Senior Thespian General Rules

Senior Thespian General Rules

1. Time Limit: All individual events have a maximum time limit as stated in the rules. If any student or group goes over this time limit, they will be disqualified.
2. The Introduction/Slate: Thespians must begin their presentation with an introduction known as a slate. The slate is not part of the performance, but is simply an informative introduction to the piece. This is an opportunity for students to be themselves and address the adjudicators in a comfortable, polite, and brief manner. The slate should include the following information and may not be used to establish mood or define character. The introduction is not a performance piece.
   1. The Thespian’s name (or names, for group categories)
   2. Title of selection being performed or work being showcased 
   3. Name of the playwright(s) or for a musical selection the composer/lyricist
   4. Notice of asterisk material
   5. Troupe number

If your piece contains material that MAY offend members of your audience, you are REQUIRED to asterisk the piece on the Thespy Registration Form and you are REQUIRED to include in your introduction that your piece contains “material that may possibly offend” and you are REQUIRED to allow a few, brief moments for audience members, should they choose, to leave.

The asterisk must be followed by one or more of the following codes: 

D: frank talk of death;

G: gun shot sound effects

L: adult language;

P: works related to prejudice or intolerance;

R: religious commentary;

S: sexual situations;

SA: substance abuse;

SF: strobe/flashing light

SU: suicide;

V: violence;

XA: sexual assault

3. In Thespy adjudications, AI may be used as a tool as they go through the development of concept and research purposes only. All AI must be documented in their supplemental materials during the presentation (citing specific instances where you used it on the bibliography). AI generated images, video or audio is not accepted in development or presentation of design.  The final creative products and the processes by which the participants arrived at those designs should be completed by the participants themselves, with all choices justified if questioned by the adjudicators in the Q&A portion of the technical presentation. Playwriting may not use AI in the development or writing of their piece. However, it may be used to check for grammar through software like Grammarly.  Sites like Chatgpt will change the word choice and sentence structure and should not be used. 
4. The audience will make no noise after a Thespy – this includes applause.
5. For all categories (performance and technical), thespians will present themselves as a blank slate, refraining from wearing clothing and/or accessories that distract from the performance or presentation. The goal is to level the playing field and allow the focus to remain on the work, not the aesthetics of the presenting thespian(s). Thespians should follow these guidelines:

• Dress in simple, modest attire suitable for a professional interview or audition. Clothing should be appropriate for the situation so as not to limit or restrict movement or affect the performance. For technical categories, thespians may choose to follow the guideline above or wear the black/ dark-colored clothing traditionally worn by technicians.
• Acceptable footwear is neutral, not distracting, and may include character shoes and dance shoes (if category appropriate), dress shoes, sneakers, or boots.
• Theatrical makeup and costumes are not permitted.
• Avoid wearing distracting items such as large, dangling jewelry, light-up footwear, or fashionably distressed clothing.

6. Props are permissible if they are USED by the actor.
7. No Prop Weapons Allowed: This includes any prop that is being used to simulate a weapon.
8. No sound effect or music is allowed in any Acting Thespy unless specified in the text of the scene.
9. A playwright’s work may NOT be re-constructed for presentation in a Thespy. (ie. you may not splice scenes from various parts of the play to create your own adaptation.)
10. The number of entries and events in the Thespys will be determined annually by the State Festival Board.
11. Students may participate in no more than 3 Thespys in addition to the One Act Event.
12. No student may enter an event more than once.
13. Students receiving a Superior rating at the District level are eligible to perform at the State level. The State Festival Board may, at times, allow troupes to bring students receiving Excellents at Districts to State. This will be detailed in the registration packet. Final selection will be the troupe director’s decision.
14. There will be a $50.00 fee for each change, cancellation, or dropped event.
15. All Thespys presented at State Festival must be the same title and cutting, with the same participants, that received a Superior at District Festival.
16. All Participants must be currently enrolled and attending classes at the same school as the troupe presenting the Thespys. Home school students may be included in the troupe’s Thespys if those students reside within the boundaries of that school. Any exceptions must be made to the Chapter Director.
17. All events are limited to the furniture in the room. Regardless of the existing furniture at the host school or venue, the events may only use the listed furniture in the specific event rules.
18. All material should be presented as if within the context of a full production.
19. The gender of the performer is not a determining factor in the roles they play, as long as characters are performed as written.