Mary utilized the grant to attend the Midwest Educational Technical Theatre Symposium (METTS), sponsored by the Midwest chapter of the USITT and hosted at the McHale Performing Arts Center in Logansport, Indiana. Reflecting on her experience, Mary shared, “I needed to go to the METTS conference as it has been too many decades since I’ve had proper training. My technical theatre program is growing, and although I am comfortable teaching theory in design, stage management, costumes, and props, my students crave more hands-on learning with lights, sound, projection, and set construction. With a grant from Ludus, it was financially possible to get this training and conquer my insecurities about set design, projection, and programming the light board.”
Mary also shared a memorable moment from her training: “I was terrified of saws. I only used saws in STP class in college the one time we had to. I hid in the nail room every other time. And that was a long time ago. At METTS, I used all the saws and had a blast!” Excited to implement her new knowledge, Mary plans to enhance her technical theatre program this fall with comprehensive lesson plans and presentation slides acquired at METTS. “These resources will help create an inclusive, hands-on learning environment,” Mary noted.
Ludus values its customers and through our community initiative program finds unique opportunities to support the performing arts communities. This grant was just one of many examples. Ludus cofounder, Kevin Schneider, emphasized, “As educators and performing artists, we invest all our additional physical and mental capital into our art, our students, and our immediate communities, leaving little time and energy to invest in ourselves. Community initiatives like this grant are so important because they allow Ludus to give back and invest in our people. Mary is just one of many deserving individuals. We are grateful for this conference and the positive impact it will have on Mary and her students. This is a grant that will continue to give!”
In addition to the Technical Theatre Grant, Ludus, in cooperation with the Michigan Speech Coaches Inc. (MSCI), awarded the Ludus Innovation Grant at the MSCI spring 2024 Awards celebration. This year’s recipient was Jenna Russell from International Academy East. The Ludus Innovation Grant is designed to invest in the dedicated teachers, directors, and coaches who tirelessly contribute to the communication arts of Speech, Debate, and Theatre.
Kevin Schneider, Co-Founder of Ludus, explained the broader impact of the Ludus Community Initiative program: “At Ludus, we believe your passion and inspiration are the driving forces behind your incredible work, and our goal is to help you rediscover and reignite that passion within yourself. These grants are more than financial support; they message that we value you as individuals. Taking the time to invest in yourself is essential for personal and professional growth. Ludus grants invest in YOU—the people who bring so much passion, creativity, and dedication to their profession and our arts community. We hope these grants inspire you to think creatively and find new sources of inspiration that reignite your enthusiasm. Congratulations to this year’s recipients. We value you…we support you…and we will continue to serve you.”
