New Hampshire Educational Theatre Guild

How Festival Works

Regional festivals are a one day and the state festival is a two day event.  Some nearby schools may be asked to tech on the day before the festival begins.  Upon your arrival you will be greeted by your student host.   The job of your host is to guide you through the festival and to answer or find an answer to any questions you may have.

Your host will:

 

Technical Rehearsal:  Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your tech.  Prior to your tech, your host will escort you to the load-in area and introduce you to the load-in host.  The load-in host will show you where you may prepare your set and answer any questions you may have about your tech.  Feel free to ask any questions before your tech. 

                When the stage is ready you will be ushered into the wings and introduced to the host stage manager and the other host techies.  You will be given colored spike tape which you must return at the end of your tech.  The host stage manager will ask if you would like your set and strike timed during your tech and if so when.  The host stage manager will review tech procedures to insure a mutual understanding.

                You will "own" the theater for a period of 35 minutes for a technical rehearsal.  You may use this time any way you wish.  It is suggested that you time your set and strike during the 35 minutes.  If you can set-up within the 5 minute limit, you will not be timed for set-up before the start of your show.  The same is true for strike.  There will be two timekeepers, one to time your 35 minutes and one to time your 5 minute set and strike.  The tech timekeeper will call out the time remaining in 5 minute intervals.  The set/strike timekeeper will call out the time remaining in 1 minute intervals.  If the tech rehearsal cannot proceed at any point through some fault of the host school, the host stage manager will signal the timekeeper to stop the clock and the guest school will be asked to leave the stage until the problem can be fixed at which time the clock will resume.  At 30 minutes you will be requested to strike if you have not yet done so. The host tech crew will be on hand to guide you through the use and operation of our equipment.  They will also help, at your request, with load-in and load-out.  Otherwise, they will stay out of your way as much as possible. At some festivals techs may be longer but all will be of the same length.

Schedule:  As to when you will perform, your host will not know until he/she receives information from you and all other participants.  We try to mix shows on the basis of size of set and style of performance.  A final schedule will be mailed, faxed and/or emailed to you as soon as your host school has all necessary information.                   

Green Room:  The green room will be provided with dressing areas, tables and lighted makeup mirrors.  This room will be yours to use during the 40 minutes prior to your performance.  This room must be cleared of your belongings prior to your performance so that the next cast may use it.  We will provide a lockable room where you may stow your belongings during your performance.

Performance Sessions:  You will be required to attend all shows except the one immediately before yours.  Immediately following your performance, you will strike your set to a location determined by the host stage manager.  When the festival stage manager gives the cue, all cast, crew, student and adult directors will come from backstage to the first row of the theatre where the adjudicators will give an oral, public critique.  When you come out into the auditorium the audience will acknowledge your performance with applause.  Formal curtain calls are not a practice at Festival.

Forums:  Between each block of shows forums will be held to discuss the shows just seen.  The directors will meet with the judges.  Students will meet in small pre-assigned random groups in various rooms.  Trained students will facilitate these forums.

Awards:  At the conclusion of the last show, the judges will deliberate.  Time varies, but it usually is about an hour.  Your host school will be providing dinner or some entertainment (such as a dance) during this time.  When the judges are ready, you will be called back into the theatre.  All-Star Company awards will be given for acting, technical theatre and anything else that compels the adjudicators.  Finally, the judges will name the schools who will proceed to the next level of festival. Packets will be presented to the finalists.