Stay connected to the 2025 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference with the Virtual Track!
From June 9th to 16th, the Virtual Track for the 2025 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference will feature online access to keystone programming from the in-person event – including digital versions of Featured Performances and the recorded Song Slam Cabaret – three live webinars – including the annual TYA/USA Member Meeting and two exploring brand new Virtual Track topics – and a bonus Virtual Track exclusive Theatre for the Very Young performance of Sailing on String from Arts on the Horizon.
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Photo featuring “Sailing on String”. Courtesy of Arts on the Horizon.
From June 9th to 16th, Virtual Track registrants will have access to:
1. On-demand digital versions of Featured Performances from the in-person Conference including:
– The Last Martyr
– Paper Escaper
And an on-demand digital version of a bonus Virtual Track exclusive show!:
– Sailing on String
2. On-demand access to the recorded Song Slam Cabaret featuring 10 songs from TYA musicals with music direction by Deborah Wicks La Puma
3. Participation in three live webinars, including the annual TYA/USA Member Meeting and two panels exploring major topics of conversation in our field now: community-centered new work development and efforts to uplift BIPOC TYA histories in academia and research.
Accessibility Note: Recorded content – including the Featured Performances and Song Slam Cabaret – will be captioned. All live Zoom webinars will have ASL interpretation and Zoom captions enabled.
Organizations that wish to register multiple staff members simultaneously must be organizational members of TYA/USA due to the necessity of registering each participating staff member using linked profiles.
Note that if you registered for the in-person Festival & Conference, you will be automatically given access to the Virtual Track content. No need to register again!
If you choose to register at the ACCESS SPONSOR level: your registration directly supports our ACCESS FOR ALL initiative, offering the opportunity to participate for all who wish to, regardless of capacity to pay.
We are grateful for your support!
| Level | Regular Rate |
|---|---|
| Organizational Registration - Large (10+ Participants): | $300 |
| Organizational Registration - Small (up to 10 Participants): | $150 |
| Individual - Access Sponsor Level: | $100 |
| Individual - Registration Level 1: | $75 |
| Individual - Registration Level 2: | $50 |
| Individual - Registration Level 3: | $25 |
| ACCESS FOR ALL Registration | $0.0 |
| Register |
Webinar Panelists
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Jacqueline Thompson
Webinar Panelist - "Life to Art: The Mindful Journey of Creating Space for Authentic Community-Centered Artistry"
Jacqueline Thompson is the Artistic Director at Metro Theater Company and an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in the Communication and Media Studies Department. In March 2018, the St. Louis Post Dispatch recognized her as one of six women shaping St. Louis Arts and entertainment. She was also noted as one of St. Louis’ most versatile performers. She received a St. Louis Theater Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama as well as an Artist Fellowship from the Regional Arts Commission. She was selected by the Theatre Communications Group (TCG, the national organization for theatre) to participate in The Rising Leaders of Color program. In 2019, she received a Visionary award which recognizes St. Louis women in the arts. She is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association.
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Arika Parr
Webinar Panelist - "Life to Art: The Mindful Journey of Creating Space for Authentic Community-Centered Artistry"
Arika Parr is a children’s book author based in St. Louis, MO where she lives with her daughter, Ava. From a very young age, Arika loved words and creative writing. Her passion for storytelling propelled her career as a TV & radio producer and community development professional. Then Ava came along, and Arika found a new passion – teaching her daughter, as well as other children, the importance of looking within for encouragement, positive self-talk, and perseverance.
This was the beginning of a new and exciting phase of Arika’s life, where she merged her two passions, old and new, to create something special: Ava + Mommy Publishing. It’s a way for Arika to use Ava’s real-life challenges to create social and emotional learning solutions through storytelling, in hopes of providing support and inspiration for other kids and parents.
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Myah L. Gary
Webinar Panelist - "Life to Art: The Mindful Journey of Creating Space for Authentic Community-Centered Artistry"
Myah L. Gary (she/her) is a Minneapolis, Minnesota based playwright. Whether she is working as a writer, dramaturg, or director, much of her artistic work centers on health and social issues. Myah holds an interdisciplinary doctorate in Health Education and Theater from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She holds a master’s degree in Health Education and a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Sociology. Myah is the author of four full length plays: most notably Feminine Energy and Blemished Brown Beauties. Myah’s work has been produced at Mustard Seed Theatre at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, MO. Her work has also been performed as staged readings at The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival (St. Louis, MO), The Playwright’s Center (Minneapolis, MN), and The Big Muddy New Play Festival (Carbondale, IL). Myah also uses her theater skills to advance the field of public health. In 2023, she was commissioned by the Southern Seven Health Department to create an adolescent health theater program called WIFY (Wellness Inclusion for Youth). The program is used throughout the Southern Illinois school systems. When Myah is not writing she enjoys nature walks, reading, baking and taking naps.
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Shavonne Coleman
Webinar Panelist - "Uncovering Hidden and Erased BIPOC Histories: How It Started, How It’s Going"
Shavonne Coleman (she/they) is a fabulist, facilitator, teaching/performing artist, writer, director, and cultivator of connection and community from Detroit, MI. She has performed across applied theatre, professional theatre, and film and has served as a Teaching Artist in various organizations, including Detroit Public Schools, VSA Michigan, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit.
