The International Thespian Excellence Awards (or Thespys® for short) recognize the highest level of achievement in school theatre performance, technical theatre, writing, and filmmaking.
In Washington State, the journey begins at our four Regional Thespy Events where students share their work with their peers and for written feedback and adjudication by industry professionals. Students who score Superior are invited to audition for our State Thespian Festival’s Thespy Showcase AND the National Showcase held at the International Thespian Festival with scholarship money attached!
Visit the Educational Theatre Association’s Thespy Site for all updated instructions, categories, rules, rubrics, scholarship info, and approved publishers, as well as their lists of shows that CANNOT be used in Thespys, like Concord's Red Light List, for example. Read the Directing Rubric here and Directing Rules here. The Props Rubric and Rules are here. All other Thespy category rubrics and rules are here.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for important Thespy FAQs!
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PARTICIPATION FEES
$40 Thespians
$55 Future Thespians
$10 Non-Participant Student Observers
$10 Adult/Chaperone Observers
Email Ben Stuart at ben.stuart@wathespians.org for the discount code if bringing your school for the first time!
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SCHEDULE
REGISTRATION 8:00-8:45
OPENING CEREMONIES 9:00-9:20
SESSION 1 9:25-10:40
SESSION 2 10:55-12:10
LUNCH 12:10-1:10
SESSION 3 1:15-2:30
SESSION 4 2:45-4:00
CLOSING/STO 4:05-4:30
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DATES/DEADLINES
December 13, 2024
Deadline to Register and Check-In for Regional Thespys
January 11, 2025
Thespys West at Liberty High School (Renton)
January 18, 2025
Thespys East at Lewis & Clark High School (Spokane)
January 18, 2025
Thespys North at Everett High School (Everett)
January 25, 2025
Thespys South at Capital High School (Olympia)
January 31, 2025
State Thespy Showcase Audition Video Submission Deadline
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STATE THESPY SHOWCASE
Students who score a Superior will be invited to submit a recording of their performance or presentation for the Washington State Thespy Showcase at the Closing Ceremonies of our Washington State Thespian Festival. All performances/showcases will be live during the Closing Ceremonies. There will NOT be an in-person showcase audition at the festival. Showcased Tech presentations will display in the theater lobby throughout the Festival and be honored during the Showcase Ceremony.
2025 High School 3 STEP Thespy Registration
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STEP 1: REGISTRATION
by December 13, 2024
Tell us which region you will be coming to, how many Thespians, Future Thespians, and Student/Adult Observers will be attending, and preferred names for their name badges.
Teachers, please bring TWO printed copies of this Consent/Accept Form for each participant, chaperone, and observer to check in on the day of the event. One copy will be held on file at the desk while the other copy is to be inserted into each individual's name badge provided at check-in.
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STEP 2: CHECK-IN
by December 13, 2024
Complete the Thespy Check-In for your Regional event and any Directing or Props Thespys.
THESPYS NORTH CHECK IN
THESPYS SOUTH CHECK IN
THESPYS EAST CHECK IN
THESPYS WEST CHECK IN
DIRECTING THESPY (All Regions) CHECK IN
PROPS THESPY (All Regions) CHECK IN
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STEP 3: PAYMENT
Your Regional Director will email you a PayPal invoice after you have registered. Please have this invoice paid prior to attending regionals or bring a check made out to WA Thespians the day of the event.
For each attendee (participant, chaperone, & observer), bring TWO printed copies of the Consent/Accept Form. One copy will go in their name badge provided at check-in and the other will be on file at the registration desk.
Check your email often for other Regional information.
Thespy FAQs
WHICH REGION SHOULD WE ATTEND?
In Washington, senior high school troupes may attend ANY of the four Regional Thespy Events–whichever one(s) work best for your school’s proximity and schedule.
CAN JR. THESPIANS DO THESPYS?
Yes! All Jr. Thespians bring their Thespys to the WA Jr. Thespian Festival where they will be scored in the morning and superiors will be selected to perform at the Jr. Thespy Showcase that afternoon! Superior scoring Thespys at the WA Jr. Thespian Festival also qualify for the International Thespian Festival. See ITF below.
IS ‘SIX HIGH SCHOOL EDITION’ REALLY NOT ALLOWED? WHAT ELSE?
SIX is on Concord’s Red Light List for Thespys 2024. All Thespy submissions must be from approved publishers and NOT from works on their various Not Approved lists. Each teacher must verify their students’ Thespy material is approved–otherwise, they will be disqualified from scoring or advancing in the Thespy program.
Visit the Educational Theatre Association’s Thespy Site for all updated instructions, categories, rules, rubrics, scholarship info, and approved publishers, as well as their lists of shows that CANNOT be used in Thespys, like Concord's 2023-2024 Red Light Green Light List, for example.
IS THERE A LIMIT TO HOW MANY THESPYS A STUDENT CAN DO?
All students are limited to participating in up to THREE different Thespys which can be a mix of in-person and virtual-only categories, performance and tech.
WHAT ARE THE DIRECTING AND PROPS BETA CATEGORIES?
Washington is excited to participate in the Directing and Props Thespy BETA tests this year. Props is an in-person category while Directing is a virtual-only submission. Read the Directing Rubric here and Directing Rules here. The Props Rubric and Rules are here. NOTE: Superiors in these BETA test categories may qualify for the WA Thespy Showcase at State, however, they will NOT be included in Thespys at the International Thespian Festival in 2024.
WHICH THESPYS ARE IN PERSON VS. VIRTUAL?
This year, ALL Thespy categories will be adjudicated IN-PERSON at our three Regional Thespy Events with the exception of Short Film, Playwriting, and the Directing BETA, which are VIRTUAL-ONLY Thespys. The registration fee for virtual-only categories includes an invitation to attend a Regional Event to observe peers doing in-person Thespys but there is no in-person requirement or programming for the three virtual-only categories at the Regional level. Short Film, Playwriting, and Directing Thespys who qualify for State Showcase will be honored and shared at the WA State Thespian Festival in March.
CAN OBSERVERS COME?
Troupes are encouraged to bring non-participant student observers at the discounted fee of $10. This is a great opportunity for newer students to check out Thespys and support their peers! Additional adult chaperones may be registered for the $10 observer fee.
IS THERE A FIRST TIMERS DISCOUNT?
Yes! If your school has never participated in the Washington State Thespys, we invite you to bring up to 6 participants or observers free of charge! Email info@wathespians.org for discount info!
WHO CAN AUDITION FOR THE STATE THESPY SHOWCASE?
All Superior-scoring Thespys from the four regions qualify to audition for our State Thespy Showcase! After the conclusion of the Regional Thespy events, Showcase audition qualifiers from all categories will be invited to submit a VIDEO of their Thespy performance or tech presentation as a VIRTUAL audition for a state-wide panel of top adjudicators. Everyone “cast" in the State Thespy Showcase via video submissions will be notified prior to the close of State Festival registration so schools may register and plan accordingly. If you are cast but cannot attend to present your Thespy at State, alternate Thespys in each category will be invited.
WHO CAN AUDITION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL SHOWCASE?
All Superior-scoring Thespys from the four regions also qualify to bring their material to the International Thespian Festival (ITF) in Bloomington, Indiana in June. During ITF, auditions for the International Thespian Excellence Awards Showcase will be held and scholarship money is awarded to the finalists who perform for delegates from around the world in-person! NOTE: The Directing and Props BETA Test categories will not be included at ITF 2025.