Workshops at TEXFest 2025
Schedule subject to change
A variety of workshops will be presented during the TEXFest 2025. All details will be listed here as they become available
Workshop Information
Additional Workshop Information Coming Soon
AACT: Helping Your Theatre Thrive
Presented by Karen Matheny and Winston Daniels
About The Workshop:
Rehearsal Hall (Thursday – 10:30am, Friday – 10:30am, Saturday – 10:30am)
This interactive session led by the AACT Membership Coordinator and the Operations and Events Assistant – will guide you through the services and programs AACT has available for their members. Whether you are a current AACT Member or considering membership, this is a great way to make sure you are up to date on how AACT can be your go to resource for networking, education, and discounts. It’s more than just AACTFest!
About The Presenters:
Karen Matheny discovered her love of theatre in high school during a production of The Imaginary Invalid, and with the encouragement of her theatre teacher, Beth Auble, realized she wanted to elevate theatre from a fun pastime to a career. She graduated in 2010 from TCU where she earned her BFA in theatre with an emphasis in acting, and has been active as an actor & choreographer in the DFW Theatre community since. Karen started working for the American Association of Community Theatre in 2012 as a summer intern and through the years has served as the AACT Office Assistant, Office Manager, and in 2019 stepped into her current role as the AACT Membership Coordinator. She also serves as a board member for Stolen Shakespeare Guild, and when she is not working on a show of her own, Karen can be found working in the lobbies of Amphibian Stage, and Theatre Arlington.
Winston Daniels got his start in theatre after being asked to assistant direct The Insanity of Mary Girard during his senior year of High School (George West, TX). He then headed to the University of Texas at Arlington where he earned his BFA in Performance in 2013. In 2015, Winston began his journey with the American Association of Community Theatre serving its members as the Office Assistant, as well as the “go to IT guy”. As of today, he proudly serves as the Operations and Events Assistant, aiding in any and all things relating to festivals and conferences. When he isn’t at his desk, Winston has been known to be active throughout DFW in many a production, voice and film work, as well as gig opportunities with his band!
Adapting The Public Domain
Presented by Tom Schilb
About The Workshop:
Ballet Academy of South Texas – Studio B (Thursday – 9:00am, Friday – 9:00am)
Ever wanted to write your own plays, but don’t know where to start? Avoid paying expensive performance rights, customize your script to suit your space and company, and put your own spin on the great stories of history by adapting works in the public domain. In this workshop you will learn about the public domain, how to access historical works, and methods for theatrical adaptation.
About The Presenter:
Tom is a theater artist, playwright, and academic librarian residing in Victoria, TX. He holds bachelors degrees in Theater and English from Tarleton State University, librarian qualifications from University of Brighton in the UK and Texas Woman’s University, and is a Master of Fine Arts candidate at University of Houston-Victoria.
Add Hot Water!
Presented by M.A. Sterling
About The Workshop:
Ballet Academy of South Texas – Studio A – Thursday & Friday – 9:00am, Saturday – 10:30am
Learn techniques to improve your improvisational skills from a trained improve specialist. This interactive workshop will have attendees learn and attempt techniques to help them think on their feet.
About The Presenter:
M.A. served as the Managing – Artistic Director of Brazos Valley TROUPE for over 25 years. He has performed with nearly every arts entity in the Brazos Valley including Aggie Players, Singing Cadets, Stage Center, Brazos Valley Chorale and the BVSO. He has served on the Board of Governors for Theatre Network of Texas, Inc. (TNT) and has received special awards in leadership at the TNT Youth Conference (2002, 2007, 2009 & 2011,) The Linda Lee Leadership Award (2008 & 2011) as well as the State TNT Ovation Award in 2006. His extensive training has come from the Utah Shakespeare Festival, The Alley Theatre, the Atlantic Theatre Company, Roundabout Theatre Company and Broadway Teachers Workshop.
Basic Trauma Wound Techniques for Theatrical Productions
Presented by Oliver Luke
About The Workshop:
Rehearsal Hall – (Thursday – 2:00pm, Friday – 2:00pm)
Step into the world of theatrical special effects and learn the art of creating realistic trauma wounds! This hands-on class is perfect for aspiring makeup artists, actors, and theatre enthusiasts. Discover the techniques used to craft bruises, cuts, deep wounds, scars, and blood effects that bring dramatic productions to life. Whether you’re preparing for a gritty stage scene or a high-stakes film moment, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to make your characters’ injuries look shockingly authentic. No prior experience is needed—just bring your creativity and a willingness to get your hands dirty with some fake blood!
