THESPYS Rules (formerly known as Individual Events)
Acting
Click here to download the Acting & Musical Theatre IE Assessment Form.
Monologue
1. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as poetry, fiction, or film are prohibited. The use of monologues not appearing in a theatrical script is NOT permitted; this includes stand-alone monologues found online or in monologue books.
2. Entrant must present two contrasting selections that may be different in period, style, or mood.
3. Each selection should be approximately one and a half minutes each and reflect an important moment in the play. The performance of both selections combined cannot exceed three minutes.
4. Only one character from each play may be used.
5. The introduction must be done at the beginning for both selections and must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of selections, and the names of the playwrights. Time will begin once the entrant speaks after conclusion of the introduction.
6. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
7. One chair may be used.
Duet Acting
1. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as poetry, fiction, or film are not permitted.
2. Entrants must present one selection.
3. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
4. Each individual must be actively involved in the scene.
5. The introduction must include only the entrants’ names, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright. Time will begin once a performer speaks after conclusion of the introduction.
6. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
7. Up to two chairs may be used.
Group Acting
1. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as poetry, fiction, or film are not permitted.
2. “Group” means three to sixteen performers.
3. Entrants must present one selection.
4. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
5. Each individual must be actively involved in the scene.
6. The introduction must include only the entrants’ names, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright. Time will begin once a performer speaks after conclusion of the introduction.
7. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
8. Up to six chairs and one table may be used.
Solo Musical Theatre
1. Material must be drawn from songs from published scripts written for theatre only. Works from other forms such as film, television, poetry, fiction, or popular song lyrics not interpreted as musical theatre performance are not permitted. Remember, this is a musical theatre selection. The adjudicators will consider how well the piece is acted and not just how it is sung. The selection may contain limited dialogue; however, remember this is primarily a “sung and not spoken selection.”
2. Entrant must present one selection.
3. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
4. For all music events, performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. No live music, accompanists, or a capella performances are permitted. A CD player/MP3 player will be provided, however, performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player/MP3 player.
5. The introduction must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright, composer, or lyricist. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.
6. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
7. One chair may be used.
Duet Musical Theatre
1. Material must be drawn from songs from published scripts written for theatre only. Works from other forms such as film, television, poetry, fiction, or popular song lyrics not interpreted as musical theatre performance are not permitted. Remember, this is a musical theatre selection. The adjudicators will consider how well the piece is acted and not just how it is sung. The selection may contain dialogue; however, remember this is primarily a “sung and not spoken selection.”
2. Entrants must present one selection.
3. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
4. For all music events, performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. No live music, accompanists, or a capella performances are permitted. A CD player/MP3 player will be provided, however, performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player/MP3 player.
5. Each participant must be actively involved in the scene.
6. The introduction must include only the entrants’ names, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright, composer, or lyricist. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.
7. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
8. Up to two chairs may be used.
Group Musical Theatre
1. Material must be drawn from songs from published scripts written for theatre only. Works from other forms such as film, television, poetry, fiction, or popular song lyrics not interpreted as musical performance are not permitted. Remember, this is a musical theatre selection. The adjudicators will consider how well the piece is acted and not just how it is sung. The selection may contain limited dialogue; however, remember this is primarily a “sung and not spoken selection.”
2. “Group” means three to sixteen performers.
3. Entrants must present one selection.
4. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
5. For all music events, performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. No live music, accompanists, or a capella performances are permitted. A CD player/MP3 player will be provided, however, performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player/MP3 player.
6. Each participant must be actively involved in the scene.
7. The introduction must include only the entrants’ names, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright, composer, or lyricist. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.
8. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
9. Up to six chairs and one table may be used.
Monologue
1. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as poetry, fiction, or film are prohibited. The use of monologues not appearing in a theatrical script is NOT permitted; this includes stand-alone monologues found online or in monologue books.
2. Entrant must present two contrasting selections that may be different in period, style, or mood.
3. Each selection should be approximately one and a half minutes each and reflect an important moment in the play. The performance of both selections combined cannot exceed three minutes.
4. Only one character from each play may be used.
5. The introduction must be done at the beginning for both selections and must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of selections, and the names of the playwrights. Time will begin once the entrant speaks after conclusion of the introduction.
6. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
7. One chair may be used.
Duet Acting
1. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as poetry, fiction, or film are not permitted.
