In the next month, Oregon Thespians statewide will begin preparing their participation in the 2014 State Festival:  EVERYONE’S A THESPIAN.  The State Festival is April 3-5 in Salem.  Opportunities abound, and the deadline to participate in almost all of them is MARCH 6TH!

Here is your “Before March 6th” To Do List:

• Register for State (this involves a lot, actually, including preparing a workshop or one-act, and organizing Tech entries).  Troupe Directors complete the online registration for state by clicking here to go to the registration site.  You can save your work and return to your registration any time before March 6.  Remember that seating in the Elsinore Theatre is determined in the order full payment is received.  The State Festival requires advance payment (before Spring Break).
• If you had entries qualify for the State Showcase Auditions at State on April 3, click here to confirm participation and to receive an audition time.
• Students!  Consider applying for an Oregon Thespians Scholarship.  Click here for Scholarship details.
• Students again!  Consider running for the position of State Thespian Officer (STO) working as part of the Thespian Board, planning and executing next year’s exciting roster of events and opportunities.  Click here for STO info.
• Troupe Directors!  Nominations are now open!  You can nominate yourself or others for one of the three Board positions that will be elected this year, or for Oregon’s career achievement award, The Melba Day Sparks Henning Award.  Click here to nominate someone online.
• Troupe Directors again!  Funding is available through the Melba Day Sparks Henning Fund to support your participation in the EdTA Annual Conference in July (this year in Cincinnati).  Click here for more information.
• Troupes!  Was there something about this year that made it special?  Did you face new challenges, contribute to new solutions, or otherwise focus your resource in a way above and beyond your typical success?  Apply for Honor Troupe by clicking here and preparing a presentation at State.

All of the above have an application/registration deadline of March 6 (this is a postmark deadline for any mailed items, online registration closes at midnight that night).

By Spring Break, remember to prepare your Parade of Troupes Powerpoint Slide, and submit your Theatre Etiquette Video.  Click the links for more information.

Stay tuned!  There’s no time to dance in the end zone following last weekend’s victories … the Adventure Continues!  Go to it!

OREGON is where it’s at in terms of High School Theatre this weekend!

Nearly 1500 Thespians will be gathering at three Regional locations this Saturday, February 1st, for the 2014 Oregon Thespians Regionals … the first step to the 2014 State Showcase Auditions!

Tournament Coordinators are busy planning the very full and complex events of each location’s day.  Remember that last-minute changes create some major challenges for those scheduling rooms, judges, and rounds.  Be ready to make this weekend’s event a celebration of the great work being done throughout the state!

If you must make changes to your original registration, contact your event coordinators as soon as possible!

REGISTER ONLINE FOR REGIONALS – Look through the information found here, and take a look through the Regionals SOP found here.  The registration deadline is THURSDAY, January 16.  Remember that students registered as Thespians need to be inducted Thespians and on EdTA’s roster before they are registered.

RECRUIT JUDGES– You can send prospective judges THIS LINK.  Each Troupe should be responsible for recruiting one judge for every 10 entries they’re bringing to the event.  Review the judge information found here, and get them to the Judge Training Day on Saturday, January 18.  We’d love to have judges registered by January 16 as well.

PLAYWRITING SUBMISSIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MONDAY, JANUARY 20 – Click Here!

Regionals sneak up fast following the Holidays (which are sneaking up fast right now … just two weeks to Thanksgiving and Hanukkah … yikes)!

The registration deadline is January 16.  THAT is definitely too late to begin gathering information.  Start laying the groundwork now, so after the Winter Break your Troupe can assemble and submit an accurate registration representing some fine and well-prepared work.  (Registration will be live beginning December 10.)

Take a look at the information here, including entry limits and guidelines, and get the ball rolling!  If you are planning to attend the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln in June (remember that you don’t “qualify” to attend this event, though you can qualify to participate in Individual Events there) you may wish to visit this site and pay particular attention to material selection (important resources are at the end of the NIES Guide).

Remember that Pantomime is an event in Oregon that is no longer included in the National Individual Events Showcase (NIES) process (but it’s no less fun!).

Click here for Oregon Thespians Regionals event guidelines.

