Bradford
“Dream of Fuzzy Demons” by Amy Engelhardt and Molly Horan
“Mama, Tell Me” by Letitia Bullard & Nathan Leitão
“Yellow Dog Blues” by Melvin Tunstall, III
“Every Color” by Elle Tyleri
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Center for Puppetry Arts - Atlanta, GA

Based on the book by Jon Scieszka & illustrated by Lane Smith

Adapted by Jason Hines

Experience the world premiere of the Center for Puppetry Arts’ adaptation of the best-selling book by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith. Delight in the strange twists and the hilarious retellings that poke loving fun at classic folktales. This wildly inventive show brings the fan-favorite to life while retaining all the bizarreness and offbeat charm of the original.

This performance will take place at the Center for Puppetry Arts located at 1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309.
Helping Hands

Created by Jack Romans and Cameryn Richardson
Originally developed with support from the Alliance Theatre and TYA/USA TVY Development Program

Two friends disturb a resting trash spirit and hijinks ensue. Flomo, a very determined clown, seeks a place to rest while Peepa, their spirited and playful counterpart, is ready to play. This initial conflict causes them to awake and upset the spirit resting nearby, but just throwing their trash away doesn’t solve things. However, through experimentation, Peepa, Flomo, and the spirit find that they can do more than they imagined with the things they initially considered trash. With each new idea, they bring audiences along on a journey to upcycle, create, and ultimately, enjoy the items we typically throw away. Each family will have the chance to consider: what can I do with my helping hands? How can we reduce our waste and create something exciting for ourselves or our communities along the way?
DINOSAUR! (Toddler Takeover powered by PNC)

Alliance Theatre - Atlanta, GA

Created by Olivia Aston Bosworth & Samantha Provenzano

When you love dinosaurs, they pop up everywhere — at the grocery store, at preschool, and even when your grown-ups are hosting a fancy dinner party! But how can you focus on folding your napkin and chewing with your mouth closed when there’s an apatosaurus munching on your salad and pterodactyls swarming your soup? You can’t! Get ready to find out how even the simplest day-to-day task can turn into an epic dino-tastic adventure that will leave little ones laughing and roaring for more.
RAIN: for babies and their carers (Toddler Takeover powered by PNC)

Filament Theatre (Chicago, IL) & Threshold (Victoria, Australia)

RAIN: for babies and their carers is an intimate performance installation work created specifically for babes in arms and crawlers.

Audiences are invited to participate in an experience that responds to the generosity of rain. Carers and their littlest ones are immersed in an intimate and mindful installation space full of surprise, delight and opportunities for connection through sound, touch and performance.

Produced by Filament Theatre in partnership with Threshold

Featuring: Alexandra Plattos Sulack. Ariya Hawkins, Caroline M. Watson, Lucía Mier y Terán Romero, Roxanne Fritton, and Sonia Goldberg

Rain: for babies and their carers was originally created by Edwina Cordingley, Liz Francis, Nikita Hederics, Sarah Lockwood, Carolyn Ramsey, Alicia Stafford and Mardi Thorpe.

North American Production Directed by Ellie Levine
Installation Artist & Associate Costume Designer: Emily Brink
Association Lighting Designer: Ellie Humphrys
Audience Engagement Designer: Molly Bunder
The Great Ant Sleepover

Alliance Theatre - Atlanta, GA

Book by Madhuri Shekar
Music by Christian Magby
Lyrics by Christian Albright
Inspired by the book The Great Ant Sleepover by Madhuri Shekar and illustrated by Nicole Kang Ahn

Dig into the underground world of ants in The Great Ant Sleepover, a brand-new musical based on the enchanting picture book. Join Anton on his very first night in the big kids’ room, where he discovers that even brave little ants can feel a bit anxious when faced with new adventures. With playful songs and a heartwarming story by the acclaimed creative team behind the hit Alliance Theatre show The Incredible Book Eating Boy, this musical is a comforting tale of finding your place within a bustling colony. The Great Ant Sleepover celebrates the special bond between siblings and reminds us that with family by your side, even new experiences can feel like home
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence

Alliance Theatre - Atlanta, GA

ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that will spark critical conversations and meaningful action in communities across the country. The Alliance Theatre Teen Ensemble will stage readings of a script comprised of six (6) new 10-minute plays by teen writers confronting gun violence as part of the ENOUGH! Nationwide Reading.

