Minnesota Thespians Conferences

The MN Thespian Chapter Conferences are a gathering of high school students and theatre educators from across Minnesota where participants watch, do, and learn!

Our primary purpose: 

To help foster a statewide community of students who are being prepared for their journey into theatre… whether as a patron, performer, producer, administrator, or technician.

Throughout the conference, students and educators will…

• Participate in workshops on a variety of theatre topics, ranging from stage management to technical theatre to acting, dancing, stage combat, improv and more -  led by theatre professionals from across the state.

• Attend one act performances presented by fellow Thespians, as part of the Chapter Select Contest and the Freestyle Showcase.

• Have the opportunity to audition for college representatives at a regional unified audition from theatre programs across the state and the Midwest (if attending as Junior or Senior).

• Have the opportunity to audition to receive a Thespian Scholarship (Seniors only) to help defray the costs of post-secondary plans.

• Learn a new skill and compete in the Tech-a-Thon with others from your school.

• Participate in a staged reading of a brand-new, student-written work from our Thespys playwriting winner

• Meet your State Thespian Officers and maybe even run for office yourself.

• Hear from professional keynote speakers.

• Compete and get adjudicated by professionals in THESPYS in up to TWO categories per student. Perhaps earn the opportunity to perform at the Closing Ceremonies. Categories include: 

  • Performance (Acting solo, duo, group; Musical Theatre solo, duo, group; Musical Theatre Dance solo, duo, group)  

  • Playwriting

  • Short Film (Documentary, Animated, All genres)

  • Technical Theatre  (Costume Design, Costume Construction, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Set Design, Stage Management, Make-up Design)

  • Theatre Marketing

• Watch some of the selected participants who had superior rankings in  the International Thespian Excellence Awards presentations (the Thespys--formerly the National Individual Events Showcase) in acting, musical theatre, and/or technical theatre.

• Participate in a lip-synch battle

• Have fun with the Out of the box trash bag costume contest

• Network and have fun with other like-minded people who love theatre as much as you!