ASTR 2026 Conference:

Taking Stock

Minneapolis, MN  |   November 12 – 15, 2026
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

For ASTR’s 70th anniversary, they are seeking perspectives that explore—or take stock of—theatre and performance’s protean facets: historical and contemporary, methodologies of research, protocols for making and remembering, and all forms of capital, human and otherwise, that constitute creative effort. The term stock has accumulated many meanings since its appearance in Middle English, and though its most common theatrical connotation—as a repertory company—arose little more than a century ago, its other denotations relate in myriad ways to the past and present concerns of theatre and performance scholars. Additionally, the lesser-known term “on the stocks” refers to a literary work that is planned or commenced, and so “taking stock” of theatre relates equally to its cumulative or residual and prospective or generative characteristics.

By inviting participants to take stock of theatrical, performative, and scholarly practices, they hope to instigate conversations about how to better support the curiosities and needs of ASTR’s members and to expand membership for greater inclusion of underrepresented groups, including scholars who lack institutional support and scholars-at-risk. They particularly encourage participants to take stock of performance’s abilities to radically and subversively represent individuals and groups marginalized from history—creatively countering their silence, marginalization, and exclusion within the socio-political landscape—and to generate cultural allyship. They envision conversations about best practices in theatre making, scholarship, teaching, and in building and sustaining the infrastructure for those practices. They welcome conversations about blind spots and productive and unproductive failures.

Find out more about the conference, its programme and registration on their website.