2024 High School Play Festival: Site Details

Car and Truck Parking: All vehicles entering for the Festival should enter the school from the side entrance with the large painted rock at the front (not the main entrance at the stoplight). If vehicles use the main entrance, they should go to the right (there is signage for the Theater). Make sure not to follow the roundabout at the front of the school. Vehicles will enter the large parking lot for the Professional Development Center. Cars may park in the PDC lot on the right side of CATA.

Cars: When entering from the “Rock Entrance,” turn left into the first parking lot and park there. Do not park in the lot at the end of the drive as that space is reserved for CATA school buses.

Trucks with Trailers and U-Hauls: Park in the grassy lot outside of the cargo door for the theater. There will be parking attendants to assist you.

Bus Parking: Buses need to enter from the side “Rock Entrance” and enter into the bus lot behind the school. Buses will be guided to pull along the sidewalk area and drop off students. There will be an attendant there to guide the buses to the bus parking locations which include grass areas near the Professional Development Center parking lot and/or beside the tennis courts.

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 10′ x 10′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 20′ deep x 40′ wide. There is an apron space at the front of the stage that has steps on either side. The apron measures at 6.5′ deep and 37′ wide. (The apron depth is included in the overall 20′ deep measurement). View details on stage diagram.
Location of start line: Stage Left
Location of finish line: Stage Right
Load-in and load-out procedures: There is a cargo door that opens up into the theater from the outside. The cargo door access is at ground level. U-Hauls/trucks may pull up on the grass directly in front of this door to unload. If participants are uncomfortable driving on grass, sets can be carried in from the bus lot parking lot (where students are dropped off). It is not a long distance, but it will be over sidewalk curbs and grass to reach the cargo door. U-Hauls and trucks will then need to park in the side PDC lot with other vehicles.

Teachers are welcome to arrange a tour of the space after school beginning at 3:45 PM to 5:00 PM or during the school day from 10:30-11:50 AM. Please email host for appointment.

Headsets: Headsets will not be available.
Booth location: The lighting/sound booth are located in the same place at the back of the house in an enclosed room. The same student can run sound and call light cues, if desired.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: A piano is available upon request. Keyboards can be plugged at the front of the stage to be utilized onstage or in the wings. An orchestra can fit on the floor of the house directly in front of the stage and before the house seats begin.
Sound: An aux cord will be provided. Please bring your own adapaters.
Lighting: There are 6 lighting areas. Lighting instruments are incandescent lights (rather than LEDs,) so they give off a warmish glow. The can accommodate some effects such as flickering or pulsing if needed. Light cues will be pre-programed into the board prior to the Festival. Two follow spots are available for use in the loft above the lighting/sound booth.
Microphone: No microphones are available.

Friday Lunch: participants will need to use outside eating spaces directly behind the cafeteria. Tables will be available for use. The cafeteria is located directly outside of the theater in the main lobby area.

Friday Dinner and Saturday: the cafeteria space can be used.

Groups may deliver meals to the school. Participants will not be able to purchase food from the cafeteria to eat. There is a Subway located one mile down the road as well as many fast food restaurants within 10-15 min from CATA on Hwy 74.

NCTC works to ensure that our programs are available to all of the state’s citizens, including people with disabilities. If you wish to request assistance for yourself or a student, or have questions about accessibility for any of our event spaces, please contact NCTC Executive Director Angie Hays at angelahays@nctc.org.

Mooresville High School

Nov 1-2, 2024

Mooresville High School

659 E Center Ave.
Mooresville, NC 28115

Host: Ron Higdon

ronhigdon@mgsd.k12.nc.us

Friday:
Busses should drop off students at the back entrance (off Blue Devil Blvd), and park at a separate location, the same for any U-hauls or trucks pulling scenery for the afternoon shows.

U-hauls and scenery for the morning sessions will be guided into the loading dock.

Saturday:
There is plenty of parking available for everyone (buses, U-hauls, trucks, cars driving separately, etc.) in the lots next to the Performing Arts Center (facing Cabarrus Ave).

