Rules and Regulations:
Any violation of Florida’s Junior Thespian One Act general rules will be subject to disqualification and/or disciplinary action by the Junior Thespian Festival Board of Directors.
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Each district should attempt to ensure the one acts presented at their individual festival adheres to the following rules as closely as possible.
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Each active junior thespian troupe is invited to produce a one act play to represent their school at their local district thespian festival each year. Qualifying one act plays may go on to perform at the annual Florida Thespian Junior State Festival.
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SELECTION OF ONE ACT PLAYS
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Entries may come from published plays, original works, or cuttings from full length plays. Both musical and non-musicals are acceptable. Readers’ theatre or chamber theatre pieces are not allowed.
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Only one entry per troupe is permitted. A one act play must receive a Superior rating at the district level to be eligible as a state-selected one act play.
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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.
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There is a one-year performance moratorium on plays presented at the district and state festivals.
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Proof of payment of royalties must accompany registration. Written permission for cuttings and/or original work must be included, if applicable.
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The playwright and publisher must be included on the registration form.
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The number of plays permitted to showcase at the Florida Junior Thespian State Festival will be determined by the following formula:
1-8 plays perform at districts – 1 play advances
9-16 plays perform at districts – 2 plays advance
17+ plays perform at districts – 3 plays advance
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If a district breaks the one act formula and sends more than their allotted number of one act plays to the state festival, that district will be barred from bringing any one act plays the following year.
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All schools must be currently affiliated with the International Thespian Society to be considered for performance at the state festival. Affiliation must be current on or before the date specified by the Florida Chapter Director.
PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
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All students involved with the one act must be currently enrolled students attending classes at the same school as the troupe presenting the one act. Home schooled students may be included in a troupe’s production if those students reside within the boundaries of that school. An exception will be made for any troupe director who runs the lights or sound for the production.
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The cast of the play being performed at the state festival must be the same as the one performed at the district festival. The Junior Thespian Festival Chair must be informed of any changes due to extreme circumstances. Permission to make such a change is at the discretion of the Junior Thespian Festival Chair.
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The performance appearing at the state festival should be presented as closely as possible to the one approved by the school’s principal. If the production does not meet community standards at the troupe’s school, it will not meet them anywhere else.
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One act plays must be directed by the troupe director as listed on official troupe documents or a currently enrolled student under the troupe director’s supervision.
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All one acts must bring 6 copies of their printed program to the Stage Manager meeting; these programs will be provided to the adjudicators. Additional programs may be provided to the audience at the troupe’s discretion.
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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 adjudicators and to clearly identify individual students.
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School names as well as advertisements may appear in the program.
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Prior to a troupe’s performance, no chewing gum, food, drink, or smoking is permitted onstage, backstage, or on the loading dock.
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All remnants of any food consumed in the dressing rooms must be removed before the room is vacated. Dressing rooms must be left at least as clean as they were when each troupe occupied them.
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PRE-SHOW
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A working cell phone number must be supplied by each participating troupe director. The troupe director must remain available for communication during the entire section of time between the Stage Manager meeting and the time when the troupe vacates the dressing room/backstage area.
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Each troupe will be given a thirty-minute makeup and costume period in an assigned dressing room.
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Troupe directors (and up to 2 other adult designees) must remain in the dressing room with the troupe during their entire allotted time. Once the troupe is escorted backstage to the wings, the troupe director or adult designee(s) must leave the backstage area and move to the house to watch the performance from the audience.
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No costumes or stage makeup may be worn before entering the dressing room at each performing troupe’s assigned time on the day of the troupe’s performance.
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A troupe requiring more time to execute elaborate makeup, hair, or other business must indicate this request with their registration materials. This request should include an estimate of how much additional time will be needed and a description of why it will be needed. Permission will be granted based on this information.
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The director and stage manager of each one act are required to attend a Stage Manager meeting at the published time (light board and sound board operators are also invited to attend). This meeting will cover safety, operational, and technical elements; attendance is mandatory.
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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 festival staff.
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During the one act spike time, no set pieces or individual troupe items may be brought onstage.
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Running is forbidden anywhere in any venue.
