



2016 Queer Youth
Theater Conference
Memphis, TN | August 18-21
Hosted by Playhouse On The Square
Every year leaders from across the youth leadership, queer arts, and theatre education fields come together for a weekend-long event hosted by the Pride Youth Theater Alliance. The Queer Youth Theater Conference is open to all directors, artists, educators, and activists you envision a world where all artistic, cultural, and human service organizations have safe, sustainable spaces for queer and allied youth. This professional development and movement-building event is your opportunity to exchange ideas, establish best practices, and build new partnerships with leaders from across the U.S. and Canada.
Click Here to Download the list of 2016 Conference Participants
Click Here to Download a list of Memphis Restaurants, Bars, and Cultural Institutions
SCHEDULE
Access the Queer Youth Theater Conference Mobile Guidebook for updated schedule changes, information about Memphis, TN, a list of 2016 participants, and many other features to help you get the most out of your Conference experience.
Thursday, August 18
Orientation
3:00 pm
Opening Reception
6:00 pm
Friday, August 19
Surrounding the Museum
Bus Departure | Hotel to Museum
9:15am
Museum Tour
10:00 am
Lunch
1:30 pm
Bus Departure | Museum to Playhouse
2:30 pm
Anti-Racism Panel
3:00 pm
BBQ Dinner
6:00 pm
Catering by Central BBQ
Bus Departure | Playhouse to Hotel
8:00 pm
Saturday, August 20
Bus Departure | Hotel to Playhouse
9:15 am
Opening Session
10:00 am
MORNING
10:30 am
A Trauma-Informed Lens
for Intergenerational Theatre-Making
presented by MR Stine, MJ Kaufman,
& Tom Medina-Castrejón,
Philadelphia Young Playwrights
Devised Theatre + Queer Performance #DTQP
Session 1
presented by Sidney Monroe,
The Theater Offensive
MID-DAY
12:15 pm
Devised Theatre + Queer Performance #DTQP
Session 2
presented by Sidney Monroe,
The Theater Offensive
Theater as a Tool
for HIV Prevention in LGBTQ Youth
presented by Nick Bazo, The Theater Offensive
& ViQuan Smith, The Theater Offensive
Lunch
1:45 pm
AFTERNOON
2:45 pm
Queer Youth Theater Collaboration:
Connecting Across the Alliance
presented by Brian Guehring,
Omaha Theater Company
& Amanda Kibler, The Coterie
The Fundamentals of Building Strong Programs:
Logic Models & Evaluation
presented by Evelyn Francis, The Theater Offensive
Art Swap
presented by Abe Rybeck,
The Theater Offensive
EVENING
4:30 pm
Q&A Performance
presented by members of the Q&A Ensemble
Playhouse on the Square
Bus Departure | Playhouse to Hotel
6:00 pm
Idlewild Neighborhood of Memphis
Surrounding Playhouse on the Square
Sunday, August 21
Thinking Out Loud
10:00 am
presented by members of the LOUD Ensemble
Betty Shrang, Joriel Boykins, Latrice Reed, & Rashaad "Kashh" Delaney
Closing Session
12:00 pm
VENUES
Sheraton Downtown Memphis
250 N Main Street
Memphis, TN 38104
Playhouse On The Square
66 Cooper Street
Memphis, TN 38104
-
Call The Sheraton Reservations Office: (901) 527-7300
-
Reference the "Pride Youth Theater Alliance" to apply the Conference Discount Rate to your reservation.
-
Discount is only available for reservations between Thursday, August 18 through Sunday, August 21. 2016.
Playhouse on the Square is a professional, live theatre located in the heart of Memphis, TN. Since 1969, Playhouse has strived to create compelling theatre experiences for the Memphis community.
National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street
Memphis, TN 38103
The museum offers 260 artifacts, more than 40 new films, oral histories, interactive media and external listening posts that guide visitors through five centuries of history — from the beginning of the resistance during slavery, through the Civil War and Reconstruction, the rise of Jim Crow, and the seminal events of the late 20th century that inspired people around the world to stand up for equality.
The Queer Youth Theater Conference, which has grown tremendously since the first convening in 2010, is an annual weekend-long event for leaders from the field to share their work, skills, and knowledge through peer-led workshops and collaborative experiences.

Carly Crawford
2016 Conference Chair
"I am beyond excited to step into the role of Conference Chair for PYTA. For the last two years I’ve left the Queer Youth Theater Conference so bolstered by the work that’s being by done queer youth theater artists throughout North America."

SK Kerastas
PYTA Executive Co-Chair
"Every time we meet, our national community grows and flourishes...we anticipate Memphis, a city with rich and thriving artistic rhythms, will have a unique impact on us as well!"

Avery Blanton
Conference Host
"I am very excited to be helping at the 2016 PYTA conference, and can't wait to teach, learn, and share everything I can about Queer Youth Theater!"