Georgia Junior Thespian Conference – February 23, 2013
Come join us for the 6th annual Georgia Junior Thespian Conference! This year we have an
exciting conference planned for you once again at Columbus State University in Columbus,
GA. It will be a fun filled day with theatre workshops for Middle School students and
teachers. The student/teacher workshops will be presented by theatre professionals and
educators from around the Atlanta/Columbus area.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
The Junior Thespian Conference registration fee of $50 will include all workshops and
performance events, lunch, dinner, dance, conference name badge, and t-shirt. The
conference schedule will be posted on the Georgia Thespians website soon. Junior
Conference Registration and Individual Event registration will open October 1, 2012 and
close Saturday January 12, 2013. NO troupes will be allowed to submit any
registration after the January 12th deadline.
The 2013 Conference registration is conducted online via the Georgia Thespians website
(www.gathespians.org). Troupe directors are responsible for registering their troupe’s
attendees and chaperones.
In order to register for conference, you will need to have a website user account. Visit the
Georgia Thespians website and select “create user” link in the top right-hand corner of the
home page. The screen instructions will prompt you for:
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User Name: the name you want to use to log into our website
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First Name: Your First Name
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Last Name: Your Last Name
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Display Name: the “name” you want to be displayed indicating that you have logged
in. This “name” could be your username, first and last names, or whatever else you
want it to be. (Think of it as a nickname)
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Email Address: Your school email address
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Password: the password you want to use to log into our website
After you have created a website user account with Georgia Thespians, the webmaster
needs you to email him (webmaster@gathespans.org) telling him what your website user
name is, and to which troupe number you belong. It is very important that you send this
email from your school email account so that he can verify its authenticity. After he receives
this email from you, he will associate your website username with your troupe number. This
is the “magic” that will allow you to register for conference.
Each time you visit our website, look in the top right-hand corner of the screen to see if you
have logged in. If you see: Create User// Login, That means you are not logged in. Click
the “Login” link to log into the website.
After the Webmaster associates your website username with your troupe number, you will
be allowed to register your troupe for conference.
To enter your registration, you must go under the Conference page and click on the
registration tab.
Conference Registration Packets
When mailing in your conference registration fees, your “packet” must include:
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Payment
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Copy of your troupe’s registration
Registration opens October 1, 2012 and closes January 12, 2013
Mail Registration Materials and Payments to:
Frank Pruet, Chapter Director
Georgia Thespians
320 Kingspring Court
Roswell, GA 30076
NOTE: You are not officially registered until your fees have been received
Acceptable Forms of Payment (Make checks payable to “Georgia Thespians”)
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Certified Check
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School Check
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School Booster Club Check
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Money Orders
*REGISTRATION AND ALL OTHER FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE
Conference Schedule
(This schedule is tentative and may change. The final schedule will be posted on the website
before the conference)
Saturday, February 23, 2013
8:00 AM-10:00 PM
Agreement Form (Health/Security/Conference Rules)
Every attendee (student, teacher, and chaperone) must complete an agreement form.
You will need THREE copies of each completed Agreement Form for everyone who will be
attending with your troupe (student and adult)
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Mail one copy per attendee to Georgia Thespians; 320 Kingspring Ct; Roswell, GA
30076 by January 12, 2013 (Please mail together in one envelope by troupe)
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Place one copy in the attendee’s name badge
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Keep one copy with you at all times
See Website for form
INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
Georgia Junior Thespians offers Individual Events at the Junior Thespian Conference, The
Georgia Junior Individual Events audition series is intended to be an educational program
that allows Thespians the opportunity to perform and to receive constructive feedback on
their performance from theatrical professionals. The top 8-10 individual events will then be
selected to perform in the main stage IE performance showcase. Categories include:
Monolog, Duet Acting, Solo Musical, Duet Musical, Group Musical, and now introducing Film.