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The stage, wings, loading areas, dressing rooms, and/or backstage hallways may not be used as a rehearsal space.
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Do not loiter or assemble in loading areas or backstage hallways at any time.
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All troupe and personal items, including but not limited to props, set dressing, costumes, makeup, backpacks, etc. must be removed from the backstage areas and dressing rooms at the troupe’s scheduled time to vacate the dressing room/backstage area. Any items left in the dressing rooms will be discarded before the next troupe’s time in the room begins.
STOCK SCENERY
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One acts presented at the district and state festivals must use the Stock Set Pieces provided by the festival.
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These pieces will be provided at the district and state festivals.
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The following Stock Set Pieces will be provided for use at district and state festivals:
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(2) 4’ x 8’ platforms, 1’-0” high
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(2) 4’ x 4’ platforms, 1’-0” high
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(4) 1’ x 1’ platforms, 1’-0” high
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(2) 2’ unit steps (6” risers and 12” treads)
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(2) 4’ unit steps (6” risers and 12” treads)
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(2) 4’ ramp (rise up to 1’-0”)
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(2) 4’ pylons (1’-0” square)
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(2) 6’ pylons (1’-0” square)
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(2) 8’ pylons (1’-0” square)
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(6) 16” x 16” x 16” cubes – weight bearing
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(1) 6’ standard folding table
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(1) folding card table
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(16) armless chairs
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NO additional furniture may be used (chairs, tables, hat racks, carts, trees, etc.)
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A troupe may use and/or add props and set dressing (fabric pieces, cushions, lamps, rugs, books, etc.) as they wish.
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Bring your set dressing, props, etc. with you to the Stage Manager meeting to be checked for approval by the district chair, one act coordinator, and/or Junior Thespian Festival Chair.
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An area will be provided for you to store your set dressing, props, etc. until your performance. Once your performance is over, you will need to take all items with you.
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PERFORMANCE
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No video or audio recording is permitted during any one act performance.
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Prior to performance, all performers and technicians must remain in assigned dressing rooms until given permission to leave.
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The adult in charge of one acts has the discretion to move your one act to the wings at a more appropriate time to ensure a safe, orderly turnover.
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The troupe is well-served in choosing a one act that has 30 minutes or less of actual performance time.
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The time limit for the one act performance is 40 minutes. All Stock Set Pieces used in the one act performance must be restored to the preset backstage location before “clear” will be called.
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Troupes are allotted 5 minutes before their 40 minute time begins to set the stage with the Stock Set Pieces and their own additional materials. This setup must occur in full view of the audience.
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The 5 minutes begins and ends at the discretion of the One Act Coordinator.
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Troupes that exceed the time limit at their district festival will not be selected for the state festival.
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Technicians working sound or lights in an area not backstage may move to their locations five minutes prior to the beginning of their troupe’s performance time.
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These technicians should be in the dressing room with the rest of their troupe. They will be escorted to their area when the troupe moves backstage.
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The 5 minute set up time starts immediately after the One Act Coordinator informs the troupe’s stage manager to begin and the stage manager says “Go”.
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The 5 minute set up time ends when the stage manager informs the One Act Coordinator that everything is “Clear”.
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After the initial 5 minute set up time, the One Act Coordinator will confirm that the troupe is at Places and will announce to the audience “Troupe XXXXX, your time begins now” to start the play and official timekeeping (40 minutes).
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At the end of the troupe’s performance “Clear” will be called when the stage is bare, all Stock Set Pieces have been moved back to the preset position in the wings, and the actors are offstage and in the wings.
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The stage will be inspected by the One Act Coordinator and/or their staff to ensure that nothing is left onstage or in the wings.
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To facilitate this, the One Act Coordinator should closely monitor the entire action. Time does not end until the One Act Coordinator has certified everything is truly clear, the stage is cleaned of all debris, and everything is safely stored in the wings.
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The official time will be kept by the designated One Act Coordinator who may at their discretion appoint other timekeepers to help verify times. The designated One Act Coordinator is responsible for recording the official time.
