PERFORMANCES AT PA THESFEST
The State Conference tries to give as many schools as possible an opportunity to perform in either a one-act or full length main stage play. In order to be eligible to apply to perform a Main Stage - the director and troupe must have already presented a One Act at the PA Thespian Conference. In order to be eligible to perform a One Act - a director and the troupe must have already attended the PA Thespian Conference.
Troupes are responsible for all costs associated with bringing a show to present at Conference. Please read over the guidelines for Main Stages and One Acts if you are interested in presenting. An Affidavit of Royalty payment MUST be submitted in the fall or you will not be allowed to perform. ANY changes you wish to make to the script (lines, casting, etc) MUST have been requested for through the publishing company and that permission letter must be sent to the Chapter Director by early Nov or you will not be permitted to perform.
All requests will be evaluated on multiple factors (previous requests, previous work, type of show, etc). Names will be put in a hat and drawn at random after the requests are evaluated.
Main Stage performances must fit in a 2 and a 1/2 hour slot (including intermission). You have 2 hours to set up your show (EVERYTHING must be done in this 2 hour time segment) and 1 hour to Strike (EVERYTHING cleaned up and back into the truck). We anticipate at least 3 Main Stage slots (maybe 4). If you want to apply for a Main Stage slot, you will almost need to have your own transportation.
One Acts have 45 minutes to set up, perform, strike. One Act shows should be in the 20-30 minute time frame. Most of the One Act slots will be in a recital hall or the main theater. Do not plan on much of a set. You will need to carry into the space whatever you need. Lighting will be basic and there will be no mics.
Reminder: The choice of play should be appropriate for all students attending. Where questionable language or action will be presented, a warning should be given with your program notes.
Please Take note: This is an opportunity for you to highlight the work of your students and to present high quality high school theatre targeted to an audience of 13-18 year olds. The State Board does not feel that it is their function to act as a censor in determining what is or what is not appropriate to perform at the State Conference. Since we do not have a screening process for the shows, we need you to take this responsibility very seriously. We are aware that what is acceptable in one school district may be found totally inappropriate in another. Therefore, we ask that directors carefully consider the language and content of anything they plan to perform at the Conference, remembering that the conference is composed of knowledgeable, but impressionable, students ages 13-18, with a thirst for quality theatre. A troupe should not perform anything at conference that would not be acceptable on their own stage and that has not been performed before a home audience. If there is any doubt as to the content, language or depiction of the material in your show, it is your responsibility to err on the side of caution. If you cannot self-edit the show (or are not allowed by the publishing company/author to do so) then the show choice is not appropriate for the State Conference.
ANY changes you wish to make to the script (lines, casting, etc) MUST have been requested for through the publishing company and that permission letter must be sent to the Chapter Director by the Fall Board meeting or you will not be permitted to perform.
We recognize there is a significant expense to bring a Main Stage show to perform at the Conference. Schools that do so will receive a stipend to assist in those expenses.
Selection process: Schools will be asked to submit a performance request in the spring. After the board has decided how many performance slots will be available for the conference, the schools requesting a performance slot will be chosen.
- if a school has performed in the past and there were problems with content or other issues, the board may take that into account when choosing to offer that school a performance slot.
- the host school gets a performance slot if they are interested.
- if the school requested a main stage slot and did not get a slot the previous year, they get first consideration for a slot this year.
- the board may take into account the type of show (comedy, drama, musical, etc) in order to balance the performance offerings. The name of the show is required by September 1st.
- if there are more requests than slots, the schools interested will be drawn from a hat.
- schools may request both a full length and a one act slot, but if not chosen for a main stage slot they lose the 'previous year denial' provision the following year.
APPLICATION FOR BOTH ONE ACT AND MAINSTAGE
ROYALTIES
Each school/troupe is responsible for any royalties for your performances of One Acts or Main Stage productions at the PA State Conference. An Affidavit of Proof of royalty payment must be completed.
The State Conference tries to give as many schools as possible an opportunity to perform in either a one-act or full length main stage play. In order to be eligible to apply to perform a Main Stage - the director and troupe must have already presented a One Act at the PA Thespian Conference. In order to be eligible to perform a One Act - a director and the troupe must have already attended the PA Thespian Conference.