Students are limited to one performance event and there is a $10 fee for each Individual
Event registration. Students who are participating in a performance IE may also submit a
film for adjudication. All IE's must NOT exceed the five minute time limit (or the three
minute time limit for monolog). Students will be stopped at the end of their time limit. For
more information about IEs and rules, please visit the IE tab on the Junior Thespian section
of the website.
IMPORTANT NOTES AND RULES
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Students DO NOT have to be an inducted Thespian in order to attend conference
and/or perform an IE, but they must be a Thespian to run for JSTO
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No unregistered attendees are allowed to remain at conference
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There is no cap on the number of students and/or adults a troupe can bring
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There is an Individual Event cap of 4 musical IEs and 4 Acting IEs per troupe.
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Registration for IEs will close on January 19, 2013. Troupes will not be allowed to
register for IEs after this date.
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Registration for conference will end January 12, 2013. Troupes will not be allowed to
register for conference after that date.
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Bus Drivers MUST BE registered attendees in order to eat with us.
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We recommend one chaperone per every 10 Thespians. Registration for troupes with
inadequate adult supervision will be delayed.
Chaperon Guidelines
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If you are a chaperon for the GA Jr Thespian conference you should....
not allow students to have food or drinks in the auditorium, IE, performance space
or workshops.
Encourage students to eat snacks and go to the restroom during
transition times.
Go with your students to the show, the IE’s, and to workshops, and stay with your
students when you get there. (They are not allowed to leave once they are in a
class)
Make sure students are either in an IE or a show or a workshop. Jr. Thespians
should never leave the campus or be hanging around in the lobby or restrooms etc...
Know that students will not be allowed to have cell phones out or on during a show,
IE, performances, or workshops. If a student has a cell phone out in a performance
or class, any adult involved in the conference is allowed to take it and turn it in to
the registration desk. The troupe number of the student will be placed on the phone
and their troupe director will be able to pick it up from the registration desk at end of
the conference.
Understand that all of the performances or presenters deserve our full attention and
respect.
Parking at Conference
There is parking available at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center (801 Front Ave,
Columbus, GA 31901) and along the streets in downtown Columbus.
School Buses should unload outside the CSU Theatre at the corner of Bay Ave and 10 th St.
Buses will need to come down 11th street to Bay Ave., turn left, and drop off on the curb by
the Theatre Box Office. Parking for buses will be the WC Bradley parking lot which is off of
Bay Ave. between 10th and 11th St., one half block from the theatre.
Performances
Georgia Jr. Thespians is looking for two high caliber one-act (45-50 min) productions to
perform during the conference.
There is no fee for show submission. If your troupe is interesting in performing, please send
a short video/youtube clip of the production you want to bring to conference or a past
production to Stoffle@gathespians.org or mail to Sarah Stoffle 10700 Crabapple Rd.
Roswell, GA 30075. Please also include a brief synopsis and cast list of the show you wish to
submit. Directors will be required to complete a technical details/needs worksheet.
Date Summary
December 7th Deadline for show submission
December 12th Chosen shows will be notified
Junior State Thespian Officers
What is an JSTO?
A JSTO is a Junior State Thespian Officer. The JSTO’s job is to plan, manage, and host the
next year’s Conference. Also, the JSTO serve as a constant communication link between the
students and the adult board; therefore, it is their job to serve as an advocate for the
students.
Who can be an JSTO?
Any 6th, 7th, or 8th grader who is an inducted Thespian and in good standing with his/her
troupe and school is eligible to run. The student must have a desire to be a strong leader
and be prepared to work for the good of GA Thespians. Each school may submit 2
candidates.
How do I become a JSTO?
The JSTO application (available online after October 1) must be mailed or faxed to Mrs.
Kathleen Bryant by December 7, 2012. If your application is not received by the deadline,
you will not be considered as a candidate. Please follow the information on the application.
You will be notified by email on the status of your application.
After candidates submit their applications, the answers to the questions on the application
will be posted on the website for troupes to peruse.
The next step: Prepare a brief speech introducing yourself and your leadership skills or
ideas to be presented at the opening of the conference on Feb. 23, 2013.