About The Presenter:
With over two decades of experience in live theatre, TV, and film Oliver Lukach has forged a dynamic career that began as an actor before transitioning into theatre tech and special effects makeup. His work has brought to life over 200 zombies, countless monsters, and even a ninja turtle for various productions. Expanding his expertise, he became a scenic designer and technical director, contributing to esteemed organizations like Artisan Center Theatre, Artes De La Rosa, and Casa Manana. Later, he shared his passion for the arts as a teacher, inspiring the next generation of creators. Today Oliver serves as the Vice President of everything Sean doesnt do and Greg doesn’t want to do for Tickets to the City.
Grant Writing
Presented by Betsy Willis
About The Workshop:
Board Room (Friday – 10:30am & Saturday 10:30am)
This workshop breaks down the basics of writing grants, how to pen a compelling story that tells your story in an emotional and factual way, and know how to approach grantors to find out the likelihood of receiving funding. We will discuss: How grants can increase your organization’s financial health, what you should consider before applying for a grant, State of Texas operational and program grant opportunities, grant language that will resonate with the reader, how to determine the appropriate ask, how to look for available grants and how to build your grant budget
About The Presenter:
By day, Betsy is a consultant who specializes in nonprofit development including grant writing, strategic planning, and fundraising . By night and on weekends she can often be found onstage, backstage, or in her car traveling to adjudicate a show or assist community theatres with planning for the future. Before retiring she was the inaugural Development Director at Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City. Betsy’s first training as an adjudicator was with Shirley Harbin at the Michigan AACTFest in Benton Harbor. In 2009 she took further training from Annette Procunier at the national AACTFest in Tacoma, and most recently she learned from Kathy Pingel at the 2015 National AACTFest. As a director and actor Betsy loves being part of watching a director’s vision come to life onstage, and helping them understand if that vision is reading past the front row. Betsy serves as the Chair of the Community Theatre Association of Michigan’s year round adjudication program and is teaching adjudication workshops, in concert with Kathy Pingel, at the Michigan state and Region III AACTFestivals this year. When she is not in a theatre you can find her at the bridge table, on a golf course, or on the water when the weather is warm
HR Roundtable
Presented by Lynn Nelson
About The Workshop:
Rehearsal Hall (Thursday – 9:00am, Friday – 9:00am)
Bring your nonprofit Human Resource questions and talk them out with a Human Resources professional. This interactive workshop will take your concerns and walk you through resolution or how to research to find a solution – because we know not everyone has an HR department!
About The Presenter:
Lynn has been active in theater since she played the part of a spoon in a play about manners in the third grade. She is now a recently retired Human Resources professional and shares her HR expertise with the non-profits she serves. She has been active with Tupelo Community Theatre since 1984 where she has served as a board member, director, actor, backstage worker, and occasionally as an emergency plumber.
Lynn currently serves on the Mississippi Theatre Association board as treasurer and has previously served as Community Theatre chair. She also serves on the board of Southeastern Theatre Conference as VP of Divisions and as Community Theatre division chair. She has previously served SETC as Secretary and on the Personnel Committee.
Lynn also serves as Region IVa Rep on the Board of AACT and was recently inducted into AACT Fellows. She loves to travel the country adjudicating theatre festivals. She and husband Bud have two beautiful and talented adult daughters, Jennifer and Jessica. They fight over the blankets at night with a terrier mix named Lucy.
Tap Basics
Presented by Sarah Mills
About The Workshop:
Ballet Academy of South Texas – Studio A (Thursday – 10:30am & 2:00pm)
Step into the world of tap dance in this fun and engaging beginner-friendly class! Whether you’re brand new to tap or looking to brush up on the basics, In this class, students will learn how to combine simple steps into an entertaining combination accompanied by a musical score. Join us and discover the joy of making music with your feet!
About The Presenter:
Sarah Mills has been tap dancing since the age of four and has loved every step of the journey. As a former member of an elite competitive tap crew, she honed her skills and deepened her passion for the art. She finds immense joy in sharing her love for dance—especially tap—She has been a featured tap dancer in several musicals, and is currently teaching at the Ballet Academy of South Texas. There, she inspires young dancers to embrace the rhythm, creativity, and excitement of making music with their feet. She can’t wait to help you discover the magic of tap dancing!
