NH Theatre Awards

Policy: Youth Theatre Companies

Starting in the 2010 season the NH Theatre Awards will add a "Youth" Company Type alongside "Community" and "Professional".

YOUTH COMPANY REQUIREMENTS
Classification as a "Youth" Company is entirely optional.

Once a Theater Company chooses which company type they wish to participate as, they must remain in that category for the entire NHTA calendar year. No company will be allowed to change categories mid-season. Provided that specific rules do not disqualify a company from any given category, a company may change Company Type at the start of each NHTA calendar year.

Any Theatre Company may choose to be a "Youth" Company Type but must produce qualifying "Youth" productions (see below)
"Youth" companies can be a sub-division of a parent Theatre Company or a stand-alone Theatre Company
"Youth" companies must meet the same minimum participation requirements as those of a “Community” Company. A “Youth” company participating as a sub-division of a parent Theatre Company must meet the minimum requirements for participation SEPARATELY from the parent company
Parent companies with a “Youth” division cannot share Adjudicators (but can share a Liaison)

YOUTH PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Productions submitted for adjudication from a Youth Company Type must meet the following criteria:

All "Youth" actors in an Adjudicated production must be NO MORE THAN 19 years of age at the time the Production OPENS
There is no minimum age for actors
Positions other than actors may be performed by adults (such as director, choreographer, etc.) as these positions are not eligible for a “Youth” Award. (see below)
All other existing NH Theatre Awards Policies & Procedures apply (Example: revues are not eligible; minimum of 3 performances in 1 location to be eligible; etc.)
No Academic productions are eligible. An Academic production is defined as being produced or funded by groups that are programs within a formal educational institutions which run full time academic programs outside of theater.

AWARDS FOR YOUTH COMPANIES
Awards for Youth Companies will be handled in the following manner:

Awards Night Categories for "Youth" will include (1 award for both Musical and Comedy/Drama productions)
- Best Youth Actress
- Best Youth Actor
- Best Youth Supporting Actress
- Best Youth Supporting Actor
- Best Youth Production
Each of the awards will be for the highest scoring performance across ALL "Youth" productions adjudicated. There will not be separate awards for “plays” and “musicals.”
All remaining Award Categories (Lighting, Sound, Directing, Costumes, etc) will compete against "Community" categories. These positions may be performed by adults, as they are not eligible for the “Youth” awards. Original works compete under "Community"
“Youth” Awards will be presented during the NHTA Awards Show
NOTE: The final decision on how and when the presentations will be made during the event is left to the NH Theatre Awards Show production team.

ADJUDICATORS: Any Adjudicator not representing a "Youth" company may "opt out" of Adjudicating "Youth" productions simply by indicating this to the NH Theatre Awards Adjudication Administrators.

Email Admin@NHTAdjudication.org with any questions regarding these Policies.

Theatre Company Application

Download Application Form
All new and continuting Theatre Companies need to complete an annual an Application Form which can be downloaded by clicking Theatre Company Application Form

This form is needed from continuting Theatre Companies as it provides annual updates to the NH Theatre Awards administators with current contact information - and most importantly - this form is where the annual declaration of # of intented productions (and adjudicators) is announced.

Please submit all completed forms via email to Admin@NHTAdjudication.org.

Additional requirements for NEW NH Theatre Award Theatre Company Applicants:

Must have done one of the following:
- Produced at least 2 full theatre productions in the previous calendar year
- Produced 1 full theatre production per year for the previous 2 calendar years.
  NOTE: Above full theatre productions must meet the NH Theatre Awards requirements for an Adjudicated production
Provide Programs, Press Releases and Promotional Material for past productions, if requested by the NHTA
A Professional Theatre company will be ineligible if they are on any theatre unions "strike list" or their equivalents.
The Theatre Company must be incorporated or based in NH.
The Theatre Company must perform significant majority of productions in New Hampshire.

Additional requirements for CONTINUING NHTA Theatre Company Applicants:

A currently eligible Theatre Company must present a minimum of 1 production each consecutive year in order to maintain is eligibility for consideration as a continuing theatre company.
A Professional Theatre company will be ineligible if they are on any theatre unions "strike list" or their equivalents.
Theatre Company must perform significant majority of productions in New Hampshire.