Jeremy Wechsler loved the TCG conference back in June. He loved it so much, he decided to continue the conversation. And he had a brand new theatre that was going to be empty in mid-August.

So was born the Chicago Theatre (anti-) Conference, filling the new Theater Wit building at 1229 W. Belmont August 20-22.

The conference will have over 30 sessions in two days—50 minute discussions running simultaneously in all three theatres. And the operative word is “discussion.”

“The great thing about being in Chicago is the depth and tightly knit quality of our community,” Wechsler said, but he realized after TCG that “we don’t get enough chances as a community to come together anymore.”

So the weekend will not be about boring seminars and panels. All sessions were suggested by the community, many of whom came to Wechsler with a proposal. The people running the sessions only get 12 minutes to speak. Then the rest of the group gets to weigh in with their opinions.

“The idea is that all the presentations are designed to spark conversation,” Wechsler said. “Ultimately, theatres aren’t in competition, they’re in collaboration. I wanted to structure an event that would provide opportunities for people to spend time with each other.”

So far, a week away from the kick-off, 80 people have signed on, at $36 per person. The money is for lunches and parties all three nights. Wechsler estimates that day of tickets on Friday will probably not be available.

You can check out the session schedule here.