Tech Roundtable
Presented by Paul Locher
About The Workshop:
Board Room – Thursday – 10:30am / Ballet Academy of South Texas – Studio B – Saturday 9:00am
An interactive roundtable discussion about best tech practices. See how your colleagues are making magic with minimal budget or where your first big tech spend should be .Facilitated by the Tech Director of Theatre Victoria.
About The Presenter:
Paul Locher has been working on theatrical sets in various capacities since 1985 . He designs, builds and paints sets for Theatre Victoria and others. By profession, he works for a surveying company, though he is mostly retired now and is a Landscape Architect (registered in Texas for 45 years). He has also built and designed city parks, in Victoria and state parks, in Texas and taught manual drafting and computer aided drafting and design (CADD) at Victoria College.
Transforming Texas Through the Arts
Presented by Chris Kiley
About The Workshop:
Ballet Academy of South Texas – Studio B (Friday – 10:30am & 2:00pm)
How do we educate elected officials to understand and develop policies that support bringing community arts opportunities to their constituents? How do we develop our skills to be effective advocates and use those skills to get the results we really want?Our team of advocacy leaders explore the breadth of opportunities and examples of how to put your voice to work to expand opportunities to experience diverse cultural experiences and serve our broader community.
About The Presenter:
Chris Kiley is the Executive Director of Texans for the Arts. Chris served as the Associate Director at Texans for the Arts for six years prior to taking on the organization’s senior leadership role. A native of New Hampshire, Chris moved to Texas 12 years ago to do his graduate work at Texas Tech University, where he received a Masters of Fine Arts in Arts Administration. Chris also currently serves on the Board of Austin Emerging Arts Leaders, a non-profit dedicated to developing the next generation of arts leadership in the Austin area and served as an adjunct professor at his alma mater Texas Tech University, teaching graduate-level arts administration courses in advocacy, management and funding for the arts.
Understanding Lighting Design Theory: Creating Designs That Tell a Story
Presented by Joshua Maxwell
About The Workshop:
Ballet Academy of South Texas – Studio A – (Thursday – 10:30am & Friday – 10:30am)
Often theatres have a “just light the stage” approach when it comes to lighting design. These companies miss the easy and effective ways that lighting can help draw the audience into the world of the production. This workshop is designed for all theatrically minded people, not just designers. Producers, stage managers, directors, and designers of other mediums are sure to benefit. This is NOT a workshop on how to operate a light board, nor will we teach you how to hang a light. Participants will learn the process of script and set analysis for lighting purposes, as well as easy techniques to plot and bring your lighting design to life.
About The Presenter:
Josh is a long-time community theatre participant, both onstage and off. His numerous design credits cover all areas of production, with emphasis in set, lighting, and projection design. Outside of theatre he’s a manager in the Corporate AV industry, serving several properties in the DFW Area.
Youth Programming Roundtable: Exploring Shared Challenges and Solutions
Presented by Allen Ebert
About The Workshop:
Ballet Academy of South Texas – Studio B – (Thursday – 10:30am, Saturday – 10:30am)
This interactive session will bring together actors, administrators, part-time staff, and board members to share insights, challenges, and opportunities in creating and sustaining youth programming in community theaters. Participants will engage in discussions, exchange ideas, and leave with actionable strategies to implement in their own organizations.
About The Presenter:
Allen Ebert is an experienced theater professional with a robust background in the performing arts. He holds a degree in Theater and Drama from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, Allen serves as the Executive Director of the Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM), a member of Theatre for Young Audiences/USA (TYA/USA) and a resident company at the Overture Center for Performing Arts. In his role, he directs productions and performs, contributing significantly to Madison’s theater community. He also played a crucial role in developing the MYARTS Youth Arts Center in Madison, a new 70,000 square foot facility that supports youth in the performing arts.
Allen’s international experience includes serving as the Entertainment Director at Soldiers’ Theatre, an Army Community Theatre in Vicenza, Italy. This role expanded his understanding and appreciation of theater’s impact.
With a career spanning over 30 years, Allen has distinguished himself as a director, actor, and adjudicator at various theater events across state, regional, and national levels. He also conducts workshops, sharing his lessons learned with aspiring theater practitioners.
Allen’s dedication to the performing arts drives his continuous efforts to innovate and inspire through his work.