We’re happy to announce a performance of Coffee: A Misunderstanding at GLS11. What is that, you ask?

A story that kind of looks like your typical “boy meets girl” story at first glance, except the boy doesn’t really feel like a boy and the girl doesn’t really feel like a girl.

A commentary on the weirdness of online friendships that aren’t really friendships, set in the midst of a fan convention called AwesomeCon.

A play where all the actors are audience members. Maybe one of them will be you?

A collaborative game of finding the best ending to the story. Or the worst ending. Or maybe just whatever’s the most satisfying. It’s really up to you. Anything can happen.

Coffee: A Misunderstanding is an interactive play created as part of Squinky Kiai’s MFA thesis work. The way the game works is that two audience volunteers are called up and asked to read from a mobile device, which dynamically displays dialogue lines and stage directions. Meanwhile, two additional audience volunteers are given a mobile device on which they can select from a menu of choices that appear at key decision points in the story. It’s a combination of multiplayer Choose Your Own Adventure and improv theatre, resulting in a play experience that’s every bit as awkward as the story it’s trying to tell.

Each year, the GLS Conference concludes on the beautiful Union Terrace overlooking the shores of Lake Mendota. It’s an afternoon and evening for ice cream, brats, and beer. This year will be extra special because the last day of the conference is Professor Kurt Squire’s birthday, and he and his band Crooked County take to the stage to play.

Crooked County‘s lineup is unusual, but it’s one that works for the band’s outlaw, rough-and-ready style. Rather than having just one drummer within its ranks, the group’s hard-driving sound is backed by a pair of them, and lead vocals are contributed by three members. Toby Purnell and Kurt Squire co-founded Crooked County in 1998 in Bloomington, IN. Purnell can be found on vocals, mandolin, and electric guitar, while Squire plays harmonica. The pair met earlier in the decade when they both played with the Indiana bands Big Mule, Preacher Preacher, and the Mary Janes. Drawing inspiration from Bill Monroe‘s bluegrass music and Willie Nelson’s country sound, they decided to strike out on their own as Crooked County. The band also includes Jason Purnell, Toby Purnell’s brother, on acoustic guitar. Merrie Sloan contributes vocals, bass, and guitar, while Josh Bennett adds vocals and bass. The dual drummers are Travis Olsson and Mark Minnick. Shortly after establishing Crooked County, Squire and Toby Purnell began working on Whiskey Burns, the group’s 1999 self-released debut. The album featured Jeff Farias on bass. Soon the band added Bennett, Jason Purnell, and Minnick for live gigs throughout the Midwest and Southwest. Farias moved on, settling in Phoenix, AZ, and eventually asking Crooked County to record for his company, Rustic Records. The label issued the band’s second release, Drunkard’s Lament. Like Toby Purnell and Squire, drummer Minnick also spent time in the Mary Janes. Toby Purnell also played previously with a group known as Ma and Pa Kegle, where he first met Sloan. Drummer Olsson devotes time to a punk group named the Opposition.

Check out their music on SoundCloud.

 
Click here to register for GLS12! Early bird Registration will close May 27th. 

 
One unique thing about GLS is that your registration includes most meals and snacks. We also serve desserts and drinks at many of our evening events such as the GLS poster session and GLS Showcase Awards celebration at no additional cost.

Parking

Upon registration attendees can purchase a parking pass for $18 a day. The cut off for ordering a permit will be 3 weeks before the conference.

 
Lodging & Accommodations
A limited number of room blocks have been reserved at several area hotels. Prices listed below are guaranteed only if rooms are reserved before the deadline. Deadlines vary by location. After the lodging deadline, rooms will be released and are available based on availability and are subject to regular occupancy rates.

The Madison Concourse Hotel
1 West Dayton Street, Madison WI 53703

Nightly Rates
Room Rate single $149, double $159

The Concourse is located 8 blocks from the meeting site and close to State Street shops and restaurants. All rooms have queen size beds and private bathrooms. A complimentary shuttle is offered to and from the airport as well as the meeting site. Parking for conference participants is available at $10/day, to be paid at the hotel.

Included with every room are the following services/facilities/amenities: Indoor pool and solarium, coffeemaker, ironing board and iron, television, alarm clock radio, phone, voice mail message system, and computer hook-ups.

Please call the hotel directly at 1.800.356.8293 by Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in order to receive the special group rate. Request the Games + Learning + Society room block.

