Submitting a Play or Scenic Item for Approval
IF you are planning on performing a play that IS NOT on one of the approved lists, your play submission MUST BE POSTMARKED no later than DECEMBER 10, 2023 (High School deadline)
IF your play IS on one of the approved play lists, you DO NOT NEED to submit it to UIL for approval
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Requests will be considered from AUGUST 1 - DECEMBER 10 (High School deadline)
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For Junior High, plays must be submitted at least 45 calendar days prior to your contest
Submissions accepted AUGUST 1 - APRIL 15
Play/Set approvals typically take 4-5 weeks turnaround time, prior to December 1. After Dec 1, turnaround increases to 5-6 weeks. Scripts submitted near the Dec 10 deadline will likely not receive a decision prior to Jan 15 and may have to wait as long as February 1 to receive their play decision email. Please factor this information into your own calculations, especially if your district or zone meet will be held early in the year. These are general timeframes--details of the review process are discussed in the FAQ at the bottom of this page
PLEASE NOTE: we DO NOT give estimates of how long it takes to get your individual play decision from the UIL Play Reading Committee
CONTINUING for 2023-2024:
Your school's play approval is valid for two years
This applies to plays submitted for 2022-23, and applies going forward to plays submitted for 2023-24
**Note: This policy applies to each individual SCHOOL, not to individual directors**
In other words: if you (director) submitted a play for approval last year, but you (director) move to a different school in the interim, the play approval for last year does not follow you to your new campus. In that instance, the director would need to submit the play anew for consideration this contest year.
To reiterate, plays approved by the UIL Play Reading Committee are specific to that play from that school. The approval is good for a period of two contest years.
And to be totally clear—if a school has received play approval for a play, that approval is only for that school, for a period of two contest years. It is not a blanket approval for any school wishing to perform that play.
At contest, schools performing plays (not on the approved list) shall submit the UIL approval-stamped integrity script and the full approval email to the contest manager. Plays that appear on the approved lists do not need a UIL approval letter or stamp.
For Plays NOT on the Approved Lists
Fill out and submit the appropriate form:
HIGH SCHOOL PLAY AND SCENIC FORM Opens August 1, closes December 10
JUNIOR HIGH PLAY AND SCENIC FORM Opens August 1, closes April 15
Once you've completed and submitted this form--you will see an onscreen "Success!" message
If you don't see that "Success!" message on screen, you haven't submitted the form
But, wait! There's more...
Here's what you need to package up and mail to UIL:
• a printed copy of the confirmation form that was emailed to you, EXAMPLE
• your marked script:
• The exact portions of the script to be used. This includes both dialogue and action (HIGHLIGHT in yellow)
• Deletion of all dialogue and action not to be used (Strike-through in PEN)
• Deletion of all language and action that violates the "Standards Rule" (Strike-through in PEN)
• Deletion of scenery that might restrict approval (Strike-through in PEN)
NOTE: If you are doing the play in its entirety (with no cuts), YOU MUST include a note saying that. (A post-it note works!)
Sending a completely unmarked script, without a note, will mean that your play is returned to you, unread
Need a visual reference? SAMPLE Script marking
• A $30 evaluation fee payable to: The University of Texas at Austin, UIL (Checks or money orders only)
If you are submitting a play approval request with a scenic request for the same play, you only need to pay one $30 evaluation fee
If you are submitting multiple plays for approval, each play submission requires a $30 evaluation fee
Mail your marked SCRIPT, PAYMENT, and FORM to:
Paula Rodriguez, State Theatre Director
University Interscholastic League
1701 Manor Rd
Austin, Texas 78722
Scenic Requests (ONLY) for Plays Already On the Approved Lists
Fill out and submit the appropriate form:
HIGH SCHOOL SCENIC ONLY Opens August 1, closes December 10
JUNIOR HIGH SCENIC ONLY Opens August 1, closes April 15
On the form linked above, you will also need to attach one combined pdf document containing:
• A scale drawing of the complete ground plan of the proposed set
• A scale drawing of each proposed addition to the basic set
• A full description of all materials to be used in the construction of each proposed addition to the basic set
Once you've completed and submitted this form--you will see an onscreen "Success!" message
If you don't see that "Success!" message on screen, you haven't submitted the form
But, wait! There's more...
