Iowa Thespian Festival
  • Register
    • Registration Guide
    • Registration Fees
    • Rules and Regulations
    • Send a Troupe Grant
  • Schedule
    • Key Dates
    • Schedule Overview
  • Contact
  • Programs
    • Filmworks
    • ImprovWorks
    • Main Stage
    • Michael Peitz Leadership Award
    • Playworks
    • Scholarship Auditions
    • State Thespian Officer Candidates
    • Studio Theatres
    • Tech Challenge
    • Thespy Awards
  • Guest Artists
  • FAQ

IOWA THESPIAN FESTIVAL

THESPY AWARDS

At the Iowa Thespian Festival, students have a chance to participate in the Thespy Award program, which is a part of the International Thespian Excellence Awards, sponsored by the Educational Theatre Association. The International Thespian Excellence Awards is an educational program that offers Thespians the opportunity to receive constructive feedback on prepared theatrical material and technical designs.

Thespy Award performances include - 
​
PERFORMANCE
  • Acting (Solo, Duet, Group)
  • Musical Theatre (Solo, Duet, Group)
  • Musical Theatre Dance (Solo, Duet, Group)
TECHNICAL/WRITING
  • Costume Construction
  • Costume Design
  • Lighting Design
  • Makeup
  • Scenic Design
  • Short Film (Animated, Documentary, Live-Action)
  • Sound Design
  • Stage Management
  • Theatre Marketing​
  • Playwriting
National Thespy Award Program Guide

IOWA THESPY GUIDELINES

​The Iowa Thespian Festival serves as the regional qualifier for the International Thespian Excellence Awards. Students from Iowa must qualify for the national program at ITF by participating in the regional qualifier at the Iowa Thespian Festival.

​Our chapter of the Thespy Awards utilizes all event guidelines from the national program, except for the following:
  • ​Students do NOT need to be inducted Thespians to participate in the Thespy Awards at Iowa Festival. However, if a student qualifies for the International Thespian Excellence Awards and wishes to participate at the International Thespian Festival, he or she MUST be an inducted Thespian at the time of your ITF registration in order to participate.   
  • There is no limit to how many Thespy performances that students may participate in, however...
    • ​Students may not appear in the same category more than once (for example, one student may not perform in two Group Musical Theatre performances)
    • A student may only be selected to perform twice in the Iowa Thespy Showcase on the Gallagher-Bluedorn stage. If a student places first in more than two events, the event organizers will select two of those performances to appear in the Showcase performance. 

THESPY PARTICIPATION GUIDE

1

register your troupe for the iowa thespian festival on the online registration system

Register your Thespy entries on the "Register - Student Events" tab by the registration deadline (October 19, 2023)

2

complete thespy application form in open water

Complete one Thespy Application Form in OpenWater for each entry (solo, duet, or group) to be adjudicated no later than the registration deadline (October 19, 2023)

3

secure performance rights

For performance categories, permission must be obtained to use copyrighted material in an adjudication. Visit the Rights and Licensing page at Thespys.org for information on how to obtain permission. 

4

PREPARE YOUR PERFORMANCE

Review all category guidelines in the Thespy guide at Thespys.org for full details. Be sure all performers are aware of the requirements of the category or categories that they will be participating in at Festival. 

5

SHOW UP!

Arrive on the University of Northern Iowa campus ready to perform on Friday, November 10! A schedule of performances will be emailed to troupe directors, posted on the website, and will also be available on the festival app. 

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABouT THESPYS,

CONTACT AARON DEAN AT ADEAN@DBQSCHOOLS.ORG

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IOWA THESPIANS
​Our mission is to honor student achievement in theatre and enrich the educational experience, to support educators by providing professional development, networking opportunities, resources, and recognition, and to influence public opinion and policymakers that theatre education is essential and builds life skills.
​
We are passionate about theatre education and believe all students should have access to theatre curriculum which provides critical life skills for educational and career success in the 21st century.

Questions? Contact our Chapter Director Lynn Jensen at chapterdirector.iowathespians@gmail.com
  • Register
    • Registration Guide
    • Registration Fees
    • Rules and Regulations
    • Send a Troupe Grant
  • Schedule
    • Key Dates
    • Schedule Overview
  • Contact
  • Programs
    • Filmworks
    • ImprovWorks
    • Main Stage
    • Michael Peitz Leadership Award
    • Playworks
    • Scholarship Auditions
    • State Thespian Officer Candidates
    • Studio Theatres
    • Tech Challenge
    • Thespy Awards
  • Guest Artists
  • FAQ