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No cues or actions are permitted before the One Act Coordinator calls “Go” or after the troupe Stage Manager calls “Clear” except as required by the One Act Coordinator.
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All music and/or sound effects must be contained within the 40 minute time limit.
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No music, sound effects, or mood lighting may be used in coordination with the 5 minute set up time. Lighting and sound operators may test levels during that time to ensure that equipment is working properly.
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No troupe director (or other adult affiliated with the troupe) is permitted backstage during their troupe’s set up and performance time.
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Backstage is defined as any area involved with the production of the one act that is not seen by the audience.
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If necessary, an exception will be made for troupe directors who run the light or sound systems during a performance from a position not frequented by the majority of other students involved with the actual production (booth). Troupe directors requesting this exception must submit this desire in writing with their registration.
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Only registered members of the performing school’s cast and crew, venue technicians, adjudicators, and those granted permission by the One Act Coordinator are permitted backstage during any performance.
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The student stage manager may call cues from backstage or a tech booth located front-of-house.
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Headsets and technician communication during a performance will be provided by each venue. The use of any other method of electronic communication is not allowed.
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Lighting:
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At Districts: Stage lighting will be provided based on the limitations of the available venue.
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At State: There will be 6 main areas of light: DSR/DSC/DSL and USR/USC/USL, along with complete stage washes in two colors (one warm/one cool).
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Sound:
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At Districts: Stage sound will be provided based on the limitations of the available venue.
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At State: There will be a sound system to include a minimum of: one handheld microphone, a CD/MP3 player, and communication system (3 headsets).
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The use of a followspot is not permitted.
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The use of any aerosol products, including but not limited to, paint, hairspray, hair color, cleaning products, etc. must be completely contained. None of the product can escape to the floor or curtains in any venue.
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No food or drink may be used onstage without the prior approval of the junior district chair (districts) and Junior Thespian Festival Chair (state). Include the need to consume food or beverages onstage with your registration materials.
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The use of smoke, fire, candles, matches, butane lighters, haze, fog, pyrotechnical effects, or any other form of an open flame is strictly forbidden.
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No prop weapons allowed. Non-weapon props that will be used to simulate a weapon will need to be approved in advance of the festival by the junior district chair (districts) and Junior Thespian Festival Chair (state) on a case-by-case basis.
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The spraying, throwing, sprinkling, spilling, dropping, dripping, or scattering of any liquid, powder, cleaning product, or any substance that cannot be removed completely by a broom as part of the strike is strictly forbidden. Special care should be taken if any form of glitter, powder, or confetti is used as a part of a production, costume, or makeup. All remnants must be removed from the floor and curtains before each allotted time expires.
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Since brooms may not be available at all venues, each participating troupe should supply their own. The lack of a broom will not be an excuse for not cleaning the stage within the allotted time.
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Do not jump off or on to the stage from the apron before, during, or after a performance.
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Please be aware of the area microphones on the floor of the apron. They are not “thespian speed bumps”. Plan your blocking so that all members of your troupe’s cast and crew remain in the designated acting areas.
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Do not plug anything into any electrical outlet. Submit any special electrical requirements with your registration.
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Properly rated extension cords must be provided by the troupe.
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Refrain from handling or touching any curtains or masking material. Even touching a curtain with the cleanest hands can reduce the life of the material.
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Do not use masking, duct, scotch, or any other tape on the stage floor.
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Do not touch or use anything that does not belong to you or your troupe. This includes, but is not limited to, ladders, stage weights, chairs, etc.
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The initial set up and strike for every one act play must be done in full view of the audience.
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A written critique of each participating troupe’s one act performance will be provided to the troupe director following an oral critique by members of the adjudicating team at the state festival.
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Decisions of the adjudicators are final.
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Adjudicators do not disqualify one act plays. Disqualifications will be the decision of the junior district chair (districts) and the Junior Thespian Festival Chair (state).
At the discretion of the district chair, violation of any one act rule at the district festival will prevent a troupe’s selection for one act performance at the state festival.
During a performance at the state festival, at the discretion of the One Act Coordinator, blatant violation of any of these rules will disqualify the violating troupe’s participation at the following year’s one act event at the state festival.