College and Thespian Scholarship Auditions
The Thespian Festival offers students an outstanding opportunity to pave the road to their future. At the Festival, all students will have time to meet with colleges and universities. Graduating thespians have the opportunity to earn a thespian scholarship and/or college scholarship to apply toward college tuition.
Up to three $1,000 Iowa Thespian scholarships may be awarded to student thespians at Festival to students who plan to major or minor in the communicative arts (theatre, film, radio & television, broadcasting, music, or dance) and/or an education major in one of said fields. A Theatre for Life Scholarship to be awarded to a non-communicative arts major who will use skills learned from theatre in their future career is “under construction” for 2017 and not available at this time.
At the Iowa Thespian Festival, we have combined both the annual Thespian scholarship ($1,000 scholarships given to three participants) and college auditions. Therefore, ONE AUDITION WILL PROVIDE YOU MANY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES! The fee for participating in College/Thespian Scholarship Auditions is $25.00.
Please remember: a scholarship candidate is not fully registered for Festival until they have submitted all documents AND been registered by their Troupe Director on through the online registration system. Incomplete submissions will not be scheduled.
If you have any questions about the scholarship auditions, contact Bill Myatt at myattw@pleasval.k12.ia.us.
For both college and Thespian scholarship auditions, Troupe Directors must register their student through our online registration system. In addition, students must complete the online scholarship registration. To receive the Thespian scholarship, students must have been inducted into the International Thespian Society by October 10 of their senior year. Applications are only considered complete if the Troupe Director has completed the online registration AND the student has completed the scholarship registration by the registration deadline (October 10, 2017). * Only 2018 graduates are eligible to audition for the College and Thespian Scholarships.
For the Thespian scholarship, applicants MUST select which of the scholarships she/he is applying for: PERFORMANCE, TECHNICAL, or THEATRE EDUCATOR
Audition Schedule
Students who have completed the online scholarship registration will be scheduled an audition time on Saturday morning between 8:00–10:00 AM. This schedule will be posted on our website and emailed to Troupe Directors prior to Festival. Following the initial auditions, the Thespian Scholarship Selection Committee will post a callback list on Saturday at noon. Callbacks for the Thespian Scholarships will be held on Saturday afternoon with a new Selection Committee. The Thespian Scholarships will be announced during closing ceremonies in the GBPAC. College representatives may ask to see candidates a second time. These meetings should happen throughout Saturday afternoon of Festival. Colleges may or may not announce scholarship recipients during the closing ceremonies on Saturday evening.
Audition Tips
Performance Audition Guidelines
Students should showcase their best two-minutes of performance. This could be a two-minute monologue or song, two contrasting one-minute monologues or songs, or one song and one monologue. The performance area will be approximately 5’x5’. No special lighting will be available. One straight back chair will be provided. You may not use additional set pieces or hand props. Costumes are not permitted.
Musical auditions must include pre-recorded accompaniment (NO LIVE INSTRUMENTATION WILL BE ALLOWED). You may have one person (student or adult) play the music for your performance. Please bring your own CD PLAYER! This will help ensure your CD works with the CD PLAYER.
There will NOT be a question and answer session during the initial performance audition. However, if you receive a callback for the Iowa Thespian Scholarship, each performer will re-perform AND have a brief question/answer session with the Selection Committee.
Technical Presentation Auditions
Each student auditioning in the area of technical theatre MUST prepare a portfolio that illustrates his or her expertise in technical theatre. Recommended content includes renderings, sketches, models, and/or illustrations of scenic or costume designs, light plots, drafting, blueprints, and/or photographs of design work. If you are interested in stage management, publicity, or theatre administration, include production journals, prompt books, or marketing materials in your portfolio.
Please begin your presentation with an introduction (name and school). Your presentation should be a concise explanation of your portfolio. Time will be called if you exceed five minutes.
Theatre Educator
Applicants must include an essay addressing two of the three following topics in his or her application. Submit this essay with your online scholarship registration. The topics to choose from include (CHOOSE TWO):
Please begin your presentation with an introduction (name and school). Your presentation should be a concise explanation of your desire to be a Theatre Educator. The presentation may include a description of your past work and future goals. The presentation should NOT simply restate your essays. However, you MAY include themes or ideas from your essays in your presentation. Time will be called if you exceed five minutes.
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Up to three $1,000 Iowa Thespian scholarships may be awarded to student thespians at Festival to students who plan to major or minor in the communicative arts (theatre, film, radio & television, broadcasting, music, or dance) and/or an education major in one of said fields. A Theatre for Life Scholarship to be awarded to a non-communicative arts major who will use skills learned from theatre in their future career is “under construction” for 2017 and not available at this time.
At the Iowa Thespian Festival, we have combined both the annual Thespian scholarship ($1,000 scholarships given to three participants) and college auditions. Therefore, ONE AUDITION WILL PROVIDE YOU MANY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES! The fee for participating in College/Thespian Scholarship Auditions is $25.00.
- All students wishing to audition for scholarships must be registered through the online Festival registration system. The cost for a scholarship audition is $25, which will be included in your school's invoice.
- Share the audition information from the Festival Guide with your scholarship candidate(s).
- Have your students submit their scholarship documents (resume, headshot, Troupe Director Recommendation form) via the Scholarship Audition Registration. These are required and must be submitted prior to your student being scheduled for an audition. Please follow the samples on the Scholarship Audition Application page.
- Practice with your student! The best way for students to prepare is for you to share your experience and knowledge with them!
- An audition schedule will be posted on the Iowa Thespians website and shared with troupe directors prior to Festival.