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 10′ x 10′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 28′ from the back curtain to the front of the stage on the center line. The Proscenium is 42′ wide.
Location of start line: Stage Left
Location of finish line: Stage Right
Load-in and load-out procedures: Load-in and Load-out from loading dock at the back of the Performing Arts Center. The loading dock is at ground level. Enter from the back. NOTE: Loading Dock door is EXACTLY 9’-4” tall by 7’- 10” wide. Do not exceed these dimensions.

Tours of the theatre for the Festival can be arranged by contacting Mr. Higdon at ronhigdon@mgsd.k12.nc.us.

Headsets: Headsets are available at the light and sound boards.
Booth location: The light and sound boards are located at the back of the house. The follow spot is located in the booth. If you have a single stage manager, they may run sound and use a headset to call light cues.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: The method for sound playback is a laptop, tablet, iPad or phone connected directly at the sound console.
Sound: The method for sound playback is a laptop, tablet, iPad or phone connected directly at the sound console. A Wireless handheld mic and stand will be available for use for productions. If you wish to use it, please indicate on your light cue sheet.
Lighting: See stage diagram for lighting areas.
- There are 6 lighting areas (A-F).
- One follow-spot is available and located in the Booth at the back of the house.
- Cues will be programmed into the Lightboard.
Additional Lighting note:
- We have the flexibility to add a wash of either warm or cool color to the stage.
- These are multiple lighting fixtures, grouped together, hanging over the stage, at a direct down angle.
- The colors are Rosco 27 and Rosco 80 (Primary Red and Primary Blue).
- The wash covers the entire acting area, it cannot isolate one of the six specific areas.
- The wash must be used independently of each other, in other words, you can’t have 20% warm wash and 50% cool wash in the same Light Cue (it’s either cool, warm, or off).
- The idea is to:
  - Add the warm wash (to your area lighting) for comedic, bright, and light scenes
  - Add the cool wash (again to your area lighting) for the more serious, somber, and dramatic scenes. Also good for transitions between scenes.
  - If you want to use them, please indicate percentages on the cue sheet.

You may bring food to eat in the lobby. There are also tables outside if the weather is nice enough for you to eat outdoors.

Reidsville High School

Nov 1-2, 2024

Reidsville High School

1901 South Park Drive
Reidsville, NC 27320

Host: George (Tom) Murphy

gmurphy2@rock.k12.nc.us

Drop students and parents off on the South Park side closest to the front of the building. From there, students have a short walk into the main lobby. Once students are offloaded, please take your vehicle and park it on the Cypress lot side in the gravel lot.

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 10′ x 10′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 30′ from back curtain to front of stage; 45′ wide, with an additional 10′ of width when downstage of proscenium.
Location of start line: Stage Right
Location of finish line: Stage Left
Load-in and load-out procedures: Schools will load-in via the loading dock which is 5’ tall from the pavement to the level of the stage. The smallest door to the stage your set will have to go through is 12’ tall by 10’ wide.

If you wish to visit the space and tour, please contact George Murphy at gmurphy2@rock.k12.nc.us.

Headsets: Headsets will be made available in the sound booth, light booth, stage left, stage right, and one will be located near the loading dock.
Booth location: The sound and light booths are in separate rooms and cannot be run from the same location. The booths are not accessible by wheelchair, please contact the host and NCTC if special accommodations are needed.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: A piano is not available. If you are bringing a keyboard, you will find outlets on the front of the stage and backstage on both sides. We do have XLR hook-ups to the soundboard on stage left and stage right, on the stage just in front of the pit, and on the front of the apron. Schools will need to provide their own cables to hook into the system. There is room enough for your musicians to play on either the left or right wings; however, we recommend that you set up on stage left.
Sound: Please bring your own ⅛” cable connector. Participants will not have access to a microphone.
Lighting: There are 10 lighting areas. We will have warm (amber) and cool (blue) color wash options (downlight). Color washes may be used for the full stage or isolated lighting areas. Please specify on your cue sheet. We will pre-program all cues. One follow spot is available.
Security: All participants and audience members will enter the facility through a metal detector.

