For those of you who are new to the idea of this sort of campaign, here are a few suggestions, all of which have already been successfully used by AATE members across the country.
1. Have a resolution passed by the legislature, county government and/or mayor. (Use the Americans for the Arts website to locate your local decision makers, or find your state arts agency)
2. "Adopt a Kid for the Theatre" - high school drama club members, theatre professionals, service club members or anyone could be encouraged to take a "little brother or sister" to the theatre
3. Partner schools with professional theatres in your area to offer discounts to parents and students.
4. Collect and distribute quotes and facts about the importance of theatre in the lives of young people.
5. Put announcements of "Celebrate Theatre In Our Schools" in all programs and playbills
6. Ask local businesses to put "Celebrate Theatre In Our Schools" on their marquees
7. Ask the Historical Society in your area to sponsor an exhibit of theatrical costumes
8. Order TIOS Buttons or Stickers to distribute in your classroom, theater, workplace and/or community.
9. Arrange to have an Artist-In-Residence
10. Coordinate a children's theatre or storytelling event with the local libraries
11. Encourage teachers in every department to involve theatre within their lesson plans (Remind those in other fields that theatre includes many facets beyond acting that apply to other subject areas such as lighting and sound, set design and construction, playwriting, etc.)
12. Use the TIOS logo documents to develop and distribute bookmarks and other materials
13. Arrange a field trip to a theatre
14. Invite a theatre professional to speak or give a demonstration
15. Post daily or weekly theatre trivia in your classroom, school or business.
16. Host a student playwriting contest and present a staged reading of the winning play. You can also ask local businesses to donate prizes for such a contest.
17. Encourage your students to participate in the AATE TIOS Essay Contest.
18. Tour a performance to elementary schools, retirement communities, etc.
19. Contact your local media to highlight Theatre In Our Schools Month.
20. Open theatre classes or regular rehearsals to your school's students for a day
21. Exchange performances with other area schools
22. Host a networking reception, lesson plan exchange or theatre games exchange for local theatre artists and educators.
23. Ask theatre alumni to return to class as guest speakers
24. Host a mini-conference in your area highlighting master teachers.
25. Host a statewide or city-wide theatre festival