2. Entrants must present one selection.
3. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
4. Each individual must be actively involved in the scene.
5. The introduction must include only the entrants’ names, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright. Time will begin once a performer speaks after conclusion of the introduction.
6. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
7. Up to two chairs may be used.
Group Acting
1. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as poetry, fiction, or film are not permitted.
2. “Group” means three to sixteen performers.
3. Entrants must present one selection.
4. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
5. Each individual must be actively involved in the scene.
6. The introduction must include only the entrants’ names, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright. Time will begin once a performer speaks after conclusion of the introduction.
7. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
8. Up to six chairs and one table may be used.
Solo Musical Theatre
1. Material must be drawn from songs from published scripts written for theatre only. Works from other forms such as film, television, poetry, fiction, or popular song lyrics not interpreted as musical theatre performance are not permitted. Remember, this is a musical theatre selection. The adjudicators will consider how well the piece is acted and not just how it is sung. The selection may contain limited dialogue; however, remember this is primarily a “sung and not spoken selection.”
2. Entrant must present one selection.
3. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
4. For all music events, performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. No live music, accompanists, or a capella performances are permitted. A CD player/MP3 player will be provided, however, performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player/MP3 player.
5. The introduction must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright, composer, or lyricist. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.
6. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
7. One chair may be used.
Duet Musical Theatre
1. Material must be drawn from songs from published scripts written for theatre only. Works from other forms such as film, television, poetry, fiction, or popular song lyrics not interpreted as musical theatre performance are not permitted. Remember, this is a musical theatre selection. The adjudicators will consider how well the piece is acted and not just how it is sung. The selection may contain dialogue; however, remember this is primarily a “sung and not spoken selection.”
2. Entrants must present one selection.
3. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
4. For all music events, performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. No live music, accompanists, or a capella performances are permitted. A CD player/MP3 player will be provided, however, performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player/MP3 player.
5. Each participant must be actively involved in the scene.
6. The introduction must include only the entrants’ names, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright, composer, or lyricist. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.
7. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
8. Up to two chairs may be used.
Group Musical Theatre
1. Material must be drawn from songs from published scripts written for theatre only. Works from other forms such as film, television, poetry, fiction, or popular song lyrics not interpreted as musical performance are not permitted. Remember, this is a musical theatre selection. The adjudicators will consider how well the piece is acted and not just how it is sung. The selection may contain limited dialogue; however, remember this is primarily a “sung and not spoken selection.”
2. “Group” means three to sixteen performers.
3. Entrants must present one selection.
4. The performance cannot exceed five minutes.
5. For all music events, performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. No live music, accompanists, or a capella performances are permitted. A CD player/MP3 player will be provided, however, performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player/MP3 player.
6. Each participant must be actively involved in the scene.
7. The introduction must include only the entrants’ names, troupe number, title of selection, and the name of the playwright, composer, or lyricist. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.
8. Props, costumes, or theatrical makeup are not allowed.
9. Up to six chairs and one table may be used.
Technical Theatre
Click here for links to download each Design Technical Theatre IE Assessment Form.
Costume Design
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
Lighting Design
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
3. After the ten minute presentation, adjudicators will have up to five minutes to ask questions. The overall session, including the introduction and follow-up questions, cannot exceed fifteen minutes.
Scenic Design
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
Sound Design
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
4. After the ten minute presentation, adjudicators will have up to five minutes to ask questions. The overall session, including the introduction and follow-up questions, cannot exceed fifteen minutes.
Costume Construction
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the construction. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
4. After the ten minute presentation, adjudicators will have up to five minutes to ask questions. The overall session, including the introduction and follow-up questions, cannot exceed fifteen minutes.
Stage Management
1. An entrant should approach this process as if they are interviewing for a college stage management program or a job. The entrant’s stage management process and the job they did should be the focus of the presentation. What did the role of stage manager mean in their production? Entrants will have a total of ten minutes to make their presentation. Adjudicators will have a total of five minutes for questions following the entrant’s presentation.
2. The entrant’s presentation must be from a realized production either in their middle or high school program or a community or professional theatre.
3. It is important for an entrant to demonstrate a strong understanding of the stage manager’s job and the process. This particular position isn’t textbook. Personality and style can show. Adjudicators will look for consistency, clarity, and organization. If someone picked up an entrant’s prompt book, would it make sense to them?
