TN Thespians Monthly Newsletter

We hope the school year is off to a fantastic start for thespians across the state! our We are excited to share some important opportunities and updates with everyone. There is so much happening for everyone this fall, auditions, plays, musicals, and so many school events! We want to make sure you have all of the information, especially regarding our conferences in the next few months!

Registration is open for our 2nd Annual ThesFest, our conference designed especially for middle school Thespians! Following the success of last year's inaugural event, we are preparing an even bigger day of workshops, performances, collaboration, and theatre fun, including an opportunity for a one-act performance. We encourage middle school troupes to register early and take advantage of this exciting opportunity to connect with students and educators from across the state.

Registration for the Tennessee Thespian Conference opens next week! Be sure to watch for registration details and take advantage of our Early Bird pricing opportunities. Our annual conference continues to grow, and we look forward to welcoming students and educators for another unforgettable experience filled with learning, performance, leadership, and celebration. If you know of a clinician who would be a great addition to our weekend, please have them reach out or visit the website.

As plans and information continue to develop throughout the year, we encourage you to stay connected with us. Be sure to visit our website regularly and follow us on social media for the latest announcements, registration updates, deadlines, opportunities, and highlights from theatre programs across Tennessee. We love celebrating the amazing work happening in your schools and sharing it with our statewide community.

Thank you for everything you do. We are grateful for you and look forward to seeing you at ThesFest & ThesCon!

Registration is now open for all TN Middle schools!

• Middle school focused
• Performance opportunities
• Workshops
• Adjudications
• One Act performance!
• Student leadership experiences

• Fun/social activities

New This Year!

Registration portal for an easy-to-manage registration process!

1. Register your school
2. Add your adult chaperones
3. Send your schools unique registration link to your students and parents to complete on their own! (Parents/ students will handle their own registration, opt in to a pizza lunch, sign up for adjudications, etc).
4. Finalize your registration rosters and generate your own Invoice/"Quote" to provide your Bookkeepers for easy payments.

Register by Wednesday October 28th! Spots are limited, so register soon!

This year we've introduced tiered pricing and a new registration process, so we've put together a Teacher Guide to walk you through both before registration opens. It includes a preview of the new pricing structure along with key dates you'll want on your radar.

Mainstage submissions for ThesCon are due November 20. This is one of the most visible opportunities we offer all year: selected productions are showcased in front of a statewide audience of educators and peers, giving your students a platform to be recognized for their work. If you have a show you're proud of this season, we encourage you to consider submitting. The [Mainstage Guide] walks through eligibility, requirements, and what to expect through the process.

One Act submissions for ThesCon are also due November 20. Schools may submit up to two productions, and this year every application includes the option to opt in for Chapter Select: one outstanding production will be chosen to represent Tennessee at the International Thespian Festival (ITF) 2027. It's a chance for your students' work to be recognized well beyond ThesCon, and shows that opt in still receive education-centered feedback regardless of selection. The One Act Guide has full eligibility requirements, key dates, and details on how to opt in when you apply.

Each month, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible work happening in Tennessee’s theatre programs! Please share the ways you are kicking off this school year.

We’re looking for stories that inspire and educate — troupes leading creative community outreach projects, engaging in service initiatives, trying new fundraising ideas, or producing innovative, thought-provoking shows.

If your students have found a unique way to make an impact, we’d love to feature your story in our newsletter and on social media to inspire other troupes across the state.

Share your highlights using the Troupe Feature Form. Let’s celebrate the creativity and leadership that make Tennessee Thespians stand out!

We are also thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with them. BookTix provides online ticketing and marketing resources for schools throughout the US & Canada and they are now giving back to Tennessee Thespians!

BookTix is a proud sponsor of this year's Teacher Track at Tennessee ThesCon 2026 and will be presenting on several topics such as Marketing, Parody Lyric Writing, Fundraising & more! This track will provide you with the tools and inspiration to make a lasting impact on your theater program, from fresh marketing ideas to an in-depth understanding of the licensing process. Plus, you'll walk away with additional resources to help implement your newfound knowledge immediately.

BookTix will give back to Tennessee Thespians whenever new schools sign up through our Affiliate Program and sell tickets or fundraise on their platform! Find out more by clicking

Our Facebook is back! We have brought back the facebook page and will also be posting regular updates there. www.facebook.com/tnthescon

The Educational Theatre Association creates an educational and professional network for theatre arts educators, students, theatre professionals, and enthusiasts to share ideas and support the effort to have theatre arts education recognized in all phases of education and lifelong learning.

A guide to accessing and using the National Theatre Collection through your EdTA membership. Read full article.

• Member Benefits!
• Charter a New Troupe!
• Educational Theatre Foundation
• Learning Center
• Scholarships
• Grants
• Career Center