Everything you need to know to celebrate your International Thespian Society State chapter on the ITF stage!
The production team that ran the theater was extremely helpful and fun to work with.
Even the ushers were so supportive. They gave fist bumps to the kids and wished them luck on the show as we walked by to go backstage.
Last night was the perfect experience for my students.
– Allen Price
ITF’s Chapter Select Showcase celebrates storytelling and highlights outstanding student performances from EdTA chapters around the country and world.
The showcase includes a robust lineup of short performances including one-acts, cuttings from full-length productions, reader’s theatre, dance, mime, comedy, drama, etc.
Each chapter may recommend one outstanding performance adjudicated during their state festival for inclusion in the ITF Showcase.
Participation Eligibility
Any Thespian troupe in good standing with ITS and EdTA is eligible to present their material in the Chapter Select One-Act Showcase at ITF. All participants must register and pay to attend ITF by the deadline listed on the invitation.
Participants are expected to follow EdTA’s code of conduct and adhere to stage safety best practices. All participants must be available to perform on whichever day/time ITF schedules the production during festival.
Troupe must designate a single point of contact for communications with ITF. This individual is typically the Troupe Director and must be an adult familiar with the production and participants. The designated contact must participate in pre-event planning with ITF staff in accordance with deadlines listed in the invitation.
Troupe must secure permission from publisher(s) of all copyrighted material (including script and music) to perform the show live 1 time during ITF. All permissions must be documented and provided to ITF by the deadline listed in the invitation.
Performance Eligibility
Performances must be adjudicated at their Chapter Festival
Performance run time must be between 15 minutes and 45 minutes. Performance run time may not exceed 45 minutes.
Production must be able to be set up (from bare stage to lights up) in 10 minutes or less.
Production must be able to strike (lights down to bare stage) in 5 minutes or less.
Production must not be reliant upon use of a theatrical fly system, special effects/pyrotechnics or wireless microphones.
Production must be able to adapt to the venue technical specifications (including space dimensions and rep lighting plot) provided in the invitation.
Ten minutes to set. Forty-five minutes to shine.
Chapter Select gives outstanding student storytelling the biggest stage in high school theatre.
Timeline & Expectations
9/16: Chapter Leaders confirm interest in recommending an adjudicated performance for inclusion in the ITF Chapter Select Showcase by completing the “Chapter Survey”
9/30 (or 1 week after whenever Chapter Survey is due): Chapter Leaders receive from EdTA: Recommendation form
Acceptance Form
Checklist to provide interested troupes
Chapter Leaders promote opportunity to their troupes
Within 1 week (7 calendar days) of Chapter FestivalChapter Leader submits completed Recommendation form to EdTA
Within 1 week (7 calendar days) of receiving recommendation – EdTA issues invitation with link to acceptance form to recommended troupe Within 1 week (7 calendar days) of receiving invitation – Troupe submits acceptance form
Requirement Checklist
For Chapter Leaders
Confirm to EdTA intention to recommend performance for inclusion in ITF Showcase
Promote opportunity to eligible troupes
Provide checklist to interested troupes
Recruit, train and assign production adjudicators
Adjudicate performances at Chapter festival
Submit completed recommendation form for eligible production, to include adjudicator feedback, to EdTA
within 1 week of Chapter festival
For Troupes
Secure & document publisher’s express permission for live performance during ITF
Secure & document district approval for troupe to register/attend ITF
Register / pay for all participants, including adults, to attend ITF
Coordinate all travel and hotel accommodations for troupe
Provide EdTA accurate detail on performance content and technical aspects
Provide EdTA script of any original or non-published work
Provide digital program (pdf or url)
Participate in planning meeting(s) with ITF staff
Collaborate with EdTA to adapt production to ITF venue / technical specifications
Explore the Rubric
Since launching, the ITF Chapter Select Showcase has spotlighted 254 productions from 187 troupes — including chapters from Singapore, the UAE, and Canada — bringing an estimated 2,500+ Thespians and 213 educators to the ITF stage.
This guide is the key to helping celebrate your Thespians and State Chapters on the biggest stage in High School theatre. At the Educational Theatre Association, our goal is to make that process as convenient as possible.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to XYZ. We look forward to supporting your troupe and celebrating the achievements of your amazing educators and Thespians in Louisville next year!
