ThesCon 2026!
Tennessee’s largest gathering of high school theatre students. Each year, more than 1,500 students, teachers, and professional artists come together for a weekend of performances, workshops, and theatre education.
January 16 - 17, 2026
Join Us This Year at ThesCon!
We are excited to kick things off for ThesCon 2026! This is the ThesCon main page and it will be the central hub for all important information regarding schedules, workshops, performances, scholarships, merch and more! Please check back regularly to make sure you don’t miss an update.
Important Dates
✔️ August 1st | Clinician, College, and Vendor Applications Open
✔️ September 1 | Troupe Registration Open
✔️ September 9 | Performance (One Acts & Mainstages), Student Leadership Board, and Scholarship Applications Open
✔️October 1 | Troupe Registration Invoices start to go out
October 31 | Last day for Regular Troupe Registrations
November 17 | Late Troupe Registration and Performance Registration (Mainstage & One Acts) closes
November 27 | Mainstage and One Act Selections will be notified
December 5 | Final day for Senior ThesCon Scholarship Applications & Student Leadership Board Nominations
January 10 | Mainstages and Masterclasses Announced, Event App open
January 16-17 | TN State Thespian Conference
2026 ThesCon Student Leadership Board
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Eddie Porras - President
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Brycen Patterson
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Emma Delane Singleton
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Gabrielle Masternick
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JT McCoy
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Maddie Phillips
Senior ThesCon Scholarships
Each year, TN EdTA proudly awards three scholarships to outstanding high school seniors who demonstrate a passion for theatre and a commitment to excellence. Scholarships are offered in Acting, Musical Theatre, and Technical Theatre, celebrating students who excel both on and off the stage.
Deadline - December 5th
One Act Showcase
Schools are invited to submit their productions for the 2026 ThesCon One Act Showcase. Don’t miss the chance to bring your troupe’s work to the ThesCon stage! Details, requirements, and deadlines are outlined in the application below.
Deadline - November 17th
Mainstage Performance Applications
Schools are invited to submit their productions for the 2026 ThesCon Mainstage presentation. Don’t miss the chance to bring your troupe’s work to the ThesCon stage! Details, requirements, and deadlines are outlined in the application below.
Deadline - November 17th
Interested in being a clinician at ThesCon?
We’re looking for experienced theatre practitioners and educators to lead dynamic sessions in acting, tech, design, directing, dance, marketing, production, and everything in between. Help inspire the next generation of artists at ThesCon—submit your workshop proposal here.
Join us as a College, University or Post Grad Training Program!
Connect with some of the best young performers and designers Tennessee has to offer by participating in our senior college and university auditions at Thespian Conference. We welcome all Colleges, Universities, Community Colleges, Conservatories, and Applied Skills Programs. Find higher education representative information and pricing here.
Deadline - December 5th
Interested in the Student Leadership Board?
Do you have a passion for theatre and a desire to make a difference? The TN Thespian Conference is looking for dedicated student leaders to serve on the ThesCon Student Leadership Board. This is your chance to represent your fellow thespians, help guide the student body, and play an active role in shaping the future of EdTA in Tennessee.
Deadline - December 5th
Don’t have an active troupe, but wondering how to start one at your school?
Get started on the processes of starting a troupe before Nov 17th and you can still attend ThesCon 2026!
FAQs
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Yes! Homeschool students are absolutely welcome to participate in ThesCon.
Because ThesCon registration is open only to active Thespian troupes, homeschool students have a few flexible options for getting involved:
Form a homeschool troupe – Homeschool students can join together to create their own official Thespian troupe.
Join a community theatre troupe – Some local community theatres maintain active troupes that welcome homeschool participants.
Join a nearby school’s troupe – In some cases, homeschool students may be invited to participate through a local school’s existing troupe.
Once part of a troupe, homeschool students can be inducted as Thespians and fully participate in all ThesCon activities.
For detailed information on how to start a troupe, troupe requirements, and the benefits of membership, visit the Educational Theatre Association’s official page here:
If you need help finding local troupe options or guidance on forming a homeschool troupe, please reach out to us — we’re happy to help!
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No. Your school must be a registered troupe with EDTA.
Interested in starting a troupe at your school? See below.
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All students must attend with their school and the troupe director/ school sponsor.
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Not really. Troupe directors/ teachers need to register their students for festival. Students ARE responsible for registering for the Scholarship/ All-state audition process.
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Troupe directors/ teachers will pay for their school via check or credit card. Invoices will be sent out with payment details after the registration form is completed.
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Tennessee Educational Theatre Association (TN EDTA)
2000 Mallory Ln STE 290-1411 Franklin, TN 27067 -
ThesCon is an experience unlike any other and a memory that will last a lifetime! Students have the rare opportunity to train with leading professionals in drama, musical theatre, directing, playwriting, and technical theatre. In addition, ThesCon allows theatre lovers from across the state to network and learn from one another in a one of a kind way!
For educators and Troupe directors, you’ll also participate in workshops with leading industry professionals, network with fellow theatre educators from across the state, and be offered the chance to experience the work of your peers where schedules and distance might otherwise prohibit.
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The registration fee is $95, which covers a full day of ThesCon programming—workshops, performances, meals, and all festival activities led by professional teaching artists.
These fees help us bring in high-quality teaching artists and adjudicators and allow us to expand ThesCon to schools across the entire state.