4. Entrants should bring a three-ring binder for the adjudicators that contains the components of their stage management promptbook and paperwork they used to perform their responsibilities. This should include but is not limited to:
6. After the ten minute presentation, adjudicators will have up to five minutes to ask questions. The overall session, including the introduction and follow-up questions, cannot exceed fifteen minutes.
Theatre Marketing
The entrant must prepare and present:
1. A case study that methodically works through the marketing process. Entrants will have a total of ten minutes to set up and make their presentation. Adjudicators will have up to five minutes for questions following the entrant’s presentation.
2. The marketing campaign they developed and executed for a published play written for the theatre and presented by the school. Designs for performances of poetry, fiction, screenplays, or any other medium are prohibited. It is strongly recommended that the entrant was responsible for actual publicity.
3. Entrants should bring three portfolio binders for adjudicators that contain the components of their marketing campaign, including:
Presentation Format
1. Background
Short Film
1. Films can be no longer than five minutes in length.
2. Films must be of original content and may be a collaboration among entrants.
3. Components students should take into consideration when creating a Short Film:
a. Demonstrate proper use of title cards and credits within your five minute time limit.
b. Demonstrate properly executed camera angles and shot variation to enhance your storyline and finished
product.
c. Demonstrate control over lighting exposures for clarity, storytelling, and a professional finished product.
d. Demonstrate the ability to capture, record, and manipulate all audio aspects of your production.
e. Demonstrate controlled and manufactured editing choices that enhance the overall story telling.
f. Demonstrate the ability to complete a storyline which includes a clear arc (beginning, middle, and end).
4. Music must either be original or documented public domain material.
5. Material created by entrants in this event that is deemed by the adjudicator(s) to be obscene or disruptive may
receive lower ratings or, in some extreme cases, may result in disqualification.
6. If your film receives an overall accomplished rating at the state level, you may upload your film to YouTube for
national judging.
7. Mark your video’s YouTube privacy settings as either Public or Unlisted so the URL can be shared with judges
(do not select Private or the judges will be unable to view your film).
8. Use the form at schooltheatre.org/shortfilmsubmission to submit the URL of your video on YouTube. All of the
fields are required.
9. The films will be viewed and critiqued by the judges prior to the Thespian Festival.
10. At the Thespian Festival the film will be shown in a teaching workshop. The film will stand alone, i.e. the entrant
will not have to make any type of presentation. The film will be discussed and openly critiqued by one of the
judges. At that time the entrant will be given his/her critique sheets that were completed by all the judges.
Costume Design
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
- a. Five character renderings. These may represent five different characters or follow a single character through several changes. No more than five renderings are permitted. No finished costumes are permitted.
- b. Full color designs on paper of the designer’s choice and mounted on a 10″ x 15″ or 11″ x 17″ board such as illustration board, heavy poster board, or foam core. Board color is at the discretion of the designer. Figures should be 8″ to 10″ tall. Template or trace characters may be used. Entrant is encouraged to include fabric swatches that may be attached to the lower left corner renderings. The board should be labeled in the following manner: (a) upper left‐hand corner: play title and playwright; (b) upper right‐hand corner: character’s name, act, and scene; (c) lower right‐hand corner: entrant’s name and troupe number. No other information may be written on the board.
- c. A 1/2″ binder containing the following materials: (a) a brief statement of the design choices inspired by the script, (b) research materials, (c) preliminary sketches, (d) a costume plot of who wears what when, and (e) other sources of inspiration for design and color palette, if any were used.
Lighting Design
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
- a. A light plot, 1/4″ or 1/2″ =1′0″ and no larger than 24″ x 36″, indicating focus, channel (dimmer) color, type of instrument, any special equipment and an indication of the set and masking. This single page (plate) should include a unit key for clarification of all stage fixtures and a title block including the show name, producer, facility, date of production, drawn by, and scale data.
- b. One 1/2″ binder containing three complete sets of the following materials for the adjudicators. A. A one page design statement summarizing: i. The director’s vision of the play and his/her wishes; ii. The entrant’s goals and visions for the design; iii. Major messages or themes in the play to be emphasized, if any; iv. How the entrant achieved these technically.
- c. Copies of the entrant’s research.
- d. Additional sources of inspiration, if any.
- e. A description of light cues organized by scene, including the purpose (outcome) of the cue and the timing of the cue.
