Registration through Open Water coming soon (where applicant materials will be submitted). Please read over all requirements and policies before starting to fill out the form.
VIRGINIA THESPIAN SCHOLARSHIP POLICY
SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED - $3000 TOTAL AWARDED All Scholarships are awarded in $500 amounts. Theatre Performance - Acting Scholarship Theatre Performance - Musical Theatre Scholarship Technical Theatre Scholarship Theatre Education Scholarship Dramaturgy / Playwriting Scholarship Alumni Board Scholarship |
ELIGIBILITY / GENERAL INFORMATION
1. All applicants must be Thespians.
2. All applicants must be Seniors intending to major or minor in theatre or a related field.
3. All applicants may only apply in one category: Theatre Performance - Acting, Theatre Performance - Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre, Theatre Education, or Dramaturgy/ Playwriting
4. Virginia Thespians may award one $500.00 scholarship in the categories of Theatre Performance - Acting, Theatre Performance - Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre, Theatre Education, Dramaturgy / Playwriting, and Alumni Board. In the event there is not a qualified candidate in one of the category an additional scholarship may be awarded to a different category.
5. The scholarships will be sent directly to the college / university financial aid director by the Educational Theatre Association.
6. Three finalists from each category will be selected after the due date for the application and contacted for further interviews.
7. This Google Form must be filled out by November 5, 2022.
10. Please have your sponsor email a recommendation directly to scholarships@vathespian.org
11. The Virginia State Thespian Director and EDTA headquarters will contact the winner(s) in the spring and request the address of the financial aid director at the college of their choice. The International Thespian Society and the Virginia Thespian Society will make checks payable to the college / university. Under no circumstances will a scholarship check be issued directly to an individual or to the State Thespian Organization.
HOW TO APPLY:
1. Troupes may submit three candidates in any category.
2. The Scholarship Applicant, must then complete this Scholarship Application by November 5, 2022.
3. Incomplete and incorrect application materials will disqualify the applicant.
4. Parts of the application (one-page résumé, Thespian Activity Sheet, personal statement) must be submitted via this form. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
5. A letter of recommendation for the Scholarship Applicant must be emailed to scholarships@vathespian.org by the troupe director no later than November 5, 2022.
JUDGING SYSTEM:
The scholarship judging committee shall consist of a specially selected panel of qualified adjudicators. We typically have at least 4 judges on the panel- one from education, one from a performance background, an Alumni Board representative, and one from a technical background.
All applicants will be evaluated using the following scale:
Thespian Activities/Résumé: 25%
Recommendations/ Essay: 15%
Audition for the performer / sampling of renderings and designs for tech theatre / lesson plan for the theatre educator and Interview, presentation for dramaturgy / playwriting and interview: 60%
NOTE: Application materials become the property of the Virginia Thespian Society.
The name and photo associated with your Google account will be recorded when you upload files and submit this form.
1. All applicants must be Thespians.
2. All applicants must be Seniors intending to major or minor in theatre or a related field.
3. All applicants may only apply in one category: Theatre Performance - Acting, Theatre Performance - Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre, Theatre Education, or Dramaturgy/ Playwriting
4. Virginia Thespians may award one $500.00 scholarship in the categories of Theatre Performance - Acting, Theatre Performance - Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre, Theatre Education, Dramaturgy / Playwriting, and Alumni Board. In the event there is not a qualified candidate in one of the category an additional scholarship may be awarded to a different category.
5. The scholarships will be sent directly to the college / university financial aid director by the Educational Theatre Association.
6. Three finalists from each category will be selected after the due date for the application and contacted for further interviews.
7. This Google Form must be filled out by November 5, 2022.
10. Please have your sponsor email a recommendation directly to scholarships@vathespian.org
11. The Virginia State Thespian Director and EDTA headquarters will contact the winner(s) in the spring and request the address of the financial aid director at the college of their choice. The International Thespian Society and the Virginia Thespian Society will make checks payable to the college / university. Under no circumstances will a scholarship check be issued directly to an individual or to the State Thespian Organization.
