Houstonfest - Drama Rules

News and Updates

Contest promo video #1 (students from one school tell why they love contest)

Contest promo video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)

Contest promo video #3 (hilarious 2024 State-winning submission from our own Klein Oak High School!)

Daily log of changes to State-qualifier list

Important Dates

on a rolling basis but no later than Wed., Apr. 30, 2025 for payment during the 2024-2025 school year: submit Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications.

Mon. Jan. 13, 2025, 4:00 p.m.: Application for transportation grants from the Houston Saengerbund opens (IF THEY ARE OFFERED AT ALL; if so, teachers will be sent a link to a Google Form).

Tue., Jan. 21, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for regular price of $12/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 1/27).

Mon., Jan. 27, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for late price of $15/student. Deadline to postmark Houstonfest payment.

Sat., Feb. 1, 2025, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual Houstonfest events due (get link to Google Form from your teacher).

Tue., Feb. 4, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual Houstonfest events ends.

Wed., Feb. 5, 2025, 10:00 p.m.: Houstonfest changes (adds, drops, substitutions) due. After this point, no more changes will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 8, 2025: Houstonfest, Kingwood High School, Houston.

Fri., Feb. 14, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for "early bird" price of $12/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/19).

Wed., Feb. 19, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for regular price of $15/student. Deadline to postmark your State payment.

Sat., Feb. 22, 2025, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual State events due (get the link to a Google Form from your teacher). Also, Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship and Sandra Dieckman GTHS Memorial Scholarship applications due (to submit the application, get the link to a Google Form from your teacher).

Mon., Feb. 24, 2025, 8:00 p.m.: Entries in State promotional video contest due to State director.

Tue., Feb. 25, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual State events ends.

Sat., Mar. 1, 2025: Texas State German Contest, Texas State University, San Marcos.

Sat., Mar. 8, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest Scholarship applications due.

Sun., Mar. 16, 2025: Gail Cope State Scholarship applications due.

Rules: Drama Events

General rules for all drama events:

It is not allowed to use the same script (or a substantially similar script) in more than one event at the same contest if there are any common cast members in both events. For example: A school may not use the same script for a skit and a puppet show if one or more students are in both casts.
It is also not allowed for any cast member to perform a script which he/she has performed in any previous year. For example: If your Skit 2 in 2024 was "Rotkäppchen," you may not use "Rotkäppchen" for Skit 3 in 2025 or for Skit 4 in 2026 unless the casts from one year to the next are 100% different. The spirit of these first two rules is that students should be challenged to work with different material in each event they enter, both within the same year and from one year to the next.
All drama entries must be memorized. Points will be deducted if fellow cast members or the judges have to prompt performers.
Cell phones may not be used at any time during the performances.
Failure to provide at least 2 copies of the piece to the judges will result in a 10-point deduction from the cumulative score.

Duet Acting:

Entry Limit: 2 Lower Level pairs (German I-II) and 2 Upper Level pairs (German III-V) per school.

Time Limits:

Lower Level: 3-5 minutes.

Upper Level: 5-7 minutes.

Contestants have a 30-second grace period (under or over).

This competition follows the basic rules of the National Forensic League, which include the following: The 2 contestants may use no more than 2 chairs, no other props, and no costumes; may only pantomime actions; must have a memorized introduction in German; may have no prompting; must use a piece from a published work (including movie or television transcriptions) by a German-speaking author (no translations); must have 2 copies of this piece for the judges; and must adhere to the time limits set forth above. The merit of the selection will be a criterion in judging. Duets may not be excerpts from a skit or puppet show in which the contestants are performing.

Download critique sheet.

Puppet Show:

Entry Limit: 1 Lower Level show (German I-II) and 1 Upper Level show (German III-V, incl. advantaged speakers) per school.

Time Limits:

Lower Level: 4-8 minutes.

Upper Level: 7-10 minutes.

Contestants have a 30-second grace period (under or over) plus a maximum of 3 minutes to set up.

Puppet shows may be written by the class, the teacher, German-speaking authors, or others. Fairy tales may be adapted as puppet shows. The performers must memorize all lines from the script. The judges will ensure that the performers have no scripts. [Official State rules: No stage will be provided nor used on the contest site, but rather, contestants will perform behind chairs or desks covered by a black cloth (which is provided onsite).] Houstonfest exception for 2025: Host school Kingwood has a more user-friendly puppet stage that will be provided for all to use. It allows the students to sit in chairs rather than have to crouch on the floor behind a table. If anyone truly wants to perform according to the official rules (behind a flat table with a black cloth) instead of using the Kingwood stage, then please let the director know so that that can also be set up in the room. Otherwise, it will be assumed that everyone prefers to use the Kingwood stage. Those advancing to State should, however, be prepared for the possibility that the State contest may stick to the official rules, although in 2024 the Kingwood stage was made available to everyone at State. Backdrops should be no larger than 10' × 10'. They may be secured to the wall with painter's tape only. Each group must provide its own puppets, props, backdrops, and painter's tape. If advantaged speakers are included in an Upper-Level cast, this information must be given to the judges. Two copies of the script must be provided for the judges. Excerpts from the puppet show may not be reused in other categories by the same cast member.

Download critique sheet.

Skit:

Entry Limit: 1 skit per level, per school (Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4); there must be a minimum of 3 performers with speaking parts, no maximum.

Time Limits:

Levels 1 and 2: 4-8 minutes.

Levels 3 and 4: 7-10 minutes.

Contestants have a 30-second grace period (under or over), plus a maximum of 3 minutes to set up.

Mixed-level skits must be entered on the level of the most advanced cast member. If advantaged speakers are included in a level 4 skit, this information must be given to the judges. Skits may be written by the class, the teacher, German-speaking authors, or others. Skits may be from fairy tales. Good pronunciation and grammatically-correct German are most important in the judging. Costumes and props may be added for flavor and effect, but are not required. Two copies of the script must be provided for the judges. Excerpts from the skit may not be reused in other categories by the same cast member.

Download critique sheet.

Video Show:

Entry Limit: 1 video per school; at least 6 contestants must be included in the video

Time Limit: 6-15 minutes

This is a "virtual event." You must submit your entry no later than 1 week before the contest. Specific instructions for uploading the entry will be published on the contest website and/or distributed to teachers each year.

The video may be an original screenplay or a documentary and may not include animation. This may not be a video of one of your school's drama entries (puppet show, skit, etc.). All dialogue must be in German. Judging includes originality, German dialogue, and the professional quality of the video presentation. Creativity is encouraged.

Upload the finished video to YouTube or Vimeo.
Type the script in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.
Create a title page with the student names, school, title of the video, and the YouTube/Vimeo hyperlink to the video. If you are concerned about privacy and want to password-protect your video, include the password along with the hyperlink.
Convert the document to a PDF and upload it according to the instructions provided. Do NOT upload the video itself; the judges will access your video via the link that you include on the title page.