- f. A one page document, 8.5″ x 11″ (also called a ‘magic sheet’) depicting the acting space (set) and indicating the colors used in the design and the angles (down light, front light, side light, etc.) Entrant is not required to include specials.
- g. A dimmer or channel hookup—not an instrument schedule.
3. After the ten minute presentation, adjudicators will have up to five minutes to ask questions. The overall session, including the introduction and follow-up questions, cannot exceed fifteen minutes.
Scenic Design
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
- a. An original, three-dimensional scale model OR a perspective rendering, not to exceed 11″ x 17″, showing the set and its relationship to the theatrical space. All forms of staging are permitted. Either model or rendering will be permitted, but not both. Recommended scales for theatre are 1/4″ or 1/2″ to 1′0″. At least one figure must be included in the rendering or model to show proportion and scale.
- b. A floor plan drawn to the same scale. The floor plan should clearly indicate the performance space, backstage space, audience areas, and sightlines. The floor plan should contain a title block including show name, producer, facility, date of production, drawn by, and scale.
- c. One 1/2″ binder containing three complete sets of the following materials for the adjudicators. i. A one page design statement summarizing: ii. The director’s vision of the play and his/her wishes; iii. The entrant’s goals and visions for the design; iv. Major messages or themes in the play to be emphasized, if any; v. How the entrant achieved these technically.
- d. Copies of the entrant’s research.
- e. Additional sources of inspiration, if any.
Sound Design
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
- One 1/2″ binder containing three complete sets of the following materials for the adjudicators. The entrant must present a sound system plot on two pages. a. Speaker plot indicating where on the set and in the performance space loudspeakers will be placed. The relationship of speakers on the plot to speakers on the block diagram must be clear. b. Block diagram indicating signal flow through the sound system following the USITT Student Sound Graphics Standards available at: http://usitt.org/commissions/sound/Sound_Comm_Graphics_Project_2008.html
- A one page design statement summarizing: i. The director’s vision of the play and his/her wishes; ii. The entrant’s goals and visions for the design; iii. Major messages or themes in the play to be emphasized, if any; iv. How the entrant achieved these technically.
4. After the ten minute presentation, adjudicators will have up to five minutes to ask questions. The overall session, including the introduction and follow-up questions, cannot exceed fifteen minutes.
Costume Construction
1. Only one entrant may be involved in the construction. No collaborations are permitted.
2. The entrant must prepare and present:
- a. Create a costume that reflects capabilities and strengths. Must produce a fully constructed item. The costume must be an entirely original construction created by the entrant.
- b. An itemized expense sheet and receipts. All materials used to construct the costume such as fabric, thread, buttons, zippers, and trim may NOT exceed $100. If millinery, budget limit is $50, exclusive of the cost of From the Neck Up. The expense sheet must be mounted on the display board as proof that the entrant did not exceed their budget.
- c. A costume research collage that focuses on the process of building the costume item. Process photos should depict the garment at various stages of construction—not the participant at a sewing machine. The collage must be presented on a 20″ x 30″ presentation board that is labeled in the lower right hand corner with the entrant’s name and troupe number.
4. After the ten minute presentation, adjudicators will have up to five minutes to ask questions. The overall session, including the introduction and follow-up questions, cannot exceed fifteen minutes.
Stage Management
1. An entrant should approach this process as if they are interviewing for a college stage management program or a job. The entrant’s stage management process and the job they did should be the focus of the presentation. What did the role of stage manager mean in their production? Entrants will have a total of ten minutes to make their presentation. Adjudicators will have a total of five minutes for questions following the entrant’s presentation.
2. The entrant’s presentation must be from a realized production either in their middle or high school program or a community or professional theatre.
3. It is important for an entrant to demonstrate a strong understanding of the stage manager’s job and the process. This particular position isn’t textbook. Personality and style can show. Adjudicators will look for consistency, clarity, and organization. If someone picked up an entrant’s prompt book, would it make sense to them?
4. Entrants should bring a three-ring binder for the adjudicators that contains the components of their stage management promptbook and paperwork they used to perform their responsibilities. This should include but is not limited to:
- a. Prompt script including blocking and all technical cues such as lights, sound, deck, etc. This may be broken into two scripts.
- b. Examples of contact sheet, cast list, rehearsal schedule, props list, sound and lighting cue sheets.