Holding Space by Abby Dougherty
Oh Look, Another School Shooting! By Matias Finley
Nobody Cares About Death by Ian Hodges
The Perfect Victim by Payton Aurora Jones
We Didn’t Have to Meet Here by Pace Rundlett
Under Wraps by Olivia Stanley

Founded in 2019 by director Michael Cotey, ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence (enoughplays.com) calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that spark critical conversations and inspire action in communities nationwide. The initiative promotes playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation’s spirit of activism and giving tomorrow’s playwrights a platform to develop their voices today. Across four program cycles, ENOUGH! has received more than 700 short plays from teen writers. More than 140 organizations have participated in the first three Nationwide Readings (2020, 2022, and 2023) engaging over 14,000 audience members and nearly 3,000 artists. ENOUGH! has been featured by PBS NewsHour, NPR, and BBC, and has earned national recognition including the 2024 Theatre for Young Audiences/USA Community Impact Award and the 2023 Goldin Foundation Exemplary Project Award. ENOUGH! 2025 is sponsored by The Civis Foundation, Change the Ref, Dramatists Guild of America, Newtown Action Alliance, and Playscripts, an imprint of Concord Theatricals.
Reading of Sankofa: The SuperHero Project by Gloria Bond Clunie

Alliance Theatre - Atlanta, GA

Written by Gloria Bond Clunie
Music Compositions by Eugene H. Russell, IV

When 9-year-old Rashad catches Superhero Aboagye (A-bow-a-gee) sneaking into his bedroom to snitch his delicious, cheesy Best-titos, he is determined to teleport back with him to the Sankofa SuperHero Academy. His mission — discover a superpower that will make the kids stop teasing him. Amidst awesome adventures and mighty mishaps in the Seventh Dimension – Rashad uncovers an amazing ability that could change his life – and the world!

Commissioned by the Alliance Theatre, SANKOFA: THE SUPERHERO PROJECT is a part of the TYA BIPOC Superhero Project, a nationwide epic fusion of creative forces igniting theaters and playwrights across the diverse tapestry of America. This Project is dedicated to promoting and celebrating amazing stories created by BIPOC TYA playwrights across the United States that explore the notion of Superheroes as well as the many issues that youth communities of color encounter.
Basura

Alliance Theatre - Atlanta, GA

Music & Lyrics by Gloria Estefan and Emily Estefan

Book by Karen Zacarías
Directed by Michael Greif
Choreography by Patricia Delgado
Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements by Alex Lacamoire
Music Direction by Cynthia Meng
Dramaturgy by Ken Cerniglia

Eleven-time Grammy Award® winner Gloria Estefan — whose music has sold over 100 million records worldwide — has shaped generations through song. Now, she joins her daughter and acclaimed singer-songwriter Emily Estefan, to co-write the music and lyrics for Basura, a powerful and bold new musical inspired by the true story of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra, where young artists turn scrap material into instruments and music into possibilities. This world premiere musical continues Estefan’s global legacy — proving that music can rise from anywhere and change everything.

What do you do when the world gives you nothing? You build something beautiful. In a community against all odds, an inspired music teacher starts an orchestra for the students, but they have no instruments. Empty paint cans, a fork, and a bent license plate become a violin, an oil drum transforms into a colorful cello, and the newly formed orchestra hits every note to the beat of something bigger. When the students’ instruments become symbols of possibility, the sound is heard around the world.

Basura is directed by the Broadway stage visionary Michael Greif (Rent, Dear Evan Hansen), and written by National Latino Playwriting Award winner Karen Zacarías (Native Gardens, Destiny of Desire). Grammy Award® and Tony Award® winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, In the Heights) is the musical supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger. Tony Award® winner Patricia Delgado (Buena Vista Social Club) will choreograph, and Ken Cerniglia (Hadestown, Newsies) rounds out the team as dramaturg.

Based on the award-winning documentary film Landfill Harmonic, the new musical carries the sound of Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra farther than anyone could have ever imagined. Basura is an unforgettable journey of rhythm, resilience, and extraordinary music — a radiant, heart-swelling reminder that even in the most unlikely places, you can build something beautiful.

Schedule

Note: Times listed below are in the local time (Eastern).

The primary Conference runs from Wednesday, May 27th through Friday, May 29th.
Programming on Saturday, May 30th is for attendees who register for the
separate Post-Conference event hosted by Alliance Theatre (see the Post-Conference tab for details).

8:00 am
8:30 am
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12:00 pm
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11:00 pm

Wednesday May 27, 2026
Thursday May 28, 2026
Friday May 29, 2026
Saturday May 30, 2026
- Toddler Takeover powered by PNC
- Post Event Discussion

Planning Your Trip

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Accessibility

We will be providing access supports for attendees including Conference visual story, a Quiet Room,
and Lactation Spaces.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CONFERENCE VISUAL STORY

Please note, on the registration form there is an opportunity to share all access needs you may have. We will follow-up with you and work to support you as best as possible. We encourage you to reach out to us at info@tyausa.org to discuss any specific questions and/or concerns you have regarding accessibility at the Conference.

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See our suggestions for hotels, transportation, dining, and activities below!

Hotels

Conference Hotel – Hampton Inn & Suites – Atlanta Midtown – $169/night
1231 W Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
6 minute walk from the Woodruff Arts Center

The window to book our Conference hotel at our group rate is now closed.

Transportation

AIRPORT

Attendees traveling to the Conference by air should book flights arriving and departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

The Atlanta Airport is about a 20-35 minute drive from the Woodruff Arts Center depending on traffic.

