Festival Dates, Registration Costs, and more… ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
 

Hello All,

We wanted to confirm that Festival Dates next year will be January 9-10, 2026 back at Towson University. Again, we know this is very early / soon after winter break, so please remember to keep that in mind as you plan for next year; many deadlines will be earlier than the last couple of years. We also heard back from Towson that we are a go to host the JUNIOR Festivial for middle school students the day before, Thursday, January 8th. So make sure to spread the word to your middle school colleagues!

We also wanted to give you the heads-up that the registration fee for next year will be $140. We have been able to avoid raising registration for the last two years but inflation and rising costs have made it necessary. The good news is that our price is still relatively low, compared to neighboring states, largely because of the many volunteers that help to plan and host the festival.

Maryland Thespians - Tentative Festival Deadlines:

  • Tentative Festival Dates: January 9-10, 2026

  • Registration Opens: September 2, 2025

  • One Act Proposal Submissions Due: October 1, 2025

  • Lottery for One Acts Complete by: October 8, 2025

  • Registration Closes: November 14, 2025

  • All Thespys (including Tech) must also register in the Open Water system by November 14, 2025

  • Thespy Video Submissions Due: November 21, 2025

  • Tech Thespys will continue to be LIVE at the festival (but still need to be registered in Open Water by November 14, 2025)

 

Main Stage

During the Troupe Director meeting at Festival this year, we heard that directors missed the full-length Main Stage but did not want to sacrifice one acts to bring it back. We looked into several options that would allow us to do both, but quickly ran into both scheduling and financial challenges with some of the options. The option that we eventually settled on was to have the Mainstage spot be Friday evening, at the same time as the evening round of Troupe Events. Schools will be able to have their fall play adjudicated to fill the spot. Troupes attending will be able to get tickets to the main stage on a first-come basis until it is full. Keep an eye out for more details to come over the summer.

 

Camp Thespis

  • A one day camp run by STOs to help troupe leaders / crew heads gain leadership experience, ideas and see how other troupes run things.

  • September (Likely Sept 20 or 27, TBD)

  • $25 per student. More information coming over the summer.

 

Annual Meeting - A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT with US

  • Open to ALL Troupe Directors - June 8, 2025 @ 3-4pm

    • meet.google.com/xgp-nhfz-ypy

  • Please consider attending to ask questions, get clarification, and to express interest in helping out with next year’s festival.  

  • If you’re a new Troupe Director, this is a great time to speak with Board Members and get a greater understanding of Maryland Thespians and what we can offer to you and your students.

 

Areas we need help in:

Please contact us if you have any questions, or if you have an interest in helping out!  Not all parts of festival require you to be on the Board and to attend Monthly meetings etc.  

  • Board Secretary

  • Recruiting Adjudicators (local theatre professionals and college faculty)

  • Coordinating Vendors / Sponsors

  • Registration / Festival Logistics

  • Coordinating Troupe Events (Trash Costumes, Trivia etc.)

  • JR Festival Committee

  • Asst. STO Coordinator

 
Maryland Thespians

An Educational Theatre Association Affiliate, P.O. Box 1934, Leonardtown, MD 20650, United States

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