Setting the Stage: Preparing Students for State Theatre Competitions
Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!
Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed.
In this week’s email,
We explore strategies to help your student performers get into the right mindset for success at upcoming state one-act competitions.
Host of The Scene: Podcast and Theatre Tiktoker Justin Borak brings his viral podcast segment to the pages of The Scene Newsletter for a new weekly segment. Check out Justin’s choice for this week’s Shows You Should Know!
The latest free read from Playscripts: Space Girl by Mora V. Harris.
So, raise the curtain and shine the spotlight as we dive into another thrilling week in the theatre world.
Welcome to The Scene.
Gracie Lawrence and Emily Bergl to Join Jonathan Groff in Broadway's Just In Time by Margaret Hall, Playbill | Groff will take on the iconic "Beyond the Sea" singer in the new show, starting performances on Broadway in March. Read...
Betty Boop musical sets final casting for Broadway bow by Andy Lefkowitz, Broadway News | The new tuner, titled “BOOP! The Musical,” is set to open at the Broadhurst Theatre this spring. Read...
2024 Best Play Tony Winner Stereophonic Closes on Broadway by Margaret Hall, Playbill | The play-with-music made history last year by earning 13 Tony Award nominations—the most of any play ever. Read...
Broadway's Eureka Day Gets 2nd, Final Extension by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | Amber Gray, Thomas Middleditch, and more fight about vaccines in the Manhattan Theatre Club production at the Friedman Theatre. Read...
Dramatists Play Service acquires licensing rights to Alex Edelman’s ‘Just for Us’ by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News | The solo piece is now available to perform in regional and community theaters. Read...
Rose's Turn of Phrase: A Linguistic Exploration of 'Coming Up Roses,' from Gypsy, with Three Linguists by Darryn King, Broadway Buzz | “It sounds like it’s existed forever,” linguist John McWhorter, an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University and host of the podcast Lexicon Valley, said of the phrase. “You would think that people had been saying that in 1745. It’s astonishing in that way. That is definitely another part of Sondheim's genius.” Read...
For These Teenagers in Ukraine, Hope Arrived at the Stage Door by Kim Barker and Dzvinka Pinchuk, The New York Times | The students in a summer acting course performed a play set in America called “It’s okay!” and it gave them hope that their lives would be OK, too. Read...
Meet Audiences Where They Are by Dr. Jen Benoit-Bryan, American Theatre | The challenge of declining attendance also presents an opportunity for theatres to diversify and expand their reach and impact. Read...
Big Idea Story
Setting the Stage: Preparing Students for State Theatre Competitions
By Zach Dulli, The Scene
A particular kind of electricity crackles in the air as high school theater students prepare for state one-act competitions. It’s a blend of nerves, ambition, and the communal thrill of putting weeks of hard work to the test. For theatre teachers, the days leading up to the big event can feel like walking a tightrope: balancing the fine art of pushing students to their best performances while ensuring they’re mentally equipped to handle the unique pressures of competition. As any seasoned theater educator will tell you, the key is as much about mental preparation as blocking and line delivery.
Here are some strategies for getting students in the right headspace to shine under the spotlight when it matters most.
Fostering a Collaborative Mindset
State competitions may be competitive by nature, but the essence of theater is collaboration. In the final days of preparation, emphasize the importance of teamwork over individual accolades. Remind students that their performance depends on the synergy of the group, not just the strength of individual stars. Activities like trust exercises or group warm-ups can reinforce this mindset. For example, spend a rehearsal practicing exercises like “passing the energy” or collective breathing. These seemingly small rituals remind students they’re part of something larger than themselves and can help quell performance anxiety.
Demystifying the Competition Environment
Uncertainty is one of the biggest sources of anxiety. Familiarize your students with what to expect at the competition. If possible, visit the venue beforehand or show photos and videos of the space. Walk students through the logistics: check-in procedures, dressing room locations, and backstage layouts. The more they know about the environment, the less intimidating it will feel. If a physical walkthrough isn’t possible, consider hosting a mock competition in your school auditorium. Bring in a panel of “judges”—colleagues, alumni, or even parents—to simulate the experience of being critiqued. This way, students can get a sense of the stakes without the added pressure of the actual event.
Encouraging Individual Rituals
Every performer has their own way of finding focus. Encourage students to develop personal pre-performance rituals that ground them. Whether it’s listening to a specific playlist, journaling, or doing yoga stretches, these rituals create a sense of control amid the chaos. Normalizing these practices can inspire students to explore what works for them.
Reframing Performance Anxiety
Nerves are natural, even for the most seasoned professionals. Instead of dismissing anxiety, frame it as excitement. Explain to students that the physical sensations of nervousness—a racing heart and sweaty palms—are identical to those of anticipation. By reframing the narrative, they can learn to harness their energy rather than be paralyzed by it. Consider leading a group discussion where students share their fears. Often, simply voicing anxieties can diminish their power. Follow this with guided relaxation techniques like visualization exercises to help students replace worry with focus.
