Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register for this event?
First, Troupe Directors should download the handbook and read it completely.
- Make copies of the student code of conduct and health form pages to distribute to interested students along with an information page of the troupe’s travel and housing plans created by the troupe director.
- Contact one of the hotels on the list provided to reserve rooms for your troupe. Be sure to tell the hotel you are with “Iowa Thespians.” Some hotels are providing special conference rates for us.
- After collecting forms and funds from your students, enter all delegates information into the Excel spreadsheet.
Add rows for each attendee from your school. Each Troupe Director must complete the Excel spreadsheet listing all participants. List Troupe Director in the first row! Print a copy to keep, then email it to director@iowathespians.org.
- Troupe Directors must keep copies of all delegates health forms and code of conduct forms. Mail copies with registration fees. Hotel, additional meals, and transportation expenses are the responsibility of the Troupe Director and not Iowa Thespians.
What opportunities are available for my theater students?
All festival registered delegates will be expected to attend all four main stage performances and select from dozens of workshops throughout the two day event. In addition, students may register to participate in Individual Events, attend studio theater performances, register a Tech Challenge Team, visit college representatives to learn about their programs, and senior students can apply to audition for scholarship money.
What is a Delegate?
A delegate refers to any participant registered for Festival. There are four types of delegates:
- Troupe Director
- Chaperone
- High School Student/Thespian and non
- Chapter Board
Who is a Troupe Director?
Each school will have one “Troupe Director” that is ultimately responsible for anyone participating at Festival from their school. The Director is in charge of collecting money, filling out and submitting forms for registration (by the required due dates), making sure that their students are in compliance with the rules, and making sure that any students competing in individual events and/or scholarships are active inducted Thespian members. Directors must carry medical and emergency contact information with them for any student attending festival from their school. Directors must sit with their students during Main Stage Performances. They are ultimately responsible for the monitoring of both their students and chaperones throughout the festival, both on-campus and off.
Directors may watch Individual Events and attend workshops. No one is permitted to sit-in on the senior scholarship audition. Directors should inform other students, parents, and chaperones that they will not be permitted to watch any of the senior scholarship auditions.
In order to make this a great weekend for everyone involved, we are asking that every director be expected to take on a duty during the festival. Most of these involve supervision (such as monitoring one of the meal sessions) and will only take up a small amount of time. You will be informed of your festival responsibility (if any) at Friday’s registration. In exchange for all the work directors do, they are not charged for attending Festival.
Who is a Chaperone?
A chaperone is any adult that accompanies their school to Festival. Chaperones are responsible for monitoring any student from their school. They make sure students are participating actively in the Festival. They make sure students are being respectful of the space and one another and are expected to assist with activities back at the hotel. Chaperones pay a reduced rate and are able to watch any show or individual event as well as attend workshops.
The amount of chaperones a school brings is their choice; however, we recommend at least one chaperone for every 10 students.
In order to make this a great weekend for everyone involved, we are asking that every chaperone be expected to take on a duty during the festival. Most of these involve supervision (such as monitoring one of the meal sessions) and will only take up a small amount of time. You will be informed of your festival responsibility (if any) at Friday’s registration.
Who is a Student?
A student is any high school young adult attending festival. Any student is able to attend workshops, watch shows and watch individual events. Only students who have been inducted into the International Thespian Society are also able to compete in Individual Events. Seniors who are International Thespian members are able to compete in scholarship competitions in addition to competing in Individual Events.
Who is an Iowa Thespian Chapter Board member?
A Chapter Thespian Officer denotes the chosen student leaders of the Iowa Thespian organization. Applicants are interviewed at each Festival to be chosen for the following year. The Student Thespian Officers and their Troupe Director attend a minimum of six planning meetings throughout the year to prepare and organize the state wide event. ITCB students and their troupe directors are expected to attend the International Thespian Festival held in June each year. They also have many duties to perform over the course of the Festival. ITCB members have the chance to represent their school and state through their volunteer service to Thespians. Hotel, transportation, and additional meal expenses are the responsibility of the troupe.
How do I register my students for Individual events?
Read the IE section of the handbook. Work with your interested students to select materials from published works of theater and rehearse with them. Create a spreadsheet like the sample provided to list each participating student name and their entrance category. Complete the permission form for each entrant and be sure include $15 per entry in the registration fee totals. Include this total amount on your newly created spreadsheet, on the registration fee form, and on the excel registration spreadsheet.
How does a senior apply for a scholarship audition?
Big changes in the Thespian scholarship & college audition process this year! Previously, we have held separate audition sessions to accommodate each group’s individual needs. Our college representatives have asked to have access to all seniors who audition at the festival. We will combine both groups for a joint audition session on Friday immediately after the opening main stage performance. A team of Thespian sponsors will evaluate the audition performances/technical presentations and post a list of the individuals who will be called back on Saturday for another performance and interview session. The scholarship recipients will be selected from the callback list.
College representatives will view the Friday session and post individual callback lists for students they wish to see personally at their table in the GBPAC. Winners will be announced Saturday evening. College representatives will be given the opportunity to announce any scholarships awarded at that time.
Iowa Thespians will offer three $1,000 scholarships for graduating seniors who plan to major or minor in Theatre or Communication Arts.
To be eligible the student must present proof on their application of their active membership in the International Thespian Society. Students who are not active members are NOT eligible for scholarship consideration. Each troupe may have any number of seniors in the scholarship competition. A student may complete in the area of Performance, Technical Theatre or Theatre Education. Directors may silently view their own student’s Friday audition. No other students or adults (including parents) are permitted to watch Thespian auditions. Directors will be informed of student audition times when they register on Friday.
What is Tech Challenge and who can join?
Tech challenge is a series of events designed to test the skills that theatre technicians should have. Individual and team events in lighting, sound, costumes, props, and stage management test the skills of your team of 4-7 students against teams from other high schools around Iowa. The competitions stress both speed and precision, teamwork and individual effort, as all these are integral parts of working in the technical arts. Any student who is registered for the festival may enter. For more details see the Tech Challenge portion of the registration packet.
What is the typical festival schedule?
Plan to arrive Friday morning. Individual Events and studio theater one acts are planned for this time. Opening ceremony begins immediately after lunch which you purchase on campus and will be followed by a main stage performance; then more one acts. Friday dinner is included in the registration fee. Troupe Directors will attend a separate meal for directors only. Evening main stage begins after dinner, then off to your hotel. Saturday Breakfast is typically included at your hotel. Be back at UNI by 8 a.m. for morning main stage. Lunch is included in the registration fee and will als feature the IE showcase. The afternoon is full of workshops presented by professionals. Purchase dinner on campus from the many options provided. Evening main stage will get under way early evening followed by closing ceremonies.
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
Registration
Festival Director Lynn Jensen
Individual Events
Natalie Saunders
College Coordinator
Liz Hansen
Workshops
Katie Howard
Tech Challenge
Mike Hunter
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