Click here for NIES guidelines.

An empty stage can be a magical place, with so much promise and possibility.  At State, though, we want to fill our empty stage with a celebration of what high school theatre in Oregon is all about!

As your Troupe prepares and presents your season of productions this Fall, consider helping to fill the empty stage at The Historic Elsinore Theatre for our State Festival in April.  Apply for one of the Main Stage Production slots!

Applications take advance planning and preparation, and there are some very important deadlines, so review the information found here.

Shows performed from January 2013 to January 15, 2014 are eligible.  The application deadline is December 15, 2013.  Contact Kelley Marchant with any questions!

We had a great time together at Improv Fest last weekend, where we learned that a few ambitious Troupes have already mounted and struck the first successful productions of the year.  For most of us, though, the next few weeks contain an Opening Night, and an opportunity to get out and share some of the great work being done across the state.

Use the Facebook Pages to promote your show (see the links at the bottom of the right-hand side-notes on this page).  Many schools offer low or no-cost admission to card-carrying Thespians!

Remember that if you want a production considered as a possible Main Stage Production at the State Festival, specific time and technical requirements exist.  Take a look at the information and apply well in advance!

Break a leg, everyone!

The 2013 Improv Festival is being hosted by Crook County HS in Prineville on October 5.  Make plans now to attend for this terrific mixer to start off a year of unity!  Remember, at Improv, your teammates are all from other Troupes!  Everyone works (and plays) with everyone else!

No preparation is necessary (it’s improv!), as members of your Troupe arrive for check-in between 8:30 and 9:15 am.  After an introduction to the day’s prompts, you’ll join teammates from other schools to create a scene based on the provided inspirations.  You’ll perform the scene twice in two different rounds, once before lunch and once after lunch. And the final round will feature a handful of the highest rated scenes, performed in front of everyone for all to enjoy!  The day ends around 3:45 or 4 pm.

JUNIOR THESPIANS, we’re planning a special opportunity at Improv for you to join other middle school students for a special workshop in the morning, and a chance to create your own theatre fun in the afternoon!  Register at the same online site to secure your place in this inaugural Junior Thespian activity with Oregon Thespians!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 26.

Troupe Directors are reminded that the most substantial Troupe Director Meeting of the year happens at Improv.  Even if you can’t bring students, please plan to attend!

Welcome Back!

As the 2013-2014 School Year gets underway, Thespian Events are in full-swing with two immediate opportunities for your Troupe to jump in on!

Act NOW!  Get your Troupe Leadership together and get the ball rolling!  Here we go!

The Leadership Summit is in Ashland this year!  This provides unique opportunities for interaction with professionals both at OSU and at OSF.  Delegates will be invited to see THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.  The Summit begins at 3 pm on Saturday, September 21 and will conclude following the show (around 4 pm) on Sunday, September 22.  Put your head together with other troupes to share transportation costs.  Optional Home Stays are being arranged for Saturday night in Ashland to help mitigate costs.  REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 12.

The Improv Festival is being hosted by Crook County HS in Prineville on October 5.  Make plans now to attend for this terrific mixer to start of a year of unity!  REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 26.

Troupe Directors are reminded that the most substantial Troupe Director Meeting of the year happens at Improv.  Even if you can’t bring students, please plan to attend!

Thank you all for a wonderful year!  We wish our Seniors all the best with their new adventures, and look forward to seeing everyone else at next year’s OREGON THESPIANS EVENTS, as we continue to welcome new Thespians to our ranks!

Click here for next year’s listing of events and activities, and make plans now to meet the deadlines and get in on the act!  Have a great summer!

Looking for a way to give your Troupe Leadership some direction?  Read on!

Several ambitious Oregon Thespian Troupe Directors gathered together last summer to create a leadership camp experience for their Troupe leaders.  It was a terrific success, and CAMP THESPIS was born!  Check out the information here, and then contact Jo Lane at Roosevelt HS with any questions.  There are several handouts available here, including  General Information and a Registration Form!

THIS YEAR’S CAMP THESPIS IS AUGUST 19-21.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

CAMP THESPIS is intended for Troupe Directors and Student Leadership to attend together.