Thespy Logistics

The International Thespian Excellence Awards (Thespys^®) recognize the highest level of achievement in school theatre performance, technical theatre, writing, and filmmaking. There are many moving parts to the final adjudications, scoring, showcase callbacks, and awards recognition during the International Thespian Festival (ITF). Below are the things you need to know about the Thespys at ITF.

Finals Adjudication

Thespy Adjudication Schedule

In-person Thespy adjudications will take place Monday-Tuesday, June 23-24, 2025 at ITF. You can explore the official Thespy schedule here.

View the Schedule

Student Arrival

Students should report to their assigned room at least 20 minutes before the adjudication block is scheduled to start. Adjudications are scheduled in hour-long blocks (rather than up-to-the-minute time slots), so everyone must arrive before the top of their time block. Once inside the room, the adjudicators will roll-call attendance. Latecomers are not guaranteed to be accommodated. Students will remain in the adjudication room for the duration of the time block and will perform or present in front of one another. Students who arrive after the start of their assigned time block should visit the Thespy Information Desk or report to a hall monitor.

Due to limited capacity in adjudication rooms, only those students being adjudicated will be allowed inside the room during each time block. Adult Leaders, friends, or any others not participating in adjudications will not be allowed in Thespy adjudication rooms (though they may wait outside the classroom). All ITF attendees are welcome to attend the various Thespy showcases and the ITF Closing Ceremony that will feature selected Thespy entries. Note that recording Thespy adjudications is stictly prohibited. This includes performance adjudications as well as technical presentations. Do not ask a friend or fellow participant to record your adjudication.

What to Bring to Adjudications

Technical students should bring any necessary materials with them for their presentation (e.g., portfolio, laptop, models, etc.). Musical Theatre Performance and Musical Theatre Dance participants should bring their phone or similar source for music (Bluetooth speakers with AUX cables will be provided, or students may bring their own speaker for an ensured reliable connection). Students should download any music, digital media, etc. to their devices in advance of their adjudications as wi-fi is historically unstable for streaming music in the adjudication rooms, and online advertisements can interrupt performances. Playing music directly from YouTube is not recommended.

Time Limit Reminders

Solo Acting: 3 minutes
Duet & Group Acting, All Musical Theatre Categories: 5 minutes
All Technical Categories: 8 minutes for presentation, followed by 4 minutes of Q&A with adjudicators (which starts immediately after the presentation ends).

Time Limit Warnings: At the end of the allotted time, the room monitor or adjudicator will raise their hand to indicate time is up. After 10 seconds, they will say, "Time." After 20 seconds, they will say, "Stop." To avoid disqualification, bring your work to an immediate close when the monitor raises their hand.

Closing Ceremony Performance Callbacks

Who Will Be Called Back?

Following adjudications, Thespy participants in Acting (Solo, Duet, or Group), Musical Theatre Dance (Solo, Duet, or Group), or Musical Theatre Performance (Duet or Group) categories may be invited to callbacks to showcase their performance at the ITF Closing Ceremony. Solo Musical Theatre Performance entries will not be considered, as all winners in this category will have the opportunity to showcase their performance prior to the Closing Ceremony (see below).

Adjudicators will recommend Thespy entries for callbacks separately from the scoring and feedback process. Because of numerous considerations, including but not limited to equity, licensing rights, variety, and program length, not all Thespy winners or Superior-rated students will be called back to perform and not all categories may be represented. The callback panel's only consideration is to put together an entertaining and diverse representation of the talent in the Thespy program to share with festival attendees at the Closing Ceremony.

Although the students' work will be evaluated by this panel, the callback does not further score or rank the students' work and feedback will not be provided (the official adjudication has already concluded). Students not selected for callbacks are still eligible to earn a Thespy Award.

How Will I Be Notified?

The PAL of any student invited to callbacks for the Closing Ceremony will receive an email on Tuesday evening with details about callbacks. In the case of multiple callbacks from the same troupe, the PAL will receive a separate email for each entry called back (not necessarily each student for duets/groups). PALs should be in touch with students to relay timely information after receiving the email.

IMPORTANT: The email will be sent to the email address of the person who submitted the Thespy adjudication form in OpenWater during the ITF registration process. (Per ITF registration guidelines, this should have been the PAL.) If for some reason the PAL was not the person who logged into OpenWater to submit the adjudication form, the email will be sent to whomever did.

Callback Times & Location

Callbacks will be conducted from 8-11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25. Location information and other details will be included in the callback invitation email.

Being Selected to Showcase in the Closing Ceremony

Entries that are selected to perform in the Closing Ceremony will be notified on Wednesday following callbacks via email to the students' PAL in the same fashion as callback notifications.

If selected to present an exhibition performance of your Thespy entry in the ITF Closing Ceremony, students will be required to attend a spacing/tech rehearsal from 6-7:30 p.m. on Friday prior to the event. Musical Theatre Dance and Performance entries will be asked provide a high-quality digital copy of their audio track (in MP3, M4A, WAV, or AIFF format) by Thursday evening or they risk forfeiting their performance slot to another entry.

Thespy Scores, Ratings & Feedback

When Will Thespy Scores be Released?

Thespy scores and ratings (for in-person adjudications) will be released for review on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The Primary Adult Leader of each Thespy participant will receive an email when the scores have been released on the OpenWater scoring platform. Virtual participants may receive their scores and ratings prior to ITF as virtual adjudication concludes. Adjudicator comments will be released for everyone approximately three weeks following ITF.

