This past year has presented challenges unlike any we've ever seen – including theatres everywhere having to cancel productions (or entire seasons) due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

TANYS, too, made the difficult decision to cancel our November 2020 in-person annual Festival. But we felt the show must go on, somehow. So, like many others, we pivoted from in-person to virtual for the first time. The coronavirus pandemic might have slowed us down, but it didn't stop us!

On November 20-21, we hosted TANYS TOUGH: The Power of Theatre – 2020 Virtual Festival! We brought a newly-imagined Festival experience to you, completely online. Here's what attendees enjoyed:

- Keynote presentations from two acclaimed stars of stage and screen:
TAKE A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE
Check out photo galleries and awards from past TANYS Festivals!

2019 Festival photo gallery                 2018 Festival photo gallery                 2017 Festival photo gallery
2019 Festival awards                          2018 Festival awards                          2017 Festival awards
All TANYS awards (earlier Festival Awards, Roving Adjudicator Merit Awards, Distinguished Volunteer, more)
TANYS TOUGH
THE POWER OF THEATRE

2020 Virtual Festival
November 20-21, 2020
JOHN CARIANI, actor & playwright

Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof,
Something Rotten!The Band’s Visit

TV: Law & OrderNumbers and more

Playwright: Almost, MaineLast GasLove/Sick
- A full-length virtual performance of 26 Pebbles by Eric Ulloa, by Indian River High School Theatre Department

- More than a DOZEN educational workshops conducted by theatre experts from across the U.S. and Canada, in five (5) separate sessions – with three (3) choices per session:
  • Workshop session #1 on Friday night
  • Workshop sessions #2 and #3 on Saturday morning
  • Workshop sessions #4 and #5 on Saturday afternoon
  • All workshops will be recorded and available to registered & paid attendees after the event, for on-demand viewing

- Presentation of the 2020 TANYS Roving Adjudicator Merit Awards (for productions adjudicated from November 1, 2019 through October 31, 2020)

- TANYS-imprinted items for purchase (to wear on-camera and show that we're all #TANYSTough!)

- Virtual networking with fellow theatre lovers from across NYS and beyond

We hope that all attendees gained from this unique, socially-distanced celebration of theatre in New York State!
Questions? Email [email protected].

IMPORTANT:
We are currently planning for the 2021 Festival to return to Rome, NY.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
MIMI KENNEDY, actress & activist

Stage: Grease original Broadway production, Last of the Red Hot Lovers opposite Sid Caesar

TV: MOMDharma & Greg,
Homefront and more

Film: Midnight in ParisErin Brockovich and more