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
Updated Guidelines and FAQ
Updated Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions--updated March 4, 2021
OAP Changes to Face Covering Requirements and Updates 2/8/21
To remain consistent with the UIL COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Guidelines, the UIL has amended the requirement released January 8, 2021, requiring face coverings while performing in One-Act Play.
Per the UIL COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Guidelines in accordance with Executive Order GA-29: All employees, parents, visitors and students 10 years of age or older must wear face coverings or face shields upon entry to an area where UIL activities are being conducted and when not actively practicing or playing in the contest, unless an exception listed in the Risk Mitigation Guidelines applies.
One-Act Play participants must wear face coverings in all other aspects of the contest except when performing onstage.
Safety protocol requirements may vary from site to site. Local site protocols, which may require wearing face coverings while performing, must be followed by participating schools. Spectator capacity may be limited to less than the 50% allowed in the UIL Risk Mitigation Guidelines. Host sites shall communicate safety protocol requirements to the contest manager, directors and adjudicators at least 21 days before the contest for zone, district and bi-district contests. Protocols for region and state sites will be posted by April 1 on the UIL website.
The updated SPRING 2021 OAP Planning Guide is posted on the Resources and Forms page, the Contest Manager's page and Director pages.
OAP Spring Changes and Updates NOW POSTED
Please read the current One Act Play COVID-19 changes on UIL Academic Update page. The updated SPRING 2021 OAP Planning Guide is posted in Resources and Forms, the Contest Manager's page and Director pages.
FILM SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENSION
Deadline to submit Film contest entry HAS BEEN EXTENDED.
New deadline to submit Film Contest entries is Friday, February 5, 2021. See Film Handbook for contest details.
One-Act Play / Film / Theatrical Design October newsletter
October news HERE