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 300 plus contests, which take place from the beginning of March through the three-day, 40-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-Distrct, 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, allow for equity, satisfy legal standards, and make the running of the contest practical.
Theatre & Film — News & Updates
2019 and 2020 Bi-District Pairings Posted
The pairing for Bi-District contests in 2019 and 2020 are now posted on the UIL website. You will find them on the Bi-District page.
The Academic Organizing Chairs for the Academic districts need to appoint the district representative by May 20th, 2018.
Organizing Chairs for Academics can be found in the Alignments link of the Athlectics page.
Representatives must fill out the form on the" Bi-District OAP Representative 2019-20" link by May 20th.
All contest information must be submitted to the League by August 10, 2018.
This information is needed to make decisions about judging for your zone and district contests.
2019 and 2020 Bi-District Pairings Posted
The pairing for Bi-District contests in 2019 and 2020 are now posted on the UIL website. You will find them on the Bi-District page.
The Academic Organizing Chairs for the Academic districts need to appoint the district representative by May 20th, 2018.
Organizing Chairs for Academics can be found in the Alignments link of the Athlectics page.
Representatives must fill out the form on the" Bi-District OAP Representative 2019-20" link by May 20th.
All contest information must be submitted to the League by August 10, 2018.
This information is needed to make decisions about judging for your zone and district contests.
2018 Theatrical Design State Qualifiers Announced
The 2018 State Qualifiers in Theatrical Design are now posted on the UIL Theatrical Design page.
2018 Finalists and Results (With links to Films) Now Posted
The results and links to films from the Fifth Annual UIL Young Filmmakers Festival State Finals are now posted on the film pgae of the UIL website. These films survived three elimination rounds to be screened, judged and recognized at this year's finals. Congratulations to all.
Films Advancing to the Second Round Announced
Over 700 films were submitted for competition this year. Of these 272 have advanced to the second level of competition. The list can be found on the UIL's film page.
Latest Theatre Articles from The Leaguer
OAP Directors
Make changes to your Regional qualifiers by midnight April 2, 2018
MAKE CHANGES