News and Updates
NEW:
Changes and updates for 2025
Arrival at Kingwood High School
Lunch options
Teacher-to-teacher tips
Tips for Pair Discussion
Houstonfest Scholarships
Scholarships at State
NEW:
Houstonfest history
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!)
State promo video contest
Photo gallery
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.
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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.
Download critique sheet.
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When is the next Houstonfest?
Saturday,
February 8, 2025 Where
is Houstonfest?
Kingwood High School
2701 Kingwood Dr.
Kingwood, TX 77339
(new location in 2025!)
Link to Texas State German Contest
Texas
State German Contest on Facebook
Texas
State German Contest 40th Anniversary Facebook Group |