TABLE FAIR, COLLEGE AUDITIONS, AND PORTFOLIO REVIEW!

College Audition Applications Open September 14, 2026

VA Thespians College Fair!
PURPOSE: The Virginia State Thespian Society will provide a forum at the Virginia State Thespian Festival where students may apply for university and college entry as well as possible scholarships. Space(s) will be set aside where representatives from colleges and universities may meet with interested conference delegates. Virginia Thespians also wants to create a space for deeper connections and conversations between students pursuing information about performing arts higher education and both traditional as well as non-traditional higher education/professional performing arts programs for post-high school training.

AUDITIONS: Students may audition in performance: acting or musical theatre, or in technical theatre. You may audition for both performance and technical theatre. Students who wish to audition will register for auditions on the EdTA Secure Events Open Water portal link on the festival registration site. Performance Auditions will be on Friday and/or Saturday, Technical Theatre interviews will take place Saturday AM, with callbacks on Saturday or Sunday for both.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: 
University and college representatives offering entry or scholarships at the festival will primarily be interested in delegates who will soon graduate. Therefore, only those students currently in the eleventh or twelfth grades may audition. All participants are required to attend one mandatory online training in December. 

College Auditions - Mandatory Online Training

Each student participating in the college auditions or technical theatre interviews is required to attend a 1-hour zoom training. During this hour, the college audition coordinator, Mrs. Gillespie, will take time to make sure all of your materials are uploaded and ready to go, explain the full audition process, ensure musical theatre students have provided their sheet music for the accompanist, make sure you know the best tips for a successful audition and answer any questions you may have! There are two options for attendance.

December 14, 2026 - 7 pm
December 15, 2026 - 7 pm

Zoom Links will be emailed to all registered participants 1 week prior to the training.

Audition Guidelines

Acting and Musical Theatre:

  • The performance area will be approximately 10 feet by 5 feet.
  • No special lighting will be available.
  • You will have access to one (1) straight-backed chair.
  • All auditions will be limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes.
    • Acting: Present two (2) contrasting monologues (humorous/dramatic, contemporary/classic, etc.). Each monologue should be between sixty and ninety seconds in length.
    • Musical Theatre: Present one (1) cut from a musical theatre song, sixty to ninety seconds in length. You are working with a live accompanist, not tracks, so bring your sheet music clearly marked. Also present one (1) monologue between sixty and ninety seconds in length, which contrasts with your song.
  • If you exceed the time limit, time may be called.
  • No recorded music or tracks. Accompanist only. There will be time to work with the accompanist before your audition. (Sign Up's for accompanist slots will be shared by email in early December).
  • Tips:
    • Make sure the two pieces contrast with each other.
    • If singing, bring your marked sheet music.
    • Act during your song.
    • Make use of your space, but only move with purpose for your piece(s).
    • Watch Mrs. Gillespie's Video Below with helpful tips for these auditions (video to be posted by Sept. 14, 2026).
    • Please arrive fifteen (15) minutes prior to your assigned audition time.
    • It is strongly recommended that you submit online supplemental materials so that the colleges have a chance to see more of your work and share your audition material with their faculty back at the school.
    • Visit the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen Website to become familiar with the standards many colleges are looking for in virtual prescreens, to help in preparing any online supplemental material you are submitting.
    • From the Common Prescreen Website: “It is recommended to choose monologues that are age-appropriate (generally within 5-10 years of your actual age) and that feel authentic to your culture, background, and lived experience.”
    • From the Common Prescreen Website: “Active monologues are often better for auditions; an active monologue takes place in real time and focuses on what you want and puts you in direct communication with an imaginary scene partner. This is often more successful in an audition situation than pieces that are a story or remembrance. Additionally, it can be helpful to avoid monologues that rely on extreme emotions as it can be hard to believably justify those responses in a short piece.”
Technical Interviews:

  • You will be provided with one (1) straight back chair and one (1) small and/or shared table. 
  • You are allowed to bring items to showcase your area(s) of expertise. This could be a computer with a pre-made presentation, models, posters, costumes and prop pieces you have designed, etc.
  • You will have four (4) minutes to present, and they will have four (4) to ask you questions.
  • Please arrive fifteen (15) minutes prior to your assigned time for setting up your display materials. 
Reminders for all Applicants:

DRESS: 
  • Dress nicely/professionally. 
  • Wear clothing that is simple and will allow for easy movement. 
  • COSTUMES ARE NOT PERMITTED.

INTRODUCTION/SLATING: 

  • Introduce yourself by name. 
  • Performers: Introduce the audition pieces. 
  • Tell us what grade you are in (junior or senior).
  • Do not say your troupe number.
  • Your time begins after slating.

TO BRING: 

  • Copies of your resume for the college fair/callbacks
    • Include a headshot stapled to the back of the resume
  • Musical Theatre:
    • Your clearly marked sheet music
  • Technical Theatre:
    • Your display or presentation materials
    • It is also recommended that you have a QR code, linked to your portfolio on the resume, if you have an online portfolio or a portfolio in google drive.

