Our Events

Each March, approximately 1,700 high school students and teachers come together for a weekend celebrating theatre and theatre education. Throughout the weekend, troupes stage performances selected from schools across Ohio, creating an incredible experience for audiences and troupes alike.

Workshops

Attendees can participate in a variety of exciting workshops led by theatre professionals.

All-Ohio Show

Students from across the state audition and interview for one of a handful of prized positions in the annual All-Ohio show. Cast and crew meet for four intensive weekends to create an unforgettable production. Past All-Ohio shows have included Carrie: The Musical (2019), Letters to Sala (2018), Once On This Island (2017), She Kills Monsters (2016), and Spring Awakening (2015).

Performances

Because it wouldn’t be state conference without performances, this year’s virtual conference will feature virtual performances! If you would like your performance included, there are a few things you must consider:

• All performance must be a video or a recording of a live show.
• You must obtain all necessary rights for sharing your virtual performance.
• Any fees for the performance are the responsibility of the school and not EdTA Ohio Chapter.
• There will be a form that you must complete before uploading your performance, verifying you have obtained the rights and paid any royalties.
• EdTA Ohio Chapter will not charge any screening fees for your show to be included.

Details on how to upload your recording will be coming at a later date. The number of performances is not set and will depend on interest.

Tech Challenge

Tech Challenge offers a fun, competitive, environment to showcase the skills and talents of young theatre technicians. Each event is designed to demonstrate the techniques and practices used in the professional theatre industry.

Thespys

Thespys (formerly Individual Events or IEs) are available in both performance and technical categories and allow students the chance to receive feedback and ratings from theatre professionals. Top scores at the state level will earn students the opportunity to compete at the national level.

Step-by-step application steps are available for download. 

Registration is now open for the 2021 Ohio Thespian State Conference! A reminder that this year’s conference will be split over two days. Workshops, performances, and the state-level Thespys™ competition will be held on Saturday, March 27, and the All-Ohio Show and Thespys™ showcase will follow on Saturday, April 24.

The virtual conference platform will be open from 8 a.m until midnight on both days, allowing you to drop in and view the majority of performances and workshops at the time that works best for you and your troupe. Only a limited number of events will take place live. We will provide that information shortly. The cost is $40 for students and is free to troupe directors. 

We are using a new online platform for registration this year—one that will both allow access to the virtual state conference platform and link to thespianpointtracker.com. Please follow the instructions below to register. If you have questions, please contact Laura Poje at lpoje@ohedta.org OR 440-840-4231.

Step One:
Ask your students to create an account at thespianpointtracker.com.

Step Two:
Go to https://ohio1.cothespians.net/authake/user/login

Step Three:
Click on REGISTER > HIGH SCHOOL

Step Four:
Check your email for a confirmation number to begin the registration process.

Step Five:
Use the email and password to login to your account.

Step Six:
Create your school profile.

Step Seven:
Click on DIRECTORY > ADD STUDENTS OR DIRECTORY > IMPORT/SYNC

Step Eight:
Click on DIRECTORY>ADD CHAPERONES
You will need the following information: Name, email, cell phone number and tshirt size

Step Nine:
Click on REGISTER>STUDENTS

Step Ten:
Click on REGISTER>CHAPERONES

Step Eleven:
Register for Thespys (Individual Events)
Click on REGISTER>EVENTS>TYPE

Step Twelve:
Upload Videos to Student Events (Thespys)

Step Thirteen:
Proceed to PAYMENT
NOTE: You will NOT receive any links for conference until registration has been PAID. All payments are ONLINE ONLY.

Step Fourteen:
Relax and wait for March 27 and April 24!

We are pleased to partner with Great Lakes Theater to produce this virtual show. Director Chennelle Bryant-Harris and Script Supervisor David Hansen, of Great Lakes Theater’s Education Department, along with professional mime, author, and theatre educator, SMJ, worked with the 17 member company to write and perform this original spoken word, music, and movement piece. 

Time Capsule will stream on Saturday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m. State Conference participants will receive access to the production as part of their registration. 

Public tickets may be purchased at ohedta.booktix.com for three levels: $10 for an individual pass, $25 for a household pass, and $40 for a patron level. All proceeds will benefit The Ohio Educational Theater Association, whose mission is to shape lives through theatre education, honor student achievement in theatre, and enrich their theatre education experience.