Last Frontier Theatre Conference




 

 

How The Conference Works

The Nineteenth Annual Last Frontier Theatre Conference
will be held in June 2011.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT

Either thinking about or planning on attending the Last Frontier Theatre Conference? The following information is intended to answer a lot of questions about how things work. Please, though, if you are coming, and don’t find the answers you need here, or don’t understand what this is telling you, don’t hesitate to e-mail the Conference Coordinator at .

HOW TO GET TO VALDEZ

If you’re coming from out of state, your first step is to get to Anchorage, which has the only major airport in Alaska. We recommend Alaska Airlines, but a number of different airlines fly to Anchorage.

From Anchorage, you need to get to Valdez. It’s a 35 minute flight on Era Aviation or Grant Aviation. A shuttle is available starting the Wednesday before the Conference to take you to wherever you are staying in town.

For a map to give you perspective on Alaska and Valdez, go to http://www.valdezalaska.org/maps/maps.html.

The lovely drive from Anchorage to Valdez is 306 miles, and takes approximately six hours. If you’re interested in splitting the costs on rental car, post a message at Ride Sharing and Other Requests.

There are two other less commonly used options. First, some people take the ferry in. For prices and times, go to http://www.akferry.com. Second, some people drive all the way to Valdez on the Alcan highway. For all sorts of useful information on this trip, check out http://www.travelalaska.com.

ONCE I’M THERE, WHERE DO I STAY?

Valdez is full of hotels for all price ranges, many of whom offer discounts to Conference participants. For full listings, visit www.valdezalaska.org. For a listing of places that support the Conference with donated rooms and offer discounts to participants, go to Available Discounts.

We also let our participants stay for free at our college residence halls. These are apartment style units with full kitchens in studio, 1 BR, 2 BR and 3 BR configurations. Each apartment has its own bathroom/shower. It is adjacent to Valdez’s lone grocery store and a Subway restaurant, and is just six blocks from the Valdez Civic Center, the LFTC Conference site. Bedding is not supplied so a sleeping bag is recommended. Alcohol and smoking are strictly prohibited inside the Residence Halls. Conference participants are welcome from the Friday preceding the Conference through the closing Sunday night. For more information and reservations, .

People intending to use the free housing MUST sign up ahead of time online at HOUSING APPLICATION.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO WEAR

Weather in Valdez is highly variable, usually between 50 and 75 degrees, so the key is layers. Be prepared to be bundled up, but able to get down to shorts and a t-shirt on short notice. Also, bring a raincoat, or at least an umbrella.

Although the week is very casual, the culminating gala is a champagne reception followed by a sit down dinner. Fancy dress is appropriate (though not required).

WHERE DOES THE CONFERENCE TAKE PLACE?

Almost all events for the Conference happen at the Valdez Civic Center. Again, check out the map at http://www.valdezalaska.org/maps/valdezStreetMap.html. to get some perspective. The college is marker 2, the Civic Center is marker 8.

For more details about the Civic Center, visit their site at http://www.ci.valdez.ak.us/civic_center/index.html.

DOES IT EVER GET DARK THERE IN JUNE?

Yes. At about 2:00 a.m. it becomes dusk for a couple hours. If this is going to create sleeping problems, best bring some sleep mask.

MY PLAY IS BEING READ... WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

The Coordinator casts the readings using a combination of Alaska actors and actors coming from outside the state. The actors have the scripts mailed to them approximately a month before the Conference so that they can be familiar with them when they arrive.

Rehearsals take place at the Conference. All Play Lab readings have a scheduled rehearsal with the cast and writer. The playwright serves as the director, if the writer would prefer, a director can be provided. These are sit-down readings, so mostly directing just comes down to placing the actors and answering questions they have about the text. This is a guide created by Marshall W. Mason on how to direct your reading.

The rehearsals take place in assigned dressing rooms. On nice days, some groups choose to have rehearsal outside in the backyard at the Civic Center.

After your reading there is a response section from three theatre professionals and educators, and a period for audience feedback. The Conference endeavors to follow the development format created at the Circle Repertory Theatre Company, with feedback that neither coddles nor re-writes, but instead opens the writer up to new ways of understanding their play.

After the reading and critique session, there will be a private one-on-one discussion for the playwright with one of their panelists.

I WANT TO BE A READER... WHAT DO I DO?

E-mail a photo and resume to the Conference Coordinator,

WHAT ARE THE OTHER EVENTS LIKE

  • Master Classes generally run an hour-and-a-half. Some involve active writing, while others are part lecture, part question and answer session.
  • Panel Discussions are wide-ranging and varied. Almost invariably there are questions-and-answer periods.
  • Evening shows cover a huge gamut of theatrical forms, ranging from one-person shows to large ensembles, full-length plays and collections of one-acts. They are followed by post-show receptions.

NO QUESTION IS TOO SMALL!

If you didn’t find what you needed to hear, e-mail