top of page
432580497_254952167672745_5693277819305144688_n.jpg

ONE-ACT PLAY

Optional Competition  
Registration Deadline February 14, 2025.

AIHEC One-Act Play Competition Objectives: 

  • Showcase talent and skills in acting, artistic creativity, teamwork, public speaking, etc. 

Contact:

Lindsay Stephens  lstephens@olc.edu

virginia Towne  vtowne@olc.edu

Official AIHEC One-Act Play Roster Registration Form 

One-Act Play Judging Form 

Please click to download form.

One Act Rules

AIHEC One-Act Play Competition Objectives

  • Showcase talent and skills in acting, artistic creativity, teamwork, public speaking, etc.

AIHEC One-Act Play Competition Rules

  1. Each TCU may select and write a One-Act Play. If the script is not a TCU original, then all copyright issues will be the responsibility of that TCU team.

  2. Costumes are allowed and are considered to be the character attire worn by players.
    Masks are considered part of the costume and are allowed.

  3. Props are allowed; however, they shall be actively utilized by characters during the performance.

  4. Each team is allotted a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes to prepare and a maximum of thirty (30) minutes to perform. The minimum time limit for a TCU One-Act Play is thirteen (13) minutes.

  5. TCU students shall naturally project their voice during the performance as no microphones or public address system will be provided.

  6. Coaches cannot be judges.

  7. No videotaping or photos and no entry or exit during the performance.

  8. TCUs may register more than one (1) team but shall not register more than two (2) teams.

  9. There are two (2) rounds for the One-Act Play Competition. All teams will initially be present in the first round. The three (3) teams with the highest score from the first round will advance to the second round to repeat their performance for placing. Judges will change from the first round to the second round. This will occur even if there are only two (2) or three (3) competing teams. Since a TCU may have more than one (1) team, but no more than two (2) teams, in the One-Act Play Competition, the first, second, or third place may be won by the same Tribal College, but a TCU may not win all three (3)
    places.

  10. Since there may be respected Elders, tribal leadership, TCU administration, faculty, and family members in attendance, subject matter/material/language should to be in accord with the sensitivity of these viewers. Producing TCUs are responsible for content judgment.

  11. Monologues are allowed and are subjected to the same rules.

  12. Integrating singing/music/choreography is strongly encouraged; however, a song, dance, or musical instrument performance only with no dialogue, acting, plot, etc. does not constitute a One-Act Play, and therefore does not qualify for this competition.

  13. Judges are not allowed to inquire about the TCU identity of each team. Only the One-Act Play coordinator will know the personal names and TCU of the members of each team.

  14. Students are not allowed to announce their personal names, nor the TCU name after the company bows.

  15. Judges, coaches, and students are allowed to announce, inform all persons of the title(s) of the performance(s).

  16. The first day of the Student Conference will be an optional rehearsal day for the teams. Each team will be allotted one (1) hour to practice, and the practice may be a closed rehearsal if requested. The coordinator may lead workshops in voice, blocking, stage movement, etc.

  17. The order and times of the performances will be determined randomly and then posted by title. Accompanying the title, order and times of the performances will be a randomly assigned number to indicate the TCU. If a TCU has more than one (1) submission, each submission will have a different assigned random number.

  18. Teams will be disqualified if they arrive more than fifteen (15) minutes late for their performances. If any cast member is late, the team may choose to continue with their performance. Teams should arrive at least thirty (30) minutes prior to performing as seated, respectful audience members.

  19. The stage for the One-Act Play competition is sixteen by twelve (16 x 12) feet or larger.

One Act Guidelines

One-Act Play  Competition Guidelines & Procedures:

  • The One-Act Play coordinator is chosen by the host committee. The One-Act Play coordinator will
    reserve an appropriately-sized One-Act Play location depending on whether an audience will be
    permitted with a stage sixteen by twelve (16 x 12) feet or larger. If an audience will be permitted to
    attend, then a large conference room will be required; if no audience will be permitted then the
    coordinator can reserve a classroom-sized room.

  • The One-Act Play coordinator will provide periodic updates to the host committee concerning
    registration numbers and the cost of the One-Act Play expenses. The coordinator will also post room
    details (electrical outlet locations, stage size, location, doors, lights, etc.) on the conference website for
    teams to better plan and prepare their play.
  • The One-Act Play coordinator may use the proven rules from above and adjust as the need arises to
    adapt to the specific host location, participant-entry size, budget limitations, etc.
  • Judges need to be highly experienced and are not an alum of any Tribal College and are likely from
    the local or professional theatre companies in the AIHEC Student Conference host community. Three
    (3) judges will judge the first round, and three (3) separate judges will judge the second round.
  • The One-Act Play coordinator needs to recruit ~ three (3) people (faculty, staff, or students) to assist
    with judging, onsite scheduling, monitoring, registration, and on-site setup of the conference room.
  • The coordinator shall always maintain the anonymity of the teams’ Tribal Colleges or Universities to
    ensure impartial judging.
  • Suggested Checklist of Materials to bring to the conference: master spreadsheet of the registered
    students and teams and their One-Act Play titles and the judging scorecards.

​​

  • Have a firm registration deadline. Postmarked, faxed, emailed, etc. at least seven (7) days before the
    start of the conference. No exceptions.

  • Randomly assign each performance with a number to represent their TCU. If a TCU has more than
    one (1) submission, assign each submission with a differently assigned random number. Enter
    registered students into a master spreadsheet by college/team to ease the checking in process at the
    conference. Order the One-Act Plays and times of the performances randomly and then post the One￾Act Plays by title and previously assigned random number.

  • The One-Act Play coordinator arrives at the conference at least one (1) day before the competition to
    setup the room reserved for the One-Act Play with the stage and lights (spotlight if the space is large
    enough) and the maximum number of chairs allowed for the space.

  • The One-Act Play coordinator will act as the stage manager during the entire competition. Duties
    include getting the audience and actors in and out on time, attending to the judges’ needs – water and
    snacks, running sound on a laptop with speakers, turning off the overhead lights, cleaning the house
    (audience) and backstage area after each play. The house needs to be cleared at the end of the day so
    the judges can discuss all of the plays with confidence that their opinions are not overheard.

  • Once the conference begins, the students are responsible for their own scheduling of other conference
    competitions.

  • ​The One-Act Play coordinator is responsible for reporting the winning teams to the awards’ banquet
    coordinator and sending all the judging forms to the corresponding coaches after the competition

bottom of page