URTA Hosts Women+ Theatre Forum in Chicago

URTA will host the Women+ Theatre Forum, bringing together women+ theatre artists for discussion and advice. The event will galvanize the community by offering support and encouragement in a safe environment, surrounded by peers and veteran artists.

URTA's president, Holly Poe Durbin with UC, Irvine colleague Jane Page, will host the Forum on January 26th from 8:00 - 9:00pm at the Palmer House in Chicago, during the URTA Auditions & Interviews ("The URTAs"). While URTA regularly offers continuing education programs for candidates at the URTA Audition & Interviews, this Forum will be inclusive and not restricted to attendees of the URTAs.

"We hope many theatre artists will join us in celebrating 50 years of URTA professional development, and add their voices to the community at the Women+ Theatre Forum," said Christy Hamilton, URTA's managing director.

Free admission plus appetizers will be generously sponsored by the Palmer House; wine and beer available for purchase.

URTA statement: "As educators and artists focused on the discovery and fostering of new talent, and the creation of socially relevant art and new information in our respective areas and disciplines, we acknowledge and value the absolute necessity of applied efforts in equity, diversity, and inclusion in our classrooms, studios, theaters, and work spaces. We assert that these values are essential as an active practice on every level of recruitment, hiring, teaching, and production. As an organization focused on the stability, welfare, and continuing development of its membership community, URTA seeks to serve as a hub for the sharing of experiences, actions, and best practices in these efforts among our constituency. If theatre serves as a mirror for humanity, an agent for social change, an inspiration towards greater good, it is clear that we as theatre makers and educators owe it to ourselves, our colleagues, our greater communities, and our current and future students to focus on these issues in an active and thoughtful way."

For more information about the URTAs email theurtas@urta.com.