WHO MAY PARTICIPATE IN DISTRICTS WITH OUR TROUPE?

All Participants must be currently enrolled and attending classes at the same school as the troupe presenting the Thespy. Any exceptions must be made to the Festival Director.

WHAT IS DISTRICT?

The District 2 Thespian Festival is a two day event at which you will have the time of your life and be able to showcase your skills. It is made up of one day of One Acts and one day of Thespys in performance and technical events, including workshops.

WHEN IS DISTRICT COMPETITION?

The dates for the 2024-2025 District Festival are November 8th (Friday) for the One Acts & November 9th (Saturday) for the Thespys events.

WHERE IS DISTRICT 2 FESTIVAL THIS YEAR (24-25)?

Lake Mary High School

655 Longwood Lake Mary Rd, Lake Mary, FL 32746

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ATTEND DISTRICT?

Registration is around $60 per person, but you should check with your sponsor. The total cost varies from school to school based on transportation, chaperone fees, One Act fees, and other variables.

CAN I WEAR A COSTUME DURING THESPY?

From the State website: "Students are encouraged to wear appropriate audition/rehearsal attire in all Individual Events."

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN I GET TO DISTRICT?

On one act day, you can expect that there will be a load in time before your performance block. Once you're about to perform, there will be 30 minutes of makeup time, then your performance. You will load out your set at the end of the block. If you aren't performing in a one act, you will spend most of the day watching one acts from other schools.

On Thespy day, events start at 9 AM. Most students like to go support their friends and watch. You are welcome to watch any event in any room at any time. If you are performing, you should arrive to your room at the call time posted on the schedule.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS MY IE PERFORMANCE TIME?

Don't freak out! First, have your sponsor come to registration. We will try and find a new slot for you later in the day and fit you in. BUT TRY NOT TO MISS YOUR TIME!!!

IS THERE FOOD?

Lunch will be provided only on Saturday. There are concessions for you to purchase most of the days, so be sure to bring a couple dollars to get yourself a snack. 

WHAT'S A THESPY?

Thespy is our new word for an Individual Event. There are many categories. You can find all the rules regarding Thespys HERE.
(Use the drop down menu under "Junior Thespian" -> Thespy) 

CAN I DO SCENES FROM MOVIES/TV/ORIGINAL WORKS FOR MY THESPY?

NO! All pieces for Thespy must come from a PUBLISHED work written for the stage. HERE IS A LINK TO THE ACCEPTED PUBLISHING COMPANIES. The only exception is playwriting, which is by definition an original piece. One Acts, on the other hand, can be original works. 

IS THERE A DRESS CODE?

YES! District is a school function, therefore your school dress code applies while you are at District. We will wear all dark colors OR dark pants/shorts/skirt and your District T-shirt (or your Festival shirt, which will be provided at Districts). 

HOW DOES ONE GET DISQUALIFIED (DQ'ED)?

By failing to comply with the rules of the competition. District 2 complies with ALL State Thespian rules. Thespy rules can be found here. One act rules can be found here. The most common reason for a DQ in Thespy is going over the allotted time. DQs in One Acts most frequently are to do with the load out of the show. 

DO I HAVE TO HAVE ACCOMPANIMENT FOR A MUSICAL EVENT?

From the State website: "The performer MUST use non-vocal musical accompaniment which can be live or taped unless expressly written to be performed without musical accompaniment. If we hear ANY voice on the accompaniment tape, you will be disqualified." A CD player will be provided for every music event room with a connector for iPhone/Android. Bring a dongle or adaptor if you have a special phone or computer to attach.

HOW DOES THAT INTRODUCTORY SLATE GO FOR OUR DISTRICT AND STATE PIECES?

An introduction MUST include ONLY the entrant’s name(s), troupe number, notice of asterisk material, and title of selection. Do not give name of school or other information. The time begins after the slate.

The introduction may not be used to establish mood or define character. The introduction is not a performance piece.

If your piece contains material that MAY offend members of your audience, you are REQUIRED to asterisk the piece on the Individual Event 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.

WHAT ARE ASTERISKS?

At the Junior Thespian Level,Thespy are NOT allowed to have Asterisk .

NOTICE: Students will NOT be allowed to use adult language in any performance at the District or State Level. The piece will be disqualified, and a letter will be sent to the school principal if this occurs. This is not a negotiable point. 

They are our way of letting audience members know that there is content in a piece that might make them uncomfortable. For example, if a piece contains any reference to death, we alert our audience of this before the performance. You wouldn't want to make someone sit through a monologue about a kid that has lost their parent if that audience member just lost a parent, right? So we warn each other, because it's only polite.

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

L -for adult language;

S -for sexual situations;

D -for frank talk of death;

SA -for substance abuse;

V -for violence;

R -for religious commentary;

P -for works related to prejudice or intolerance.

G- for realistic gunshot sound effect

ANY OTHER RULES THAT I NEED TO KNOW?

The audience will make no noise after an Individual Event – this includes applause.

Props are permissible if they are ESSENTIAL & USED by the actor and cannot be pantomimed.

No sound effect or music is allowed in any Acting Individual Event unless specified in the text of the scene.

A playwright’s work may NOT be re-constructed for presentation in an Individual Event. (ie. you may not splice scenes from various parts of the play to create your own adaptation)

No student may enter an event more than once.

Students receiving a Superior rating at the District level are eligible to perform at the State level. It is possible that the sponsor will be able to bring students receiving Excellents at Districts to State. Final selection will be the sponsor’s decision.

ALL students who perform at their District Festival may attend State, regardless of your scores. You don’t have to be performing at State to attend State!

All Individual Events presented at State Festival must be the same title and cutting, with the same participants, that received a Superior at District Festival.

No Prop Weapons Allowed: This includes any prop that is being used to simulate a weapon.

All events are limited to the furniture in the room. Regardless to the existing furniture of the host school or venue, the events may only use the listed furniture in the specific event rules.