ITJA – Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy
ITJA Coordinator
Andre Minkins
Winston-Salem State University
minkinsan@wssu.edu
ITJA Deputy Coordinator
Contact kcactf4chair@gmail.com if you are interested in applying for the ITJA Deputy Coordinator position.
Introducing Region IV's ITJA Instructor: Benji Carr!
As a child growing up in the South with cerebral palsy, Benji Carr developed an eye for the bizarre and quirky. Working as a journalist, storyteller and playwright, his work – whether the stories be personal tales of struggle and survival or fiction about cannibal lunch ladies, puppet romances, drag queen funerals, and perverted killer circus clowns – has been featured in The Guardian, ArtsATL, and Pembroke Magazine.
Critics, Dramaturgs, and Thinkers: Add Your Voice To the Future Of Theatre
No prior media or writing experience necessary! Just an interest in critical thinking and discussing how we talk about theater.
What is ITJA?
If you enjoy watching interviews with Broadway stars, follow theater reviews on TikTok, or are curious about BTS content creation for plays and musicals, ITJA is for you! We’re here to talk about how we talk about theater: podcasts, blogs, reviews, and videos are all ways we learn more about this art form, so how do we use each medium in compelling and responsible ways?
Who should join ITJA?
Students interested in marketing, PR, arts writing, criticism, and literary management are encouraged to register for this program or contact the regional Chair for information about The Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy (ITJA) in their region. Whether you hope to become a professional arts journalist or just love talking and writing about theater, ITJA is a fantastic Festival opportunity.
What will we do in ITJA?
Students in ITJA will participate in a multi-session mini course in arts journalism and communications, with a special emphasis on advocacy. Students will receive feedback on various forms of arts journalism—theatre reviews, interviews with stars, editorial responses—from professionals from the worlds of theatre writing and academics.
ITJA 2026 will comprise three 90-minute workshop sessions, plus the opening/orientation meeting. You are welcome to drop into any of these, no need to be present for all.
Students will be offered mini-assignments to complete that are tied to festival activities and that offer ways to practice interview, reviewing, and reporting skills. At the end of the workshops, one student from the region may be selected to have his/her/their work developed as part of the ACTF National Festival later in the year. There, student critics write reviews while studying with a variety of professional critics and mentors, and they may be eligible to receive a scholarship to the O’Neill Institute for Theater Criticism.
How do I get involved with ITJA?
There are no application requirements — just a willingness to come and dive into some new ways of thinking about writing and communicating your thoughts about the theater you see.
If you are interested in participating in the ITJA program, please email Andre Minkins at minkinsan@wssu.edu with your name and contact information.
Questions?
Get in touch with one of our coordinators using their contact information on the left sidebar.
Get Connected Today!
Sign up soon as possible in order to get in on the pre festival team of advocates that will be engaged in the aforementioned ways of communicating their thoughts about the theater they see. A perfect opportunity for student advocates who already share such information on their own blog or podcast, and a perfect time to highlight regional campuses or programs during the time leading up to the festival.
Students selected for the festival institute will be notified of their acceptance as soon as possible.
At the conclusion of the festival, one student will be named the Region IV ITJA Advocate. That student will be invited to submit their materials to the National Selection Panel. Four students from across the eight regions will be selected to attend the National Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, all expenses paid. A runner-up Region IV ITJA Advocate will also be named.