Shavonne previously worked at the University of Texas at Austin as the Theatre for Dialogue Coordinator (2018-2020) and Assistant Director for Transformative Learning (2020-2023), receiving a President’s Staff Award. She holds an MFA in Applied Drama/Theatre for the Young from Eastern Michigan University (2017), where she directed Too Many Frogs! in Seoul, South Korea. Shavonne was awarded the 2018 TYA/USA Emerging Leadership Award to research BIPOC contributions to Theatre for Young Audiences and has written for TYA Magazine (2018-2020). In 2022, she received the AATE Anne K. Flagg Multicultural Award and joined the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America (CTFA) Board in 2023 and the TYA/USA Board in 2024.
Her current creative projects include acting, teaching the Actors Workshop at Michigan’s oldest Equity Theatre—The Detroit Repertory Theatre—writing Cause Play (commissioned by Eastern Michigan University and Spinning Dot Theatre as part of the TYA BIPOC Superheroes Project), and adapting Your Name is a Song for Seattle Children’s Theatre.
Currently, Shavonne is a Guest Director at Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, working with young artists from Metro Detroit to devise and adapt their upcoming production, All Hail: A Contemporary Retelling of Julius Caesar (May 2025, Detroit Film Theatre). Her scholarship includes co-editing the TYA BIPOC Superheroes Project Anthology and leading the research project Uncovering Hidden and Erased BIPOC TYA Histories with Meriah Sage, Kristala Pouncy, and Joshua Streeter.
Her teaching, scholarship, and creative work center the human experience, accessibility, equity, transformative learning, and theatre as a tool for social change.
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Meriah Sage
Webinar Panelist - "Uncovering Hidden and Erased BIPOC Histories: How It Started, How It’s Going"
Meriah Sage, M.F.A. (she/her) is an Associate Professor, Director of Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young MFA/MA Program, and Director of Theatre at Eastern Michigan University. Meriah also works as a director, actor, and teaching artist who enjoys telling stories focused on social justice, human tenacity, and the power of imagination. She is a certified teacher in the Michael Chekhov technique through the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium (GLMCC), an approach that enhances her directing and teaching by emphasizing imagination, physicality, and psychological gesture. Before her tenure at Eastern Michigan University, Meriah worked in various capacities in theatre, education, community engagement, and artistic direction. She served as an Assistant Professor/Director of Theatre at the University of Findlay, as the Education Director for the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University, as the Artistic Director for Theatre for Young Audiences at Apple Tree Theatre on Chicago’s North Shore, and managing director for the Aesthetic Education Program with Education for the Arts. Meriah has also worked as a Teaching Artist/Facilitator with organizations such as Lincoln Center Institute (National Educators Workshops and Teaching Artist Mentoring Program), Education for the Arts, and the International Thespians Festival. Meriah is also a proud mom to an amazing 14 year old, Gavin.
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Kristala Smart
Webinar Panelist - "Uncovering Hidden and Erased BIPOC Histories: How It Started, How It’s Going"
Kristala Pouncy Smart is currently a Theatre Teacher at Vassal Lane Upper School and Amigos in Cambridge, MA. Recently, she worked as a teaching artist with the Young Company at A.R.T. , The Boch Center, and Central Square Theater. Kristala holds a Master of Fine Arts from Eastern Michigan University in the Drama and Theatre for the Young program, a Master of Arts in Theatre from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Kalamazoo College. Kristala is currently in the Boston area but spent time living, performing, and teaching throughout Michigan, Chicago, Los Angeles, Alabama, Maine and the DC/Maryland/Virginia area.
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Joshua Streeter
Webinar Panelist - "Uncovering Hidden and Erased BIPOC Histories: How It Started, How It’s Going"
Joshua Rashon Streeter is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Education at Emerson College. His teaching focuses on critical pedagogy, drama and theatre education, and Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA)/Theatre for the Very Young (TVY). Joshua’s scholarship analyzes the pedagogies used in rehearsals and classrooms and considers the relationship between process and product in a creative experience. He has created and facilitated workshops nationwide and consults with numerous state departments of education.
Featured Performances
On June 9th, registrants will be emailed a password and the link to a private page hosting all Virtual Track content. Recordings will be available to watch until June 16th, 2025.
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The Last Martyr
Imagination Stage - Bethesda, MD
The Last Martyr by Malik Work, Directed by Alina Collins Maldonado.
This new hip-hop theatre piece is inspired by written work from incarcerated students in our Voices Beyond Bars program. It was developed in and commissioned by Imagination Stage’s Theatre for Change program and is intended for teen audiences. The piece infuses verse, hip hop music, and lyrical moments throughout the script. Our main character, Najad Washington, experiences the loss of his girlfriend due to gun violence, which is a part of gang retaliation. He is faced with the difficult choice of rejoining a gang or making a positive change in his community. The sound design and music composition is by DC-based hip hop artist and D.J., Nick Hernandez.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Rusnock
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The Paper Escaper
Terrapin Puppet Theatre - Tasmania, Australia
Benny, the plucky puppet protagonist in The Paper Escaper, knows they are destined for greater things than a simple pop-up book. But in a world that’s trying to squash Benny between its pages – from a wily dancing fire to a disillusioned illustrator – Benny will need the help of a new friend to achieve their dreams.