The Graduate Hotel Madison
601 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706

Nightly Rates
Room Rate: $169/night

The Graduate Hotel Madison is located in the heart of downtown Madison on the University of Wisconsin campus, steps from State Street dining and shopping.

As a guest of the Graduate Hotel, you are invited to enjoy all of the following complimentary services and amenities: Private Airport Taxi, parking (one car per room), shuttle to UW Venues and other Downtown Locations (based on availability), 24-hour Fitness Center, and high-speed Wireless Internet.

Please call the hotel directly at 1.800.589.6285 by Thursday, July 14, 2016 in order to receive the special group rate. Request the GLS Conference room block. Or click here to make an online reservation.

The DoubleTree
525 W. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53703

Nightly Rates
Room Rate: $159/night

The DoubleTree by Hilton Madison is in the heart of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. Located at the eastern edge of the University of Wisconsin campus and nestled between the Lakes Monona and Mendota, the hotel is within walking distance of the State Capitol, the UW Badgers’ Kohl Center, Camp Randall Stadium, and the eclectic State Street shopping and entertainment district. The DoubleTree is about 10 minutes walking distance from conference site.

Spacious guest rooms, suites, and executive accommodations boast all the comforts of home and modern amenities such as complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access and free parking. Enjoy your favorite beverages and casual dining at the Badgerland Bar & Grill, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Our hotel guests have full use of a sparkling, heated indoor pool and whirlpool, outdoor patio, and a fitness room. We also offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the Dane County Regional Airport (15 minutes away), UW Campus, convention center, Alliant Energy Center, and downtown hospitals.

Please call the hotel directly at 1.800.222.TREE or 608.251.5511 by Saturday, July 16, 2016 in order to receive the special group rate. Request the GL8 room block. Or click here to reserve your room online

The Lowell Center
610 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53703

Nightly Rates
Room Rate: $94/night

Conveniently located at 610 Langdon Street, The Lowell Center Conference & Lodging Facility offers 137 guest rooms, an indoor swimming pool (the largest hotel pool in the area) with sauna, and beautiful new fitness room. The fitness room is equipped with treadmills, a stair climber, elliptical machines, a recumbent bike, and free weights with bench. Hours are 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Ellipticals and treadmills are Nike+ compatible, and many have headphone jacks.

Please call the hotel directly at 1.866.301.1753 or 608.256.2621 by Thursday, July 14, 2016 in order to receive the special group rate. Request the GLS room block.

Union South
1308 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53715

Nightly Rates
Room Rate $130/night

Discover an oasis of ‘green’ hospitality in the heart of Madison’s most vibrant neighborhood. Relax and unwind in a warm, inviting hotel that welcomes you with peaceful ambiance, artful décor, and unsurpassed service. Whether visiting for business or leisure, our eco-conscious hotel offers an array of contemporary amenities for working and unwinding - from wireless Internet to local art displays. Our dedication to sustaining the environment is surpassed by our commitment to the art of hospitality.

Included with every room are the following services/facilities/amenities: 42” flat screen TV with premium cable channels, plush bedding, large work desk with ergonomic chair, mini fridge and microwave, upscale bath amenities, Keurig coffee maker, complimentary wireless internet access and 24 hour fitness center.

HotelRED
1501 Monroe Street, Madison, WI 53711

Nightly Rates
Room Rate $159/night

HotelRED is the first true independent boutique hotel in Madison. A full-service, contemporary property, located in the heart of our urban center, the hotel is ideally situated to the progressive culture and high-energy atmosphere that makes Madison world famous. Within steps of Camp Randall Stadium and Monroe Street shopping, HotelRED is also within walking distance of the great downtown Madison amenities. all rooms come with: custom Wisconsin-made furnishings, in-room dining, kitchenettes perfect for entertaining with refrigerator, microwave, two-burner stove top, wet bar sink and china, glass and silverware, comfortable reading chair with ottoman and desk with ergonomic desk chair, 42” HD LCD flat screen TV with HD channels, complimentary high speed WiFi, in-room safe, luxurious bath robes, and complimentary 24-hour covered parking.

Please call 608.819.8228 by Thursday, July 14, 2016 to receive the special group rate of $159/per night plus tax. Ask for the GLS room block.

Proceedings Editor

Proceedings Editor

Day Captain

Day Captain