FOLLOW UPS / CALL-BACKS: 
  • If a college is interested in offering you a meeting or a callback, they will contact you through either your provided email or the Open Water system. Be sure to check both of these locations after your audition. It is expected that students will make every attempt to visit the colleges that request a callback out of professional courtesy.
Watch this presentation from our College Auditions Coordinator, Mrs. Gillespie, with everything you need to know about college auditions!
VIDEO TO COME BY SEPT. 14, 2026

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION: 
  • Registration for College Auditions will be through Open Water. The deadline is November 9, 2026.
  • Make sure you complete the application online fully. Information to collect and share via the online application:
    • Name, pronouns, high school, grade level
    • Student email, phone number, address
    • Track: Performance, Technical Theatre, Education
    • Artistic Resume with your related theatre/ dance/ music/ production/ leadership experience. Name your file: Last Name_First Name_Resume
    • Headshot. Name your file: Last Name_First Name_Headshot
    • Sheet music (if applicable)
      
   Online Supplemental Materials You May Submit: (This is optional but strongly recommended)

  • Tech Portfolio (if applicable). Name your file: Last Name_First Name_TechPortfolio
  • Playwriting Sample(s) (if applicable). Name your file: Last Name_First Name_PlaySample
  • Performance Reel (if applicable). This must be submitted as an MP4, MOV, or WAV video file. Name your file: Last Name_First Name_PerformanceReel
  • Wildcard Submission (optional). This is a short one minute video that tells the college or university what you want them to know about you. It could be choreography, an essay/personal statement, another trick or talent to share, an outside-of-theatre hobby such as horseback riding or baking, etc. Name your file: Last Name_First Name_WildCard
  • These may be added up to Nov. 29, 2026.
 
  • REGISTRATION FEE: Please note that there is a $15 fee to submit for college auditions. Last year, students had the opportunity to be seen by between twenty and forty colleges in this process. This can end up saving you thousands of dollars in fees later compared to visiting each of these colleges separately on campus.

Check out the Fantastic Programs already registered for VTF2027!
(with more being added every week!)

(*)performance / (+)technical /(v)Virtual Only

AMDA: College of the Performing Arts *
American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) *
Brevard College *+
Catawba College *+
Catholic University*
Christopher Newport University *+
Elon University +
Ferrum College Music & Theatre *
Frostburg State University *+
George Mason University *+
High Point University *+
Hollins University *+
Hollins Playwright's Lab
James Madison University *+
Longwood University *+
Marietta College *+
Northern Michigan University *+
Penn State University *+
Point Park University-School of Theatre, Film and Animation +
Radford University *+
Rowan University *+
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) *+
State University of New York at Cortland v*+
The Conservatory at Stephens College *+
UNCSA Design and Production +
University of Mary Washington *+
University of Northern Colorado v*+
Virginia Tech University *+
West Virginia University *+

Download Flyer Here
Over 55 Colleges Attended Festival 2026!

AMDA College of the Performing Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Arcadia University
Averett University
Bowie State
Brevard College
Butler University Department of Theatre (virtual)
Catawba College
Christopher Newport University
College of the Arts, Rowan University
Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College
Dobbins Conservatory at SEMO/Southeast Missouri State University (virtual)
Eastern University (virtual)
Elon University
Ferrum College
Frostburg State University
Gannon University
George Mason University School of Theater
Greensboro College
High Point University
Hollins University
IAMT
James Madison University
Longwood University
Marietta College
Marymount Manhattan College
Messiah University
Miami University (Ohio)
Millikin University- School of Theatre and Dance
Montclair State University
Montgomery College Department of Performing Arts
Mount St. Mary's University
National Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts (NCDA)
Northern Michigan University
NYFA College of Film, Media, & Performing Arts (New York Film Academy)
Oklahoma City University School of Theatre
Penn State University
Radford University
Roanoke College
Salem State University
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Shepherd University
Southern Virginia University
Stella Adler Studio of Acting (virtual)
SUNY Cortland (virtual)
The Catholic University of America
University of Mary Washington
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of Northern Colorado
Virginia Tech
West Chester University
West Virginia University
William & Mary
Winthrop University

"ACT WELL YOUR PART, THEREIN ALL THE HONOR LIES."
CONTACT US
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors:
Artistic Concepts Group, Inc., The Rustic Mechanicals, Shindig Digital Programs, Ludus, Yummie Food Truck Co., Barbizon Lighting Company, YouthPLAYS, SL Showtech, Grow with Shows, The Noble Blades, Open Jar Institute, DeLong Rigging Solutions, We Help Too, Drama Teacher Academy, J.W. Pepper, NextStop Theatre, Scenery Bags, Creative Stages, The Muse Box Crystal Shop, Booktix