You may bring food to eat in the lobby. There are also tables outside if the weather is nice enough for you to eat outdoors.

Shelby High School

Nov 1-2, 2024

Shelby High School

230 East Dixon Blvd.
Shelby, NC 28152

Host: Dan Treharne

detreharne@clevelandcountyschools.org

From I-85 South:

Take exit 10B for US 74 West toward Asheville. At the 8^th traffic light (Dekalb St.), be in the left of the two left turn lanes. The campus is at the intersection with a McDonalds, a Burger King, and a Walgreens. Turn onto Dekalb St. or make a U-turn. If you make a U-turn, immediately turn right onto campus (Wayne Caudill Dr.) and then left at the stop sign onto Dan Moore Way to get to the truck/bus parking lot. If you turn on to Dekalb (buses), pass the main entrance to campus and then turn LEFT onto E Shannonhouse Street. Continue straight around the stadium to the bus/truck parking lot.

From Asheville and points west:

Take US 74 East toward Shelby/Charlotte until you get to Dekalb Street. Continue Straight at Dekalb St. The campus is at the intersection with a McDonalds, a Burger King, and a Walgreens. Once through the light, immediately turn right onto campus (Wayne Caudill Dr.) and then left at the stop sign onto Dan Moore Way to get to the truck/bus parking lot.

Note: DO NOT go around the drive in front of the school (Caudill Dr, Library St, Leo). All unloading should happen on Dan Moore Way by the Auditorium and not block Leo.

Google Maps does not list Wayne Caudill Dr. and shows Dan Moore way as Textile St.

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 10′ x 10′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 30′ from back curtain to front of stage; 43′ wide, with an additional 13′ of width when downstage of proscenium.
Location of start line: Stage Right
Location of finish line: Stage Left
Load-in and load-out procedures: Trucks will back up to the loading dock to unload and park on Stadium Drive (behind the auditorium). Immediately after your show, you will load your truck (or car or bus) and move it to the Bus/Truck Parking Lot.

Available by appointment. Please email Mr. Treharne at detreharne@clevelandcountyschools.org.

Headsets: Headsets will be available for use with supervision from site personnel. One headset will be backstage, one will be in the booth, and two will be in the balcony for spot operators.
Booth location: Control booth with both lights and sound is located at the back of the house on the main floor. One person may call both light and sound cues from that position.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: A piano is not available. Electrical outlets are available stage left and stage right. Several are also available on the back wall. There is room in the wings to set up a band, and there is limited room between the stairs and alcove door onstage. If you are using a band, we recommend setting up a time to tour the space.
Sound: Participants should bring a computer, or iPod/iPad to run sound cues. There will be a computer connection available. Two handheld microphones are available. Contact the host to request.
Lighting: Main lighting areas will be labled A-I (9 areas). These areas will be a general wash of white light. J and K are specials on the stairs and alcove doors. No cyc is available. There will be a deep blue general wash available on stage. The blue wash will not be separated into lighting areas. Two followspots are available in the balcony. Spotlights will be loaded with blue, green, red, and yellow gels. Light cues will be programmed. View lighting areas on Stage Diagram.

There is an open courtyard and patio on the north side of the building (near US-74) for lunch/food. In case of rain, groups may use the covered breezeway on the south side of the auditorium, but it is close to classrooms for Friday lunch. The breezeway and lawn across from the auditorium will be open on Saturday. There are several fast food places near campus, but walking is strongly discouraged, as they are all near high-traffic roads.

Asheboro High School

Nov 8-9, 2024

Asheboro School

1221 S Park Street
Asheboro, NC 27203

Host: Krista Stewart

kstewart@asheboro.k12.nc.us

View map with bus/Uhaul arrival directions and parking.

Drop off for buses is down Walker Avenue. Enter through big glass doors in front of the bus loop, or at the front of the auditorium (up the big set of stairs).

