top of page

As plans are finalized, any festival updates will be posted here.

HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRATION:
Due Dates in December: School Registration and Original One Act and Nominations

FEE SCHEDULE:
School Registration is $50
One-Act Play Registration is $50

If not registering by Credit Card, Checks should be mailed to:

 

In this PDF document (available to download and print)  you can find INFORMATION on and LINKS to the following:

  • List of Deadlines and Fees

  • Thespys and One Acts

  • All-State Application, Info

  • Nomination Forms for Teacher Awards, Honor Troupe

  • Senior Scholarships

  • Student Thespian Officers (STOs)

The same instructions with more details are also available here:

​

​

​

In order to be part of the festival you must register your school by the December deadline! The School Registration form is the online form that will be accessible from SEPTEMBER 25 to DECEMBER 5, 2025.  Any school that would like to submit the Title of its One-Act Production should fill out this form ASAP and be ready to submit payment or a Purchase Order. All schools that plan to participate in the 2026 PDA/SCITS festival must register by December 5, 2025. 

​

​

PALMETTO DRAMATIC ASSOCIATION

c/o Rock Hill High School

320 W. Springdale Rd.

Rock Hill, SC 29730

Attn: Stephanie Daniels

We offer the Original One Act Playwriting Competition as part of the PDA festival and the Thespys Playwriting category at the same time! Playwrights can determine if the script is to be considered for one or both festivals.  All scripts must be submitted electronically by Friday, DECEMBER 5- either in the "School Registration" Form OR the "Submit Script" Form.  To learn more please go to the Original One-Act Page.

PDA offers individuals to nominate teachers for two awards: The Outstanding Teacher of the Year and the Teacher Mentor Awards.  Thespians recognizes all troupes that have done exceptional work in the previous school year.  Nomination forms and Honor Troupe applications can be found on the Registration landing page: 

Due date for Nominations and Honor Troupe Applications is Friday, December 19th.

Deadlines for the 2026 Festival

Items italicized are when forms or information will be released

​

  • Thursday, September 25, 2025- Intent to Participate opens  (Can submit the title of your One-Act at this time. The Title is reserved with School Registration payment or submitted Purchase Order)

  • Friday, December 5, 2025- PDA Original One Acts and/or Playwriting Thespy Entries submitted ELECTRONICALLY for Consideration 

  • Friday, December 5, 2025- All State Applications and Videos must be submitted in order to be considered for Musical Theatre, Acting, or Tech Challenge Showcases.

  • Friday, December 5, 2025- School Registration CLOSES- Schools attending the February festival must submit the School Registration form by this time

  • Tuesday, December 9th- Delegate Registration (worksheets and form) will be available on the website

  • Friday, December 19, 2025- PDA Outstanding Teacher and Outstanding Mentor Teacher nominations and Honor Troupe applications must be submitted to be considered for recognition at the 2026 Festival.

  • Friday, January 23, 2026- Delegate Registration is due along with definitive Thespys Categories, Scholarship Applicants. The Play Tech/Thespy Schedule Form is also due at this time.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: In order to meet the January deadline, we recommend that the students have an earlier deadline for PAYMENT and participation in the singular student events- Thespys, STO, Portfolios, and Scholarships (either before Winter Break OR 10 days before the January deadline).

​

  • Tuesday, January 27th- Teachers and School Counselors will be sent Recommendation and School Record forms to be completed. Auditioning Delegates and STO applicants will be sent their forms.

  • Friday, January 30, 2026- ALL THESPY entries (matching what was submitted in Delegate Registration) submitted into OPEN WATER.  

  • Monday, February 2nd- Name Verifications worksheet sent to Sponsor. One Act Schedule Posted

  • Tuesday, February 3rd- Senior Awards and STO Applications must be submitted by the students.

  • Friday, February 6th- Teacher Recommendations and School Records for STOs and Senior Awards submitted.  If a school is going to use Meal Tickets, those must be purchased at this time as well.

  • Tuesday, February 10th- Name Verification worksheet submitted. Thespys Schedule Posted

​

If you have gotten this far and want to be

part of the festival, open this document:

​

For schools that are definitely going to participate, sponsors may also want to print out the Delegate Registration Worksheets to see what to gather from the delegates before the January deadline.  Remember: as the sponsor, you can limit what your students do at the festival so that you are not overwhelmed your first time.  The Worksheets can be found on the Delegate Registration web page: 

(Will be available by mid-November)

For detailed information and the forms, please refer to the following pages:

© 2025 by Palmetto Dramatic Association & SC Thespians. Proudly created with Wix.com
 

bottom of page