Viewing Your Scores

Scores will be available to view in OpenWater.

Access the Scoring Platform

Follow these instructions to access your troupe's scores:

In the navigation menu on the left-hand side of the screen, click Complete.
Click Results under the Action column next to the applications.
You’ll see the ranking and score under Winner Status.
- Thespy – Thespy Award Winner (Superior rating and highest score in category)
- Superior
- Excellent
- Good
- Fair

Note: You will only be able to view entries that were submitted under your OpenWater account.

If you are having technical difficulty accessing scores, staff will be on hand at the ITF Registration and Information desk at the IMU, East Lounge from 5:30-7:00 pm Thursday evening.

Scoring & Program Questions

Please note that the Thespys team will be unable to address any scoring or program inquiries while on site at ITF. (It's not that we don't want to be helpful; it's that scheduling is incredibly tight during festival week.) If you have a question or concern about a specific score, please wait until the adjudicators' full comments are released (three weeks after scores are released), then contact us with your question.

Here's how to reach out after ITF with any inquiries:

If you have a question/concern about a specific score, fill out this request form.
If you have a general question about the Thespys program, email thespys@schooltheatre.org.

Thespy Showcases

Short Film Showcase

The top 13 Superior-rated students in the Short Film category will have their works screened in a category-specific showcase. Superior works demonstrate suburb storytelling, camera work, lighting, sound, editing and acting abilities. This showcase not only celebrates the filmmakers but also creates an opportunity for students to view and appreciate each other's work.

Thespy Short Film Showcase
Thursday, June 26, 2025
8-10 p.m. (Doors open at 7:30 p.m.)
Whittenberger Auditorium
This is not a ticketed event and all are welcome!

All short films featured in the showcase will be published to EdTA's YouTube channel following the Short Film Showcase to share students' work globally and celebrate those who cannot attend ITF in person.

Solo Musical Theatre Performance Showcase

Thespy winners in the Solo Musical Theatre Performance category will have the opportunity to showcase their work in the IU Auditorium. Students performing in the Showcase must meet Lisanne Shaffer-Dickerson in the lobby of the IU Auditorium Theatre at 7:30am on Friday, June 27 for a walk-through of the space and program, and provide a high-quality digital copy of their audio track (in MP3, M4A, WAV, or AIFF format) through this link by 10:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26.

Students are welcome to wear black but it is not required; feel free to wear performance attire (no costumes, please).

Thespy Solo Musical Theatre Performance Showcase
Friday, June 27, 2025
9am-1pm
IU Auditorium
This is not a ticketed event and all are welcome!

Technical, Design & Playwriting Exhibition Showcase

All Thespy winners in technical, design, and writing categories will be invited to display their materials and showcase their presentations during a special portfolio exhibition prior to the ITF Closing Ceremony from 8-9 p.m. on Friday, June 27 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Participants should plan to arrive at Assembly Hall at 7:30pm and will be assigned table space in the concourse where they can display their work (costumes, set design models, etc.) and speak with festival attendees about their craft.

Students should bring any and all items needed to showcase their work with them (including laptop computers to display digital presentations, if applicable). Further details will be communicated via email to each winning student's PAL as Thespy scores are released.

Recognizing Thespy Participants

Superior Pins

Superior Pins are available for pickup by the PAL for each registration group in the lobby of the Musical Arts Center from 2-2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 27. Each PAL will be asked to present their badge and will receive an envelope with a pin for each Superior-rated student. Students are encouraged to wear their pins to the Thespy Awards Ceremony and the ITF Closing Ceremony, where they will be recognized for their achievements.

If you missed picking up your pins, they will be available to pick up at Assembly Hall prior to the Closing Ceremony.

Materials must be picked up during these hours. We are unable to ship any unclaimed award materials after ITF.

Thespy Award Winners' Medallions

Winners' medallions will be distributed to the winning Thespians during the Thespy Awards Ceremony in the Musical Arts Center on Friday, June 27.

If you missed picking up your medallion, it will be available to pick up at Assembly Hall prior to the Closing Ceremony.

Materials must be picked up during these hours. Note: We are unable to ship any unclaimed award materials after ITF.

Thespy Award Ceremony

All Thespy Award winners are encouraged to attend the Thespy Award Ceremony, where each student will be recognized for their outstanding achievement.

Thespy Award Ceremony
Friday, June 27
2:30-4:00 p.m. (Doors open at 2 p.m.)
Musical Arts Center
This is not a ticketed event and all are welcome! Winners will have reserved seating by Thespy category in the orchestra section of the audience and will not sit with their troupes.

Thespy Winners should arrive at the MAC lobby at 2 p.m. Winners will be seated by category and called to the stage as a group. Each person's name will be announced and they will be given their medallion. Upon exiting the stage (stage left), winners will have their official Thespy Award photo taken backstage with their medal, and then should return to their seats for the remainder of the ceremony.

If a student is a winner in multiple categories, then they will be reseated with the other categories to have their name announced and they will be given a medallion

Students should come dressed as they wish to be photographed. For reference on how these will be showcased, view the 2024 Thespy winners' photos.

School Trophies

Schools of Thespy Award-winning students will be awarded a trophy to commemorate the achievement. Trophies will shipped to the school's address after the conclusion of the event, with delivery expected in the fall, when school resumes. Communication will be sent to troupe directors at that time.

Virtual Thespy Participants

All materials (pins, medallions, trophies) will be shipped to the attention of the troupe director at the school address, with delivery expected in the fall, when school resumes. Communication will be sent to troupe directors at that time.