join us as we
CREATe & INSPIRe
Each year, the Maryland Thespian Festival hosts teaching artists and adjudicators from across the region as they deliver an educational experience for our delegation unlike any other. Teaching artists facilitate workshops and may also be called upon to serve as an adjudicator for Festival events. It's an experience unlike any other, and one that you'll be proud to participate in. Join us and experience what it's like to create with hundreds of theatre and design students from across the state while inspiring the next generation of theatre artists!
CONTACT: teaching@marylandthespians.org
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN 2025
We’re looking for the best theatre practitioners and/or educators in the region to facilitate exciting and engaging live workshops for high school students and to serve as adjudicators for the International Thespian Excellence Awards (Thespys®). We are also looking for teaching artists to facilitate workshops specifically for adult educators and troupe directors. Ideally, these workshops would be more hands-on than presentational. We are interested in workshops in the following categories:
Acting
Voice & Speech
Dance & Movement
Musical Theatre
Technical Theatre
Theatre Education
Business of Theatre
Educator Tips & Tricks / Best Practices
Directing
WHO SHOULD APPLY
Theatre artists and practitioners, educators, and/or theatre administrators who have an undergraduate and/or graduate degree in theatre or their specific area of practice. Teaching artists who offer workshops that are unique in nature are most likely to be invited to Festival.
SCHEDULE
Each teaching artist will be asked to facilitate 4 workshops over the course of the two-day festival. We are also asking that you consider volunteering your time to serve as an adjudicator for our Thespys events - including acting, musical theatre, playwriting, and technical theatre. This year we are only offering an in-person option for students and educators. Teaching artists must be available to facilitate and/or adjudicate on the following dates and at the times listed below.
Day 1 (January 24, 2025) - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Day 2 (January 25, 2025) - 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
COMPENSATION
In addition to an experience unlike any other and the ability to share in the joy and excitement of some of the most talented students in Maryland, we are proud to provide an honorarium of $75 per Workshop tought, and $50 per Adjudication session, to each selected teaching artist. Ideally, each teaching artist would spend both days with us, teaching two or three workshops per day. We’ll also cover your lunch/dinner on both days.
APPLICATION & SELECTION
Please complete the application below. Guest artists who are selected to join us during the Maryland State Thespian Festival will be notified via email. If you have any questions throughout this process, please do not hesitate to contact Heidi Temple, Board Member and Workshop Coordinator at htemple@marylandthespians.org. During the application process you’ll be asked to provide the following information:
A full description of each workshop that you are proposing and the intended audience (student or adult);
A CV and references;
Some multimedia presentation of your work - we’d love to see you in action! Think photos, videos, lesson plans, etc. While this piece i optional it is highly encouraged.
Please also submit a W-9 Form.
ORIENTATION
All those selected to join us during the festival must attend a mandatory orientation and/or training session depending on your individual assignments. More information will be provided after selection.
BACKGROUND CHECK
All teaching artists must submit the necessary information required to complete a background check before being considered for selection. All teaching artists selected must also clear a background check before a final offer is made.