The Theatre Night Awards annually reviews its categories, rating sheets, and rubrics to ensure that they reflect the range of educational theatre productions submitted for adjudication.

Use the sections below to review the 2027 adjudication criteria and award categories.

2027 Rating Sheets and Rubrics

• 2027 Overall Production Play Rubric & Rating Sheet

• 2027 Overall Production Musical Rubric & Rating Sheet

• 2027 Individual Performer Rubric & Rating Sheet

• 2027 Specialty Rubric & Rating Sheet

Understanding Foxy Award Ratings and Production Divisions

The Foxy Awards uses two separate systems when evaluating participating productions:

1. Adjudication Ratings reflect the artistic and technical accomplishment demonstrated in the production.

2. Production Divisions reflect the structure, opportunities, and resources available to the participating theatre program.

A production’s division does not determine or limit the ratings it may receive. A production in any division may earn a High Superior rating or be recognized for outstanding achievement.

Adjudication Ratings

Judges use the following rating scale when evaluating each applicable award category and its individual criteria:

High Superior
Exceptional, highly accomplished work. Choices are consistently intentional, specific, cohesive, and effective, demonstrating a distinctive level of artistry or execution.

Superior
Strong, accomplished work. Choices are clear, purposeful, and effective, with only minor inconsistencies.

Excellent
Successful and thoughtfully developed work. The criteria are demonstrated clearly, although the execution or development may be uneven in some areas.

Good
Competent work that demonstrates an understanding of the criterion but may lack consistency, specificity, refinement, or full development.

Fair
Emerging or limited evidence of the criterion. Choices may be unclear, inconsistent, underdeveloped, or only partially effective.

N/A – Not Applicable
The criterion does not apply to the production or cannot reasonably be evaluated from the recorded production or submitted evidence.

Judges evaluate only what can be observed in the production and supporting materials. Schools will receive the applicable category ratings and judges’ comments following the adjudication process.

Production Divisions

Participating productions will be placed into one of three divisions:

• Foundational

• Established

• Comprehensive

These divisions reflect the overall structure and resources of the school’s theatre program—not the artistic quality of an individual production.

Division placement may consider information such as:

• Theatre courses and performance opportunities offered by the school

• Production budgets and available resources

• Performance and rehearsal facilities

• Adult staffing and production support

• Student participation in artistic, technical, and leadership roles

• Access to outside designers, technicians, contractors, rentals, or professional assistance

• Limitations or circumstances that affect the production process

Schools will provide this information during registration and nomination preparation. The Foxy Awards adjudication team will review the information collectively and determine each production’s division to support fair and balanced recognition.

Schools will not select their own division. Final placement will be based on the full range of participating programs and the information submitted for the current award season.

The Foundational, Established, and Comprehensive divisions are not equivalent to beginning, intermediate, or advanced artistic achievement. They provide context for the circumstances in which the work was created, while the adjudication ratings evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the work itself.

Competition Structure

Awards and recognition are organized according to school level, production type, and—where applicable—high-school program division.

Elementary School Productions

Elementary school productions participate through the noncompetitive Rising Star program.

Each registered elementary production receives:

• Professional adjudication

• Written feedback

• Elementary Rising Star recognition

Elementary productions do not compete in the middle- or high-school acting and production categories.

Elementary Rising Star recognition is presented during the Middle School Theatre Night Awards Ceremony.

Middle School Productions

Middle-school productions compete separately as:

• Middle School Plays

• Middle School Musicals

High School Productions

High-school productions compete separately as:

• High School Plays

• High School Musicals

High-school Overall Production Awards are further divided into:

• Foundational Programs

• Established Programs

• Comprehensive Programs

Program placement is determined by the Theatre Night Awards adjudication team based on the production’s resources and program context. Placement is not an assessment of the students’ talent, the production’s quality, or the educational value of the program.

District-Wide and Mixed-Age Productions

District-wide productions, summer camps, youth theatre organizations, and other mixed-age educational programs will be contacted to determine the most appropriate competition or recognition division.

Overall Production Awards

Middle School

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a Middle School Play

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a Middle School Musical

High School Plays

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a High School Play — Foundational

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a High School Play — Established

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a High School Play — Comprehensive

High School Musicals

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a High School Musical — Foundational

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a High School Musical — Established

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a High School Musical — Comprehensive

Additional Production Categories

When applicable, productions may also be considered for:

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a Cabaret

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a Devised Play

• Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production of a One-Act Play

Overall Production Assessment

Plays

The Overall Production assessment for a play includes:

• Scenic Design

• Lighting Design

• Costume Design

• Sound Design

• Acting Ensemble

• Directing

Musicals

The Overall Production assessment for a musical includes:

• Scenic Design

• Lighting Design

• Costume Design

• Sound Design

• Acting Ensemble

• Directing

• Musical Direction

• Musical Ensemble

These areas contribute to the production’s overall rating and feedback. Several areas are also considered separately for individual achievement awards. No additional nomination form is required for categories automatically evaluated through the Overall Production assessment unless otherwise indicated.

