BACKstage Challenge
Form your teams and bring your A-game!
It's time for a high-energy, skills-based technical theatre showdown.
Attention BACKstage students: technicians, costumers, stage managers, and more! Disney Live Entertainment presents the BACKstage Challenge, an all new reimagining of ITF Tech Challenge that premiered in 2024. Six events will give four-person teams an opportunity to demonstrate a range of backstage skills. Each team will be invited to submit qualifying scores early in the week, with top teams competing on stage in an action-packed final round on Friday of festival week!
Registration: Students and teams can register on site on Monday or Tuesday of festival week. Troupes can register more than one team, and teams can include members from more than one troupe! Check the schedule for details.
A Few Important Things to Note
- All teams are four-person teams, and every event is a team event involving all four members. Theatre is a team sport!
- Individuals, pairs, or trios who want to take part will have the opportunity to join forces to create four-person inter-troupe teams.
- On-site registration available for teams and individuals!
The BACKstage Challenge Events
Below are the six events planned to make up the 2025 BACKstage Challenge, providing a blend of both new and familiar events. As is always the case in live theatre, though, be prepared for unexpected twists and turns. Things are subject to change, so you'll want to familiarize yourself with the event specifics on Monday and Tuesday of festival week.
Audio: Cable Relay
In a relay format, your team will strike and coil cables from a simple audio setup, and – since the true test of a properly coiled cable is how well it uncoils – will hook it all back up again to play a historic sound file.
Costuming: Quick Change
One member of your team will act as a performer, as everyone works together to facilitate a quick costume change. Costumes will be available for viewing at registration. Prepare to enact a disquieting metamorphosis!
Lighting: Hang and Focus
Your entire team will take part in hanging and focusing a Source Four ellipsoidal, including a gel and gobo. This relay version of the classic solo event will require your team to assemble your heroic skills like never before.
Rigging: Knot Tying
In another relay, your team will use three ropes to demonstrate how four specific knots – a clove hitch, a sheet bend, a bowline, and a trucker's hitch – can serve a show at sea.
Scenic: Set Tape Down
Armed with just two tape measures and two rolls of tape, your team will work to accurately and efficiently tape out a scale ground plan with a delightfully villainous attention to detail.
Stage: Prop Shift
Your team will execute a prop shift, managing both the necessary changes “onstage” as well as the organization of a “backstage” prop table … all in silence, befitting the 999 happy haunts involved.
Check out more details on all six BACKstage Challenge events.
Thinking of Creating Your Own BACKstage Challenge?
Want to recreate the fun of the BACKstage Challenge in your state chapter, school, or classroom? Download helpful information provided by Disney Live Entertainment and bring the Challenge to your next event!
About Disney Live Entertainment
Disney Live Entertainment is the global team that brings the magic of Disney to life for Disney's theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other destinations. From stage shows, street performances and character greetings, to award-winning parades and nighttime spectaculars, the team at Disney Live Entertainment works behind the scenes on some of the world's most unusual stages.
We hope you'll join members of this team at ITF this summer, as we work to elevate the talents of all those who contribute behind the scenes. Created in alignment with EdTA and USITT's BACKstage Exam, the BACKstage Challenge is a chance for Thespians to show off their skills and forge new connections in a fun and exciting way. We look forward to seeing you BACKstage!