Theatre & Film
The League's One-Act Play Contest, founded in 1927, is the largest high school play production contest or play festival in the world. More than 14,000 Texas high school students in more than 1,200 plays participate in 400 plus contests, which take place from the February through the 48-production State Meet One-Act Play Contest. The One-Act Play Contest is supported by more than 300 members of the Texas Theatre Adjudicator and Officials Organization. The League's theatre program is considered by historians to be the foundation of educational and community theatre in Texas. It continues to be a major factor motivating increasing numbers of schools to offer theatre arts as an academic subject.
The UIL One-Act Play contest is a competition where similarly sized Texas schools present an 18-40 minute play and may be adjudicated by a panel of three judges or a single judge. The contest is held on a single day and open to the public. There are six possible levels of competition: Zone, District, Bi-District, Area, Region, and State. At each level of competition a judge awards individual acting awards as well as selecting three productions to advance to the next level of competition up to the Regional Level where only two will advance to the State Level. After the awards are announced a Judge gives an oral critique to each of the schools. Because of the wide participation and diversity of plays produced certain rules and guidelines have been adopted by the State One-Act Play Office. These rules are in place to ensure safety, satisfy legal standards, and make the running of the contest practical.
Theatre & Film — News & Updates
2026 OAP State Meet Judges Announcement
OAP State Adjudicators 2026
1A-*Lisa Hale , Mike Doggett, Rachel Harrah
2A-* Larry Balfe, Joi Hughes, Cade Butler
3A-*Yvonne Phillips Dupree, Shari Bellizi Davis, Gary Cooper
4A-*Kelsey Kling, Jenae Glanton, Ray Newburg
5A-* Jim Mammarella, Cathy Huvar, Greg Arp
6A-* Carrie Klypchak, Eric Skiles, Ezekiel Morgan
*acting awards judge
Inherit the Wind by Lawrence & Lee removed from the Approved Play list
Inherit the Wind by Lawrence & Lee has been removed from the Approved Play list as it can no longer be licensed for competition.
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express removed from the Approved Play list
Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express by Ken Ludwig has been removed from the Long Approved Play List.
The Cripple of Innishman removed from the Approved Play list
The Cripple of Innishman by Martin McDonough has been removed from the Long Approved Play list.
There are no cuts or language changes allowed for any of Martin McDonough’s titles, per publisher and author's choice.
HIGH SCHOOL
One-Act Play
JUDGING
ASSIGNMENTS
HERE
HIGH SCHOOL
One-Act Play
RESULTS
HIGH SCHOOL
One-Act Play
HANDBOOK
Community
STANDARDS
FORM
ONE-ACT PLAY
High School
ALIGNMENTS
**2024-2025**
(For reference only,
alignments for 2025-26
will be posted
AFTER the OCT 1
ENROLLMENT DEADLINE)
1A OAP Alignment
2A OAP Alignment
3A OAP Alignment
4A OAP Alignment
5A OAP Alignment
6A OAP Alignment
ONE-ACT PLAY
2024-25
Rules &
UPDATES
Frequently Asked Questions
Concerning Play Licensing
and the
OAP Contest
F.A.Q.
DEADLINES 2025-2026
For High School Play Directors
Oct 1
Deadline to enroll your high school campus for OAP participation via the UIL Online Entry System
Nov 1
Deadline to hold director's planning meeting
Nov 21
Last day for double representation notification to the League. This only applies when one school plans to compete with two plays--which is only an option when less than three schools are entered in the district contest.
Dec 6
Deadline for requesting permission to produce plays not on the approved lists and scenic elements that are are not permissible under contest rules and are “without which the approved play cannot be produced.”
Feb 10
Deadline for registering your play title in the UIL Online Entry System
At least TEN calendar days before your first contest
Deadline for Contestant Entry, play and set information and additional directors to be entered via the UIL Online Entry System
Note: Some Contest Directors set a contestant entry deadline earlier than the ten calendar days.
DEADLINES 2025-2026
For Contest Managers & Meet Officials
Aug 10
First day to contact a single adjudicator or the first member of a panel for District or Zone contests
Aug 10
First day to draw performance order
Aug 31
Deadline to report bi-district information and adjudicators to state office
Nov 1
Deadline to hold director's planning meeting
Nov 1
First day to contact and contract the second and third members of a panel for zone and district contests
Dec 1
Zone, District & Bi-District Contest Managers Authorization Request due
Feb 1
Deadline to set up district One-Act Play Meets in the Online Entry System
Feb 1
Deadline for executing judging contracts
Feb 1
Deadline for Contest Managers to certify online--This must be done annually
Apr 3
Deadline for certifying the results for district and bi-district contests