Who is eligible to audition for Tennessee All State Theatre?

Tennessee students in grades 9–12 are eligible to participate in All State Theatre Auditions. Students may audition in Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance, Design/Technical Theatre, and Playwriting.

Do I have to attend the Tennessee Thespian Conference to audition?

No. All State Theatre Auditions are held at MTSU in conjunction with the Tennessee Thespian Conference, but you do not have to register for or attend the Thespian Conference in order to participate in All State auditions.

Does my school have to be a member of TTEA or the International Thespian Society?

No. All State Theatre is designed as a statewide opportunity for Tennessee high school theatre students. Participation is not limited to Thespian troupes or individual schools.

Is there a limit to how many students from one school may audition?

No. There is no per-school limit. Schools may register as many eligible students as they would like.

Can I audition in more than one category?

Yes. Students may participate in multiple audition categories. A separate registration and registration fee are required for each category.

How much does it cost to audition?

The registration fee is $15 per audition category. Schools that need to be invoiced for student registrations should contact admin@tnallstate.com.How long does my monologue have to be? For Acting auditions, the monologue should be from a contemporary play and last no more than 1 minute. For Musical Theatre auditions, one monologue and a section of a musical theatre song together should total no more than 90 seconds. 

When is my technical portfolio? 

The technical portfolio is due on January 6th. You can upload it by using the modify registration link in your confirmation email.

When is the playwriting Play due?

Playwriting plays are due on December 7th. You can upload it by using the modify registration link in your confirmation email.

When will I know my auditon time? 

The audition schedule is announced on December 15th, and students should check then to know their specific audition times. 

How do I change my registration information? 

Both the student and teacher receive a confirmation email with a link to update registration information. This link also allows uploading resumes, headshots, portfolios, plays, and other required documents. 

When will I know my exact audition time?

Individual audition schedules will be released in December. Students should carefully check their scheduled audition block and plan to arrive at the appropriate holding area at least 30 minutes before their scheduled time.

What happens if I miss my audition time?

Students who miss their assigned audition time will normally be moved to the end of the day's audition schedule. Because space and time are limited, students should make every effort to arrive early.

How early should I arrive for my audition?

Plan to report to your audition or interview holding area at least 30 minutes before your scheduled audition time. This allows time for check-in, organization into audition flights, and movement into the audition room.

Can I wear a shirt, jacket, lanyard, or other item with my school's name on it?

No. Students should not identify their school during the audition either verbally or through clothing, bags, water bottles, lanyards, or other personal items. This helps maintain a fair adjudication process.

Do I introduce myself before my audition?

Yes. When directed, state your name and audition number before beginning. At the conclusion of your audition, repeat your name and audition number before leaving the performance area.

Remember that your introduction is part of the audition process and, for timed performance auditions, should be rehearsed along with your material.

What happens if the timekeeper calls time during my audition?

Stop your performance when time is called. Repeat your name and audition number and exit the performance area. Going over the time limit does not give you additional opportunity to complete the piece, so rehearse your audition within the published time limit.

Who evaluates the auditions?

Auditions and interviews are evaluated primarily by faculty from participating college and university theatre programs, along with qualified theatre professionals. This gives students the opportunity to receive feedback from theatre artists and educators outside their own school programs.

Will I receive feedback on my audition?

Yes. One of the goals of All State Theatre is to provide students with meaningful adjudication and feedback. Adjudicators score students using the published All State rubrics, and feedback is provided to participating teachers following the audition process.

Can I see the rubric before I audition?

Absolutely—and you should. Acting, Musical Theatre, Design/Tech, Playwriting, and other applicable audition rubrics are available through the All State Theatre website. Students and teachers are encouraged to review the rubric while preparing.

Do I need a headshot or résumé?

Requirements vary by category. Design/Technical Theatre students are required to prepare a technical résumé and digital portfolio. Other registration materials may request information that can be shared with participating colleges, so students should carefully review the registration instructions for their category.

When are All State results announced?

Distinction lists are scheduled to be announced in January following the auditions. Check the published audition calendar for the current year's announcement date.

What is the difference between All State and Regional Distinction?

The audition process recognizes outstanding students at both the statewide and regional levels. Regional distinctions include All-East, Mid-State, and All-West recognition, while the All State list recognizes students at the statewide level.

Does receiving All State Theatre recognition count toward Tennessee graduation distinction?

Students who meet the requirements for the Tennessee All State Theatre distinction may qualify for the state's graduation distinction recognition. Students should work with their school counselor or administrator regarding how the distinction is recorded locally.

Where should I look for last-minute audition updates?

Students and teachers should monitor TNAllState.com and the email address used during registration. Important information such as schedules, choreography, submission reminders, callback information, and event updates may be distributed electronically.

Do I introduce myself before my audition?