Parking:

Buses: Drop off at Walker Avenue, park along Walker avenue but don’t block the bus loop on Friday. Overflow bus parking will be directed to the bus parking lot

Uhauls: After load-in/out, park on the other side of the school (see map)

Cars: Park at the church parking lot directly across from the bus drop off on Walker Avenue.

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 10′ x 10′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 36′ wide (29 ½’ wide downstage), 21′ deep
Location of start line: Stage Right
Location of finish line: Stage Right
Load-in and load-out procedures: Load in and out will take place at the back circle of the school. The smallest size doorway/entryway is 85” tall and 58” wide. There is a long path from the loading area to the backstage storage area. The path is concrete with ramps, there are no stairs to navigate. It is highly recommended that scenery be brought on wheels. Groups should only plan to carry lightweight items, everything else should be on wheels due to the distance you will be traveling.

Tours of the space (in-person or via Facetime) are available by request. Contact Krista Stewart at kstewart@asheboro.k12.nc.us.

Headsets: Headsets are not available.
Booth location: The sound and light boards are located in the booth in the balcony. One person can call lights and run sound at the same time if needed. The booths are not accessible by wheelchair, please contact the host and NCTC if special accommodations are needed.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: A piano is not available. If you are bringing a keyboard, you will find outlets on the front of the stage and backstage. There is limited wing space for musicians.
Sound: A ⅛” aux cable connector to the sound board will be provided (but we recommend bringing your own as a backup). Bring any phone/tablet adapters you may need. Two handheld microphones will be available for use, please list it on the light cue sheet if one or both are needed.
Lighting: There are 6 lighting areas (see stage diagram). No washes are available. Cues will be pre-programmed. One follow spot is available from the balcony with blue, green, red and yellow gels.

You may bring food to eat in the lobby. There are indoor tables at Walker Commons at the back of the stage, and a courtyard off of Walker Commons. There are also tables outside in front of the auditorium if the weather is nice enough for you to eat outdoors.

There are several fast food and delivery options available close to campus. If ordering food for delivery, please tell them to deliver it to the Walker Commons entrance (not the front office).

Charlotte Catholic High School

Nov 8-9, 2024

Charlotte Catholic High School

7702 Pineville Matthews Rd
Charlotte, NC 28226

Host: Marcus Ritter

marcus.riter@cchsemail.org

Car, Bus and Truck Parking: All vehicles should enter off of Little Ave. We have our own parking lot in front of the Fine Arts Center. We will ask everyone to park there or on Little Avenue (Fri). The parking deck will be open on Saturday, as well as ample parking around campus.

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 10′ x 10′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 34′ wide, 30′ deep
Location of start line: Stage Right
Location of finish line: Stage Left
Load-in and load-out procedures: Sets will be loaded in through a 8’ wide x 10’ high roll-up door.

Contact host to arrange a tour.

Headsets: Headsets are available in both the light booth and sound booth, as well as backstage left and right.
Booth location: The sound and light boards are located in the balcony, in separate locations. If you only have one stage manager/technician they can use a headset to call light cues while running sound.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: A keyboard is available down stage left. There is not ample room in the wings for an orchestra set up.
Sound: A handheld mic will be available for use. Sound from a laptop will use the standard aux adapter. Schools should plan to bring any necessary dongles, etc.
Lighting: There are 9 lighting areas. A warm wash and cool wash are available. Light cues will be pre-programmed. No spotlights are available.

Participants will be able to utilize the lobby as an eating space. Nearby restaurants include, McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, Chipotle (all within walking distance) There are other fast food places within a 5 minute drive.

Hopewell High School

Nov 8-9, 2024

Hopewell High School

11530 Beatties Ford Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078

Host: Lilly Allemond

lillianv.allemond@cms.k12.nc.us

Buses will park in the Bus lot. Bus lot is located past the main entrance of the school, located on the opposite side of the staff lot. Trailers will park at the back of the Staff lot. Cars may park in available spots in the Staff lot only. Overflow parking available off-campus if needed, will be directed by volunteers.