- c. A written statement of the director’s artistic concept of the production that includes a discussion of the theme and how the theme was executed.
6. After the ten minute presentation, adjudicators will have up to five minutes to ask questions. The overall session, including the introduction and follow-up questions, cannot exceed fifteen minutes.
Theatre Marketing
The entrant must prepare and present:
1. A case study that methodically works through the marketing process. Entrants will have a total of ten minutes to set up and make their presentation. Adjudicators will have up to five minutes for questions following the entrant’s presentation.
2. The marketing campaign they developed and executed for a published play written for the theatre and presented by the school. Designs for performances of poetry, fiction, screenplays, or any other medium are prohibited. It is strongly recommended that the entrant was responsible for actual publicity.
3. Entrants should bring three portfolio binders for adjudicators that contain the components of their marketing campaign, including:
- a. a finished poster
- b. a finished program
- c. two press releases consisting of an informational article and a feature article
- d. a copy of the marketing budget for the publicity campaign and justification of expenses
- e. any work that shows the progression of the creative process, including a brief statement of the design choices inspired by the script, research materials, and other sources of inspiration, if any.
Presentation Format
1. Background
- a. Entrant should introduce him/herself and their Thespian troupe number.
- b. Quick description of the play they are marketing.
- c. Dates of performance/number of shows.
- d. Were they the only person responsible for executing the marketing campaign or did they have a team assisting?
- a. Entrant should describe their target market outside of school. Who, specifically, are they trying to get to attend? Are there groups of people who would naturally enjoy the production they are trying to reach through marketing?
- b. Entrant should describe any research they did to develop the design concept. Did they consult the scene designer or research past productions of this play? Where did they draw inspiration?
- c. How does their marketing design concept match with the production design? Will the audience have an idea of what they are going to be seeing before they see it?
- d. Was the entrant the only person responsible for developing the marketing campaign’s design concept? Did they develop the design concept and have someone else polish the final design? Or were they responsible for the development and creation?
- a. The entrant should describe and demonstrate the components of their marketing campaign. Examples of marketing components are posters, tickets, promotional handouts, social media, etc.
- b. The entrant should explain how and where this marketing was distributed.
- c. Is there consistency in their marketing, making it clear all of their marketing pieces are from the same campaign? What elements (images, colors, fonts, etc.) did they have to change to fit the media of their marketing components?
- a. Budget versus money spent. Note: if the entrant’s school offers some services for free (i.e. making copies, printing) or a vendor donates a product or service, please determine what the actual or comparable service would cost—there is a value in this!
- b. Number of tickets sold per performance versus house capacity. Entrant should try to compare their outcome to a similar show previously produced.
- c. As part of their presentation, an entrant should include reflections on what they might have done differently had they had more time, money, etc.
Short Film
1. Films can be no longer than five minutes in length.
2. Films must be of original content and may be a collaboration among entrants.
3. Components students should take into consideration when creating a Short Film:
a. Demonstrate proper use of title cards and credits within your five minute time limit.
b. Demonstrate properly executed camera angles and shot variation to enhance your storyline and finished
product.
c. Demonstrate control over lighting exposures for clarity, storytelling, and a professional finished product.
d. Demonstrate the ability to capture, record, and manipulate all audio aspects of your production.
e. Demonstrate controlled and manufactured editing choices that enhance the overall story telling.
f. Demonstrate the ability to complete a storyline which includes a clear arc (beginning, middle, and end).
4. Music must either be original or documented public domain material.
5. Material created by entrants in this event that is deemed by the adjudicator(s) to be obscene or disruptive may
receive lower ratings or, in some extreme cases, may result in disqualification.
6. If your film receives an overall accomplished rating at the state level, you may upload your film to YouTube for
national judging.
7. Mark your video’s YouTube privacy settings as either Public or Unlisted so the URL can be shared with judges
(do not select Private or the judges will be unable to view your film).
8. Use the form at schooltheatre.org/shortfilmsubmission to submit the URL of your video on YouTube. All of the
fields are required.
9. The films will be viewed and critiqued by the judges prior to the Thespian Festival.
10. At the Thespian Festival the film will be shown in a teaching workshop. The film will stand alone, i.e. the entrant
will not have to make any type of presentation. The film will be discussed and openly critiqued by one of the
judges. At that time the entrant will be given his/her critique sheets that were completed by all the judges.