Here's what you need to package up and mail to UIL (Approved Play List Scenic Requests Only):
• a printed copy of the confirmation form that was emailed to you, EXAMPLE
• A $30 evaluation fee payable to: The University of Texas at Austin, UIL (Checks or money orders only)
Mail your PAYMENT and FORM (Scenic Requests Only) to:
Paula Rodriguez, State Theatre Director
University Interscholastic League
1701 Manor Rd
Austin, Texas 78722
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
1. What happens to my play once I send it in? (Why does it take so long?)
1 – Your package goes through the USPS mail system to get sorted into UIL office delivery
2 – Once your package is received by UIL, it goes to the UIL finance office to process the evaluation fee
3 – Once the payment has been processed, it goes to the UIL Theatre office for administrative processing
4 – After your submission has been logged, it is distributed to a member of the Play Reading Committee for review
5 – The Committee Member reviews the play, according to UIL standards, completes an evaluation form, and returns the script to the UIL office
6 – If your play was rejected by the first reader, it will go to a second reader for consideration
7 – Once your script is back in the UIL office and the submission has been approved or rejected, the decision letter, along with the evaluation form(s),
is emailed to you (the decision letter and eval form(s) will come to you in one email, at your school email address)
8 – Your school administrator is cc'd on that same email
9 – Your script is stamped (if approved) and packaged up along with a copy of your play decision email
10 – The package goes into the USPS mail system for return to you (there is no tracking available for return packages)
2. My school finance office requires an invoice before it will issue a check. What do I do?
Once you have successfully submitted the appropriate form linked above (play form or scenic form), you will immediately receive an automatically generated confirmation email. That email will contain both the information you entered about your play, as well as additional language (at the top of the email message) stating it is an invoice, requesting the required remittance of $30 for the evaluation fee.
This automatically generated confirmation email will be sent to the email address you enter on the form--the one designated as your personal (not school) email address.
Why do we ask for a personal email address on the form? Because a lot of the time, these automatically generated emails are rejected by school email systems and/or end up in your spam folder.
Here is an EXAMPLE of an automatically generated confirmation email.
3. What are some of the common reasons why plays are rejected or are sent back unread?
Common reasons why plays are sent back UNREAD:
• strike-throughs are made in pencil (strike-throughs must be in pen)
• script is sent in, only partially marked--large passages are not highlighted or marked-through
• script is entirely unmarked, and no note has been enclosed stating that the play is to be performed in its entirety
• the play is already on one of the approved lists
• you sent a xeroxed copy of the script, in violation of copyright law
• the play was sent after the deadline (Dec 10 for high schools)
Common reasons why plays are REJECTED:
• the play is "story theatre" or "reader's theatre" with dialogue primarily directed to the audience. If it features too many monologues and/or lacks character interaction, it cannot be judged by UIL standards for the One-Act Play competition
• the play is much too long for the 40-minute maximum, i.e. a 75-page play with only 10 pages of dialogue/action cut
• little to no attempt has been made to clean up the script for language and/or action that is not appropriate for school competition
• the play lacks literary merit, it resembles a bad Saturday Night Live sketch (for example) with no character development or story through-line
4. In terms of content, language and action, what do I need to cut from the play?
Straight from the OAP Handbook:
When selecting your play, remember that League rules require directors and administrators to eliminate profane references to a deity, obscene language, actions or scenes from the approved production. It is up to each school’s administration to determine that all profanity and obscenity has been eliminated and that their play and production does not offend the moral standards of their community.
Profanity is characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or any sacred principles or things. The use of any deity’s name when not in reverence or prayer would be profanity by definition. The use of “Jesus,” “Oh, God,” “God knows," etc. is considered, by definition, profane when not used in reverence or prayer and shall be removed. This is not an option.
Indecent and obscene language shall also be eliminated. Foreign language that is profane, indecent or obscene shall also be eliminated.
Since most competitors are minors, particular attention shall be paid to any action that insinuates sexual activity and physical violence. School Administrators shall review the production to make sure it complies with the Standards rule.
5. My play was rejected by the reading committee, what should I do?
If your play was rejected for lack of literary merit...you need to find a new play. There are close to 1000 titles on our approved lists for you to consider, HERE
If your play was rejected because it is "story theatre" or "reader's theatre", if it features too many monologues and lacks character interaction...you need to find a new play. There are close to 1000 titles on our approved lists for you to consider.
If your play was rejected because you didn't follow the directions above--you didn't cut enough or you left in all of the @#$! curse words, you may resubmit your play for approval, as long as it is before your submission deadline (Dec 10 for high schools and 45 days before contest for junior high). Please note that you will need to submit another $30 reading fee, as it is considered a second submission.