The weekend conference is titled "Roots. Renaissance. Revolution." Nadira A. Hira (writer, Fortune magazine) and Andrew Zolli (futurist/trends consultant) will also speak at the conference.

According to TCG, the theatre community will come together in Baltimore, MD, "to investigate the possibilities of our future, to share the stories of our past and to explore the complexities of our present. We will investigate how we invest in the future of our field while continuing to cherish the stories that have kept the theatre alive throughout the ages."

TCG is a service organization for regional theatres. According to conference notes, "We stand on the verge of a generational shift, as the resident theatre movement nears its fiftieth anniversary and as new artistic and administrative leaders emerge. Additionally, the way we produce our work and the way audiences experience that work is undergoing a significant change. In an art form based on telling stories and engaging in the discourse of ideas, the time is ripe for sharing our own stories with each other and encouraging the mentorship of both the younger and the older generations. This is a moment filled with possibility, urgency, and passion. Where will this potential take our field, and what are the new possibilities afforded by advances in technology, communication, leadership, demography, and the study of generational differences? And, what are the stories, the legacy and traditions, which all generations must know about, and carry on?"

The TCG National Conference brings together approximately 800 theatre professionals from across the nation and around the world "for meetings, speeches and performances, and a chance to explore the local theatre community."

The 2009 conference will be held at the Hippodrome Theatre, part of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, located on 12 N. Eutaw Street in Baltimore. For more information visit tcg.org.