The competition categories may include:
Acting (Monologue, Duet, Group Scene); Musical Theatre – Performance; Musical Theatre – Dance; Costume Construction; Costume Design; Lighting Design; Makeup Design; Playwriting; Scenic Design; Short Film; Sound Design; Stage Management; Theatre Marketing

We typically register students for these categories:

• Acting (duet, ensemble, devised, short play) & Monologues;
• Acting (solo, contrasting monologues, duet, ensemble, short play);
• One Act – No tech;
• Musical Theatre (duet, ensemble, dance);
• Musical Theatre (solo);
• Technical Theatre and Design

Participants may sign up for two workshops. We are assembling a stellar list of workshop leaders to mentor our emerging theatre artists in subjects such as Commedia dell”Arte and Mask Movement, Stanislavski’s Magic If, Musical Theatre/Vocal Warm Ups, Introduction to Laban Technique, Meisner Technique, Theatre Design, and Acting for the camera by the Vancouver Film School.

For the Dec. 2025 Festival we registered students for these workshops:

• Vocal Combat with Danielle Wilson (Brock University)
• Costume Design with Alexa Fraser (Brock University)
• Devising with Michael Reinhart (Brock University)
• Sound Design with Joe Lapinski (Brock University)
• Community Building with Joe Fioca

For the May 2026 Festival we are registering students for these workshops:

• Acting: From Stage to Screen with Jennifer Clemont (Vancouver Film School)
• Accents with Kerry Ann Doherty
• Finding a Character Through Movement with Kerry Ann Doherty
• Long Form Improv with Joe Fiocca
• Short Form Improv with Joe Fiocca
• Music Theatre Intensive with JJ Gerber
• Q-Lab Sound and Lighting Design with Joe Lapinski (Brock University, PD workshop for teachers, and workshop for teachers and students)
• LX Workshop with Lauren Maieron (Brock University, for teachers and students)
• Typecasting vs Branding and Industry Self-tapes with Laura Mason (Savannah College of Art and Design)
• 24 Hour Play Intensive with Sean Meldrum
• Acting in the Moment with Lori Ravensborg (Niagara College)
• Devising through Viewpoints with Michael Reinhart (Brock University)
• Audition Tips and Tricks with Stephanie Torns (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy)
• Tech Olympics with Ed Harris, Laura Maieron and David Vivian (Brock University)
• Warm-up and Script Sharing (for teachers)

Past adjudicators for the Regional event have included: Warren Bain, Tiffani Beauparlant, Amy Converset, Teodoro Dragonieri, Monica Dufault, Jessica Gorman, Moya O’Connell, Lori Ravensborg, Avery Smith, Alex Sobschak, Nina Taylor, Brooke Winter, along with Professors David Fancy, Mike Griffin, Glenys McQueen-Fuentes (retired), David Vivian and Danielle Wilson of the Department of Dramatic Arts, MIWSFPA.

The list of our 2025-26 adjudicator’s will include Sydney Alexander, Warren Bain, Jennifer Clemont (VFS), Kerry Ann Doherty, David Fancy, Alexa Fraser, JJ Gerber, Joe Fiocca, Breanna Liszak-Bersan, Abby Malcolm, Laura Mason (Savannah), Sean Meldrum, Suzanne Merriam, Lori Ravensborg, Avery Smith, Alix Sobchak, Nina Taylor, Jacqueline Thair, and Danielle Wilson.

Nos évaluateurs accueillent favorablement votre participation en français !

As well as the STAR awards earned through successful rubric-driven adjudication, students may apply for several valuable scholarship opportunities. These include institutional awards, program-specific supports, and general scholarships that students may apply toward their continued training. The intention is to recognize and support student development across a range of pathways.

All grade 11 and 12 students who attend National STAR Fest – South are welcome and encouraged to apply for our Scholarships.  Inducted STAR Guild members from your STAR Troupe can receive full $500 scholarships and non-inducted students can receive a max $250 scholarship.

