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 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
Update: Remote Learning/Coaching/Directing
March 23, 2020
During statewide school suspension, remote learning/coaching of UIL activities is allowed through electronic, video or teleconferencing type methods. Schools shall limit instruction for UIL activities to a maximum of eight hours per week per activity, in addition to a maximum of sixty minutes per day Monday through Friday.
UIL One Act Play Directors, Contests and COVID-19
UIL One Act Play Directors,
As we continue to monitor the rapidly changing status of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and how it is impacting students and their activities we have the following updates regarding the remaining UIL One act Play Contests for the 2019-2020 school year.
All UIL events scheduled March 16-29 are to be suspended. Rehearsals and practices during the time of suspension may be held with approval from the local school district. Beginning on March 30th events may resume with the considerations that follow. Any changes to these dates will be communicated as they become available.
One-Act Play
Note: Sunday competitions are allowed.
- One-Act Play District/Bi-District certification deadline, originally scheduled March 26, has been extended to April 7.
- One-Act Play Area certification deadline, originally scheduled for April 4, has been extended to April 14.
We ask that schools and local District Executive Committees work collaboratively and reasonably with one another in rescheduling district and bi-district one-act play. Area one-act play will be scheduled based on host site availability and will be communicated via the UIL website.
Regional Academic, Speech and One-Act Play
Academic Regional Meets are still scheduled for April 17-18 and One-Act Play Regional dates remain April 15-18. Current sites are subject to change.
District Competition
Scheduling your district competitions remain at your local administration’s discretion. We ask that schools and local District Executive Committees work collaboratively and reasonably with one another in rescheduling district competitions, as well as bi-district one-act play. Area one-act play will be scheduled based on host site availability.
Our office will work with contest managers and contest sites to reschedule as school districts allow. One Act Play directors, please have your contest managers update the State theatre director, Paula Rodriguez, prodriguez@uiltexas.org with any changes in contest dates and locations. If you have immediate concerns, do not hesitate to call (512) 471-4517.
We appreciate your cooperation and all that you do for UIL member schools.
Thank you,
Paula Rodriguez
Bi-District Representatives Registration is Due
We still have numerous districts who have not registered their Bi-District contact for 2019-20 Time is of an essence. Complete Bi-District Site and Judge reports are due by August 10th. To see if your district has reported go to the appropriate link. (i.e 6A Contact List and Pairings 2019-20). These links can be found under "Contest Materials" at :
http://www.uiltexas.org/theatre/bi-district
The representative needs to fill out the form found at this LINK.
LINKS:
Representative Charts : http://www.uiltexas.org/theatre/bi-district
Representative Registration Form: www.uiltexas.org/machform/view.php?id=417427
Bi-District Procedures: https://www.uiltexas.org/files/academics/theatre/Bi-District_Information_Guide_2019-20.pdf
Contest Manager Certification Available in October.
The Online Certification Modules for One-Act Play Contest Managers AVAILABLE on/after October 1.
TO ACCESS THE MODULES PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING LINK:
https://connect.ttao.org/#!/
TTAO members should sign in.
New Members or Non-TTAO Contest Managers should create a profile.
The test is found under the "Training Modules" tab on the TTAO CONNECT home page.
2019-20 Orientation Packet
The 2019-20 Orientation Packet, with information for UIL sponsors, advisors, directors and coaches is now available.