Ready to showcase your best work and take the next step in your theatre journey? Follow these steps to participate in the Thespys:
1. Check your eligibility.
The Thespy Awards are open to all inducted Thespians and Junior Thespians.
If you are not yet inducted into the International Thespian Society but are on track to be before the International Thespian Festival registration deadline, you are eligible to enter.
2. Choose your category, read the rules, and prepare your material
Explore the Thespy categories and find the one where you and your teacher feel you can truly shine.
- Review both the category-specific rules and the Official Thespy Rulebook carefully.
- Select an approved performance or technical piece that highlights your strengths.
- Rehearse often, ideally in front of teachers, coaches, and peers, so you can refine your work and feel confident under pressure.
This is your time to showcase your best craft!
3. Present your entry at a Qualifying Event.
Next, register for a Thespy Qualifying Event in your area.
Each EdTA chapter manages their events a little differently, so be sure to check your chapter’s specific guidelines. Qualifying Event information is posted on the EdTA Events Calendar as it’s received from chapter leaders.
Can’t attend a local event? Don’t worry—there’s also an Alternate Qualifying Event, held digitally by EdTA, to ensure everyone has a chance to participate.
4. Receive your rating and feedback.
After your presentation, you’ll receive both a rating (Superior, Excellent, Good, or Fair) and valuable feedback from adjudicators.
- A Superior rating is required to advance to the International Thespian Festival finals (pending a quick screening to ensure the material meets approved criteria).
- Even if you don’t advance, the feedback you receive will help you grow and improve your skills for future performances.
5. Register for the Finals at the International Thespian Festival.
You may bring one entry per category you qualified in, and it must be the same material you presented at the Qualifying Event—though you’re encouraged to continue refining it!
In-Person Participants
If you’re attending ITF in person, you’ll need to have your troupe director (or other ITF Primary Adult Leader):
- Register you for ITF
- Add Thespys participation during registration
- Complete all required Thespy sections of registration
Virtual Participants
If you can’t attend in person, you can still participate! Virtual adjudication is available so all qualified finalists have a chance to be evaluated and potentially win a Thespy Award.
Your troupe director/adult contact will:
- Register you using the Virtual Programs ITF Registration Form
- Submit a Virtual Thespys Adjudication Form along with a video of your performance or presentation
More details about registering for the final round – both in-person and virtual – will be shared here when ITF registration opens in 2027.
Register for ITF by May 13, 2026. Thespy Adjudication Forms (to be completed after registering) are due May 27.
Adjudication forms must be completed by the Primary Adult Leader (PAL) by May 27. Note that all adjudication forms will be matched against an ITF registration. Adjudication forms with no matching registration will not be accepted. Register for ITF before submitting your adjudication form.
Adjudication forms must be completed by the Primary Adult Leader (PAL) or adult contact by May 27. Note that all adjudication forms will be matched against a registration. Adjudication forms with no matching registration will not be accepted. Register before submitting your adjudication form.
6. Refine your entry to excel on the rubric.
It’s important to keep working on your entry, applying learnings from the adjudicators’ feedback. This is how you stretch and grow your skills. If you didn’t qualify to move on, use the feedback as you continue to work in your field at school or in your community. There will come a time when you get to apply what you’ve learned in the future!
7. Present your entry again in the Finals.
At ITF, your entry will be adjudicated once more.
- Most categories are presented in person during the festival, unless virtual participation was selected.
- Playwriting and Short Film are exceptions – entries in those categories are always adjudicated digitally prior to ITF so adjudicators have enough time to review and provide thoughtful feedback.
After finals, scores and feedback are sent to the Primary Adult Leader who submitted your registration, and they’ll share your results with you.
8. Celebrate at ITF!
At the International Thespian Festival, all Superior-rated Thespians are celebrated for their achievement, and the highest-scoring students in each category are the Thespy Award Winners, the highest honor for student achievement in theatre.
You may also be selected to perform or present in one of the special Thespy Showcases, where your work will be shared with the entire ITF community.
Why It Matters
The Thespy Awards are more than a competition—they’re a journey of growth, creativity, and collaboration. They give you the chance to set goals, receive feedback from theatre professionals, and elevate your skills to new levels.
The future of theatre shines at ITF. And the Thespy Awards are proof of the extraordinary talent, dedication, and artistry you bring to the craft. Whether you’re stepping onto the stage, designing behind the scenes, or telling a story through film or writing, your work matters.
We can’t wait to see what you create.
The Thespy Awards are presented by
