The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Focus Group of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) invites submissions for its Debut Panel from scholars who have not yet published articles or presented at a national conference. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2005. Although we will consider any papers addressing issues relating to LGBT/Queer theatre and performance, we are particularly interested in submissions relating to the conference theme: Bridging Communities, Engaging Creativity. We encourage interdisciplinary submissions in which LGBT-Q issues are viewed in conjunction with or through any of various disciplines/approaches such as history, women’s studies, race/ethnicity studies, and performance studies.

Submissions will be evaluated by a jury of theatre scholars who will select three papers to be presented at the conference. The jury will consist of David Roman (Professor of English and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California), Stephen Berwind (Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo), and Sue Ellen Case (Professor and Chair of Critical Studies in the Theater Department at the University of California, Los Angeles). Professor Case will act as Respondent during the session, and Professor Berwind will serve as chair.

Selection of papers is competitive. The authors of the three papers chosen for presentation will read their papers at the annual ATHE conference, which will be held at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, California, from July 28 to July 31, 2005. For information on the conference (including applicable costs), see http://www.athe.org/. For information on LGBT, see http://www.athe.org/FG/lgt/index.html.

Papers should be an appropriate length for a fifteen minute presentation (typically about eight pages).

Send FOUR copies of your complete paper and a cover sheet to Wendell Stone (mailing address provided below).

Do NOT put your name on the paper. On the cover sheet, include the title of your paper, your name, address, telephone, and email address. You will be informed of the judges' decisions by 15 April 2005.

Questions or comments can be directed to the e-mail address given below.