The Iowa Thespian Festival provides over 1,000 Iowa high school students with a unique opportunity to gather in one place to see, perform, and celebrate theatre from around the state. Students will have the chance to view full-length performances from schools across the state, which will provide a means of seeing production values from a variety of different high school programs.
Additionally, students may select to participate in a variety of performance opportunities. Every student will have the chance to attend two of 30+ workshops taught by theatre professionals from around the state. Senior students will also have the option of auditioning in front of a panel of representatives from a variety of college theatre programs with the chance to earn scholarships for college.
Festival Dates: Friday, November 15 (depart early AM) - Saturday, November 16 (return late PM) Festival Location: University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa) Travel Information: Charter Bus Chaperones: Aaron Dean, Greg Ernzen, Megan Schumacher, and Tami Norton Accommodations: Super 8 by Wyndham Cedar Falls
Cost of Trip: $125 The cost of the trip includes ...
Hotel room
Meals (Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch)
Transportation to and from Festival
Festival T-Shirt
Entrance to all mainstage and studio theatre performances
Workshops with theatre professionals from across the country
Additional Charges (optional based on event participation)
Individual Thespy performances - $15
Group Thespy performances - $30 (not per person, per event - you can split this charge up amongst group members)
College/Thespian Scholarship Audition - free (if you complete 2 rehearsals with a director)
ImprovWorks - free!
PlayWorks - free!
Tech Challenge - free!
Other money needs for the trip include:
Money for dinner on return trip on Saturday night
Snacks
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS donations (optional)
What can students participate in at the festival? Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of events at the festival from individual and group performance events to technical events.
THESPY AWARD PERFORMANCES The Thespy program allows students to compete in various theatrical categories. The Iowa Thespian Festival provides students with the opportunity to receive constructive feedback on prepared theatrical material and technical designs. PERFORMANCE EVENTS:
Monologue
Duet Acting
Group Acting
Solo Musical Theatre
Duet Musical Theatre
Group Musical Theatre
Solo Musical Theatre Dance
Duet Musical Theatre Dance
Group Musical Theatre dance
TECHNICAL EVENTS:
Costume Construction
Costume Design
Lighting Design
Makeup Design
Scenic Design
Short Film
Sound Design
Stage Management
Theatre Marketing
Playwriting
For a complete list of descriptions, rules, and adjudication rubrics, visit the Iowa Thespian Festival website.
TECH CHALLENGE Tech Challenge is a series of events that are designed to test knowledge of basic theatre technician skills. The combination of team and individual events underline the principle that theatre technicians do not work alone; rather an ensemble working together to accomplish given tasks makes the production successful. Each troupe has the opportunity to register TWO Tech Challenge teams at Iowa Thespian Festival. Each event will be scored, and the winning Tech Challenge team will receive a special prize. Teams consisting of up to 8 people will participate in up to five team and individual events. With the exception of time allowances, rules and format for Tech Challenge are the same as those for International Thespian Festival. For more information, please go HERE for more information
IMPROVWORKS Students have the opportunity to participate in Group Improvisation as a part of a larger ImprovWorks Showcase. Students may participate in teams of 2-5 performers. Groups will draw prompts and have 3 minutes to prepare a 5 minute scene. This event is non-competitive as Improv is not a part of the Thespy Award program. To learn more about the Thespian ImprovWorks, visit their website HERE.
PLAYWORKS Students with a knack for writing are encouraged to participate in the second annual Iowa PlayWorks. Any Thespian from the state of Iowa is eligible to submit a play for Iowa PlayWorks. There are two components to the PlayWorks program:
PLAYWRITING (as part of the Thespy Award program): Active Thespians can compose a short one-act play (10-30 minutes) for competition in the Thespy Award program. Plays must be submitted online PRIOR to the Iowa Thespian Festival by September 20. Submitted plays will receive feedback. One play will be selected to be read at the Iowa Thespian Festival with a cast composed of students from across the state. To learn more about PlayWork expectations, check out the website HERE.
ALL-STAGE STAGED READING: Prior to festival, a cast of student actors from around the state will be selected to participate in the festival performance. During festival, the selected actors will work with a theatre professional to prepare for the performance. The staged reading will be performed for the full festival delegation on the Saturday of festival. If you are interested in performing in the staged reading, let Mr. Dean know during your registration.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 7:00am - Depart for UNI 9:00-9:30am - Arrive at University of Northern Iowa 9:30-11:30am - Opening Ceremonies and Mainstage #1 11:45-2:00pm - Iowa Thespian ImprovWorks, Lunch, and Student Leadership Lunch 2:00-5:00pm - Thespy Performances, Tech Challenge, and Studio Theatre Performances 5:00-7:45pm - Iowa Thespian PlayWorks and Dinner 8:00-10:30pm - Mainstage #2 11:00pm - Return to Hotel & Lights Out
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM - College/Thespian Scholarship Auditions 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM - Hall of Fame Presentation, Mainstage #3 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Lunch and Thespy Award Showcase 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Workshops and Scholarship Callbacks 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM - Mainstage #4 (THE REVOLUTIONISTS) & Closing Ceremonies 6:30 - 8:00 PM - Strike 8:00 PM - Depart for Dubuque with Dinner en route
