2024 Washington Thespian Scholarships Are Now Open!
Scholarships
Four $1,000.00 scholarships will be awarded by the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) and Washington State Thespians. Scholarship applications are judged by an independent group of theatre advisors, who have no students in competition, for any Washington State Dana Brown Thespian Society Scholarships, the Petra Karr Student Leadership Scholarship, or the Chris Karr Technical Theatre Scholarship. The winners will be announced at the State Conference. All Dana Brown scholarship monies are handled by The International Thespian Society and are sent directly to the school identified by the scholarship winner at the beginning of the school’s fall term. The Petra and Chris Karr scholarship funds will be distributed to the student’s school from Washington State Thespians.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 1st, 2024
Dana Brown Thespian Society Scholarship and the Petra and Chris Karr Scholarships:
Process & Requirements
Thespian scholarship applicants may audition in only one of four categories: performance, technical theatre, leadership or theatre educator.
To apply for any scholarship, students must satisfy the following requirements.
To apply, each student must:
Complete, in full, the Thespian scholarship auditions form online. This form includes space to upload a résumé, head shot, video presentation, or essay.
Be registered at the EdTA home office as an inducted thespian of the International Thespian Society prior to state.
Have a minimum 2.7 grade point average.
Be a graduating senior (juniors may not apply).
Intend to use the grant to further their education by majoring as a Theatre or Technical Theatre major. If applicant is attending a Community College, enrollment in theatre classes is required.
Please submit the Thespian Scholarship Application through the online link below.
Students applying for the Dana Brown Thespian Society Scholarships and the Petra and Chris Karr Scholarships will be evaluated on their audition performance, technical portfolio, or essay (for the theatre educator and leadership scholarship), and their involvement with their Thespian troupe at their school.
CATEGORY ONE
THEATRE EDUCATOR
Students applying for the theatre educator scholarship must upload an essay addressing two of the three following topics. The topics:
Describe your most inspirational teacher.
Describe why you want to be a theatre teacher.
Describe the most important issue facing high school theatre today.
The essay must be typed, single-spaced, in 12-point font, with one-inch margins, and uploaded into the online form.
For theatre educator applicants, a performance piece is optional. Judges will not penalize theatre educator applicants if the student chooses not to perform.
Students applying for any scholarship, although not required to attend the State Festival, are strongly encouraged to do so.
FOR ALL ACTING AND TECHNICAL CATEGORIES: Follow all guidelines for Thespys.
CATEGORY TWO
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Students applying for the student leadership scholarship must upload an essay addressing two of the three following topics. The topics:
Describe the person who was the inspiration to become a leader and why they had that importance.
Describe your reasoning to become a student leader.
Describe the most important issue facing high school theatre today.
The essay must be typed, single-spaced, 12-point font, with one-inch margins, and uploaded into the online form.
For student leadership applicants, a performance piece is optional; judges will not penalize student leadership applicants if the student chooses not to perform.
Students applying for any scholarship, although not required to attend the State Festival, are strongly encouraged to do so.
FOR ALL ACTING AND TECHNICAL CATEGORIES: Follow all guidelines for Thespys.
CATEGORY THREE
PERFORMANCE
Students will upload the audition video into the online application form.
One chair and table may be used without additional set pieces. Hand props may be used. Costumes are not permitted.
Dress neatly in order to make a good impression.
For musical auditions, the performer may use non-vocal musical accompaniment that is taped.
Auditions must be solo presentations. Other students are not allowed.
Performers are asked to begin the audition with an introduction (name, school, name of selection(s)).
Students will be allowed a maximum of three minutes for acting selections and five minutes for music selections (not including the introduction). A student going over the allotted time will be penalized in their overall scoring.
Please make sure that any uploaded video is shared with anyone who has been given access to the link.
When choosing the performance piece, please avoid selections with dialects, accents, and any classical material unless you have been specifically trained in those areas.
Students applying for any scholarship, although not required to attend the State Festival, are strongly encouraged to do so.
FOR ALL ACTING AND TECHNICAL CATEGORIES: Follow all guidelines for Thespys.
CATEGORY FOUR
TECHNICAL THEATRE
Each student presenting in the area of technical theatre must prepare a portfolio that illustrates their expertise in technical theatre.
Recommended content includes:
Renderings, sketches, models, and/or illustrations of scenic or costume designs.
Light plots of shows designed.
Drafting, blueprints, and/or photographs of scenery or costumes designed/constructed.
Any other evidence of technical theatre and design work.
If any drafting, technical drawing, and/or visual art courses have been taken, examples of work from those courses should be included in the portfolio.
If interested in stage management, theatre marketing, or theatre administration, include production journals within the portfolio.
The virtual presentation to the adjudicators must include an introduction (name, school, and chosen show) and be a concise explanation of the portfolio, not to exceed five minutes (not including the introduction). Students going over the allotted time will be penalized in their overall scoring. Please make sure that any uploaded video is shared with anyone who has been given access to the link.
Students applying for any scholarship, although not required to attend the State Festival, are strongly encouraged to do so.
FOR ALL ACTING AND TECHNICAL CATEGORIES: Follow all guidelines for Thespys.