Call for Papers: Theory and Criticism Focus Group- ATHE 2026Communities of Imagination and Theoretical FuturesBaltimore, Maryland- July 22-26, 2026 Call for Complete Session Proposals and Roundtable SubmissionsSponsored by the Theory and Criticism Focus GroupComplete Session ProposalsThe Theory and Criticism focus group seeks proposals for the general conference that include a variety of approaches and inquiries into the theme “Communities of Imagination and Theoretical Futures.” We encourage multidisciplinary submissions from across the various subfields of theatre and performance studies and seek participants from a range of focus groups.Our focus group welcomes and embraces a multitude of approaches and definitions of theory, criticism, and performance. Feel free to explore theatre history, popular culture, academic scholarship, and performance praxis. Creative approaches to academic panels are encouraged.Complete session proposals should be submitted directly to the ATHE website (www.athe.org). You must have names for all participants ready for the proposal. The website includes submission information and forms. The session proposal deadline is December 12, 2025. Curated Roundtable Series SubmissionsWe also seek proposals to present in our annual roundtable series. These roundtables will feature brief (5-6 minute) presentations, provocations, manifestos, etc, followed by a discussion amongst all the participants. Please direct abstracts of 250 words or less to this online form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=vqQ9fyInLkO_p2QIDR6x3C6t3HaIuFtPsvxmFqEJqh1UMlNXSzYxMVUyOTJHOERIQVZMNDYyUkhJQi4u&route=shorturl Submissions for the curated series are due Monday, December 8. 1. Activating the Dramatic Imagination: Performance, Magic, and Memory- This panel invites abstracts that interrogate the role of imagination in the theatrical experience. Consider how both performers and audiences use imagination collaboratively or individually. How do imagined personas, realities, and experiences intersect with the material, or “real” world? What political or social impacts might communities built out of such imaginative experiences achieve? How does imagination intersect with memories embodied in performance? How does imagination contribute to illusion, trickery, and magic in live theatre?2. Communities of Scholarship: Collaboration in Creating Dramatic Theory- This panel invites scholars to submit abstracts for works-in-progress that intersect with theory and criticism, ideally connected (even loosely) with the conference theme. Consider theories that gesture toward communities built around the imagination of performance and theatrical collaboration. Each participant chosen for the panel will be paired with another participant in advance of the conference to collaborate on a presentation synthesizing their work. The panel aims to provide new opportunities for collective imagination and avenues to develop work for publication.3. Imagining Utopia: 25 Years of Jill Dolan’s “Utopian Performative”- Since its publication in Theatre Journal in 2001, Jill Dolan’s “Performance, Utopia, and the ‘Utopian Performative’ ” has been a keystone of contemporary dramatic theory, imagining rehearsal and performance spaces as an enactment of utopian ideals and visions. As an expression of hope, performance has the potential to gesture toward imagined futures and new communities. We invite abstracts that use Dolan’s work as a launchpad for examining how contemporary performance practices continue to point toward utopia twenty-five years on. Please Note:• Individuals do not need to be a member of the Theory and Criticism Focus Group or ATHE to submit presentations or panels.• Those submitting complete panel proposals can address questions to the conference planner (David.coley@usm.edu) before submitting their proposal.• Multidisciplinary proposals must be authorized by TWO sponsoring ATHE focus groups. Email and get authorization from each focus group’s conference planner before submitting.• For more detailed information, see the ATHE website.• If you have questions about how your abstract may or may not fit into one of the curated roundtable panels, please email an abstract to the conference planner (David.coley@usm.edu) by December 8th and he will help find it a home