AATE {American Alliance for Theatre and Education}

Current AATE Networks

The Networks of AATE not only allow drama and theatre specialists to network within their areas of expertise, but also to reach out to other specialists for potential cross-collaboration. Members are not required to participate
in any network, though participation in multiple networks is certainly encouraged for members whose interests span several areas.

AATE Networks foster the exchange, development, and implementation of ideas throughout the
year and provide professional development, advocacy, and other tools within and across both theatre and education.

PreK – 8

This Network represents the interests of AATE members who teach drama to preschool, primary, intermediate, and middle school (junior high) students. Constituents include drama specialists, elementary teachers, elementary or middle school theatre directors, or college professors training elementary drama teachers.

Network Chair:
Karen Butler

Outgoing Chair:
Becky Martinez

High School

This Network serves the needs of secondary school teachers and those professional theatres committed to providing for adolescent audiences. The Network provides resources for the secondary school teacher, including lesson plans, support for innovative classroom ideas, and communication among its members.

Network Chairs:
Diane Lutz
Lynda Sharpe

College/University/Research

This Network is dedicated to providing members with discussions on current creative and scholarly trends in drama and theatre education, access to support materials, and dialogue with colleagues in university and college settings around the globe.

Network Chairs:
Matt Omasta
Lorenzo Garcia

Youth Theatre

Youth Theatre is defined as quality theatrical experiences and/or performances by students (typically ages 8-18) for an audience. This Network is comprised of artistic, management, and educational staff from a diverse array of youth theatres and organizations, as well as freelance artists and artist-educators.

Network Chair:
David Markey

Professional Theatre

This Network includes individuals working with organizations that produce theatrical events. It is comprised of artistic, management, and educational staff members from a wide variety of theatres and organizations, as well as freelance artists and artist-educators.

Network Chairs:
Wendy Bable
Ali Oliver-Kruger

Applied Theatre (formerly the T.I.E. Network)

This Network serves educators, students, and professional practitioners who work in student-centered educational drama. Applied Theatre seeks to engage students in critical thinking through active participation in drama-based explorations.

Network Chair:
Allison Metz

Outgoing Chair:
Andrea Dishy

Playwriting

This Network supports playwrights and advocates of quality new plays for youth. Activities include publishing the Award Winning Plays list, as well as the Unpublished Play Project and the Playwrights in Our Schools Residency Project.

Network Chairs:
Drew Chappell
Laura Turner

Museum Theatre

AATE’s Museum Theatre Network is currently active thanks to representation by the International Museum Theatre Alliance (IMTAL).

Network Chairs:
Jillian Finkle
Pam Duncan

New Guard

This Network recruits new members of AATE and supports the professional fields it represents. It also serves as a support Network for seasoned professionals without a permanent AATE Network home. Yearly conference events include the New Guard Reception and related conference sessions.

Network Chairs:
Molly Gittleman
Meriah Sage

International

This Network strives to create connections on an international level between the fields of drama and theatre for youth.

Network Chairs:
Claire McDonald
Helen Zdriluk

Professional Development

The Professional Development Network (PDN) of AATE provides opportunities for reflective analysis and sharing of professional development programming, current research, and professional development program or framework development that meaningfully responds to the articulated needs, wants, and voices of teachers (pre-service and practicing) across the curriculum, arts educators (specialists, teaching artists, consultants), administrators, and professional development providers and communities.

Network Chairs:
Katie Dawson
Scott Rosenow

Network Chairs are appointed at each annual conference. Please click on a link below to visit a network page for a description and contact information for this year's network chairs.

Don't see a network that you'd like to join?

That's okay! It's not necessary to be affiliated with a network in order to take advantage of the benefits AATE has to offer. You can also join multiple networks within AATE if your work doesn't fit into just one category. One of the unique benefits of AATE is that you can interact not only with those who are doing the work you're doing, but also those who serve in other areas of the field. Many of our networks even choose to collaborate on projects!

Do you feel your work in theatre and education isn't covered by any of the networks above? If you're interested in suggesting a new network, please let us know, and we can send you more information on how AATE networks are formed.