- Scholarship candidates MUST attend the “College Meet and Greet” activity on the Friday night of Festival. The meet and greet will give students the opportunity to talk with all of the college representatives that are attending Festival. This is a required activity for the student to qualify for scholarship awards. If a candidate has a conflict, contact Bill Myatt (myattw@pleasval.k12.ia.us) before Festival.
Please remember: a scholarship candidate is not fully registered for Festival until they have submitted all documents AND been registered by their Troupe Director on through the online registration system. Incomplete submissions will not be scheduled.
If you have any questions about the scholarship auditions, contact Bill Myatt at myattw@pleasval.k12.ia.us.
For both college and Thespian scholarship auditions, Troupe Directors must register their student through our online registration system. In addition, students must complete the online scholarship registration. To receive the Thespian scholarship, students must have been inducted into the International Thespian Society by October 10 of their senior year. Applications are only considered complete if the Troupe Director has completed the online registration AND the student has completed the scholarship registration by the registration deadline (October 10, 2017). * Only 2018 graduates are eligible to audition for the College and Thespian Scholarships.
For the Thespian scholarship, applicants MUST select which of the scholarships she/he is applying for: PERFORMANCE, TECHNICAL, or THEATRE EDUCATOR
Audition Schedule
Students who have completed the online scholarship registration will be scheduled an audition time on Saturday morning between 8:00–10:00 AM. This schedule will be posted on our website and emailed to Troupe Directors prior to Festival. Following the initial auditions, the Thespian Scholarship Selection Committee will post a callback list on Saturday at noon. Callbacks for the Thespian Scholarships will be held on Saturday afternoon with a new Selection Committee. The Thespian Scholarships will be announced during closing ceremonies in the GBPAC. College representatives may ask to see candidates a second time. These meetings should happen throughout Saturday afternoon of Festival. Colleges may or may not announce scholarship recipients during the closing ceremonies on Saturday evening.
Audition Tips
- Be prepared and arrive early! Arrive at your audition session at least 10 minutes early.
- Make a good impression by dressing professionally and being prepared.
- Also, don’t forget any presentation aids for technical presentations.
- All auditions must be solo presentations or performances. (Another individual may assist by beginning a music track, if necessary).
- When preparing monologues, consider avoiding selections with dialects/accents.
- Practice, practice, practice! The more prepared you are, the more successful you will be!
- There will not be an interview in the initial audition. Callbacks will include an interview with the selection committee.
Performance Audition Guidelines
- Applicants will be given a two-minute time limit for performance auditions.
- All performances must be solo presentations.
- You will be asked to begin with an introduction (name; school; name of selections) and then your two minutes will begin.
- The introduction is not included in your time limit. Time will be called if students exceed the two-minute time limit.
- You will not receive written or oral critiques from the college representatives or the Thespian Scholarship Selection Committee.
Students should showcase their best two-minutes of performance. This could be a two-minute monologue or song, two contrasting one-minute monologues or songs, or one song and one monologue. The performance area will be approximately 5’x5’. No special lighting will be available. One straight back chair will be provided. You may not use additional set pieces or hand props. Costumes are not permitted.
Musical auditions must include pre-recorded accompaniment (NO LIVE INSTRUMENTATION WILL BE ALLOWED). You may have one person (student or adult) play the music for your performance. Please bring your own CD PLAYER! This will help ensure your CD works with the CD PLAYER.
There will NOT be a question and answer session during the initial performance audition. However, if you receive a callback for the Iowa Thespian Scholarship, each performer will re-perform AND have a brief question/answer session with the Selection Committee.
Technical Presentation Auditions
- Applicants will be given a five-minute time limit on technical auditions.
- Please prepare a presentation showcasing your technical expertise to share with the college representatives and the Iowa Thespian Scholarship Selection Committee.
- Students must provide their own presentation aides.
- If you are planning to show a PowerPoint presentation, please use Microsoft PowerPoint – any other format may not be compatible with the computer provided.
- Power outlets are available in the audition room.
- Poster boards, photos, or other exhibition materials are encouraged.
Each student auditioning in the area of technical theatre MUST prepare a portfolio that illustrates his or her expertise in technical theatre. Recommended content includes renderings, sketches, models, and/or illustrations of scenic or costume designs, light plots, drafting, blueprints, and/or photographs of design work. If you are interested in stage management, publicity, or theatre administration, include production journals, prompt books, or marketing materials in your portfolio.
Please begin your presentation with an introduction (name and school). Your presentation should be a concise explanation of your portfolio. Time will be called if you exceed five minutes.
Theatre Educator
- Applicants will be given a five-minute time limit on Theatre Educator auditions.
- Please prepare a presentation showcasing your desire to become a Theatre Educator to share with the college representatives and the Iowa Thespian Scholarships Selection Committee.
- Students must provide their own presentation aides, including laptops to show video or PowerPoint presentations. Power outlets are available in the audition room.
- Poster boards, photos, or other exhibition materials are encouraged.
Applicants must include an essay addressing two of the three following topics in his or her application. Submit this essay with your online scholarship registration. The topics to choose from include (CHOOSE TWO):
- Describe your most inspirational teacher.
- Describe why you want to be a theatre teacher.
- Describe what you feel is the most important issue facing high school theatre today.
Please begin your presentation with an introduction (name and school). Your presentation should be a concise explanation of your desire to be a Theatre Educator. The presentation may include a description of your past work and future goals. The presentation should NOT simply restate your essays. However, you MAY include themes or ideas from your essays in your presentation. Time will be called if you exceed five minutes.
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If you are interested in participating in the College/Thespian Scholarship Auditions, click here to complete your online registration
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