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 8′ x 12′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 40′ wide, 30′ deep
Location of start line: Stage Left
Location of finish line: Stage Right
Load-in and load-out procedures: Load-In through the back of the building at the loading dock. Be prepared to make 3 sharp 90-degree turns to make it backstage. Two sets of double doors with the bar removed. Door 1 (Exterior) is 7’11” x 5’9”, Door 2 is 7’11” x 5’9”

Tours available by appointment most days Monday-Friday 12:45-2:30 PM. Contact host to arrange a tour.

Headsets: Headsets are not available.
Booth location: Booth is located at the back of the house. Sound and Light cues may be called by one person.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: No piano available, keyboards can be plugged in SR. Orchestra set up only available SR.
Sound: One handheld microphone available backstage. Please inform host if needed. Sound cues can be played through a standard aux cable. iPhone adapter available.
Lighting: There are 6 lighting areas. Warm Washes available on each lighting area. One full-stage blue wash available for load-in/load-out. Blue wash unavailable for individual lighting areas. Light cues will be programmed. No Spotlight available.
Security: All participants and audience members will enter the facility through a metal detector.

Groups may eat outside in the amphitheater, weather permitting. No groups may remain in the lobby for lunch on Friday. In case of inclement weather, a rain plan will be implemented. Absolutely no food or drink is allowed in the auditorium with the exception of bottled water.

Closest restaurants are approximately 10-15 minutes away, but traffic can be extremely congested. Best areas for local restaurants are the Rosedale Shopping Center and Birkdale Shopping Center. Plan for traffic, especially near Birkdale.

Pinecrest High School

Nov 8-9, 2024

Pinecrest High School

250 Voit Gilmore Road
Southern Pines, NC 28387

Host: Adam Faw

afaw@ncmcs.org

Directions From Raleigh (coming in on US1 South)

Exit onto Morganton Road, take a right onto W Morganton
Stay on Morganton until 3rd stoplight appx 1.5 miles, take a right onto 15/501 (larger intersection, just past Pinecrest Plaza) Note: GPS may tell you to turn right onto Knoll road at 2nd stoplight…ignore this, go to next stoplight, to 15/501
Pinecrest High School Main Entrance at stoplight, turn right into Pinecrest.
Take first right at the fork in the road, then first right into auditorium parking lot. Loading dock at the back of building

Directions from Charlotte or Greensboro (coming in on 220 to 211)

From 220, take exit to Candor/Pinehurst.
Take exit towards Pinehurst/Southern Pines Take 211S appx 19 miles to the traffic circle in Southern Pines/Pinehurst
At traffic circle, take second exit onto 15/501S
Take 15/501 appx. 2 miles until stoplight, turn left into Pinecrest High School Main Entrance
Take first right at the fork in the road, then first right into auditorium parking lot. Loading dock at the back of building

Directions from Rockingham area (coming in on US1 North)

Take US1 all the way through Aberdeen until intersection with 15/501, take a left on 211N, 15/501N at the stoplight.
Stay on 15/501 appx 2.5 miles
Pinecrest High School Main Entrance at stoplight, turn right into Pinecrest.
Take first right at the fork in the road, then first right into auditorium parking lot. Loading dock at the back of building

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 10′ x 10′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 40′ wide, 23′ deep
Location of start line: Stage Left
Location of finish line: Stage Right
Load-in and load-out procedures: Sets will be loaded in through a 12’ tall x 10’ wide door into a scene shop, then through a 10’ tall x 9’6” wide door to backstage.

Tours are permitted by appointment only. Please email Mr. Faw to schedule.

