Unleash Yoru Creative Voice: A Guide to High School Performing Arts Competitions
Are you a high school student passionate about theater, poetry, or musical theatre? The world of performing arts competitions offers incredible opportunities to hone your skills, gain recognition, and even win substantial prizes. This guide provides a complete overview of some of the most prestigious and accessible competitions available, helping you find the perfect platform to showcase your talent.
As a long-time advocate for arts education and a seasoned observer of these competitions, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact they can have on young artists. Let’s dive in!
Poetry & Spoken Word: Finding Your Voice
For students who thrive on the power of language, these competitions offer a stage to share your unique perspective.
* Poetry Out Loud: This nationally recognized program encourages students to memorize and perform classic and contemporary poetry.Participation requires registration through your school or a participating organization. Prizes can reach up to $20,000, and the national competition takes place in April. Learn More
* Youth Speaks’ Brave New Voices: Considered the premier festival for youth poetry and spoken word, Brave New Voices is a dynamic event featuring workshops, showcases, and slam competitions. Applications typically open in early spring (closing in March), so keep an eye on their website. Learn More
Theatre & Playwriting: From Script to Stage
If your passion lies in acting, directing, or crafting compelling narratives, these opportunities are for you.
* The Scholastic Art & Writng Awards: A highly respected competition, the Scholastic Awards recognize excellence in a wide range of artistic disciplines, including playwriting (submitted under the Screenplays & Scripts category). Regional deadlines begin in December, with national announcements in March and a celebratory ceremony in New York City in June. Learn More
* The Young Playwrights Festival at The Blank Theatre (Los Angeles): This festival is dedicated to nurturing young playwrights. They accept submissions of short plays from writers 19 and under between January 5th and March 15th. The Blank Theatre fully produces 12 winning plays each summer with professional teams and provides mentorship to the playwrights. Learn More
* True Colors Theatre Company’s Next Narrative Monologue Competition: This competition focuses on contemporary monologues by Black playwrights like Cheryl L.West and idris Goodwin. It features three rounds of competition, culminating in national finals in May with an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City, workshops, and performance opportunities at the Apollo Theater.Regional preliminaries start in January.Learn More
* The YoungArts National Arts Competition: Open to students in grades 10-12 (or ages 15-18), YoungArts offers categories in spoken theatre, musical theatre, and playwriting. auditions for National YoungArts Week open each summer. Learn More
Musical Theatre: Combining Voice, Acting, and Songwriting
For the triple-threat performers and aspiring composers, these competitions provide a unique platform.
* The Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge (NAMT): Presented by the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and the National Endowment for the Arts, this challenge is an interactive experience for high school writers and composers. Students participate in free online workshops with industry professionals, submit drafts for feedback, and compete for a chance to win a trip to New York City for “Winners Weekend.” Draft 1 submissions are due February 2nd. Learn More
Tips for Success: Beyond the Submission
Entering these competitions is more than just submitting an application. Here’s how to maximize your chances of success:
* Start Early: Deadlines can creep up quickly. Give yourself ample time to prepare your materials.
* Seek Feedback: Share your work with teachers, mentors, and peers for constructive criticism.
* Polish Your Performance: For performance-based competitions, practice relentlessly. Focus on clarity, emotional connection, and stage presence.
* Read the Rules Carefully: Each competition has specific guidelines.Ensure your submission meets all requirements.
* **Embrace the
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