Individual Acting Awards

Individual acting awards are offered separately for:

• Middle School Plays

• Middle School Musicals

• High School Plays

• High School Musicals

Within each division, individual acting nominations are classified according to:

• Leading, Supporting, or Featured Ensemble role

• Actor or Actress category

• Comedic or Dramatic performance

Leading Performances

• Outstanding Comedic Performance by a Leading Actor

• Outstanding Dramatic Performance by a Leading Actor

• Outstanding Comedic Performance by a Leading Actress

• Outstanding Dramatic Performance by a Leading Actress

Supporting Performances

• Outstanding Comedic Performance by a Supporting Actor

• Outstanding Dramatic Performance by a Supporting Actor

• Outstanding Comedic Performance by a Supporting Actress

• Outstanding Dramatic Performance by a Supporting Actress

Featured Ensemble Performances

• Outstanding Comedic Performance by a Featured Ensemble Actor

• Outstanding Dramatic Performance by a Featured Ensemble Actor

• Outstanding Comedic Performance by a Featured Ensemble Actress

• Outstanding Dramatic Performance by a Featured Ensemble Actress

Each production may submit up to seven performers for individual acting consideration. A separate Individual Acting Nomination Form must be completed for each performer.

Schools should select the category that best represents the performer’s role and submitted work.

When a performance contains both comedic and dramatic elements, the submitted timestamps should primarily demonstrate the selected performance type.

The Theatre Night Awards adjudication team reserves the right to move a nomination to a more appropriate role or performance category.

Rising Performer Awards

The Rising Performer Award recognizes a developing performer who demonstrates notable promise, growth, commitment, and potential.

Rising Performer recognition is offered in the following divisions:

• Outstanding Rising Performer in a Middle School Play

• Outstanding Rising Performer in a Middle School Musical

• Outstanding Rising Performer in a High School Play

• Outstanding Rising Performer in a High School Musical

The Rising Performer Award is not divided by:

• Actor or Actress category

• Leading, Supporting, or Featured Ensemble classification

• Comedic or Dramatic performance type

Acting Ensemble Assessment and Recognition

Acting Ensemble is evaluated as part of each production’s Overall Production assessment. Its rating contributes to the production’s overall score and written feedback.

The Acting Ensemble assessment is also considered separately when determining:

• Outstanding Performance by an Acting Ensemble in a Middle School Play

• Outstanding Performance by an Acting Ensemble in a Middle School Musical

• Outstanding Performance by an Acting Ensemble in a High School Play

• Outstanding Performance by an Acting Ensemble in a High School Musical

A separate Acting Ensemble nomination is not required. Eligible productions are automatically considered based on their Overall Production assessment.

Acting Ensemble recognition celebrates cohesive group storytelling, character commitment, listening and responsiveness, vocal and physical engagement, and the ensemble’s collective contribution to the production.

Specialty-Category Availability

Specialty categories do not apply to every production and are evaluated separately from the Overall Production score.

A specialty award category may be presented only when at least three eligible entries are received.

Submitting a specialty nomination does not guarantee that the category will be offered. If fewer than three eligible entries are received, the submitted work may still be acknowledged within the production’s written feedback when appropriate.

Student Design & Technical Theatre Awards

Eligible middle- and high-school plays and musicals may be considered for:

Student Technical Theatre Awards

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Scenic Designer

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Scenic Technician/Builder

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Costume Designer

•  Outstanding Achievement by a Student Costume Technician

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Makeup Design

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Makeup Technician

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Hair Design

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Hair Technician

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Lighting Designer

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Lighting Technician

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Sound Designer

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Sound Technician

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Properties Designer

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Properties Technician

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Stage Crew

Scenic, Costume, Lighting, and Sound Design contribute to the Overall Production assessment and may also be considered separately for student individual achievement recognition.

Specialty awards that require information about student responsibilities, process, research, or behind-the-scenes contributions must be submitted through the Specialty Category Nomination Form.

Student Leadership Awards

Eligible productions may be considered for:

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Assistant Director

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Assistant Music Director

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Assistant Choreographer

• Outstanding Achievement by a Student Dance Captain

• Outstanding Achievement in Student Stage Management

• Outstanding Achievement in Student Assistant Stage Management

Artistic Vision and Impact Awards

• Outstanding Achievement in Multimedia and Theatrical Innovation

• Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Outstanding Achievement in Choreography

• Outstanding Achievement by a Dance/Movement Ensemble

• Outstanding Achievement in Fight Choreography/Intimacy Direction

• Outstanding Achievement in Lobby Design

• Outstanding Achievement in Educational Impact & Community Outreach

• Outstanding Achievement in Dramaturgy

• Outstanding Achievement in Risk-Taking in Direction

Jo Anne Fox Theatre Educator Award

The Jo Anne Fox Theatre Educator Award recognizes an educator who has contributed significantly to their school’s theatre program over an extended period, exhibits generosity of spirit, and has made a lasting impact on students and the school community.

A nomination from the educator’s principal or supervisor is required.

Jo Anne Fox Technical Director Award

The Jo Anne Fox Technical Director Award recognizes an educator or technical director who demonstrates exceptional mentorship, professionalism, commitment to safety and inclusion, production quality, innovation, and long-term contribution to the growth of a school’s technical theatre program.

A nomination from the nominee’s principal or supervisor is required.

Nomination and Production Submission Forms

Overall Production, Individual Acting, Specialty Category, and Jo Anne Fox nomination forms are provided directly to registered schools and educational theatre organizations.

After registration is processed, the contact person will receive an invoice, a unique Production ID for each production, and links to the appropriate submission forms.

Forms should not be forwarded outside the registered organization. Every submission must include a valid 2027 Production ID.

If your production is registered and you have not received the submission forms within seven business days, please check your spam or junk folder and contact Christina Cruz at theatrenightawards@gmail.com.