Individual Secondary Events & Competitions

Solo Musical Competition

Own the Spotlight, Elevate Your Craft

Take the stage at this year's annual conference! This competition offers middle and high school students the chance to perform, receive expert critique, and compete for top honors.

• Divisions: Middle School (Grades 6-8) and High School (Grades 9-12).

• Prizes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awarded for each division at Saturday night's ceremony.

• Cost: $20 per student.

• Eligibility: Open to any student registered for the VTA Conference, with no limits on entries per school.

Performance Guidelines

• The Song: Must be one selection from a published musical theatre script (no material from other media).

• Time Limit: Maximum of 2 minutes, starting after your slate.

• The Slate: State your name, song title, and the composer/lyricist before beginning.

• Music: You must use pre-recorded, non-vocal backing tracks; no live music or a cappella allowed.

• Material: Must be age-appropriate and free of strong language or graphic content.

• Props & Attire: No props, costumes, or theatrical makeup allowed. Wear professional audition attire. One chair is permitted.

• Sound Check: A 10-second volume check is allowed, but absolutely no singing during this time.

Restart Rules:

• Middle School: One restart is allowed within the first 10 seconds. A second restart results in a "no score".

• High School: No restarts are allowed. Any restart results in a "no score". (Note: Students in both divisions are permitted to finish their performance regardless of score).

Rules & Judging

• What Judges Look For: Performances are judged on acting, vocal technique, characterization, physical expression, and clean transitions.

• Scheduling: Performances take place during the conference. Every effort will be made to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Festivals.

• Audience Etiquette: Audiences may or may not be present. If present, attendees must remain quiet and respectful. Disrespectful behavior from supporters can result in the disqualification of the performer.

How to Register

Directors or students can add the Solo Musical Competition to their cart during regular conference registration.

Costume Design Competition

Design the Visual Narrative

Bring your creative vision to the stage! The Costume Design Competition offers students the opportunity to showcase their artistic design skills, receive valuable feedback from industry professionals, and compete for top honors at the annual conference.

• The Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.

• Prizes: Winners will be announced at the VTA Awards Ceremony.

• Cost: $20 entry fee.

• Eligibility: Open to registered conference students who complete the online design competition entry form.

Design Guidelines

• The Characters: Design costumes for characters from the play.

• Design Renderings: Each character design must be on its own individual sheet and include the title of the show, character's name, act/scene, and the designer's signature. Renderings must be at least 8 inches high to clearly illustrate details.

• Croquis: Tracing over an existing figure is permitted, provided the figure is 8 inches or larger.

• Research Images: Provide at least 4 color research images total (not per character)—2 establishing the time/place and 2 that inspired your overall designs. Each image must be labeled to coordinate with your designer's statement.

• Designer's Statement: Submit a typed statement (maximum of one page) explaining what you attempted to accomplish and the reasons behind your choices. You must reference each research image by its label.

• Originality: Submissions must be completely original designs that have not been previously executed or copied from another artist.

Display & Submission Specifics

• Presentation Board: Renderings must be displayed on a freestanding, standard 36-inch by 48-inch trifold presentation board. The board must prominently display both your name and your school.

• Additional Elements: You are encouraged to attach fabric swatches, notes, or preliminary sketches directly to your presentation board.

• Binder or Folder: If space on your trifold board does not allow for your designer's statement and research images, they must be presented in a folder or binder labeled with your name.

• Judging & Critiques: Professionals and academics will evaluate submissions based on design renderings, research, design concept, functionality, script support, originality, and overall craftsmanship. Students are encouraged to attend the live critique session at the conference.

  How to Register

  Directors or students can add any of the Design Competitions to their cart during regular conference registration.

Crafts Design Competition

Master the Art of Stage Properties

Bring theatrical objects to life! The Crafts Competition allows technical theater students to showcase their construction and fabrication skills by creating a fully realized, three-dimensional item called for directly by the script.

• The Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.

• Prizes: Winners will be announced at the VTA Awards Ceremony.

• Cost: $20 entry fee.

• Eligibility: Open to registered conference students who complete the online design competition entry form.

Design Guidelines

• Design Parameters: Design and create a fully realized prop, costume prop, or craft called for within the script (such as a hand prop, set dressing, a hat, or a unique accessory). The item can be an imagined original design or a historically accurate recreation, but it must directly support the action of the play.

• Full-Scale Execution: The completed craft must be created in full scale, be fully functional, and completely finished with all realistic colors and textures accounted for.

• Research Images: Provide at least 4 research images—2 establishing the historical time/place and 2 that inspired your fabrication choices. Each image must be labeled.

• Designer's Statement: Submit a typed statement (maximum of one page) explaining your goals and choices, referencing your research images by label. If your craft is a historical recreation, discuss how you achieved or intentionally deviated from strict accuracy.

• Originality: Submissions must be original creations. You may not use or pass off another artist's work as your own. Including process images showing your steps of construction is highly encouraged.

Display & Submission Specifics

• Binder or Folder: Your printed designer's statement and research images must be presented in a folder or binder labeled with your name, to be set next to your craft at your display table.

