Know Before You Go

To help you prepare, here's the information you need to know before you go. And don't forget to review the conference schedule before it begins!


Host Hotel & Transportation

The Graduate Bloomington by Hilton

210 East Kirkwook Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana, 47408

Check In: 4 p.m. ET
Check Out: 11 a.m. ET
Discounted self-parking of $10 per night

Attendees who reserved rooms at The Graduate will receive confirmation emails directly from the hotel.

Transportation from Indianapolis International Airport

The Indianapolis International Airport is the closest airport to IU Bloomington's campus and is approximately a 1-hour drive.

Information about booking a shuttle through GoExpress can be found on our Transportation page.

Transportation on IU Campus

A TEC charter bus will be available to help attendees navigate between The Graduate and venues on IU's campus during the hours of 4:30-11:30 p.m. on Sunday and Tuesday, with additional hours on Monday.

  • On Sunday, the shuttle will run from The Graduate to Indiana Memorial Union (IMU) for the ITF & TEC First Time Attendee Networking event, to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the ITF Opening Ceremony. There will also be a shuttle running directly from The Graduate to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
  • On Monday, the shuttle will start at 11:00am and run between The Graduate and IMU on a loop through the conclusion of Main Stage performances.
  • On Tuesday, the shuttle will run from The Graduate to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the Educator Appreciation Dinner.
Packing Recommendations

Attendees are encouraged to dress comfortably while attending TEC. Some workshops may require/encourage movement, so attendees may want to pack clothing specifically for this purpose. Participants may want to pack layers in case interior spaces are cold.

We invite attendees to wear semi-formal or professional attire for the Educator Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony to be held on Tuesday, June 24.

Conference Check In

Check-in will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, June 22 at the Graduate Hotel. Stop by to pick up your attendee badge and registration materials. The Registration and Information booth will remain open each day of the conference. Check the schedule for specific times.

Attending both TEC and the International Thespian Festival (ITF)? Your TEC materials will be included when you check in for ITF.

Morning & Afternoon Hospitality

On Monday and Tuesday mornings, stop by the lobby on the 3rd floor of The Graduate for complimentary morning coffee and pastries. Afternoon Hospitality will be offered on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Check the schedule for times.

The Bloomington Food Scene

TEC attendees are encouraged to check out Bloomington's bustling culinary scene – a foodie's dream! There are nearly 150 restaurants in Bloomington's downtown district and over 350 in the county. Explore options here.

Lunch and dinner breaks are notated in the mobile app schedule. Dinner will be provided during the Educator Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, June 24.

On-Site Assistance

Should you need assistance onsite, text us at (513) 790-4466. Our team will work diligently to reply to texts as quickly as possible upon receipt. Please note that this number is unable to accept phone calls.

Mobile App

We're excited to launch a new app for TEC! The app is the best place to get the full event schedule and on-site information.

To download the app:

  1. In your Apple or Android device, open the appropriate app store.
  2. Search for "EdTA" and click to download.
    IMPORTANT! Do not choose "EdTA Events." The EdTA Events app is for Chapter Events. You also no longer need the orange "eShow Events" app installed on your device if you attended an EdTA event last year.
  3. Allow/enable notifications from the app on your device so you will receive any event alerts.
  4. Select the event, either TEC or ITF. When prompted, click Start.
  5. Use the app to explore the schedule, campus map, and more.
Note: With more than 2,000 sessions during the week between ITF and TEC, any updates will take time to appear in the app. To ensure the app is as up-to-date as possible, please ALLOW the EdTA app to refresh in the background.

To manually force a sync, tap the hamburger menu in the lower right corner, then tap the "Sync id" text. You'll see the sync is in progress and when it's complete.
Wi-Fi

The Graduate Hotel provides complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi in both guest and meeting rooms. TEC participants can access Wi-Fi throughout the event and their stay. Login information will be shared to hotel guests at check in and in the meeting rooms.

First-Time Attendee Networking

Is this your first time attending TEC? Welcome! Get acquainted with other first-time attendees, EdTA board members, and staff on Sunday, June 22 from 5-6 p.m. and learn how to make the most out of your experience. Check the schedule for location details.

Welcome to TEC and the Opening Ceremony

TEC will kick off in conjunction with the International Thespian Festival during the Opening Ceremony, held the evening of June 22 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on IU Bloomington's campus. This high-energy event is filled with special performances, including a performance by our host, Broadway's Miguel Cervantes.

Prior to the Opening Ceremony, we'll host fun activities in Assembly Hall's lobby including karaoke, trivia, and more!

Exhibit Hall

The ITF and TEC Exhibit Hall will be open from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Monday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 24, and will continue through the duration of ITF. View a complete list of exhibitors.

Performances at ITF 2025

Take your pick of performances on Monday night! TEC attendees can attend the ITF Main Stage production of Hadestown: Teen Edition at the IU Auditorium or Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition at the IU Musical Arts Center. Tickets are available first-come, first-served at the TEC Registration Desk.

On Tuesday night, join us in the Buskirk Chumley Theatre for the final leg of The 24 Hour Plays, a thrilling form of theatre where new plays are written, cast, rehearsed, and performed in only 24 hours. No ticket required for this performance!

Peek Behind the Curtain at ITF 2025!

Interested in seeing all that the International Thespian Festival has to offer? Perhaps you've been interested in bringing students, but weren't quite ready this year. Take a guided tour on Tuesday of TEC! Check the schedule for details on where to meet for this walking tour.

Educator Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Don't miss this star-studded event to close out the conference! This dinner is dedicated to all the educators who shape lives through theatre education and create opportunities for their students to shine. Broadway's Kimberly Marable joins as host and special guest performer, and the legendary Stephen Schwartz will present the ASCAP Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award during the EdTA Awards Ceremony.

All registered TEC attendees are invited; no physical ticket required.

Local Theatre: The King's Wife

Constellation Theatre, a local theatre in Bloomington, is thrilled to offer discounted tickets for their production of The King's Wife to TEC participants! The discount code for TEC attendees can be found within the TEC Attendee Service Center.

Please note that attendees are responsible for their own transportation if traveling off-site.

Continuing Education Credits

EdTA offers a certificate of participation for attendance at TEC. An email will be sent after TEC with instructions on how to access your certificate of participation.