TAEA National STAR Fest provides scholarships in the following areas:

• Theatre Performance (up to $500)
• Theatre Leadership or Future Theatre Educator (up to $500)
• Tech Theatre / Design (up to $500)

Across the national landscape, scholarships are offered by some of North America’s finest theatre and film programs. Over $1,000,000 in post-secondary scholarships have been awarded at national festivals. The list of participating post-secondary Institutions offering scholarships includes:

• Canadian College of Performing Arts
• Vancouver Film School
• American Musical and Dramatic Academy
• New York Film Academy
• Savannah College of Art and Design
• Open Jar Institute
• Rosebud School of the Arts

The Department of Dramatic Arts at Brock University will award the DART Creative Citizenship Scholarship, valued at $1000 and awarded upon admission to and registration for studies with the Department of Dramatic Arts beginning the 2025, 2026, or 2027 academic year..

The successful nominee will have demonstrated an ability to:

• lead in a creative collaboration within an ensemble
• engage analytically and creatively in their theatrical endeavour (whether performance, directing, scriptwriting, design, production, or other ways of making theatre)
• listen well and engage thoughtfully with others’ contributions and responses
• respond well to artistic and academic challenges, as well as constructive criticism or feedback
• engage in physical theatre work with focus and awareness
• demonstrate a commitment to develop themselves both artistically and intellectually in a university context

The registration link is: schools.taeacanada.ca

Registration typically closes mid November for the December event and mid April for the May event.

For the regional event students typically pay a nominal fee of $16 for non-inducted Thespians, $11 for inducted Thespians and $6 to come and watch. Your fee allows you to perform in three different categories.

For the national event students typically pay $65.00 for Inducted STAR Guild students and $80.00 for non-inducted students. Plus:

• $100 cost per Mainstage One-Act Play (max one per school) No Qualification Needed. Cost of one-act covers professional technicians needed on-site.
• $50 cost per Studio (Minimal Tech) One-Act Play or Short Play Entered – No Qualification Needed
• $8 per STAR Individual Event Entered. Pieces that qualified with an Advanced or Proficient Ribbon from a regional event or WILDCARD performances (Max 3 wildcard performances per school that did not qualify)
• Honour Troupe Application costs: $50.00

Every registered delegate receives:

• Full festival experience (~May 8-10th)
• Festival T-shirt and swag bag
• Access to adjudicated performances
• Student workshops with professional artists
• Opening Ceremonies (~Saturday, May 9th)
• Student Social — Concert & Dance (~Saturday evening)
• Honour Troupe Presentation opportunities (additional $50 application fee)
• Scholarship Audition eligibility for Grades 11 & 12
• Closing Ceremonies and scholarship announcements (Sunday)

In December 2025 the Festival took place at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

This is a 30 min drive from the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in St. Catharines.

In May 2026 the Festival takes place at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in St. Catharines.

Make the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre your classroom!

The PAC in St. Catharines, ON has announced the details of their 25-26 imPACt Education Series! The series is an exciting mix of dance, music, theatre, storytelling, and circus live performances from regional, national, and international artists that will engage and inspire your students. PLUS they are piloting a new in-depth program for high school students that bring them up close and personal with artists, technicians, and community cultural activators.

Browse all the learning opportunities and learn more HERE.

Request your imPACt experience today!

for inquiries about the festival, CONTACT:
[email protected] or [email protected]

https://taeacanada.ca/

Regional Festival (December): taeacanada.ca/regional-star-fest

National Festival (May): taeacanada.ca/national-star-fest-south

for inquiries about learning at the MIWSFPA, CONTACT: Madison Roca, Recruitment  [email protected]  905 688 5550 x3842

The regional schedule typically includes:

• 9:00am-9:30am: Registration
• 9:30-10:15 Opening Ceremonies with community building and sponsor keynote from Warren Bain and Jennifer Roberts-Smith and Mike Griffin/highlighting new Learning Spaces at SHAW and MIWSFPA
• 10:15-11:15 Workshop Session #1
• 11:20-12:20 Workshop Session #2
• 12:20-1:00 LUNCH with keynote from Madison Rocca
• 1:00-2:15 Performances Session #1 or booth visiting
• 2:20-3:40pm: Performance Session #2 or booth visiting
• 3:45-4:55pm: Performance Session #3
• 5:00-5:30pm: Closing Ceremonies and Awards

The national schedule has a similar pattern across 2.5 -3 days.

Here are some documents to guide you in your preparation:

2025-2026 STAR Festival Program Handbook

2023-2024 STAR Awards Category Summary Guide

Combined-STAR Fest Rubrics-2022-23