Theatre & Film
The League's One-Act Play Contest, founded in 1927, is the largest high school play production contest or play festival in the world. More than 14,000 Texas high school students in more than 1,200 plays participate in 400 plus contests, which take place from the February through the 48-production State Meet One-Act Play Contest. The One-Act Play Contest is supported by more than 300 members of the Texas Theatre Adjudicator and Officials Organization. The League's theatre program is considered by historians to be the foundation of educational and community theatre in Texas. It continues to be a major factor motivating increasing numbers of schools to offer theatre arts as an academic subject.
The UIL One-Act Play contest is a competition where similarly sized Texas schools present an 18-40 minute play and may be adjudicated by a panel of three judges or a single judge. The contest is held on a single day and open to the public. There are six possible levels of competition: Zone, District, Bi-District, Area, Region, and State. At each level of competition a judge awards individual acting awards as well as selecting three productions to advance to the next level of competition up to the Regional Level where only two will advance to the State Level. After the awards are announced a Judge gives an oral critique to each of the schools. Because of the wide participation and diversity of plays produced certain rules and guidelines have been adopted by the State One-Act Play Office. These rules are in place to ensure safety, allow for equity, satisfy legal standards, and make the running of the contest practical.
Theatre & Film — News & Updates
Important Update from Broadway Licensing November 2024- DECEMBER 6 Deadline
Please read the following carefully before submitting your UIL internal cuts and change requests: Broadway Licensing titles (which includes all Dramatists Play Service, Playscripts, and Broadway Licensing Musicals)
If you are making ANY internal cuts, removing expletives, obscenities, or profanities, any such cuts must FIRST be approved by Broadway Licensing.
You must submit your detailed requests for internal cuts/changes to Broadway Licensing, so that they can forward them on to the authors and/or their representatives for approval.
Please note that ALL requests must be submitted prior to UIL’s submission deadline December 6. Broadway Licensing cannot guarantee approval of your request after this date. Please allow at least two weeks turnaround time for approval.
Approval from UIL does not mean your cuts/changes requests are approved by Broadway Licensing. Broadway Licensing cannot guarantee author approvals for your cut/change requests will be granted, even if UIL approves of your selection.
Broadway's authors and their representatives have sole discretion over any alterations made to their work, under US copyright laws.
Teachers, if you have questions please email:
dpsnonpro@broadwaylicensing.com for DPS (Dramatists Play Service) titles
playscriptsinfo@broadwaylicensing.com for Playscripts titles
blmusicals-nonpro@broadwaylicensing.com for Broadway Licensing Musicals
The following plays have been removed from the UIL Approved list
Harvey by Mary Chase, not available for competition
The Heiress by Goetz, not available for competition
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, only 60-minute version is available, no additional competition cuts
Dancing at Lughnasa removed from the UIL Approved Play Lists
DANCING AT LUGHNASA by Brian Friel has been removed from the list of UIL Approved Long Plays.
The agent has denied any cutting for this title. Schools can contact Dramatists Play Service with any questions.
Important Update from Broadway Licensing August 2023
Please read the following carefully before submitting your UIL internal cuts and change requests:
Broadway Licensing titles (which includes all Dramatists Play Service, Playscripts, and Broadway Licensing Musicals)
If you are making ANY internal cuts, removing expletives, obscenities, or profanities, any such cuts must FIRST be approved by Broadway Licensing.
You must submit your detailed requests for internal cuts/changes to Broadway Licensing, so that they can forward them on to the authors and/or their representatives for approval.
Please note that ALL requests must be submitted prior to UIL’s submission deadline of December 10th. Broadway Licensing cannot guarantee approval of your request after this date. Please allow at least two weeks turnaround time for approval.
Approval from UIL does not mean your cuts/changes requests are approved by Broadway Licensing. Broadway Licensing cannot guarantee author approvals for your cut/change requests will be granted, even if UIL approves of your selection. Broadway's authors and their representatives have sole discretion over any alterations made to their work, under US copyright laws.
Teachers, if you have questions please email:
dpsnonpro@broadwaylicensing.com for DPS (Dramatists Play Service) titles
playscriptsinfo@broadwaylicensing.com for Playscripts titles
blmusicals-nonpro@broadwaylicensing.com for Broadway Licensing Musicals
ONE-ACT PLAY
High School
ALIGNMENTS
2024-2025
1A OAP Alignment
2A OAP Alignment
3A OAP Alignment
4A OAP Alignment
5A OAP Alignment
6A OAP Alignment
PLAY SUBMISSION
for Plays NOT on the
Approved List
HIGH SCHOOL Deadline
December 6, 2024
JUNIOR HIGH Deadline
45 days before contest
SUbmit your play
NEWLY added to the Approved Lists for 2024-25
ONE-ACT PLAY
2024-25
Rules &
UPDATES
Community
STANDARDS
FORM
Frequently Asked Questions
Concerning Play Licensing
and the
OAP Contest
F.A.Q.
HIGH SCHOOL
Judging Assignments
2024-25
Area - State
HERE
DEADLINES 2024-2025
For High School Play Directors
Oct 1
Deadline to enroll your high school campus for OAP participation via the UIL Online Entry System
Nov 1
Deadline to hold director's planning meeting
Nov 22
Last day for double representation notification to the League. This only applies when one school plans to compete with two plays--which is only an option when less than three schools are entered in the district contest.
Dec 6
Deadline for requesting permission to produce plays not on the approved lists and scenic elements that are are not permissible under contest rules and are “without which the approved play cannot be produced.”
Feb 10
Deadline for registering your play title in the UIL Online Entry System
At least TEN calendar days before your first contest
Deadline for Contestant Entry, play and set information and additional directors to be entered via the UIL Online Entry System
Note: Some Contest Directors set a contestant entry deadline earlier than the ten calendar days.
DEADLINES 2024-2025
For Contest Managers & Meet Officials
Aug 10
First day to contact a single adjudicator or the first member of a panel for District or Zone contests
Aug 10
First day to draw performance order
Aug 31
Deadline to report bi-district information and adjudicators to state office
Nov 1
Deadline to hold director's planning meeting
Nov 1
First day to contact and contract the second and third members of a panel for zone and district contests
Feb 1
Deadline to set up district One-Act Play Meets in the Online Entry System
Feb 1
Deadline for executing judging contracts
Feb 1
Deadline for Contest Managers to certify online--This must be done annually
Apr 3
Deadline for certifying the results for district and bi-district contests