The CETA Middle Stage Fest, now in its twenty-fourth year, is an exciting event for middle school drama students. Unlike involvement in sports, it is rare for theatre students to have the opportunity to meet peers from other schools, share their passion, showcase their talent, and learn from one another. This festival brings together hundreds of students to do just that. We’ll celebrate the anniversary of this fabulous event on Saturday, April 5th!

Middle Stage Fest will continue to combine the best elements of a virtual gathering with the live and in-person experiences so many of us crave. Teachers and students may choose the participation level they are most comfortable with.  As part of the festival, students perform monologues, duo scenes, group scenes, and musical theatre numbers, and create theatrical designs for panels of adjudicators and compete to earn bronze, silver and gold places. Students will submit their work on or before March 14th. 

Description:

On the festival day, students get to connect with other young artists and share their experiences in theatre during workshops and games. The event will culminate with an awards ceremony including the best performances in each category.  By participating, your students will:

Competition:

Individual students may enter up to two of six categories: 

  • Monologues: 1 minute maximum

  • Duos: (2-person scenes) 3 minutes maximum

  • Groups: (3-or-more-person scenes) 5 minutes maximum

  • Musical Theatre Solos: 1 minute maximum

  • Musical Theatre Duets: (2-person songs) 3 minutes maximum

Design: (Set, Costumes, Props, or Make-up) 1 image & 1 paragraph statement

 

April 5, 2025 Festival Schedule:

1:00 – 1:15 Welcome

1:15 – 2:00 Workshop 1 (Acting, Musical, and Technical Theatre) 

2:00 – 2:10 Break

2:10 – 2:55 Workshop 2 (Acting, Musical, and Technical Theatre)

2:55 – 3:05 Break

3:05 – 3:50 Workshop 3 (Acting, Musical, and Technical Theatre)

3:50 – 4:00 Break

4:00 – 4:30 Scavenger Hunt & Games (Tech Rehearsal for All Festival performances)

4:30 – 5:30 Awards and Closing Program

Lunch will not be served, but a snack bar will be open with items such as water, soda, coffee, hot chocolate, candy, and chips. All items will be $1 - cash only.

Location: Katherine L. Albiani Middle School

9140 Bradshaw Road

Elk Grove, CA  95624

Your Students Will :

  • perform & view performances

  • meet students from other schools

  • receive recognition (in-person attendees will receive a CETA T-shirt, in-person contestants will earn medals based on their adjudication scores, and digital certificates will be available for teachers to share and/or print for their students) 

  • create great P.R. for your program

  • end the day excited about theatre!

Procedure:

Performance entries (the first five categories) will be recorded on video. Performances must be conducted under audition conditions.  No costumes or sets. If required by the scene, small hand props are acceptable. 

Design entries will consist of an image (drawing /photo) and a design statement (1-paragraph rationale) describing a costume, makeup, prop, or set design they created. 

All work will be submitted via Google forms and is due by midnight. Friday, March 14th.

Direct Inquiries to:

Festival Director: Michelle Campbell mmcampbe@egusd.net

MSF Committee Chair: Amy Caston acaston@catheatreed.org 

Registrar: Carol Hovey chovey@catheatreed.org 

Important Dates:

  • Friday, February 7, 2025 – School Registration Deadline

  • Friday, March 14, 2025 – Deadline for students to submit work for competition.

  • Sunday, March 16, 2025 – Access to submissions sent to adjudicators. Two-week scoring window opens.

  • Saturday, March 29, 2025 – Deadline for adjudications to be completed.

  • Saturday, April 5, 2025 – In-person MSF Workshops and Awards Ceremony.