Secondary School Theatre Festival

The Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) will produce its first Secondary School VIRTUAL Theatre Festival by offering a 10-Minute Play Competition.
SETC will host the Festival, which will run exclusively on a virtual convention platform March 3-7, 2021.  This year’s Festival will allow greater opportunity to accommodate more Secondary Schools to participate than ever before, both in the 10-state southeast region and nationwide. SETC is increasing the total number of participating productions to a maximum of 200.

How can I view the festival performances?

Each convention participant will receive a link to log in to the convention platform. Once in, look for the “Festivals” tab. A drop-down menu will appear with options to connect to all the available festivals via galleries. You will be able to watch the shows via the festival gallery pages from Wednesday, March 3, until Wednesday, March 31.

How do the galleries work?

The galleries contain on-demand videos entered in the festivals. Once you select a festival, you can choose a pre-recorded show to watch by clicking on the name of a producing organization. A new page will open with the recording of the selected organization’s production.

Fees

Fees
$80
Organizational Membership
$80
Per Teacher – Adult Membership
$45
Per Student – Student Membership

Deadline
Feb. 18, 2021
Includes obtaining organizational membership, individual memberships, and submitting performance recording

What’s changed?

  • Schools will create an original work, devised piece, or adaptation of a piece from the public domain
  • Traditional forty-five minute one-acts will not be accepted
  • Adjudicators will review all submissions prior to the week of convention and choose a top 8 from in-region and top 8 from out of region
    • These 16 shows will be shown via a featured virtual session during the SETC convention March 3-7
    • Adjudicators will score based on the following criteria on a 1-5 Likert scale:
      • Dramatic Structure
      • Acting, Vocal Work, Physical Choices
      • Production Design
      • Direction
      • Overall creativity, relevance, and impact of the production
    • Adjudicators will also select:
      • Best Production Design
      • Best Ensemble
      • Two awards for Supporting Performer
      • Two awards for Best Performer
    • Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony

Please note:

  • The festival will be open submission
  • For this year, schools will not have to be passed through a state’s festival to participate
  • All participants must be current students within the school program
  • Secondary Festival chair and vice-chair select 3 individuals to serve as adjudicators

Adjudication

Each production will be rated 1-5 in the following areas:

  • Dramatic Structure
  • Acting, Vocal Work, Physical Choices
  • Production Design
  • Direction
  • Overall Creativity, Relevance, and Impact

Guidelines & Fees

Fees
$80
Organizational Membership
$80
Per Teacher – Adult Membership
$45
Per Student – Student Membership

Deadline
Feb. 18, 2021
Includes obtaining organizational membership, individual memberships, and submitting performance recording

Guidelines
Submission must be
  • between 8 and 10 minutes in length
  • an original work, devised piece, or adaptation of a piece from the public domain
  • have a clear dramatic arc
  • rendered as one of the following file types: .MOV, .AVI, .MP4, or .MKV
  • single camera (does not have to be static) and editing is allowed
  • can be shot anywhere … does not have to be shot in (on) a stage or with an audience
  • school name, city, and state slated verbally at beginning or added to video in print
  • credits are not necessary, but welcome and should be included in the time limit
  • copyright protected and published works are not permitted
  • school is responsible to clear any music licenses or royalties
  • parent/guardian permision/release for student participation will be required
  • adjudication rubric will be available for review before production
  • school may submit up to two 10-minute productions
  • produced in accordance with your school’s required COVID protocols

BENEFITS TO PARTICIPATION

  • All schools will have access to the 200 productions during Convention and one week after.
  • All schools will receive three adjudication forms with comments.
  • All schools are invited to attend the featured session/award ceremony with the top 16 schools.
  • All participants will have full access to the 200+ Convention events (all virtual) including a special keynote geared toward high school students.
  • All participants will receive a one-year SETC Membership which includes SETC News, Southern Theatre magazine, and the Annual College, University, & Training Program Directory.
  • For an additional fee of $20, students will have access to a one-stop-shop gallery of several college/university theatre programs where they will be able to upload audition video and other materials for recruitment.

Guidelines

Submission must be

  • between 8 and 10 minutes in length
  • an original work, devised piece, or adaptation of a piece from the public domain
  • have a clear dramatic arc
  • rendered as one of the following file types: .MOV, .AVI, .MP4, or .MKV
  • single camera (does not have to be static) and editing is allowed
  • can be shot anywhere … does not have to be shot in (on) a stage or with an audience
  • school name, city, and state slated verbally at beginning or added to video in print
  • credits are not necessary, but welcome and should be included in the time limit
  • copyright protected and published works are not permitted
  • school is responsible to clear any music licenses or royalties
  • parent/guardian permision/release for student participation will be required
  • adjudication rubric will be available for review before production
  • school may submit up to two 10-minute productions
  • produced in accordance with your school’s required COVID protocols

Convention Sponsor

Sponsors

Convention Sponsor

Sponsors