Yes. When directed, state your name and audition number before beginning. At the conclusion of your audition, repeat your name and audition number before leaving the performance area.

Remember that your introduction is part of the audition process and, for timed performance auditions, should be rehearsed along with your material.

What happens if the timekeeper calls time during my audition?

Stop your performance when time is called. Repeat your name and audition number and exit the performance area. Going over the time limit does not give you additional opportunity to complete the piece, so rehearse your audition within the published time limit.

Can I use props during an Acting or Musical Theatre audition?

No. Personal props are not permitted. A chair will be available if you need one for your audition.

Can I use a recorded track for my Musical Theatre audition?

No. An accompanist will be provided. Musical Theatre auditionees should bring properly prepared sheet music with the beginning and ending of the cut clearly marked. Tracked accompaniment and a cappella auditions are not permitted.

Does the Musical Theatre monologue and song each get 90 seconds?

No. The monologue and song together may total no more than 90 seconds. Choose cuts that allow you to demonstrate both acting and vocal ability within the total time available.

Does my Acting monologue have to be contemporary?

Yes. Acting auditionees should prepare one contemporary monologue totaling no more than one minute.

Should I choose the most difficult monologue or song I can find?

Not necessarily. Choose material that shows your strengths as a performer. Adjudicators are more interested in strong acting choices, vocal or physical ability, storytelling, and connection to the material than in how technically difficult the selection appears to be.

Can my audition contain profanity or mature subject matter?

Students should use good judgment when selecting material. Unnecessary vulgarity is discouraged. If material selected for the All State Conference contains language or content that is inappropriate for the conference performance, the student may be asked to modify the selection. A student may decline to make the change and still receive the distinction, but may not be invited to perform that material at the conference.

Who evaluates the auditions?

Auditions and interviews are evaluated primarily by faculty from participating college and university theatre programs, along with qualified theatre professionals. This gives students the opportunity to receive feedback from theatre artists and educators outside their own school programs.

Will I receive feedback on my audition?

Yes. One of the goals of All State Theatre is to provide students with meaningful adjudication and feedback. Adjudicators score students using the published All State rubrics, and feedback is provided to participating teachers following the audition process.

Can I see the rubric before I audition?

Absolutely—and you should. Acting, Musical Theatre, Design/Tech, Playwriting, and other applicable audition rubrics are available through the All State Theatre website. Students and teachers are encouraged to review the rubric while preparing.

Do I need a headshot or résumé?

Requirements vary by category. Design/Technical Theatre students are required to prepare a technical résumé and digital portfolio. Other registration materials may request information that can be shared with participating colleges, so students should carefully review the registration instructions for their category.

Do Dance students create their own choreography?

No. All State Dance auditionees learn choreography provided in advance through an instructional video. The audition evaluates how accurately and expressively the student learns and performs the provided material rather than the student's ability to create original choreography.

Will Dance students audition individually?

Dance auditionees will perform in small groups, or "flights," of four dancers. Each student is still evaluated individually on areas such as technique, accuracy, musicality, performance quality, focus, and ensemble/spatial awareness.

What should I wear for the Dance audition?

Wear appropriate dance or movement attire that allows you to move safely and allows adjudicators to clearly see alignment and movement. Clothing does not have to be black, but it should be neat, fitted enough to show movement, and free of school logos or identifying information.

Hair should be secured neatly away from the face. Appropriate dance undergarments should be worn so students can move confidently and comfortably. Appropriate footwear is required; students should not audition barefoot.

Do I have to be an advanced studio dancer to audition for Dance?

No specific studio background is required. Students are evaluated on how well they learn, retain, and perform the provided choreography, along with technique, musicality, performance quality, and ensemble awareness.

Students should review the Dance rubric and audition choreography carefully before deciding whether the category is appropriate for them.

When is the Dance choreography released?

The required choreography will be provided in advance so students have time to learn, memorize, and rehearse it before the in-person audition. Students should watch for All State email communications and updates on TNAllState.com.

Do I need to provide the music?  

No. We will provide the music for both combinations.

Do I have to perform Both Routines? 

Yes, If you sign up for All-State Dance, you will be expected to learn BOTH the Jazz and the Modern routine using the videos provided.

How will the audition be presented?
Students will perform the required choreography in "flights" or groups of four dancers. Adjudicators will evaluate each student’s individual performance as well as their spatial and ensemble awareness.

Do I need formal dance training to audition?
No. Formal dance training is not required, However, It should be noted that the adjudicators for this section will be colligate faculty from University Dance programs and they will be giving constructive feedback as well as looking for students that may want to study dance in College.

Do I have to wear black?
No. Black dancewear is not required. Dancers may wear color, as long as the clothing is professional, fitted, and does not distract from the performance.

