Thursday, March 1, 2012

Drama and Theatre: Arts in Our Schools Month

TIOS 2012 Theme: Connecting Communities, Engaging Minds

Theatre and drama are essential in the lives of students all year, but March is designated to celebrate and increase public awareness of the impact of theatre in our schools and schools in our theatres. AATE invites you to celebrate Theatre in our Schools (TIOS) in your area! You know theatre education's power to make children's lives better, now shout about it and let the skeptics know how vital theatre is to youth development. More info can be found in the 2012 Official Guide. Here are a few tools:
AATE sponsors mini-conferences across the country designed to encourage professional development and community awareness of theatre education. This year, AATE will host events in Arizona, Connecticut, Washington DC, New York, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Virginia, Louisiana, Washington State, Tennessee, and Ohio. You can find more information on this events by clicking on the regional links in the left menu.

TIOS Awareness Items
Get students involved by downloading these colorful posters to encourage them to get involved; order Theatre In Our Schools buttons; and download a copy of our 25 Ways to Celebrate Theatre In Our Schools Month poster to post in your staff room or office.

USA Play Daze
After the tremendous success with the PA Play Daze in 2010, we are excited to continue the expansion of Play Daze across the country. Students across the country will have the opportunity to help write a new play each day in the month of March on the AATE website. The first line of each play will be posted by an AATE volunteer, then it's up to you!

Online Student Video Contest
K-12 students across the country battle it out with creativity, heart and knowledge about theatre's power to make a difference in their lives, and create a video set to a specific theme with the hopes of winning the Grand Prize. This year, students will submit videos about how theatre can help inspire positive change. The winner will receive tickets to the touring production of the Broadway smash, Memphis!

TIOS Treats
In March 2012, on Twitter, follow #TIOS12 for a daily dose of how exposure to theatre and theatre education makes a difference in the lives of young people. Learn interesting facts about the benefits of theatre education and reminders about TIOS events with these treats. Click the link above for the 2011 TIOS Treats.

Wear Your Show Shirt Day
Each March is AATE designates Annual Wear Your Show Shirt Day! In 2012, it will be MARCH 9TH. Show your theatre pride by wearing a shirt from a show you've worked on or seen. Submit a photo of you and your friends or colleagues wearing show shirts through the AATE website; we'll post the pictures on the website for voting. The photo with the most votes will win AATE t-shirts for everyone in the photo! Submitted photos may be featured on the AATE website and in AATE's national magazineIncite/Insight. Share the Facebook event with your friends here!

25 Ways to Celebrate TIOS
There are many other ways that you can celebrate TIOS.Click here to see a list of other ways to show your support.

Donate to the TIOS Fund
You can help support these and other programs dedicated to increasing the awareness of the benefits of theatre in our schools by donating to the Theatre In Our Schools Fund.

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