Headsets: Headsets are available in the booth at the back of the house, off stage right, and spotlight cove.
Booth location: Just behind the main seating area of the house. One person can easily call light cues and run sound.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: No piano is available for use. Recommended placement of keyboard/orchestra accompaniment is on the DSR or DSL corners of the stage. These areas are not lit, but they are within easy sightline of the stage. There are floor pockets available with power outlets on these corners.
Sound: Sound cues should be brought on your own computer or other music player with an auxiliary jack, so your student stage manager can play the cues themselves. Due to the size of the stage and the audience seating area, the stage will have area microphones. The levels will be set for the entire Festival, and will not be changed. If you like, we can turn off the mics for your performance. There is a handheld mic available for your use. If you wish to use it, please indicate on your light cue sheet.
Lighting: There are 6 lighting areas. No cyc is available. No warm, cool, or color washes are available. One spotlight available in the balcony. Color gels in the spotlight are not available. Light cues will be run manually by submasters. Please keep this in mind when designing your cues. We recommend keeping lighting simple.

You will find several restaurants in close proximity to Pinecrest HS. Snacks and water will be sold onsite. For those wishing to pack lunches or schedule deliveries, there will be some space to eat meals outside (weather permitting).

State High School Play Festival

Nov 21-22, 2024

Greensboro College

Performances:
Odell Building
140 College Place
Greensboro, NC 27401

Parking:
Reynolds Student Center
1015 West Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

Deadlines

Light cue sheets must be submitted to angelahays@nctc.org by 5pm on November 14.

Design and Production nominations must be submitted by 5pm on November 15. Please read more details below.

Regional Festival program pages will be used. If you have a cast/crew change for the State Festival, your new program page must be emailed to tiffany@nctc.org by 5pm on November 14.

Teachers do not need to submit new demographic forms and parents do not need to submit new permission forms.

All buses, trucks and cars must be parked at the Reynolds Student Center – 1015 West Market Street (building at the corner of Tate Street and West Market). Buses and trucks should park in the back of the lot. Do not park in any other campus lots, or you will be ticketed and possibly towed. Buses may drop off students in front of the Odell Building, or students may walk (in groups) from the Reynolds Center to Odell.

To walk from Reynolds Center to the Odell Building: Walk in the same direction as the one-way traffic on Market St. Turn right at College Place, walk past parking lots and the Odell Building will be on your right. The walk is approximately 7 minutes.

To drop-off students at the Odell Building: Travel down West Market Street (it is a one-way street heading East) and turn right on College Place (you will see a white house and a Greensboro College sign). The Odell Building will be on your right at the brick cross-walk. College Place is a two-way street and no parking is allowed. After dropping off, buses should continue straight to the stop sign, turn right onto Odell Place, right onto Mendenhall, then a quick left onto Rankin Place. You will see the large Reynolds Student Center parking lot on your right.

Bus/Truck Parking for Load-in & Load-out: When it is time for your show to load-in (see schedule), head down West Market Street (it is a one-way street heading East), turn right onto College Place and turn right at the stop sign. Go past the parking lot on the right and then turn right into the loading dock driveway. Your bus/truck may stay in this lot until your load-out time (immediately following your show).

View the campus map at the top of the page for parking lot locations.

Approximate size of backstage storage area: 10′ x 10′
Stage Dimensions (Playing Space): 39’ 5” wide x 26’ 6” deep. The upstage curtain will remain closed throughout the Festival, acting as a back wall. No traveler curtains may be moved or used during the Festival.
Location of start line: Stage Left
Location of finish line: Stage Right
Load-in and load-out procedures: Your truck should park at the Reynolds Center, and then move to the loading dock at your assigned load-in time (see directions above). Each school will have a maximum of 10 minutes for load-in. The loading dock door is 4’1” from the ground. The door opening is 10’W x 12’H. For load-out, your driver should be parked at the loading dock at your expected show end time. All vehicles must be turned off once they are moved into position at the loading dock.

Greensboro College will not be able to give tours of the space prior to the Festival. Your students will have the opportunity to walk the stage during your tech meeting and we ask that you be flexible and prepared to adapt.