Can I wear clothing with my school name or logo?
No. Students should not identify their school through clothing, logos, or other personal items during the audition. This follows the general All State Theatre audition guidelines.

When should I arrive?
Students should report to the holding area at least 30 minutes before their anticipated audition time.  Earlier if you would like time to stretch and warm up before the flight.

When and where are the auditions held?
All State Theatre auditions take place January 15–16 at MTSU in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The detailed audition schedule will be published in December.

Can I audition in more than one category?
Yes. Students may audition in multiple categories, but a separate registration fee is required for each category. We will attempt to schedule all auditions so they do not conflict.

Can I bring my phone or personal belongings into the audition room?
No. Students will leave personal belongings in the warm up space, or with a friend while auditioning. 

Can I submit a play that I wrote previously?

Yes. A play may have been written before the current school year as long as it is the student's own original work and the student is an eligible Tennessee student in grades 9–12 at the time of submission.

Can I use AI to help write or revise my Playwriting submission?

No. All submitted plays must be the student's own work. AI-assisted playwriting submissions are not permitted.

How long can my Playwriting submission be?

The play may be no more than 10 pages, not including the title page, and may contain no more than six characters. Students should follow the formatting requirements published on the audition website.

Does my Playwriting submission have to be performed before I enter it?

No. Prior production is not listed as a requirement. The submission is evaluated as a written dramatic work using the All State Playwriting rubric.

What happens to my play if it receives a top rating?

Top-rated plays may be featured on the All State Theatre or Tennessee Theatre Educators Association website and may be considered for a staged reading at the All State Conference. The playwright retains ownership of the work.

How long is the Design/Technical Theatre interview?

The interview lasts approximately five to six minutes. Students presenting a portfolio should plan for their presentation portion to last no more than approximately four minutes so that adjudicators have time to ask questions.

What should be in my Design/Tech portfolio?

Include work that clearly communicates what you did, your creative or technical process, and your contribution to the production. Students may include work in areas such as scenic design and construction, lighting, sound, costumes, properties, makeup, stage management, projections, puppetry, or other areas of technical theatre.

Quality and your ability to explain your process are more important than simply including a large number of projects.

Can I present my Design/Tech portfolio from Canva, Google Slides, or another website?

Do not depend on a cloud-based presentation. Wi-Fi can be unreliable during a large event. Students are strongly encouraged to bring their portfolio as a locally stored PDF or PowerPoint file.

If you plan to use your own computer, be prepared to connect through HDMI.

When are Design/Tech portfolios and résumés due?

Digital Design/Technical Theatre portfolios and résumés should be submitted by the published January deadline. Students should also bring hard copies of their résumé to the interview.

What is a college callback?

A callback means that a participating college or university would like to speak with you after seeing your audition or interview. It is an opportunity to learn more about that school's theatre program and for the college to learn more about you.

Do I have to perform again at a college callback?

Usually not. All State college callbacks are generally conversations at the college's table during the scheduled callback period rather than a second audition.

A college may discuss its programs, scholarships, admission, future campus auditions, or other opportunities with you.

How will I know if I receive a callback?

Junior and senior auditionees will receive an audition number containing a QR code. Callback information will be posted digitally, and students should check the callback page during the designated callback period following their audition block.

Can freshmen and sophomores receive college callbacks?

Formal All State college callbacks are for juniors and seniors. Freshmen and sophomores are still strongly encouraged to visit the college fair, meet college representatives, ask questions, and begin learning about theatre programs.

Is the college fair only for seniors?

No. The college fair is open to All State auditionees, and parents are also encouraged to attend. Even freshmen and sophomores can benefit from talking with colleges and beginning to understand different theatre programs and training opportunities.

What should I ask colleges at the college fair?

Ask about the programs that relate to your interests, opportunities for undergraduates, productions, facilities, scholarships, audition requirements, faculty, internships, and career preparation.

The All State website includes a How to Talk to Colleges resource with suggested questions to help students prepare for those conversations.

If I receive a Distinction, do I have to attend the All State Conference?

Yes. Attendance at the All State Theatre Conference is required to complete the All State or Regional Distinction.

What happens at the All State Conference?

Students receiving All State or Regional Distinction participate in a statewide conference featuring workshops and other theatre experiences. All State performance students present their audition material, and All State Design/Technical Theatre students display their portfolios.

What if I qualify for All State in more than one category?

Students who qualify in multiple categories must select one category when registering for the All State Conference.

Do I need a chaperone for the All State Conference?

Yes. Every student attending the All State Conference must have an adult chaperone on site. The chaperone may be a school employee or parent. One adult may supervise multiple students, and schools may arrange to share a chaperone when appropriate.

Do teachers have to pay to attend the All State Conference?

Teacher registration for the conference is free. Professional development is also offered for participating educators.