We cordially invite you and your students to participate in the 32nd Annual German Theatre Festival and Competition which will take place this year on Thursday, April 30, 2009. The Theaterfest will be held in Chapin Auditorium on the campus of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Dramatic presentations in German of 15 MINUTES IN LENGTH will be judged by a jury consisting of secondary school German teachers, members of Mount Holyoke's German Studies and Theatre Arts faculty as well as representatives of the German Consulate and the Goethe Institute Inter Nationes in Boston. Prizes will be awarded on the elementary, secondary and college levels.

1. There is no entrance fee for the competition, but participating groups must provide their own transportation to and from South Hadley.
2. Participants should plan to spend the entire day on campus, to present their own performance, watch other contestants, visit the Mount Holyoke campus, and participate in the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the Theaterfest.
3. Participants must provide their own lunches. Drinks and cookies will be served.
4. Presentations may consist of a one-act play, a scene from a longer drama, an adaptation of existing material, or an original dramatization or skit.  They should be no less than ten minutes in length and MUST NOT EXCEED FIFTEEN MINUTES.  Any group whose presentation exceeds 15 minutes will be automatically penalized by the judges.
5. Teachers or instructors of German may not participate as actors. All parts must be memorized. Groups are permitted to use a student prompter.
6. Presentations by groups with cast members (with major roles) whose native language is German will be judged in a separate category.
7. Costumes and makeup must be provided by participating groups.
8. Basic furniture items (tables, wooden chairs) will be available upon request. Additional special needs, scenery and all hand props must be provided by each group.
9. Each group is responsible for setting up and striking its own set. There will be a short break between performances for this purpose.
10. Front curtains and stage lighting will be provided.  Special lighting effects (other than dimming or blackouts) ARE NOT POSSIBLE!
11. Instruments, record player, cassette recorder, or sound effects must be provided by participants.
12. Performances will be judged on the basis of both language proficiency and acting skills, as well as appropriateness of material to level of group.
13. The deadline for submission of entry forms for the competition is FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009. Schools wishing to participate are asked to fill out the online entry form (see drop-down menu) and to provide a brief English summary (one paragraph) of their presentation.