thesFest PerformanceS
LICENSING & CENSORSHIP POLICY
The State Board fully supports ethical use of licensed material. Failure to comply with the licensing agreement can result in possible legal and/or State Conference consequences.
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. We rely on each director’s discretion and professionalism to screen your work. We are aware that what is acceptable in one school district may be found totally inappropriate in another. Therefore, we ask that directors consider carefully the language and content of anything they plan to perform at the Conference, remembering that we are mainly composed of knowledgeable, but impressionable, students ages 13 and up, 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. In addition, where questionable language, action, or theme will be presented, a warning must be given with the program notes and play introduction.
NOTE: If there is any doubt as to the content, language or depiction of the material in a show, it is the troupe director’s responsibility to err on the side of caution. If a troupe director cannot self-edit the show (or do not have permission to do so by the publishing company) then the show choice is not appropriate for the State Conference. The State Board reserves the right to enact consequences for a failure to abide by these guidelines.
PERFORMANCES AT STATE CONFERENCE
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.
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.
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.
Reminder: The choice of play should be appropriate for all students attending. Where ‘edgy’ or questionable language or action will be presented, a warning must be given with your program notes.
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 troupe must have already attended the PA Thespian Conference.
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. Please remember that the playwright is also an artist and deserves to be paid for his/her art.
The State Board fully supports ethical use of licensed material. Failure to comply with the licensing agreement can result in possible legal and/or State Conference consequences.
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. We rely on each director’s discretion and professionalism to screen your work. We are aware that what is acceptable in one school district may be found totally inappropriate in another. Therefore, we ask that directors consider carefully the language and content of anything they plan to perform at the Conference, remembering that we are mainly composed of knowledgeable, but impressionable, students ages 13 and up, 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. In addition, where questionable language, action, or theme will be presented, a warning must be given with the program notes and play introduction.
NOTE: If there is any doubt as to the content, language or depiction of the material in a show, it is the troupe director’s responsibility to err on the side of caution. If a troupe director cannot self-edit the show (or do not have permission to do so by the publishing company) then the show choice is not appropriate for the State Conference. The State Board reserves the right to enact consequences for a failure to abide by these guidelines.
PERFORMANCES AT STATE CONFERENCE
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.
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.
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.
Reminder: The choice of play should be appropriate for all students attending. Where ‘edgy’ or questionable language or action will be presented, a warning must be given with your program notes.
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 troupe must have already attended the PA Thespian Conference.
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. Please remember that the playwright is also an artist and deserves to be paid for his/her art.