JAN
13

Preparing Students for One-Act Play Competition Day

A Practical Guide 

By Kendra Thomas 

Kendra Thomas has been writing stories since she was in Mrs. Jewell’s first grade class for dyslexic learners.  After learning to remove the labels of her disability, she went on to become a writer, teacher, theatre director, principal, and counselor.  She is the author of 18 plays published by Pioneer Drama. 

This is my twentieth year in theatre education, and every single year I’ve taken students to some form of one-act play competition, fondly — sometimes even reverently — referred to as OAP competition.  From New York to California, from the Walter Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival to Texas’s UIL to the North Carolina Theatre Conference High School Play Festival, it feels like every state has its own version of the event.  As teachers, we pore over plays and spend months shaping performances, all while looking forward to celebrating our students’ accomplishments.  But preparing them for contest goes far beyond careful play selection, solid directing, and strong classroom teaching.

Taking middle or high school students to OAP competition is one of the most rewarding yet demanding experiences of the school year.  Months of rehearsal, planning, and design work all culminate in a fast-paced day where your students must load in, perform, watch other schools’ shows, and remain contained even when their nerves run high.  Preparing them ahead of time not only sets the tone for a smooth contest day, but also helps them grow as artistic professionals.

Here are some key things to emphasize before going to contest:

Set clear expectations, and set them early

Don’t wait until contest week to talk about behavior.  Start planting the seeds weeks beforehand.  Let students know that contest day is structured and fast.  They will need to move as a unified group, stay where they are asked to stay, and follow instructions without asking questions.  You can do this by setting up rehearsals to look as much like contest as possible.

For example, if you’re required to set the stage a certain way or with certain guidelines, do that before every rehearsal with students assigned to different sections of the set.  If you are going to have student leaders, put them in charge of those things on Day One.  Let students know repeatedly that their attitude is part of their score.  Even if it isn’t written on the rubric, professionalism influences the overall perception of your company.  Remind them that every student represents the school.  Judges, hosts, parents, and other schools are watching how they carry themselves.

Establishing a shared understanding of the expectations ahead of time gives students confidence and removes as many surprises as possible from the big day.

Walk them through the schedule

Contest day moves FAST, and students feel calmer when they know what’s coming.  Before the event, walk them through:

• What to bring
• Arrival time at school and departure
• Bus etiquette
• Load-in procedures
• Rehearsal block or tech walk-through (If this is on a separate day, walk them through it the day before and then walk through contest day after tech)
• Holding rooms and any special rules for those spaces
• Expectations for watching other shows (more on this below)
• Load-out responsibilities
• Awards ceremony expectations (also more below)
• Return time and cleanup

Print a simple itinerary or create a shared one in Google classroom.  The more informed students and parents feel, the smoother the day will run.

Prepare them to be good sports

Your one-act play contest is a competition, but it’s also an educational festival.  Students need help balancing their competitive spirit with grace and respect.  Talk openly about clapping for other schools.  Students should know to offer applause and show support no matter what.

You should also tell your students to avoid any negative comments on other shows.  Of course they should not point and laugh or make nasty comments, but students should also avoid making critical commentary, even if it’s meant to be constructive.  I tell my students that criticism is the job of the judges, and we can discuss their notes later, after contest, when we’re back at school.

On that same note, it’s important to remind students to keep reactions in check.  Expect them to show pride in their own performance, and gratitude for any recognition.  But they also need to show maturity in any losses.  They shouldn’t slump, pout, or complain, even if results are disappointing.  Remind them that theatre thrives on community, not rivalry.  Winning is amazing, but so is being part of something bigger than themselves.

Teach them how to watch and learn

Many of our students don’t have experiences with live theatre.  We can’t assume that they know how to act.  Tell them directly to turn phones off and put them away.  Sit with them and hold them accountable to not talking.  Encourage them to take mental notes of staging, character work, pacing, and design elements to discuss later.  Some questions for follow up on your next class day might include:  What inspired you?  What moments stood out?  What choices would you borrow?

Teaching students to observe thoughtfully helps them grow as artists and makes them better collaborators.

Celebrate the journey, not just the medals

At the end of the day, whether your school brings home a trophy or not, every student has learned something.  Acknowledge that.  Ask what they’re proud of, and recognize individual moments of growth.  I always recognize things like this with in-house acknowledgements for students after contest.  Note that these aren’t awards — they’re recognitions of who the students are becoming as artists and teammates.

Moments to celebrate might include:

• Quiet Leadership for the student who never stepped into the spotlight but kept the group organized, supported, and grounded.
• Problem Solver for the tech student who saved the day during load-in, or figured out a crucial last-minute fix.
• Bold Choice for the actor who took a risk in their performance, or who stepped out of their comfort zone to play a role.
• Ensemble Heart for the student who encouraged others or kept morale high.
• Growth Milestone for the student who stretched themselves the furthest, whether in confidence, discipline, or artistry.

These don’t have to be certificates or ribbons.  In fact, in recognizing their development as performing artists, students don’t need to be given anything tangible to take home.  For example, our Growth Milestone is a literal rock from the teacher’s parking lot.  We make a laminate nametag and place a new name on the rock after every show, not just contest.  We do the same for an old megaphone for our Bold Choice shout out and a plastic heart from the biology lab for our Ensemble Heart recognition.

These acknowledgements remind students that success isn’t defined solely by an all-star cast medal.  At the end of the day, their progress, resilience, creativity, and teamwork matter more.

OAP competition can be a joyful, chaotic, exhausting, and unforgettable experience.  When students are prepared, they step into the experience with confidence and respect for the art of theatre.  Most importantly, they walk away knowing they’re part of a theatre community that values professionalism, kindness, organization, and creativity just as much as a quality performance.