• Judging & Critiques: Submissions are evaluated by professionals and academics on uniqueness, design parameters, functionality, design concept, script support, originality, and overall craftsmanship. Performers and designers are welcome to observe or participate in the live critique session at the conference.

How to Register

Directors or students can add any of the Design Competitions to their cart during regular conference registration.

Monologue Competition

Bring the Text to Life, Leave an Impression

Take the stage at the annual conference! This competition offers middle and high school students the chance to perform, receive expert critique, and compete for top honors.

• Divisions: Middle School (Grades 6-8) and High School (Grades 9-12).

• Prizes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awarded for each division at Saturday night's ceremony.

• Cost: $20 per student, or free if chosen as your one free competition.

• Eligibility: Open to any student registered for the VTA Conference, with no limits on entries per school.

Performance Guidelines

• Time Limit: Maximum of 1 minute, starting after your slate.

• Middle School Material (Grades 6-8): May select any monologue of appropriate length and age-appropriate content.

• High School Material (Grades 9-12): Must select a monologue from a play, including the play and playwright names on the registration form. Material must be age-appropriate and free of strong language or graphic content.

• The Slate: State your name, your school's name, and your monologue choice (character and show name) before beginning (this does not count toward performance time).

• Props & Attire: There is no official dress code, but students are expected to wear professional audition attire.

Restart Rules: Middle School: One restart is allowed within the first 10 seconds. A second restart results in a "no score". High School: No restarts are allowed. Any restart results in a "no score". (Note: Students in both divisions are permitted to finish their performance regardless of score).

Rules & Judging

• What Judges Look For: Performances are evaluated on comprehension, memorization, focus/characterization, vocal expression, physical expression, and overall impression.

• Scheduling: Performances take place during the conference. Every effort will be made to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Festivals.

• Audience Etiquette: Audiences may or may not be present. If present, attendees must remain quiet and respectful. Disrespectful behavior from supporters can result in the disqualification of the performer.

How to Register

Directors or students can add the Monologue Competition to their cart during regular conference registration.

Playwriting Competition

Captivate the Page

Put your storytelling to the test! The Playwriting Competition encourages secondary students to develop original scripts, receive expert written feedback, and compete for top honors across multiple age divisions.

• Categories: 10-Minute Play (up to 12 pages of dialogue) or One-Act Play (20 to 60 pages of dialogue).

• Prizes: Best Play Medallion and one Runner-Up Medallion awarded for each category across three grade tiers (Middle School, Grades 9-10, and Grades 11-12) during Saturday night's ceremony.

• Cost: $20 per student.

• Eligibility: Open to any singular student in grades 6-12 at a Virginia school. Writers must be registered VTA members by the first day of the conference (attendance at the conference is not required).

Script Guidelines

• Originality: Scripts must be the original, sole work of a single student. Adaptations of existing works are not accepted and will be disqualified.

• Formatting: Scripts must follow a consistent layout throughout, though a specific theatrical format is not mandated.

• Content: Plays must meet the standard content guidelines set by your school administration. VTA does not edit or judge the appropriateness of the material; whatever is deemed appropriate by your school administration meets competition criteria.

• Helpful Resources

Submission Specifics

• File Requirements: Scripts must be submitted as a single PDF featuring two distinct cover pages to ensure anonymity during evaluation.

• Cover Page One (Removed Before Scoring): Must include Student Name, School, Name of Theatre Director/Sponsoring Teacher, Play Title, and Category.

• Cover Page Two (Passed to Judges): Must include only the Play Title and Category.

• Adult Sponsorship: Submissions must be uploaded by a teacher, director, or adult sponsor, indicating they have read the script and verified it meets school standards.

• Mandated Reporting: Sponsoring school employees must fulfill legal obligations as mandatory reporters if script content indicates a student is a danger to themselves or others.

Judging & Feedback

• What Judges Look For: Scripts are scored on plot logic, believable character development, effective exposition, clear conflict/inciting incident, rising action complications, a strong climax, falling action, resolution, stageability, and formatting consistency.

• Critiques: Evaluations are completed offsite. Written judge comments will be shared directly with sponsoring teachers and directors in the weeks following the festival, rather than at the conference.

How to Register & Submit

Directors or students can add the Playwriting Competition to their cart during regular conference registration.

Once registered, adult sponsors can complete the official online submission form to provide evaluation information and email the PDF copy of the play to harvey.stone@vtasite.org.

Questions? Please email harvey.stone@vtasite.org.

2026 Virginia Theatre Association Contest AI Statement

The Virginia Theatre Association (VTA) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are becoming a common part of research and learning. Students may use AI to assist with research, outlining, fact-checking, and similar preparatory work. However, all submitted creative work in VTA competitions must represent the student's own original artistic thinking, writing, design, and production. AI-generated content may not be submitted as a final creative product, nor may AI replace the student's creative contribution. Scripts written by AI cannot be used in any performance festival, nor may they be submitted to the playwriting competition. 

From first draft to final product, work submitted must be student work, not the work of generative AI. 

The intent of this policy is to encourage responsible use of emerging technologies while ensuring that VTA contests continue to celebrate human creativity, craftsmanship, artistic expression, and respect for original works.