SHOWCASE PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New in 2027

Showcase Lottery

This year, we have adjusted the State Festival schedule to provide additional time for Thespys and allow for an earlier dismissal on Friday. While we believe these changes will improve the overall festival experience, they also reduce the number of performance slots available for Showcase Performances.

 

Schools interested in presenting a Showcase Performance must enter the Showcase Lottery by September 15.

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If the number of interested schools exceeds the available Showcase slots, Louisiana Thespians will conduct a lottery to determine which schools receive a performance slot.

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To ensure schools have a fair opportunity to participate from year to year, any school that enters the lottery but does not receive a Showcase slot this year will be guaranteed a Showcase slot at the following year’s festival, provided they request one.

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If the number of Showcase requests does not exceed the available slots, all requesting schools will receive a Showcase Performance slot.

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Showcase Lottery Deadline: September 15

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The Showcase Performance is open to all troupes and provides students with the opportunity to perform for an enthusiastic audience of peers, educators, and college representatives.

1. Performance Selection: Participating troupes may present a one-act play or an excerpt from a play or musical. If presenting a cutting or excerpt from a full-length work, the troupe must provide explicit permission from the rights holder to perform the cutting.

2. Performance Rights: Troupe directors must submit documentation from the publishing company or rights holder granting permission to perform the selection at the Festival. The documentation must clearly include the Festival dates.

3. Showcase Selection: Showcase Performance slots are limited. If the number of interested troupes exceeds the number of available slots, participating troupes will be selected by lottery. Troupes not selected through the lottery will be guaranteed a Showcase Performance slot the following year if they choose to participate.

4. Preparation and Content: Performances should be well rehearsed, and all material should be appropriate for a school festival setting.

5. Content Restrictions: Selections may not contain nudity, overt sexual gestures or simulated sexual acts, repetitive foul language, or slurs. Please refer to the Festival's Anti-Discrimination Policy for additional guidance.

6. Time Limit: Each troupe is allotted 20 minutes total, including setup, performance, and takedown. House lights will be raised when the 20-minute limit is reached.

7. Technical Requirements: Technical needs must be minimal and basic. General lighting will be provided. Due to time constraints, major scenery or elaborate sets may not be used.

8. Responsibility for Rights: The school and troupe director are responsible for securing all necessary performance rights and permissions for their selection.

9. Director's Meeting: A Showcase Directors' Meeting will be held on Friday of the Festival. The director of every troupe participating in a Showcase Performance is required to attend.

10. Evaluations: Showcase Performances are generally not evaluated by judges unless a production is being screened for a National Mainstage or Chapter Select Showcase. Each participating troupe director will be asked to complete a Showcase Evaluation form providing feedback on each Showcase Performance. The Showcase Performance is not a competition; all critiques should be constructive, supportive, and focused on helping participating troupes grow.

11. Guideline Violations: Troupes that fail to follow the Showcase Performance Guidelines will be placed on probation and will not be eligible to participate in the Showcase Performance at the following year's Festival.

12. No TBA Selections: "TBA" submissions will not be accepted. The specific production or selection must be identified at the time of submission.