Tennessee Theatre Association

One Act Festival & Studio Theatre Festival

The Tennessee Theatre Association (TTA) Conference is an annual gathering that unites theatre educators, students, professionals, and enthusiasts from across the state to celebrate and advance the theatrical arts. Secondary School One-Act Play Festival: High school theatre programs showcase their talents in a collaborative adjudication environment. New this year Studio Theatre Festival. This festival has been developed to increase accessibility and expand participation for secondary theatre programs across our region. The Studio Theatre Festival offers a unique opportunity for schools to share their work in a festival setting that emphasizes storytelling over large production elements, encouraging creativity through simplicity and resourceful production choices.

October 24 &25

ThesFest

More informmation coming soon

November 15

Tennessee All State Theatre

The Tennessee All State Theatre Auditions, hosted by Tennessee Theatre Educators Association, highlight outstanding high school talent in acting, musical theatre, design, and playwriting. Open to students in grades 9–12, the program offers valuable feedback, recognition, and college exposure, supporting the artistic growth and future opportunities of Tennessee’s emerging theatre artists. 

January 16 &17

Tennessee Thespian Conference

The Tennessee State Thespian Conference is an annual event that brings together high school theatre students and educators from across the state. Participants engage in workshops, performances, and competitions, fostering artistic growth and collaboration. The conference celebrates excellence in theatre and provides opportunities for students to showcase their talents. 

January 16 & 17

Tennessee High School Speech & Drama League

The Tennessee High School Speech and Drama League (THSSDL) supports speech and theatre educators and students across the state. Member schools compete in public speaking, debate, and acting events from August to April, with top performers advancing to the THSSDL State Tournament each spring. The League offers over 24 individual and group events, including one-act plays and interpreters’ theatre. THSSDL also hosts a fall conference each August to provide training and resources for teachers. The organization works to strengthen existing programs, advocate for new ones, and create a vibrant community of speech and drama educators and students statewide. 

Tournaments August through April

Tennessee All State Conference

The Tennessee All State Theatre Conference is a statewide event celebrating excellence in high school theatre. Students who receive All State or Regional Distinction through the audition process are invited to participate in intensive, category-specific workshops led by nationally recognized guest artists. The conference fosters artistic growth, builds community among top theatre students, and culminates in public showcases and performances that highlight both individual and group work. Held annually in February, the event also provides 8 hours of high-quality professional development for theatre educators, offering valuable training, collaboration, and resources to strengthen instruction and support student success across the state. 

February 21

Southeastern Theatre Conference

The Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) is one of the largest and most comprehensive theatre gatherings in the nation, drawing thousands of students, educators, professionals, and organizations each spring. SETC offers a wide range of opportunities including auditions, workshops, competitions, and college recruiting. Theatre educators can participate in high-quality professional development sessions led by national leaders in theatre education and practice. Students gain valuable exposure through performance festivals, design competitions, and college and professional auditions. SETC fosters regional collaboration, supports career pathways in theatre, and provides unmatched access to resources, networking, and continuing education for teachers and students alike. 

March 3-7

Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts

The Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts is an immersive summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors. Students engage in intensive training in acting, directing, and theatre crafts, work with professional mentors, and collaborate on original productions. It fosters creativity, skill development, and lifelong artistic connections. 

June 2025

Spotlight Awards

Nashville Area 

Sponsored by 

TPAC

The Spotlight Awards at TPAC honor Tennessee high school musical theatre through professional adjudication, masterclasses, and a celebratory ceremony in Jackson Hall. Students and schools are recognized for performance, technical excellence, and creativity. Outstanding Lead Performers earn the chance to compete at the national Jimmy Awards 

Tennessee Arts Academy

The Tennessee Arts Academy is the nation’s premier summer professional development institute for arts educators. Held annually in July at Middle Tennessee State University, the Academy provides a week of immersive, high-quality training in theatre, music, visual art, and arts leadership. Theatre educators participate in hands-on sessions led by master teaching artists and nationally recognized experts, gaining new strategies, curriculum ideas, and inspiration to take back to their classrooms. The Academy fosters a vibrant community of collaboration, creativity, and renewal. Participants receive up to 36 hours of professional development credit, making it a transformative experience for both personal growth and instructional impact. 

July 2026

Unified Vision: The Power of Arts Together

Unified Vision: The Power of Arts Together is a rural professional development partnership led by ArtsEd Tennessee in collaboration with content-area organizations, including the Tennessee Theatre Educators Association, Tennessee Music Education Association and Tennessee Arts Education Association. The initiative brings high-quality, content-specific training directly to arts educators in rural and underserved communities across Tennessee. Through in-person workshops and virtual sessions, Unified Vision provides standards-aligned professional development in theatre, music, dance, and visual art. The program builds teacher capacity, fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, and ensures equitable access to professional learning—empowering educators to strengthen arts instruction and student engagement, regardless of location or district support.  

Throughout the year

THSSDL Conference

The Tennessee High School Speech and Drama League (THSSDL) holds an annual fall conference for coaches/teachers to advance their knowledge of speech and debate activities. A variety of sessions are offered so every coach/teacher, regardless of their experience level, will have the opportunity to learn something new. Professional development credit is offered for conference attendees. 

August 16