What an outstanding slate of nominees!
Thank you to all members who took the time to cast their vote. Congratulations to all!
Please find the 2020 TTAO Election results below.
TTAO Board of Directors
*Chair Elect – Yvonne Phillips-Dupree
*Director-At-Large – Phillip Taylor
Standards & Practices Committee
*Region 1 Adjudicator – Kathy L. Harvey
*Region 1 Contest Manager – Tana Howard
Real Change is TTAO’s fundraising campaign to place needed dollars into our socio-economically disadvantaged schools and communities. Money raised will be used to fund:
We believe these activities change lives and helps expand theatre in our communities which affects our society as a whole. We challenge you to be part of the real change, and as you accept your contracts for this upcoming UIL OAP season, think about donating and being the difference in implementing Real Change.
Our Goal for 2021 is $22,000.
Is it possible? YES!
This campaign is for all TTAO members- adjudicators and contest managers alike. The suggestion is 10% of a contest fee earned for 2021. Please see the adjudicator example chart below.
Note: the purpose of this chart is to illustrate the possibilities. As contest managers fees vary depending on day, we have chosen the adjudicator example based on the base adjudicator fees.
| Level | # of Contests | Adjudicator Fee | 10% Donation Per Contest | Projected Income |
| District | 192 | $450.00 | $45.00 | $8,640.00 |
| Bi-District | 96 | $450.00 | $45.00 | $4,320.00 |
| Area* | 48 | $1,350.00 | $135.00 | $6,480.00 |
| Region* | 24 | $1,350.00 | $135.00 | $3,240.00 |
| $22,680.00 |
Summer Board Meeting Minutes can be found here.
In June of 2020, the Board of Directors officially adopted the Core Values Action Plan as a continuing plan for TTAO. Each year, the organization will select a specific Core Value and focus on incorporating new projects to begin emphasizing a narrow focus within that Core Value in the organization.
Core Values Action Committee is comprised of appointed members of TTAO with requisite experience and appropriate knowledge for the development of specific projects within the focus of the given year. In the academic year of 2020-2021, the Core Values Action Committee will address racial and cultural diversity issues and offer strategies for equity and inclusion.
More information and a list of committee members can be found here.
The Real Change Committee has been making progress on their campaign and plan to have more details available August 15th. In the meantime, you can watch their pre-launch video below.
TTAO’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
June 17, 2020
It has been stated that “time and tide wait for no man.” In these disquieting times of racial injustice and social unrest, we recognize the urgency of this moment. The Texas Theatre Adjudicators and Officials (TTAO) organization stands united with the Black Lives Matter Movement and supports the ideology that racism and injustice have no place in our society. Therefore, we commit to building a culture of inclusivity that aligns with our core values of education, diversity, integrity, transparency, and service. To that end, we will continue to invest our efforts in work that represents not only our core values but integrates the tenants of humanity and impartiality.
As good stewards of education, it is incumbent upon us to build a culture of inclusivity and push beyond the unfair practices of the day. White privilege is a dehumanizing force in our society, a cavernous divide between opportunity and the lack of it. Destructive at its core, it systematically devalues the beauty and diversity of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and deletes any opportunity for growth.
We will no longer be silent to the voices of the oppressed. In the wake of the senseless and brutal murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others, and during a time of civil unrest in our society, we stand firmly with the Black community in outrage. Integrity, in the face of these disasters, compels us to engage in honest dialogue in order to learn, grow, and develop actions that address systematic racism.
As live storytellers, we, as theatre artists, embrace the opportunity to humanize complex issues for marginalized people. As theatre educators, the members of TTAO have a responsibility to be receptive to the needs of our community and elevate conversations that champion racial equality. Let it be known that the Leadership of TTAO is committed to enacting the following during the academic year of 2020-2021:
These policies are only the beginning of an ongoing trajectory of our vital work. We will continue to offer transparency in our mission to build more diverse ethnic inclusivity by launching critical programs and soliciting input from our membership. We know that service to our community is vital.
Yasmina Reza suggests: “Theatre is a mirror, a sharp reflection of society.” Our driving force in TTAO continues to be that we are committed to building a community that reflects the best in each of us . . . equal, empowered, insightful, and prosperous.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Martin Luther King
Many assignments rolled over from last season, although a handful of assignments had to be changed for different reasons. All assignments can be found on the UIL website. https://www.uiltexas.org/theatre/judges
Adjudicators
In light of the evolving factors related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, TheatreFest 2020 will be offered as a virtual event.
No worries, friends! We will still have outstanding training to grow and learn together and share hugs virtually!
Be on the lookout for TTAO workshops including diversity and inclusion training!
If you are an adjudicator, join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/681476041915336/
If you are a contest manager, join us at the new site here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/561273894440216/
It’s May 1, and you know what that means, right? Time to go to connect.ttao.org and renew your TTAO annual membership, or if you prefer, go for that Lifetime Membership you’ve been thinking about.
If you’ve forgotten your password, you can create a new one using the “Forgot password?” link, and then login at your earliest convenience: https://connect.ttao.org/#!/users/reset/8bedea2ac25ceec7d8dec668029c5c6cb79c07f3
Once you’re logged in, you’ll need to do these 4 things:
Here’s a video outlining the process:https://youtu.be/zGUxx4eJKnc
Once you’ve indicated your availability, please also take a moment to review your profile and make any updates or perhaps upload a new profile picture when appropriate. You can edit your profile at any time.
For Lifetime Members, please remember that you must complete the entire above process, beyond paying dues, as well to maintain your membership.
Important Notes Regarding Dues this Year:
For this year only, in acknowledgement of the extreme financial challenges many are facing due to COVID-19 complexities, TTAO has extended the deadline for payment/renewal to be considered by the UIL State Theatre Director to adjudicate State, Region, and Area contests. So, in order to be considered for these upper level contests in 2021, you must renew your membership/pay dues before August 1, 2020 (as opposed to the “normal deadline” of June 1.) As always, you must be Area/Region/State certified for consideration as well.
Please remember that any TTAO member may renew/update/pay dues at any time throughout the coming year. However, no one will appear on the lists/TTAO Connect as available or be able to be “reserved” for a contest via contractual agreement, etc. until membership is fully renewed and dues paid following the above steps. So, if you would like to appear available whenever many schools begin searching for people toward the end of the summer to serve their contests, you are encouraged to complete this renewal process in full and pay your dues as soon as you can.
If you have any questions, please check out the TTAO CONNECT help area. Thanks for being part of TTAO.