PA THESPIAN STATE CONFERENCE
is the place you need to be to see the talent, drive, and work ethic of our Pennsylvania artists!
PA Thespians is happy to offer many ways that college and university representatives can interact with our students and network with theatre educators from all over the state.
College and University Representatives
Join our SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS AND
COLLEGE SHOWCASE!
Gain access to senior and junior students auditioning for Performance and Technical Scholarships.
Collegiate and University Reps are invited to sit in on both the senior scholarship auditions and the junior college showcase. Students will audition and deliver technical presentations live on-site, and can be contacted through their Sponsors while at conference. Seniors will be judged in the audition room, but the Junior College Showcase is set up for college reps alone to view the performance auditions and technical portfolio presentations by our grade 11 students.
About two weeks prior to the conference, you will be sent the applications from all students in the above programs. After the conference, we will also share the recordings of their auditions/presentations which will be recorded live during the event. We invite you to offer scholarships/awards, and to contact the students via email to meet them or remain in contact. Students will submit all materials through OpenWater.
With almost a thousand students attending our conference, we would absolutely LOVE to take advantage of your vast knowledge and experience in our WORKSHOPS. We are always in need of professional theatre artists to share their crafts with our students both in performance and in technical theatre. Workshop presenters receive a $350.00 stipend if they teach THREE of the same workshop- one in each session. Please click on our WORKSHOP PRESENTER INFORMATION to submit a proposal for a workshop!
Teach a WORKSHOP!
Accepting Proposals starting September 1, 2026.
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Become an Event SPONSOR!
See the sponsorship page on this site for more details.
PA Thespians is looking to expand our conference to more schools in the state at both the high school and middle school levels. Generations of artists, performers, musicians, and technicians need access to quality theatrical performances, workshops, and state recognition to bring back to their schools. PA Thespians troupes across the state are actively supporting THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS projects and advocating for arts education. Large sponsorships can help fund new programming and activities at the conference and offset the increasing costs of travel and production to create an equitable environment for all.
It would be
if you joined us
at PA THESpian STATE CONFERENCE 2026!
Showcase your schools while we showcase ours.
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Bring a Table Display for our Exhibitors' Space
PA Thespians is happy to offer a common area for collegiate and university reps to set up tables with materials, information, and displays. Please bring whatever technology and accessories you need with you, as the conference has limited resources on site. Exhibit time will open Friday night and be available throughout the weekend until Sunday afternoon. You will be able to set up your display Friday afternoon.
Drop by our Technical Challenge and Events
Students interested in technical theatre will participate in one of FOUR technical events on campus this year. Technical Challenge will showcase students' stage technical abilities in a competition format in the Black Box Theatre Area. Hair and Makeup Challenge, Set Design Challenge, and, new this year, our Mini-Mannequin Costume Design Challenge are great places to watch kids work and interact with potential technical students.
Network with PA Theatre Teachers
We are bringing back the MEET & GREET this year at the conference, where sponsors will have an opportunity to interact with the PA Thespian Governing Board members and mingle! We will encourage our adult chaperones to visit your tables during breaks and meal times, but you are also encouraged to attend the meet and greet to interact with our theatre educators. Each troupe will have a "mailbox" for distribution of any materials as well.
Judge THESPYS and access even more PA Talent.
The Thespys process is an additional adjudication process that allows students entry to the Chapter Select Process at the International Thespian CONFERENCE. Judges are given a stipend to score and respond to the students' submissions using the national rubric system set up by EdTA in Openwater. Judging is done from home, virtually, and is another great way to see the work of our students up close and network with potential candidates for your programs. Please contact chapterdirector@pathespians.org to express interest in judging.
Fees and Clearances
Representatives pay a $100 in-person fee per institution, payable to PA THESPIANS (this includes a table space in our common area).
There is a $75 virtual option for college and university reps that cannot attend in person.
Contact Chapter Director, Melissa Mintzer at
chapterdirector@pathespians.org to be emailed an invoice through Square for payment.
Our W-9 is available here.
For those who will attend in-person, we ask that you complete this college/individual registration form to collect necessary information for name badges and the Trak-1 process below.
TRAK-1 BACKGROUND CHECK - ALL Adults (Workshop Presenters, College Reps, Chaperones & Troupe Directors - any non-student) need to have a background check. You will receive an email with the application link. Please complete that ASAP. This background check is being done for and paid for by PA Thespians. This is separate from whatever school districts or colleges may require for adults.
“I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist... Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” -John Steinbeck