How can Junior Thespians participate in the Thespys®?
You may be wondering how the Thespy Awards program might benefit your Junior Thespians, since high schoolers comprise the bulk of Thespy participants. Junior Thespians absolutely can participate in the program!
Just like their high school counterparts, Junior Thespians must receive a Superior overall rating with approved material in a Qualifying Event to be eligible to participate in the final round of adjudications at the International Thespian Festival.
The FAQ below will help you forge a path so that your middle school students can ben successful in the Thespy Awards program.
Common Questions and Responses
My students are just starting their Thespian journey and are learning the basics.
Great! The Thespy rubrics can serve as amazing standards-based tools to help you focus on specific aspects of a performance or technical category. You can find those rubrics, as well as the skills measured, organized by category on the “Categories, Rules, and Rubrics” page.
My students have a unit that focuses on monologues. Could I use this for Thespys?
Yes! This is a great way to teach students to become “audition-ready.” There are two options in the Acting category that would be a good fit for this area: Monologue and Contrasting Monologues (which requires two pieces) both allow students to showcase performances of solo material from a published play(s) that doesn’t exceed three (3) minutes in total performance time.
My chapter doesn't have an opportunity for middle school students to qualify for the final round of Thespy adjudications at ITF. What should I do?
Sometimes, chapters don’t have opportunities for Junior Thespians to qualify to move on to the final round. If this is the case, your students can participate in the Alternate Qualifying Event. This virtual adjudication takes place in the spring. Check out details and some helpful tools on submitting digitally.
I can't find appropriate material for my middle school students.
Sometimes we feel like younger performers might not be able to handle certain material. It is important to remember that students must use material from published plays when participating in the Thespys. This is a great opportunity to lean on EdTA’s huge network of theatre teachers on our community Callboard. Take a moment to sign in and see what other teachers are doing, and ask for recommendations. The Callboard can be a valuable resource for you!
I would like to take my Junior Thespians to ITF so they can see what it's like. Can my students sit in on the Thespy Awards adjudication?
At ITF, the Thespy Awards adjudications take place in closed sessions. Audiences are not allowed. Reach out to your chapter director and inquire about policies at chapter qualifying events. Many chapter events open the process to audiences.
Have another question or concern? Reach out for support with your Junior Thespians.