This bright new puppetry work from Terrapin tells a story of determination, friendship and the power of following your own path.
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Sailing on String
Arts on the Horizon (Alexandria, VA)
Two curious explorers take off on a voyage into a world made of string. Yarn birds fly through the air, and a string ship travels the sea. This gentle, engaging performance from Arts on the Horizon features object transformation, movement, live string music, and captivating design. Watch as a simple piece of yarn takes on countless new forms in this special immersive performance for the youngest audience members.
Most enjoyed by ages 0–3 and their families
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Song Slam Cabaret
Join us for the Song Slam Cabaret featuring performances of 10 original songs from TYA musical theatre writers with music direction by Deborah Wicks La Puma!
FEATURED SONGS AND SONGWRITERS
“Another Sunday” by Christian Albright and Christian Magby
“Lone Wolf” by Diana Grisanti and Emiliano Messiez
“Being Bubbe’s Baby” by Danielle Koenig and Raiah Rofsky
“Arms Legs” by Tyrone L. Robinson and Postell Pringle
“Sparkle And Shine” by Christopher Dimond, Michael Kooman, and Chris Nee
“A Little Fire” by David Mallamud and Janine Robledo
“Light The Way” by Scott Evan Davis and Jason Marks
“The River” by Tim J. Lord and Avi Amon
“I Give You Shade” by Ryan Korell and Jonathan Keebler
“Music Is In Everything” by Marcus Yi
Webinar Schedule
Zoom Webinar access information is included in your registration confirmation email and will be sent in reminder emails to Virtual Track registrants prior to the webinar dates. All webinars will be recorded and available to watch for registrants who were unable to attend during the live programming.
Note: Times listed below are in EASTERN Time.
Life to Art: The Mindful Journey of Creating Space for Authentic Community-Centered Artistry
Metro Theater Company will share the process of adapting a local St. Louis mother and daughter’s book into the play, But What Can You Do? In this story, Ava struggles to do a cartwheel, but underneath a greater challenge of perseverance and positive thinking resonates with intergenerational audiences. When art is a current reality, what creates an environment that truthfully captures the essence of the story? This webinar explores strategies for creating space for authenticity, vulnerability, and engagement in adaptation and production processes.
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Jacqueline Thompson
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Arika Parr
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Myah Gary
TYA/USA Member Meeting
All are welcome! Executive Director Sara Morgulis, Emeritus Board President Idris Goodwin, and Incoming Board President will share an update on current and future TYA/USA organizational operations and programming.
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Sara Morgulis
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Idris Goodwin
Uncovering Hidden and Erased BIPOC Histories: How It Started, How It’s Going
The goal of this national research project is to document what has long been presented as unwritten, undocumented, or even nonexistent. By illuminating hidden histories and experiences that have been pushed to the margins to maintain the status quo, we aim to collectively find, document, and share the contributions of BIPOC TYA artists, drama facilitators/practitioners*, and audiences.
We believe that moving the field forward requires a deep excavation of the past. Our call to action: contribute to and expand the written documentation of Black and Brown TYA work—both past and present. Additionally, we seek to build new systems and pathways that dismantle the barriers and “gates” that have historically excluded this work.
Uncover the past, illuminate the present, occupy the future.
* We want to recognize that these titles/labels may not be helpful or appropriate. The artists/educators/leaders may identify as storytellers, diversors, social workers, etc. instead of drama or theatre artists. That’s ok! All are welcome. They may have focused on applied drama/theatre, multidisciplinary, or/and community engagement work. Great! All are welcome. Perhaps their work was for communities/families/multigenerational audiences and not “children” or “youth” specifically. ALL are welcome.
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Shavonne Coleman
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Meriah Sage
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Kristala Smart
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Joshua Streeter
Our 2025 Sponsors
We thank our generous sponsors for their support of the 2025 National TYA/USA Festival & Conference.
Access for All Supporters
• Edie Demas • Dwayne Hartford • Elizabeth Coen • Cessalee Smith-Stovall • Jess Kaufman • Allison Mui Mitchell •
• Catherine von Storch • Russell Granet • Tiffany Maltos • Johamy Morales • Rives Collins • Brian Guehring •
• Sandy Boren-Barrett • Brian Fahey • Brett Ashley Crawford • Marilee H Miller • Suzan Zeder • Janet Stanford •
• Fran Sillau • Ariel Marcus-Hollenbeck • Ana Romes • Sammy Lopez • Paul Brewster McGinley • Jody Drezner Alperin •
• Gloria Bond Clunie • Reji Simon • Sandra Asher • Craig Holland • Cathy Archer • Linda Chichester •
Interested in sponsoring the 2025 National TYA/USA Festival & Conference? Learn more here.