How does the voting process work?
If only 4 applications are received, there will be no election, and applicants will
automatically be named as JSTO and their speech at the opening of conference will be an
acceptance speech.
If more than 4 applications are received, then troupe directors will receive a ballot for their
troupe in the packet they pick up at the registration table the day of the conference. This
ballot is for the troupe members to choose 4 candidates to serve as JSTO. Each troupe will
have 1 vote. Please turn in the ballot by 1:30 p.m. at the registration table.
Schools who attend but are not members of Thespian will not receive a ballot.
JSTO Responsibilities
• JSTO attend various meetings through out the year and your transportation and cost of
transportation is your responsibility. All meetings are required. These meetings will include a
Chapter board Retreat in August and a planning weekend for conference in early fall.
• JSTO must attend the International Thespian Conference in Lincoln Nebraska, June 2013.
Registration is paid for by Thespians but airfare and other transportation fees are paid by
the JSTO.
• You must have the ability to stay in constant communication with fellow JSTO, students,
adult board, and Thespians in general via email and phone.
• JSTO must meet deadlines and have good time management skills.
• JSTO must be proactive and responsible.
• JSTO will be encouraged to travel to surrounding schools to see shows and support the
Thespian troupes in his/her region.
• JSTO must serve as an example of the ideal Thespian.
• If you serve as a JSTO as an underclassman and wish to remain on the board the
following year, you must re-run.
Safety and Security Guidelines
Thespians remain subject to the rules and guidelines of their respective schools
while at the conference. The Troupe Director and the troupe’s chaperones are
responsible for their Thespians at all times.
The security staff will be stationed at the registration area in the Trade Center and
may be reached by telephone at 706.327.4522 or cell phone at 229.343.2234.
ALCOHOL/DRUGS:
Students who consume or are under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at any
time during the conference will be dismissed from the conference immediately at
their own expense. School principals will be notified of any instances of drug or
alcohol use.
SMOKING & TOBACCO PRODUCTS:
Smoking and tobacco use are not allowed by anyone at anytime during the
conference. Students are prohibited from smoking while at the conference.
WEAPONS:
The state laws concerning weapons at school events will be strictly enforced.
Students with weapons of any kind—including toy weapons—will be turned over to
law enforcement officials.
CELL PHONES:
Cell phones must be turned OFF during all performances, workshops, and
conference events.
BADGES:
Conference name badges must be worn above the waist at all times, at all events.
Badges must remain visible. Nothing should be affixed to a badge that covers the
ID information. A copy of each participant’s conference Agreement Form is to be
place in the participant’s name badge. Conference participants may not swap
badges.
ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCE EVENTS:
Thespians are expected to attend all conference events for which they are
scheduled.
DRESS CODE:
Individual school dress codes remain in effect at the conference. Participants should
dress appropriately for the workshops they attend.
PROHIBITED MATERIALS / ITEMS:
Conference attendees are not allowed to possess fireworks, candles, incense, water
pistols, toy guns, balls, Frisbees, or other such materials that might be deemed
dangerous or distracting.
OFF-LIMITS AREAS:
Students should stay in the areas designated as conference venues. College dorms
are off-limits to all participants.
DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS:
Participants are not allowed to distribute or post any materials or information
without permission from the Chapter Director of the conference.
THEATRE ETIQUETTE:
• Beverages, food, and chewing gum are not allowed inside theaters or lobby areas.
• Conference attendees must not run or push others in lobby or theater areas.
• When entering a theater, audiences should take their seats as quickly as possible
and not crowd the aisles or rows.
• No one should step over seats to get to another row or place his/her feet on the
seats.
• Conference participants should never leave a theater during a performance—
except in emergency situations. Those who do leave a theater during a performance
will not be allowed to re-enter.
• Hats must not be worn in the theatres.
• Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned OFF when in the
theaters.
• Photography and video recording of any kind is never allowed inside a theater at
any time.