Public transit via the MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) rail also provides direct connection between the airport and the Woodruff Arts Center by taking the Gold Line or Red Line between Airport Station and Arts Center Station. This trip will take about 30 minutes.

Note the MARTA rail runs on weekdays between 5:00am and 1:30am and weekends between 5:00am and 12:30am

RIDESHARE

We advise attendees using rideshares to travel to and from the Conference to set their pickup and/or drop-off location as the Arts Center MARTA Station.

Dining

– Refuge Coffee (located on Woodruff Arts Center campus): A coffee shop dedicated to welcoming everyone. Refuge strives to serve us with delicious beverages and treats while also giving back. With every purchse, wages are provided to full or part time jobs for refugees and immigrants that are a part of their job training program. Enjoy pastries such as muffins, danishes, and bagels, and enjoy their wide array of coffees, teas, and seasonal beverages.

– Boqueria at Colony Square (1221 Peachtree St NE Suite 110, Atlanta, GA 30361):
Spanish flavor meets Southern ease at Boqueria Midtown. Nestled in the historic and cultural heart of Atlanta, Boqueria brings the buzz of Barcelona to Colony Square. With floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen, and a menu built around tapas, wine, and paella, it’s a space where impromptu lunches, after-work Happy Hours, and spirited dinners and brunches unfold naturally.

– Politan Row at Colony Square (1197 Peachtree St NE Ste 150, Atlanta, GA 30361): Located across the street in Colony Square, diagonal from the Woodruff Arts Center, Politan Row offers a variety of food options. Think upscale food court with a central bar! Some staff favorites are Unbelibubble for Boba and the Bun Mi Grill!

– sweetgreen (1201 Peachtree St NE Suite 150, Atlanta, GA 30361):
Fast-casual chain with bowls and salads.

– Whole Foods – Midtown Atlanta (22 14th St NWAtlanta, GA 30309):
Grocery store that includes a salad bar, hot bar, and coffee shop.

– E ramen – Midtown (1110 W Peachtree St NW #300, Atlanta, GA 30309):
Homemade ramen served in a contemporary eatery that has an extensive sake & cocktail menu.

– Tin Lizzy’s Taco Americana (77 12th Street NE Atlanta, GA 30309):
Trendy taco spot with a patio offering Mexican eats, plus skillets & fried pickles.

– Antico Pizza Napoletana (1093 Hemphill Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318):
Relaxed pizzeria with an open kitchen serving crisp, Naples-style pies to diners at communal tables.

– The Flying Biscuit Cafe (1001 Piedmont Ave. Atlanta, GA 30309):
Branch of a laid-back chain known for Southern food & all-day breakfast selections.

– Foxtail Coffee – Midtown (1230 W Peachtree St NW, Suite 120 Atlanta, GA 30309)

GOOGLE MAP OF DINING + CONFERENCE LOCATIONS HERE

Things to Do

– Center for Puppetry Arts is the largest organization in the United States devoted to the art of puppet theatre. The Center offers visitors access to their museum, puppetry performances, film screenings, and educational programs.

– Piedmont Park is a beautiful space in the heart of Atlanta with over 200 acres of green space, dog parks, sports facilities, and playgrounds. Piedmont Park hosts a variety of events, including the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Music Midtown, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and the Atlanta Pride Festival, to name a few.

– Colony Square is a business, residential, and cultural center just down the street from The Woodruff Arts Center. Click here for the Square’s retail and dining directory!

– The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a 30-acre garden which offers a place of calm amidst the bustle of Midtown. In addition to welcoming visitors to their garden, they offer a variety of events, such as live music, children’s programs, and temporary exhibits.

– Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) is the only design museum in the Southeast. It is devoted to the celebration and study of design and to exploring the role of museums in the 21st century.

– The Center for Civil and Human Rights is a museum dedicated to the achievements of both the civil rights movement in the United States and the broader worldwide human rights movement.

– The Atlanta Beltline is Atlanta’s spectacular outdoor space and comprises 22 miles of unused railroad tracks circling the core of the city’s in-town neighborhoods. From trails and walkways to open green space and parks, the Atlanta Beltline connects people to neighborhoods, dining and cool places throughout the city.

Our 2026 Sponsors

We thank our generous sponsors for their support of the 2026 National TYA/USA Festival & Conference.
Interested in sponsoring the 2026 National TYA/USA Festival & Conference? Learn more here.

Access for All Supporters
• Deborah Wicks La Puma • Ashley Woods • Catherine von Storch • Cameryn Richardson • Paul McGinley •
• Ariel Marcus-Hollenbeck • Daniel Hahn • Marilee H Miller • Suzan Zeder • Kassie Misiewicz • Camille Blaydes •
• Jose Casas • Jeff Revels • Sammy Lopez • Gloria Bond Clunie • Judge Luckey • John Maclay • Elizabeth Sherr •
• Deanna Mae • Joan Lancourt • Sandra Asher • Sabrina Rodriguez • Bonnie Dudovitz • Gregg Henry •