Theatre Season Approaching!

Dear <<First Name>>:

We have a few updates and pieces of information to share as you plan for the fall semester. Should you have questions about any of the content of this e-newsletter, please contact Adam Jacobi at office@whsfa.org, or call (920) 710-1895.
 

One-Act Script Depth & Quality

Are you directing a one-act play for festival performance? As we alluded to last fall (2017), the WHSFA Theatre Advisory Committee is recommending contest adjudicators consider extent to which the script/cutting represents insight into human values, motivations, relationships, problems, and understandings, and is not characterized by sentimentality, violence for its own sake, unmotivated endings, or stereotyped characterizations. This would be part of adjudicators' appraisal of Direction-Interpretation, since script selection/devising is a directorial decision, giving feedback is key toward helping directors grow and improve, and understand how depth of the script itself can impact performance. The WHSFA also will release a new list of high-performing scripts from the past several years of the festival, along with developing a script loan library for directors. 

AWTE Fall Conference

Join the Alliance for Wisconsin Theatre Education for its conference, Friday, September 21, 2018, at Ripon College. Learn about new Wisconsin theatre standards, acting techniques, technical theatre tactics, and network with colleagues. This year's keynote speaker is George Tzougros, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board, and theatre alum of Carroll University. 
 

Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival

We are excited for the 88th anniversary of our State Festival, Nov. 15-17, 2018 at Viterbo University in La Crosse. One-acts will be on a slightly different schedule this year, starting with specially featured one-acts Thursday evening, and continuing Friday, from 8am-9pm (in lieu of showcase full-length productions each day). Saturday will be abbreviated, finishing by early-mid-afternoon. WHSFA has assumed all operational management of the festival, and will be using a unified registration process this year. Visit www.wisconsintheatrefest.org for more details. For schools participating in the one-act play contest, we'll be posting additional resources this year, including distance from the backstage holding area to the stage, so schools can practice pacing-out how long it takes to load sets. 

DPI Theatre Standards Process

Several Wisconsin educators contributed to redrafting model academic standards for theatre, and have considered how theatre is taught and learned in both curricular as well as extracurricular settings. Yet, skills we want young people to learn are universal, wherever theatre is happening. The proposed new standards will be discussed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and DPI's Standards Review Council in mid-September.
 

WHSFA Dues Renewal

All renewal of school membership dues are now handled electronically; please visit www.whsfa.org/membership and click "Join Online." Schools enjoy a $50 discount if dues are paid by October 1.