Headsets: Headsets are available for use and are located in the Light/Sound booth and backstage, left and right.
Booth location: The light and sound board are in the same booth at the back of the house. One student can call light cues and run sound, or you may choose to have two students in the booth.
Piano/Orchestra Set-up: No piano is available for use, you will need to bring a keyboard if needed. Keyboards may be set-up downstage right or in the stage right wing.
Sound: Sound devices must have a standard headphone output to plug into the house system. Wireless microphones are not permitted, due to frequency issues.
Lighting: Lighting cues will be programmed into the board. Please keep cues simple. If the Greensboro College team feels you have too many cues or they are too complex (given the time they have to prepare for your performance), you will be asked to simplify. Warm and cool (blue) washes are available. On your cue sheet, please specify levels (percentages) for warm and cool. For white light, use both warm and cool simultaneously. Two spotlights are available for use on the balcony level.
Auditorium temperature: Huggins Theatre can be very warm or very cold. We encourage participants to wear layers.

Design & Production Awards/Scholarship Partners

Festival participants are welcome to dine in the Greensboro College cafeteria. Because the cafeteria is small and will need to prepare to be able to host your group, please email Janice James to make a reservation: janice.james@greensboro.edu. Please note the hours, as they do not perfectly align with NCTC lunch and dinner breaks.

Hours and Prices:

Lunch (Thursday and Friday) – 11:00-1:30 – $9.86

Dinner:
Thursday: 5:00-8:00
Friday: 5:00-7:00 – $11.40

Rules & Preparation

The same rules and preparation from the Regional High School Play Festivals will apply to the State Festival, and the same awards will be presented. All schools should plan to attend the full Festival, to be eligible for Cast Your Vote and Festival Spirit Awards. Please invite principals and other school administrators to attend and support your students.

We encourage you to bring a show poster to the State Festival, with the same guidelines as your regional poster, and celebration stars will be sold for $1.00.

At the State High School Play Festival, adjudicators will present 10 Excellence in Design and Production Awards. Teachers are encouraged to nominate students who have excelled in any non-acting production work, including (but not limited to) stage management, public relations, design, student direction, and playwrighting. Teachers may nominate individual students or small teams (of up to 3 students) who worked in the same production role.

The Outstanding Achievement in Design and Production Awards at the State Festival will be presented to individual seniors who are interested in majoring in the theatre in college and want to be considered for a scholarship offer from our four Scholarship Partners: Greensboro College, Catawba College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Mars Hill University. Nominated students will be invited to participate in a Portfolio Review session during the State Play Festival, where representatives from our partner colleges will view and discuss their work. The Portfolio Review times will not conflict with your production time but students will miss watching at least one performance during their Portfolio Review. Teachers should only nominate students who are prepared to present a portfolio. Tips for Portfolio presentations can be found here.

Scholarship awards: Exact scholarship amounts will be announced at the awards ceremony, but these are substantial scholarships. All of the scholarships are contingent upon meeting admissions requirements and enrollment in the respective schools. They will be spread over 4 years and are theatre-department specific. These awards may also be enhanced with academic scholarships, if students meet those requirements.

Each school may submit up to two Design and Production award nominations PER PLAY. Teachers must fill out a separate form for each nomination. Paper forms will no longer be accepted on-site.

Nominations must be received by 5pm on November 15.

Submit your nominations here.

Contacts

Angie Hays, NCTC Executive Director (angelahays@nctc.org) – Contact Angie about schedule, rules, and logistics.

Tiffany Albright, NCTC Director of Communications and Operations (tiffany@nctc.org) – Contact Tiffany for questions about program pages, invoices, and payments.

Festival Technical Director: Sean Saari (sean.saari@greensboro.edu) – Contact Sean with questions about the Greensboro College theatre space, lighting, and sound.

About the SETC Convention

If your show receives one of the Distinguished Play Awards at the State Festival, you will be invited to represent NC at the 2025 SETC (Southeastern Theatre Conference) High School Festival, which is part of the annual convention that will be held March 19 – 23, 2025 in Baltimore, MD. The NCTC and SETC Festivals are very similar, but there are some differences in rules and procedures. If your show performs at SETC, you will have to obey all rules of that Festival, which may require changes to your production. Please also know that the cost to attend the SETC convention is significant. It is likely that your school will need to raise more than $10,000 to attend the Festival. More information can be found at www.setc.org.