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.

Schools who would like to participate in the 2021 Secondary Schools Festival are required to fill out the application below. After SETC confirms your application, you will recieve an emailed link to a special convention registration form

SECONDARY SCHOOL FESTIVAL APPLICATION

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. 11, 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.