Alabama Thespian Festival Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Alabama Educational Theatre Association

Introduction and Eligibility
- Each year the Alabama Thespian Festival hosts college representatives who will hear auditions from high school Junior and Senior Thespians interested in continuing their training at the collegiate level. Any registered festival participant who is a high school junior or senior Thespian is eligible to audition for college representatives.
- ALEdTA (Alabama Educational Theatre Association) also offers scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors pursuing arts-related study. Any graduating senior Thespian whose troupe is registered and who is a registered festival participant may audition for scholarships. Participation in the Thespian Scholarship Auditions is required to be considered for the scholarships listed below.
- NOTE: You must preregister to audition for senior scholarship auditions or college/university auditions. Forms, headshots, and résumés will NOT be accepted at the festival — they must be submitted by the deadlines below.

Scholarships (one-time awards)
- Theatre Performance Scholarship: $1,000 awarded to a graduating senior planning to major in performing arts (theatre, film, musical theatre, vocal performance, or dance).
- Theatre Educator Scholarship: $1,000 awarded to one graduating senior pursuing a career in theatre education or technical theatre education.
- Donnie Bryan Technical Theatre Scholarship: $2,000 awarded to a graduating senior who will major in technical theatre.
- Grant J. Stephenson Theatre for Life Scholarship: $1,500 awarded to a graduating senior who has been actively involved in high school theatre but will not be majoring or minoring in theatre (see detailed requirements below).

Announcement: Scholarship winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony.

General Audition Guidelines
1. Dress neatly; no costumes are permitted.
2. Bring any presentation materials you need. One chair and a small table will be provided.
3. If you require recorded accompaniment, bring a track. Live accompanists and a cappella singing are not allowed. A playback unit with CD, AUX, Bluetooth, and iPod/iPhone connectivity will be available.
4. When choosing monologues, avoid pieces with dialects/accents or classical texts.
5. Be ready at your scheduled audition session at least 10 minutes early.
6. Bring hard-copy résumés with headshot attached as part of the résumé (do not staple or tape photos).
7. You may leave once your audition and interview are complete.

Timing for Auditions
- High School Junior — College Audition: 90-second performance plus a 5-minute interview.
- High School Senior — College and/or Scholarship Audition: 90-second performance plus a 5-minute interview.
- Technical Theatre (ALL applicants): 5-minute presentation plus a 5-minute interview.
- Theatre Educator (ALL applicants): 5-minute presentation plus a 5-minute interview.

Category Requirements

Theatre Performance
- Prepare your strongest 90 seconds of material. Options include one monologue or song, two contrasting short monologues or songs, or one song and one monologue.
- Restrictions: solo presentations only. Dance auditions will not be accepted.

Donnie Bryan Technical Theatre Scholarship
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing technical work: possible inclusions are blueprints, photos, renderings, sketches, models, illustrations of scenic and costume designs, and light plots. Poster boards, PowerPoint presentations, and photographs are encouraged. If you have drafting, technical drawing, or visual art coursework, include samples. Stage management, publicity, or theatre administration applicants should include production journals, promptbooks, marketing materials, etc.
- Restrictions: Present a concise, well-organized explanation of your materials. Applicants must bring their own laptop; power outlets are available.

Theatre Educator Scholarship
- Applicants must plan to major in theatre education. Submissions might include a short performance piece, a lesson plan, a video of teaching, and/or a technical portfolio.
- Restrictions: Provide a concise, well-organized explanation of your portfolio. Applicants must bring their own laptop; power outlets are available.

Required Forms and Deadlines
- To participate in college or scholarship auditions, the required forms, headshots, and résumés must be submitted by February 2nd. Again, materials will not be accepted at the festival — preregistration and timely submission are mandatory.

Grant J. Stephenson Theatre for Life Scholarship (details and requirements)
- Purpose: $1,500 award for a senior who will attend college but does not intend to major or minor in theatre, technical theatre, film, or any theatre-related field. The scholarship recognizes sustained involvement in school theatre and supports students applying theatre training to other careers. Funds will be sent directly to the student’s college after matriculation.
- Eligibility and application requirements:
1. Complete the Google Application Form.
2. Be a member in good standing of ITS, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2, and be recommended by the sponsor of your school’s ITS troupe.
3. Scan and email a copy of your transcript to [email protected] before the application deadline of January 14.
4. Submit the application electronically along with two letters of recommendation: one from your troupe director or drama teacher and one from another teacher, administrator, or counselor.
5. Create a digital display or portfolio to be presented for adjudication on Saturday at the Alabama Thespian Festival.
- The display should include concrete examples and materials demonstrating the breadth and depth of your participation in troupe and other theatre activities (in school or the community).
- Include a photograph of the applicant in the display.
- Applicants will present the display and participate in an interview with an adjudication team at the festival.

If you have questions about submissions or deadlines, contact the festival coordinators at [email protected].