Troupes are responsible for all costs associated with bringing a show to present at Conference. Please read over the guidelines for Main Stages and One Acts if you are interested in presenting. An Affidavit of Royalty payment MUST be submitted in the fall or you will not be allowed to perform. ANY changes you wish to make to the script (lines, casting, etc) MUST have been requested for through the publishing company and that permission letter must be sent to the Chapter Director by early Nov or you will not be permitted to perform.
All requests will be evaluated on multiple factors (previous requests, previous work, type of show, etc). Names will be put in a hat and drawn at random after the requests are evaluated.
Main Stage performances must fit in a 2 and a 1/2 hour slot (including intermission). You have 2 hours to set up your show (EVERYTHING must be done in this 2 hour time segment) and 1 hour to Strike (EVERYTHING cleaned up and back into the truck). We anticipate at least 3 Main Stage slots (maybe 4). If you want to apply for a Main Stage slot, you will almost need to have your own transportation.
One Acts have 45 minutes to set up, perform, strike. One Act shows should be in the 20-30 minute time frame. Most of the One Act slots will be in a recital hall or the main theater. Do not plan on much of a set. You will need to carry into the space whatever you need. Lighting will be basic and there will be no mics.
Reminder: The choice of play should be appropriate for all students attending. Where questionable language or action will be presented, a warning should be given with your program notes.
Please Take note: This is an opportunity for you to highlight the work of your students and to present high quality high school theatre targeted to an audience of 13-18 year olds. The State Board does not feel that it is their function to act as a censor in determining what is or what is not appropriate to perform at the State Conference. Since we do not have a screening process for the shows, we need you to take this responsibility very seriously. We are aware that what is acceptable in one school district may be found totally inappropriate in another. Therefore, we ask that directors carefully consider the language and content of anything they plan to perform at the Conference, remembering that the conference is composed of knowledgeable, but impressionable, students ages 13-18, with a thirst for quality theatre. A troupe should not perform anything at conference that would not be acceptable on their own stage and that has not been performed before a home audience. If there is any doubt as to the content, language or depiction of the material in your show, it is your responsibility to err on the side of caution. If you cannot self-edit the show (or are not allowed by the publishing company/author to do so) then the show choice is not appropriate for the State Conference.
ANY changes you wish to make to the script (lines, casting, etc) MUST have been requested for through the publishing company and that permission letter must be sent to the Chapter Director by the Fall Board meeting or you will not be permitted to perform.
We recognize there is a significant expense to bring a Main Stage show to perform at the Conference. Schools that do so will receive a stipend to assist in those expenses.
Selection process: Schools will be asked to submit a performance request in the spring. After the board has decided how many performance slots will be available for the conference, the schools requesting a performance slot will be chosen.
- if a school has performed in the past and there were problems with content or other issues, the board may take that into account when choosing to offer that school a performance slot.
- the host school gets a performance slot if they are interested.
- if the school requested a main stage slot and did not get a slot the previous year, they get first consideration for a slot this year.
- the board may take into account the type of show (comedy, drama, musical, etc) in order to balance the performance offerings. The name of the show is required by September 1st.
- if there are more requests than slots, the schools interested will be drawn from a hat.
- schools may request both a full length and a one act slot, but if not chosen for a main stage slot they lose the 'previous year denial' provision the following year.
APPLICATION FOR BOTH ONE ACT AND MAINSTAGE
- A school may apply for both one act and mainstage, but mainstage selection procedures will be followed first.
- If not chosen for mainstage, consideration for one act will be made AFTER one act only schools’ selection procedure is followed.
- If one act slots remain, the schools not chosen for mainstage will be in secondary random drawing to fill the remaining one act slots.
- Schools submitting both forfeit the automatic preference for one acts in the third one act bullet below.
- Preference will be given to titles that have not been performed for the past three years.
- Random draw at the spring board meeting will assign the available slots.
- Random draw will be sorted by category: drama, comedy, musical, etc. to maintain a well-balanced program. The name of the show is required by September 1st.
- Random draw at the spring board meeting will assign the spaces available.
- If selected, one act performers will submit $25 performance fee.
- Automatic Preference: Schools that apply for and are not chosen will receive preference for a one act performance slot the following year.
ROYALTIES
Each school/troupe is responsible for any royalties for your performances of One Acts or Main Stage productions at the PA State Conference. An Affidavit of Proof of royalty payment must be completed.