HIGH school division
The High School Division of the METG oversees a wide range of programs designed to support high school theater students and educators. Central to its work is organizing the annual High School Drama Festival, a statewide event in which one-act plays from member schools are performed, adjudicated, and celebrated across multiple competition levels. In addition to the Festival, the division administers contests and scholarship opportunities, such as performance and design competitions, that encourage student creativity and recognize theatrical achievement. It also develops student-focused programming and workshops to build skills in acting, directing, and technical theater. The division provides resources and professional development for teachers, helping strengthen theater education across member schools. Overall, the High School Division fosters artistic growth, collaboration, and excellence in secondary school theater throughout Massachusetts.
HIGH SCHOOl DRAMA FESTIVAL: OVERVIEW
The Massachusetts High School Drama Festival is a competitive program that typically includes over 100 one-act plays produced by member high schools. The competition is organized across three levels – preliminary, semi-final and State Finals. Student excellence in acting and technical design is recognized at each level. Of the one-act plays that enter the festival, up to fifteen will be selected as State Finalists, of which three will be named winners.
The 2026 High School Drama Festival will be held on the following dates:
Preliminary Round: Feb 28th
Semi-Final Round: March 14th
State Finals: March 26th-28th
*For prelims and semi-finals, the snow date will be the following day.
The Massachusetts Theater Celebration is a one-day, non-competitive opportunity for students to share their work and forge connections with students in other schools that can lead to collaboration and support for years to come. Professional theater practitioners provide live, immediate feedback to performances, including a brief workshop of one to two moments from the presenting play.
The 2026 Massachusetts Theater Celebration will be held on March 7, 2026.
The New England Drama Festival is an annual event that showcases two schools from each of the six New England States. Member schools that enter into either the competitive or non-competitive festival are eligible to represent Massachusetts. These shows are selected through state-based festivals. The event includes workshops, forums, and discussions to foster the education and discussion of theatre among the attending students and directors.
The 2026 New England Drama Festival will be held on April 30, May 1 and 2, 2026
DOUG INGALLS MONOLOGUE SCHOLARSHIP
A program to recognize and reward excellence in performance.
Eligibility: High School Seniors
Format: Audition live at Scholarship/Contest Day with a monologue.
Awards: Contest prizes awarded based on audition performance.
EXCELLENCE IN TECHNICAL THEATER SCHOLARSHIP
A program to recognize and reward excellence in any aspect of technical theater.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Format: Student submits work in any technical discipline (e.g. set, props, costumes, lighting, projections, sound, stage management).
Awards: Contest prizes awarded based on review of materials and interview.
TWO-PERSON SCENE CONTEST
A program to recognize and reward excellence in scene partner work.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11
Format: Audition live at Scholarship/Contest Day with a two-person scene.
Awards: Contest prizes awarded based on audition performance.
MONOLOGUE & TEN-MINUTE PLAY WRITING CONTESTS
Contests to recognize and reward student excellence in writing an original monologue and/or ten-minute plays.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Format: Write and electronically submit an original monologue and/or ten-minute play.
Awards: Contest prizes awarded based on review of submitted work.
HIGH SCHOOL FESTIVAL LOGO DESIGN CONTEST
A contest to recognize and reward student excellence in logo design, specifically the logo for the Middle School Drama Festival.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12.
Format: Design and electronically submit a logo according to established guidelines.
Awards: Contest prizes awarded based on review of submitted work.
SHERWOOD COLLINS PLAYWRITING CONTEST
A contest to recognize and reward student excellence in writing a one-act play.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Format: Write and electronically submit an original one-act play.
Awards: Contest prizes awarded based on review of submitted work.