HOW TO APPLY:
1. Troupes may submit three candidates in any category.
2. The Scholarship Applicant, must then complete this Scholarship Application by November 5, 2022.
3. Incomplete and incorrect application materials will disqualify the applicant.
4. Parts of the application (one-page résumé, Thespian Activity Sheet, personal statement) must be submitted via this form. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
5. A letter of recommendation for the Scholarship Applicant must be emailed to scholarships@vathespian.org by the troupe director no later than November 5, 2022.
JUDGING SYSTEM:
The scholarship judging committee shall consist of a specially selected panel of qualified adjudicators. We typically have at least 4 judges on the panel- one from education, one from a performance background, an Alumni Board representative, and one from a technical background.
All applicants will be evaluated using the following scale:
Thespian Activities/Résumé: 25%
Recommendations/ Essay: 15%
Audition for the performer / sampling of renderings and designs for tech theatre / lesson plan for the theatre educator and Interview, presentation for dramaturgy / playwriting and interview: 60%
NOTE: Application materials become the property of the Virginia Thespian Society.
The name and photo associated with your Google account will be recorded when you upload files and submit this form.
SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS
THEATRE PERFORMANCE - ACTING & MUSICAL THEATRE
Please submit required documents via the Google Form below. Be sure to have your Troupe Director email your letter of recommendation to scholarships@vathespian.org no later than November 19th.
TECHNICAL THEATRE & THEATRE EDUCATION
Please submit required documents via the Google Form below. Be sure to have your Troupe Director email your letter of recommendation to scholarships@vathespian.org no later than November 19th.
DRAMATURGY / PLAYWRITING
- Production Dramaturgical Work (production research packet, program essays, study guides)
- Original play script (10 pages in 12 pt. font single space maximum)
Please submit required documents via the Google Form below. Be sure to have your Troupe Director email your letter of recommendation to scholarships@vathespian.org no later than November 19th.
THEATRE PERFORMANCE - ACTING & MUSICAL THEATRE
- Dress professionally. COSTUMES ARE NOT PERMITTED. Wear clothing that is simple and will allow easy movement.
- Introductions/Slating: Introduce yourself by name. Introduce the audition piece(s). Your time begins after slating.
- Acting - 2 minutes total of either a single monologue or two contrasting monologue
- Musical Theatre - 2 minutes total of any musical theatre song selection or selections. Accompaniment must be recorded. A bluetooth speaker will be provided. RECORDED ACCOMPANIMENT SHOULD CONTAIN INSTRUMENTATION ONLY!
Please submit required documents via the Google Form below. Be sure to have your Troupe Director email your letter of recommendation to scholarships@vathespian.org no later than November 19th.
TECHNICAL THEATRE & THEATRE EDUCATION
- Dress professionally.
- Introductions/Slating: Introduce yourself by name. Tech and Theatre Education Presentations: State that you are presenting your “Tech Portfolio” or your “theatre lesson plan.” Your time begins after slating.
- TECHNICAL THEATRE: Prepare a presentation speech for a maximum of five minutes on an original prepared technical portfolio of designs, sketches, and/ or photographs of finished designs that illustrate your technical expertise.
- THEATRE EDUCATION: Speak for five minutes on situations / experiences where you have had an opportunity to "teach." Explain why you want to become a theatre educator. Be prepared, if asked- to discuss your lesson plan ideas. Provide a real or create a mock lesson plan.
Please submit required documents via the Google Form below. Be sure to have your Troupe Director email your letter of recommendation to scholarships@vathespian.org no later than November 19th.
DRAMATURGY / PLAYWRITING
- Dress professionally.
- Introductions/Slating: Introduce yourself by name, and state that you are presenting for the Dramaturgy/Playwriting Scholarship. Your time begins after slating. You will have a maximum of 5 minutes to discuss your work and what your goals in Dramaturgy or Playwriting are in the future.
- Submit the following through this form: 1 Piece each in TWO of the following categories (2 written examples total):
- Production Dramaturgical Work (production research packet, program essays, study guides)
- Original play script (10 pages in 12 pt. font single space maximum)
Please submit required documents via the Google Form below. Be sure to have your Troupe Director email your letter of recommendation to scholarships@vathespian.org no later than November 19th.

Sample Thespian Activities Sheet | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: | docx |

Sample Resume | |
File Size: | 32 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Scholarship registrations for the 2023 Festival have closed. Thank you for your interest!