Focusing on Process Over Outcome
Competitions are inherently results-driven, but reminding students that theater is about the process is crucial. Stress that the skills they’ve developed—collaboration, discipline, creativity—are what truly matter, regardless of the outcome. Introduce affirmations into rehearsals. Before each run-through, have students repeat statements like, “We are prepared,” “We support each other,” and “We will enjoy the moment.” These affirmations help center the team and shift the focus from fear of failure to pride in their preparation.
Maintaining a Supportive Presence
Your demeanor sets the tone as the teacher. Strive to be a calm, encouraging presence, even if the pre-competition chaos is overwhelming. Model the resilience and composure you hope to see in your students. On competition day, act as a grounding force. Keep snacks and water on hand, check in with students individually, and be ready with words of encouragement. A simple “You’ve got this” can go a long way.
Celebrating Every Moment
Finally, take time to celebrate the journey. Host a pre-competition dinner or a post-rehearsal reflection circle where students can express gratitude and share what they’ve learned. These moments of connection build camaraderie and remind students that their hard work is already an achievement worth celebrating.
State competitions are as much about growth as they are about accolades. By prioritizing mental preparation, theater teachers can ensure that their students walk into the event with confidence, focus, and a sense of joy.
Show’s You Should Know
American Hero by Bess Wohl
Rating: PG-13 | Casting: 5 men, 2 women (doubling) | Genre: Full-Length Comedy
American Hero follows the “sandwich artists” of an undisclosed toasted sub shop in some local mall in America. After the franchise owner mysteriously disappears, we witness these three employees try to improvise and keep their minimum wage jobs afloat. A simple premise that you would never think would be so jam-packed with human heartbreak, brilliant social satire, and an excellent portrayal of what people are willing to do to make ends meet. This wonderful comedy does a great job of tugging at your heartstrings and itching that part of your brain connected to those summers you worked at your local burger joint or some fast-food spot between college semesters. Bess Wohl is the pinnacle of writing plays for the communities you wouldn’t expect (the people on a silent retreat in Small Mouth Sounds or a boy-meets-girl cautionary tale at a Hitler Youth Camp in Camp Siegfried). This play is no different, letting the absurd live with the mundane in exploring the tedious jobs needed to survive. The show is great for colleges and community theatre but also has some terrific monologues for younger actors.
Get your own copy of American Hero, and check out The Scene Podcast!
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Joanna Vanderham Will Star in U.K. Revival of A Streetcar Named Desire by Andrew Gans, Playbill | Josh Seymour will direct the Tennessee Williams classic. Read...
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Six To Be Shown In Cinemas by Alex Wood, WhatsOnStage |The pro-shot version of the stage production is finally coming to screens this year! Read...
Ogunquit Playhouse's 2025 Season Will Include a New Staging of Come From Away by Linda Buchwald, TheatreMaina | The season also includes the world premiere of the new musical When Elvis Met the Beatles. Read...
Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ illuminates an existential truth revealed by the Los Angeles fires by Charles McNulty, The Los Angeles Times | “Shakespeare helps me envisage the unimaginable, and a speech from “The Tempest” has been running through my mind since images of charred sections of Pacific Palisades and Altadena started circulating.” Read...
Immersive In The Heights Team Announced at Signature Theatre by Linda Buchwald, TheatreMaina | James Vásquez directs the production. Read...
Pasadena Playhouse Cancels Anything Goes, Follies Concerts Due to Los Angeles Fires by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | Jinkx Monsoon was to have led the Cole Porter musical later this month. Read...
Free Reads of the Week
Read entire plays for free! Playscripts offers a selection of full-length and one-act plays that you can access for free, which is ideal for use in theatre productions, school performances, or competitions. To explore these titles, click on the cover image below or select the "READ FOR FREE" button at the bottom of this section. This action will direct you to the play's page on the Playscripts website. Once there, click "READ NOW" to begin enjoying the play immediately!
Space Girl by Mora V. Harris
The Story: Arugula Suarez just wants to fit in. But it's not easy when you're a sixteen-year-old alien from the planet Zlagdor. Stuck in a world where the only things that make sense are roller derby and salad, Arugula and her father, Nancy, must find out what it means to be human before time runs out for Planet Earth.
Dramedy | 80 - 90 minutes | 5 W, 1 M, 1 Any (7-11 actors possible: 5-10 W, 1-3 M) | Set: Minimal, with projections.
This is a real question but it’s going to sound bitchy: why is it called Show’s You Should Know? “Show is you should know” doesn’t seem to make sense. Show being possessive of you is maybe poetic but overly cryptic. I feel like I’m missing a pun. That rogue apostrophe has broken my brain.