How many schools attend TheatreFest?
Typically 25 to 30 schools attend TheatreFest each year. Space is limited and fills up quickly, so apply as early as possible!
Typically 25 to 30 schools attend TheatreFest each year. Space is limited and fills up quickly, so apply as early as possible!
Currently, each school pays a $100 entry fee and $10 for each student that they are bringing to TheatreFest.
Yes, the school registration fee is the basic charge and then the school only pays $10 for each student they bring.
The insurance letter is provided by your district office and indicates that your school has liability coverage. TheatreFest and CSULB cannot be held liable for high school student injuries.
When your student is not competing they are free to attend any of the competition rooms as long as they are respectful of the other competitors. They can also attend the design expo, plays, workshops, and compete in spirit games.
Dining establishments on the CSULB campus are open during the festival for lunch purchases, and your students are welcome to bring snacks and pack lunches. There will also be refreshments sold in the theatre building (chips, water, soda, etc.).
TheatreFest judges come from a pool of qualified undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff from the CSULB theatre department, and outside professionals.
TheatreFest is run by MFA Theatre Management students. Two faculty members serve as advisors and the rest of the TheatreFest staff is comprised of volunteer staff from the undergraduate and graduate level.
Semi-finals are announced the Saturday morning of TheatreFest.
Schools will be notified via email Friday evening whether their students will be competing in the semi-finals.
Teachers are encouraged to email the electronic version to longbeachtheatrefest@gmail.com to save paper and to avoid lost or late packets. However, if this is not an option, completed packets may also be mailed or faxed to 562.985.2263.
All fees are due by the date stated in the registration packet. The TheatreFest staff cannot make any exceptions for late payments.
TheatreFest is a rain or shine event. Competition will continue as planned and accommodations will be made to move all schools to an indoor location.
Props can be stored in a TheatreFest locker overnight. Please notify us if you want to do this ahead of time so sufficient space can be arranged. All props should be labeled with your school name.
Weapons are provided by high schools. TheatreFest has limited swords and guns, but they are very basic.
TheatreFest does not allow music to have recorded voices. If a recording does contain recorded voices our judges will automatically deduct 10 points from the student’s overall score.
Your music should consist of a single-track Compact Disc with all required pauses pre-programmed. Only the first track of a multi-track CD will be played. You do not have to supply a sound board operator; a TheatreFest staff member will operate the audio equipment for you.
Unfortunately, we cannot refund any money to the school. However, you can bring another student to replace the absent one.
There are dressing rooms located on the basement level of the Theatre Department. There are also restrooms located on every level.
Student evals will be available on Saturday at the end of competition. They will be at the check-in table in the main lobby of Theatre Arts building. Any evals left at the end of Saturday will be mailed to the teacher at the address provided on the registration packet.
The dates of TheatreFest are determined based on several factors. The staff looks at when other CSULB campus events are happening, SAT/ACT testing, AP testing, and STAR testing. Unfortunately, we cannot plan our festival around other theatre festivals, proms, etc.
Each competition room has a TheatreFest staff member who has been trained as a timekeeper. The timekeeper will raise their hand in the back of the room when a student has 15 seconds left in their time limit. When time is up the timekeeper will call time. The student may continue if there is only a few seconds left in their piece, however they are encouraged to stop when time is called. If the student continues past time being called by more than 5 seconds the judges will deduct 10 points from their overall score.
All rooms of competition will contain one table and two chairs for competition provided by TheatreFest. Any additional set pieces must be provided by the high school and must be able to be set up and removed in one minute.
Students are allowed to wear costumes during competition. Lighting is general room lighting for all rounds of competition besides finals. A general lighting look will be provided by TheatreFest for finals judging. All competitors will receive the same lighting look for the finals round.
This year technical theatre will be competing on both Friday and Saturday. Saturday competition will be announced at semi-finals.
Any student can compete on only Friday if they prefer. TheatreFest staff would like to be informed if your student cannot attend on Saturday in case they are qualified for semi-finals so we can fill their spot with another competitor. Students cannot compete on Saturday if they did not attend on Friday.
All non-competitors who would like to attend must pay a $5 fee, payable by cash or check. If non-competitors/observers are under 18, they must fill out the same permission slip as all other attendees, included in the registration packet. Forms can be emailed to longbeachtheatrefest@gmail.com or mailed, with checks, to TheatreFest, Department of Theatre Arts, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840.
Yes! In fact, most schools do multiple songs. Just be sure you cut all your music into ONE TRACK, with any pauses included.
While profanity is discouraged at the festival overall, it is permitted if it is in the script of a play.
Students are more than welcome to leave designs overnight, as the design lab will be locked. However, we are not responsible for any loss/damage overnight. If you would like to take your design home, please return it before judging re-commences on Saturday morning.