Theatre Philadelphia’s Speaker Series returns for Spring 2019! These public gatherings bring experts from outside the theatre industry alongside our artists and administrators to speak about best practices and opportunities for innovation, while sparking conversation for next steps. Our goal is to offer concrete ways individuals in our theatre community can build capacity to promote their work and deeper their engagement with audiences.
All events for the 2019 Series will be held Monday afternoons at Cherry Street Pier, Theatre Philadelphia’s new home on the Delaware River Waterfront. We encourage attendees to plan to stick around for food, drink, conversation, and views on the pier! All Speaker Series events are Pay What You Decide.
Monday, May 20 at 4pm
Prepare for Press
Speakers:
Kory Aversa, Aversa PR + Events
Carrie Gorn, Perpetual Motion PR
On the heels of Philly Theatre Week 2019, hear from Kory Aversa and Carrie Gorn about how to get your event in the public eye. When you’re planning a production, party, festival, or big announcement, how can you position yourself for the press to cover you? We'll share tips, both strategic and practical, to get ready for when reporters come calling. Be prepared to re-imagine your timeline and budget to respond to our what’s practical in our local media market.
Monday, June 3 at 4pm
Pay What You Decide - How To Decide!
Moderator: Kristi Poling, Barra Foundation
Panelists:
Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPH Director, Center for Hunger-Free Communities, Dornsife School of Public Health Drexel University
Kayla Anthony, Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks
Mark Andrews, Azuka Theatre
Organizations experimenting with non-traditional ticketing models will share their wins and challenges. How do you balance a need for inclusivity with the financial realities in running your organization? Who is new coming through the door, and who is staying? Kristi Poling, Arts & Culture program officer at Barra Foundation, will lead the conversation.
Monday, June 10th at 4pm
Lessons from the Newsroom
Moderator: Bryan Buttler, Bryan Buttler Communications
Panelists:
Deirdre Childress Hopkins, Visit Philly
Mike Neilon, Bellevue Communications
Jon Geeting, Philadelphia 3.0
Barbara Beck, Sage Communications
In our shifting media landscape, more than ever we are seeing reporters, producers, and editors moving to the other side of the table. We’re assembling an expert team of former journalists to tell how their newsroom experience prepared them to tell compelling stories for causes, get an audience’s attention, and build their own careers in new directions. Bryan Buttler, a freelance PR pro and communications professor, leads the conversation from his own personal experience of leaving a freelance journalist career to represent theatres and other mission-driven organizations in getting their stories into the public eye.
Monday, June 17th at 4pm
Marketing When the World is Burning
Moderator: Cari Feiler Bender, Relief Communications
Panelists:
Dannagal G. Young Ph.D., Associate Professor, Communication and Political Science & International Relations - University of Delaware
Tanesha Ford, Marketing & Communications at First Person Arts
Megan Smith, Brownstone PR
With political and social issues at the forefront of people’s minds, how do you promote your art? What are the ways you can interact with political issues, but still protect your brand? Can we celebrate a change of subject without being totally out of touch? When should you just stay quiet until things blow over? These questions may not have any good answers, but we’re gathering some pros to talk about how they’ve dealt with these issues in the public eye. Cari Feiler Bender, public relations pro with over 20 years experience, will lead the conversation with other top communications professionals across industries.
