CFP: The Role of Religious Performance in Rebuilding Communities, Past and Present (roundtable)

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED TO JANUARY 30, 2007
Sore Spots: The 2007 Religion and Theatre Preconference
New Orleans, July 24-25, 2007

Participants will offer a 5-10 minute presentation on a particular instance when religious performance played a role in rebuilding or regenerating community. Participants will then engage in a moderate discussion and Q&A with all preconference attendees. We encourage submissions that consider this topic from a variety of perspectives. Is religious performance sometimes marginalized as a mode of communal regeneration? When has it worked as a catalyst for larger community changes? Are there times when different types of religious performance compete for inclusion in community rebuilding? Can the performance of faith be an impediment to regeneration for some communities?

Although we invite submissions related to any geographic region or historical moment, because the 2007 conference will take place in New Orleans, presentations that address religious performance's role in New Orleans (past and present) will be given priority consideration.

This roundtable serves as the opening event in a preconference scheduled for the Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday (July 24-25) before ATHE opens its annual convention (www.athe.org). Roundtable participants are encouraged to stay for the entire preconference, which contains a range of activities including a new performance festival and a local tour. The preliminary preconference schedule is copied below.

If you are interested in participating, please send a one-page description of your presentation topic that includes any AV requests. On a separate page, please include your name, affiliation, contact information, and a brief bio. The deadline for submissions is now January 30, 2006. Please send submissions, as well as any questions about this call or about other ways to participate in the preconference, to Jill Stevenson at jillstevenson@gmail.com.