Opening Ceremony Performance
Be Part of the Spotlight at the
ITF Opening Ceremony!
Get ready to shine as your Thespian troupe could kick off the 2025 International Thespian Festival! Selected troupes will have the unforgettable chance to perform a specially assigned musical number before thousands of Thespians and theatre educators from around the world. Don’t miss your opportunity to make this year’s festival opening an electrifying celebration of talent, energy, and community!
Important Dates
November 1 | Opening Ceremony Performance Application Opens |
January 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Application Closes |
January 21 | Notification of Selected Troupes |
January 29 | Deadline to Accept Invitation |
April 2 | Registration Deadline for Selected Troupes |
June 22 | Rehearsals & Opening Ceremony Performance at ITF |
Note: As with all EdTA applications, support is not available after business hours (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET). Begin applications early!
Eligibility
To be considered for the ITF Opening Ceremony performance, selected Thespian troupes must meet the following criteria:
- Active Thespian Troupe Status: Troupe(s) represented must be chartered Thespian troupes in good standing with the Educational Theatre Association.
- Participant Commitment: Each selected troupe must commit to bringing a minimum of 25 students, along with the required number of chaperones, to the International Thespian Festival. All participating students must register for the full festival. Performing groups can be comprised of students from multiple Thespian troupes.
- Collaboration & Feedback: Troupes must be open to collaboration with EdTA’s event producers and directors. This includes participating in regular production meetings, sharing rehearsal videos, and being receptive to artistic feedback to ensure a polished performance aligned with EdTA’s vision for the show.
- Self-Directed Musical & Choreographic Preparation: While EdTA will provide overarching direction and support, each troupe is responsible for music direction and choreography for the assigned musical number. We’re looking for troupes ready to bring their own creative flair and energy to the festival’s opening!
- Arrival at IU Bloomington: Troupes must arrive at Indiana University Bloomington by the morning of June 22 to participate in afternoon rehearsals for that evening’s performance.
- Other ITF Performance Opportunities: To allow diverse representation, troupes selected for the ITF Main Stage or Chapter Select One-Act Showcase are not eligible for the Opening Ceremony performance. Troupes that apply for these opportunities may still audition for the Opening Ceremony, remaining eligible if not chosen for Main Stage or Chapter Select.

Submission Process
- Record Your Audition: Create a three-to-five-minute video of your troupe performing one song from a musical. This can be recorded specifically for the audition or taken from a past performance within the past year.
- Submit Your Video: Upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, or another secure video hosting platform and include a hyperlink in your completed application. Ensure it represents the high-quality performance you’re ready to bring to the ITF Opening Ceremony! Note: The song in your video will serve as an audition piece. Selected troupes will be assigned their final performance song by EdTA.
- Selection Criteria: Our judges will review each submission based on:
- Staging: Creative, purposeful blocking and effective visual storytelling.
- Characterization: Emotional and physical depth, character commitment, and interaction.
- Ensemble Cohesion: A strong sense of community and engagement across performers.
- Vocal Quality: Balance, clarity, and blend within the vocal range of your performers.
- Choreography and Movement: Polished, meaningful movement fitting the musical piece.
- Production Value: Costumes, props, and staging that enhance the storytelling.
- Overall Execution: Cohesive storytelling that reflects your troupe’s talent and passion.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Aligns with EdTA's goals to represent diverse races, ethnicities, gender identities, and abilities in the casts, crews, directors, playwrights, and/or subject matter.
Note: Troupes will not receive feedback on their submitted audition video.

Questions?
Contact events@schooltheatre.org with any questions.