All Stock Set Pieces will be provided at the District Festival. If you wish to purchase or build any or all of the stock pieces for your own rehearsal purposes, go to: http://palcospecialties.com/pricelist.html. At the Thespys, every troupe must use the Stock Set Pieces provided by the Thespys.
The following Stock Set Pieces will be provided for use at District and State Level Assessments:
(2) 4’x8’ platforms, 1’-0” high
(2) 4’x4’ platforms, 1’-0” high
(4) 1’x1’ platforms, 1’-0” high
(2) 2′ unit steps (6” risers and 12” treads)
(2) 4′ unit steps (6” risers and 12” treads)
(2) 4′ ramp (rises to 1’-0”)
(2) 4’ pylons (1’-0” square)
(2) 6′ pylons (1’-0” square)
(2) 8′ pylons (1’-0” square)
(6) 16″x16″x16″ cubes-weight bearing
(1) 6′ standard folding table
(1) folded card table
(16) armless chairs
NO additional furniture may be used (chairs, tables, hat racks, carts, trees, etc.). A troupe may use and/or add props and set dressing (fabric pieces, cushions, lamps, rugs, books) as they wish. At their assigned dressing room start time, troupes must bring to the dressing room area all costumes, props, set dressing, and make-up. [NOTE: There will be no 6’x9’ box backstage.]
STAGE MANAGER MEETING
The entire cast and crew may be on stage during the stage manager meeting (at a time to be announced prior to the Thespys.) ONLY official troupe directors and registered cast and crew are permitted backstage at any time. NO CHAPERONES.
SPIKING THE STAGE
Following the stage manager meeting, troupe directors and their student stage managers may have 30 minutes to spike the stage using color-coded spike tape supplied by the Thespys Staff. During one act spike time, no set pieces may be brought onstage.
SET UP
The Stock Set Pieces will be pre-set backstage in a row. Troupes may “move to the stage” any and all Stock Set Pieces they choose to use at “Five Minutes.” Any and all Stock Set Pieces must be restored to the pre-set backstage location before “clear” will be called.
TIME LIMIT
The time limit for the one act performance is 40 minutes. Troupes are also allotted 5 minutes to set the stage with the Stock Set Pieces and their own additional materials in full view of the audience. No music, sound effects, or mood lighting may be used during this set up time. Technical crew members and actors may also move to “places” at this time. The five minutes begins and ends at the direction of the Festival Stage Manager (FSM). The FSM will confirm that the troupe is at places and announce “Troupe 88XXX may begin” to start the play and official timekeeping. “Clear” will be called when the entire set is moved back to the pre-set position and the actors have moved to the wings.
TECH
Students must run all technical portions of the one act. The student stage manager may call cues from backstage or a tech booth located front-of-house. Each school must supply a student light crew member and sound crew member (if sound is used.) All troupe directors are allowed to run sound/light boards for the one act event if they request this from the State Director in advance and if the rented venue allows it. The Sound and Light Plot for the venue will be provided to the State Selected plays two weeks prior to the Festival.
LIGHTING
AT DISTRICT: There will be 6 main areas of light: DSL/DC/DSR and USL/UC/USR; along with complete stage washes in two colors: one warm/one cool.
AT DISTRICTS: Stage Lighting will be provided based on the limitation of the available venue.
SOUND
AT STATE: There will be a sound system to include a minimum of: one hand held microphone, a CD/MP3 player and communications system (3 headsets.)
SPECIAL EFFECTS
The use of smoke, fire, candles, fog effect, haze, or flame of any kind is prohibited. No fly system or follow spot may be used. An electrical outlet will be available stage left and stage right. Properly rated extension cords must be provided by the troupe.
COSTUMES AND MAKEUP
No costumes or makeup may be applied before entering the dressing room. Up to three designated adults may be present in the dressing room, but not in the backstage area during performance time. NO CHAPERONES ARE ALLOWED BACKSTAGE AT ANY TIME.
CAST AND CREW
The cast and crew must be the same that performed at District Festival. Extenuating circumstances should be referred to the State Director at the State Level.
DIRECTORS
One act plays must be directed by the troupe director or a troupe member. No troupe director may have communication with the performing troupe once the official time has begun.
SELECTION OF MATERIAL
Troupe directors must select material for festival that they would willingly perform in a public forum in their own districts and that is acceptable to their school principal. NOTE: There is a one-year moratorium on plays presented at the district and state level the previous year. (Posted on the State website)
PROGRAMS
All one acts must bring five copies of their printed program to the stage manager meeting which will be provided to the judges. The program must list complete names of cast members and characters as well as crew and their positions. The program’s purpose is to frame the production for the judges and to clearly identify individual students. School names as well as advertisements may appear in the program. Programs may be provided by the troupe to audience members at the performance.
JUDGES
There will be a minimum of four judges at every level of competition: 3 judges in the house observing the actual performance and at least one judge to monitor all technical aspects. Oral Critique will follow each play .
JUDGES’ DECISION
Decisions of the judges are final. Judges do not disqualify. Disqualifications will be the decision of the District Chair at the District level and the State Director at the State level.
BACKSTAGE SUPERVISION
Troupe directors are encouraged to remain in the backstage area prior to the start of performance, specifically in the dressing room. A private, locked room will be provided for those students who need to change clothes into their costume. Once the FSM calls the troupe to the stage, the Troupe Director must exit the backstage area and move into the audience, thereby allowing the students to present their performance.