• Participants who are nauseated or ill should not enter a theater but remain in the
lobby.
WORKSHOP ETIQUETTE:
Students and adults attending workshops are to be respectful and courteous to
workshop presenters at all times. Those attending workshops are expected to be
participatory and attentive. Workshop attendees should never leave a workshop
before it has ended. If the workshop presenter agrees, students and adults may
enter a workshop late.
ILLNESS:
Troupe Directors and chaperones are responsible for ill students. Students who get
ill at conference should be sent home. Paramedics will be called for ill participants
at the participant’s expense, and those needing further attention will be sent to
nearby hospitals at their own expense.
VISITORS:
Only registered conference participants are allowed to attend conference events.
Any visiting parent or guest must report first to the registration table.
CONSEQUENCES OF RULES VIOLATIONS
Troupe Directors may report to the Security Staff the name and school of any
participant who violates these guidelines. The Security Chair will contact the
violator’s Troupe Director. If the violation is deemed severe, the violation will be
reported to the Chapter Director. At his discretion, the Chapter Director may
contact the violator’s principal and/or dismiss the violator from the conference at
the violator’s own expense.
The Georgia Thespian Chapter Director and Chapter Board reserve the right to
amend and/or institute at any time any necessary rule or regulation not stipulated
here to provide for the safety and general welfare of the conference participants.
All conference participants will sign the Agreement Form indicating acknowledgment
of these guidelines.
Workshops
During the annual conference, students have the opportunity to participate in dynamic and exciting
workshops led by theatre professionals and college students in all areas of the theatre arts, including
many types of dancing, movement, vocal, accents, the audition process, improvisation, makeup,
costuming, stage management, set design and construction, lighting and sound, team building, and
theatre games, just to name a few.
The workshop schedule will be posted on the website as soon as possible before conference so that you
and your troupe members can plan their conference workshop experience in advance.
2012 All-State Junior Thespian Opening Number
Make A Friend in The Theatre Zone
Cast Member Obligations
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All-State Cast Members MUST be registered delegates for the 2012 Junior
Thespian Conference.
If selected, students MUST make arrangements to attend ALL rehearsals and the
ENTIRE State Conference. Rehearsals will be held on the following: November 12
OR December 3, January 21, and February 24. Students in the Opening Number
will also be required to reserve a hotel room in Columbus on Friday, February 24
for our Tech Rehearsal.
Each school may send no more than 10 delegates to audition for the Opening
Number.
Students Prepare
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Please be prepared to sing a section of either “Secondary Characters” or “It
Takes Two”. You MUST audition with the cutting provided on the website. Lyric
sheets as well as cut versions of both songs (with and without vocals) can be
found on the Opening Number page under the Junior Thespians tab of
gathespians.org.
All students will be required to move in the Opening Number. Please wear proper
shoes and attire that allow movement!
Rehearsal Information
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Note: You have to choose to attend either November 12 th OR December 3!
Choose the location that is closest or best fits your schedule! Remember that ALL
rehearsals are MANDITORY!
Choice 1: Saturday, November 12th @ Northside High School in Warner Robins,
Ga, from 9AM to 4PM
Choice 2: Saturday, December 3 @ Conyers Middle School in Conyers, Ga, from
9AM to 4PM
ALL: Saturday, January 21 @ Northside High School in Warner Robins, Ga, from
9AM to 4PM
ALL: Friday, February 24 @ Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga, from
7PM to 10PM
o Students MUST be put up in a hotel on the February 25th rehearsal. This will
be our Tech/Dress Rehearsal the evening before the conference.
ALL: Saturday, February 25 @ Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga, from
7AM to 8AM
o This rehearsal will take place before the conference performance at 8:30AM.
Contact
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With any questions regarding the 2012 Junior Thespian All-State Opening
Number please contact the Director (Richard Frazier) by email at
Richard.frazier@hcbe.net or by phone at (404) 287.1697.
Forms
Please visit the Opening Number section of our website for audition forms