News and Updates

Houstonfest Scholarships

Gail Cope Scholarships at State

Plays will be performed at Houstonfest

Changes to rules and critique sheets for 2010

Scholarships for winning research papers at State

Daily log of changes to state-qualifier list

Important Dates

Mar. 5, 2010:  Houstonfest Scholarship applications due

Mar. 10, 2010:  Gail Cope Scholarship applications due

Jan. x, 2011:  Early-bird registration ($8) must be postmarked and online registration must be submitted by 11:59 p.m.

Jan. x, 2011:  Regular registration ($10) must be postmarked and online registration must be submitted by 11:59 p.m.

Feb. 5, 2011:  Houstonfest, Lanier Middle School, Houston

Feb. x, 2011:  State early-bird registration due (submit online registration and mail payment; payment must arrive by Feb. x)

Feb. x, 2011:  State regular registration due

Feb. 26, 2011:  Texas State German Contest, University of Texas at Austin

Puppet Stage

You are welcome to bring your own puppet stage if you wish, but we will have two stages available for everyone's use.  The first belongs to Deer Park High School, and thanks to teacher Trina Powers for offering to make it available to everyone.  The second belongs to Clements High School (director Rustin Buck's school).

Here is Frau Powers' description of the Deer Park stage:  "It's about 6 feet long, 3 feet tall in the front with sides too. Then there's about a 2-3 foot section for kids to sit in (behind the 3 foot tall 'wall' (yes, there are curtains) so their bodies will be hidden; they just hold the puppet up over their heads so only it's seen. Then there's about a 5 foot backdrop (quilted scene with a couple trees, rainbow, clouds, and sun that hangs behind the kids. Very amateurish but practical. The frame is all PVC pipes and can be assembled in 10-15 minutes."

Here is a picture of the Deer Park stage:

The Clements stage has a similar design.  It has no scenery backdrop, but there is a curtain "wall" on which you can hang your own backdrop (like the one shown below).  The front wall is 5 feet tall, which allows the contestants to sit on chairs without their heads showing.  The back wall is 6.5 feet tall, and behind that there's an enclosed "backstage" area (which, honestly, doesn't serve much of a purpose).

Here are some pictures of the Clements stage: