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CA State Thespian Festival 2026
Welcome to the CA State Thespian Festival 2026
Venue: Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges) clear filter
Saturday, March 14
 

2:00pm PDT

One Act Showcase pt 1
Saturday March 14, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Bad Auditions by Bad Actors
SLATE: Troupe #2276 from Pasadena High School, presents “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors” by Ian McWethy. When a director attempts to cast "Romeo and Juliet," chaos ensues with every type of actor imaginable. Through laughter and confusion, he discovers that the “perfect” cast isn’t perfect at all. Enjoy.

PLAY SUMMARY: “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors” follows a desperate director trying to cast "Romeo and Juliet," who is met with every theatrical nightmare imaginable—overdramatic method actors, clueless beginners, musical theater divas, and wildly inappropriate interpretations. As auditions spiral into chaos, he discovers that finding the “perfect” actor may be impossible… and hilariously disastrous.

Little Women
SLATE: Monte Vista Christian School Troupe #7200 presents “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott - a story that surrounds trials within family and love throughout the struggle of poverty and uncertainty. This heart warming play follows an eager writer looking for success, what will she learn on her journey? Trigger Warning: Themes of death, please take a moment to exit the theater if needed. Thank you.

PLAY SUMMARY: "Little Women" is a warm, spirited portrait of four sisters growing up during the Civil War. In Louisa May Alcott’s classic, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy chase ambition, love, art, and independence while clashing, forgiving, and dreaming big. It’s messy, heartfelt, and timeless. Sisterhood becomes their greatest adventure and strength.
Saturday March 14, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges)

3:30pm PDT

One Act Showcase pt 2
Saturday March 14, 2026 3:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
The Actor's Nightmare
SLATE: Troupe #909 from Palo Alto High School, presents "The Actor’s Nightmare" by Christopher Durang. An ordinary accountant suddenly finds himself trapped onstage in the middle of several famous plays with no script and no idea what’s happening. As scenes from classic theatre unfold around him, chaos and comedy collide. Enjoy.

PLAY SUMMARY: "The Actor’s Nightmare" follows George, an ordinary accountant, who suddenly finds himself onstage in the middle of several classic plays—with no script and no idea what’s happening. As actors perform scenes from Shakespeare, Noël Coward, and Beckett around him, George struggles to survive the absurd chaos of theater in this hilarious backstage nightmare.

Mockingbird
SLATE: Citrus Valley High School Troupe 7716 presents “Mockingbird,” adapted by Julie Jensen from the novel by Kathryn Erskine. We see the world through Caitlin, an 11-year-old on the autism spectrum navigating grief after her brother’s death in a school shooting. Trigger Warning: References to school shooting and bullying.

PLAY SUMMARY: “Mockingbird” follows Caitlin, an 11-year-old girl on the autism spectrum. Emotions are mysterious, and voices are almost always too loud. After a mass shooting takes her brother—the one person who helped her cope—she must navigate grief, empathy, and a confusing world, slowly finding comfort and connection.

#Censored
SLATE: Freedom High School, Troupe #6000 presents “#CENSORED” by Maria Mcconville - An empowering story about Art censorship set in a high school art fair where one student creates controversial artwork and is met with severe criticism. Trigger warning: Contains controversial topics and language

PLAY SUMMARY: "#CENSORED" is an empowering show about art censorship. One student goes against the norm at an art fair and creates a controversial art piece. Following a group of students, parents, teachers, and their views against the artwork, the artist is met with anger, astonishment, disgust, and most of all, hope.
Saturday March 14, 2026 3:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges)

8:30pm PDT

Thespians Got Talent
Saturday March 14, 2026 8:30pm - 10:00pm PDT
Saturday March 14, 2026 8:30pm - 10:00pm PDT
Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges)
 
Sunday, March 15
 

10:00am PDT

Improv Spectacular Prep! Session #1
LIMITED
Sunday March 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Oh Em Gee! Improv Spectacular was SO much fun last year. How do I get involved? How do I learn to play those fantastic games? Can I still get into a team and compete? Answers: Here. Here. Yes!

In this workshop, you will not only learn some basic tenets of improv, but you'll get that much closer to becoming the master that you know you are! Come learn two of the games of Improv Spectacular (Space Jump and Whose Line)! Come get into a team! You'll have fun and also over-use exclamation points!!!!
Teaching Artists
PM

Patrick McLoy

Director, Dr. Olga Mohan High School Troupe 10354
Pat McLoy has been teaching improv since pterodactyls flew the open air. He has developed an improv show, Made Up Stuff, that has been going for 23 years. He developed Improv Spectacular for the California State Thespian Festival, took a hiatus, and is honored to be running it again... Read More →
Sunday March 15, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges)

1:15pm PDT

Improv Spectacular Prep! Session #2
LIMITED
Sunday March 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm PDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Oh Em Gee! Improv Spectacular was SO much fun last year. How do I get involved? How do I learn to play those fantastic games? Can I still get into a team and compete? Answers: Here. Here. Yes!

In this workshop, you will not only learn some basic tenets of improv, but you'll get that much closer to becoming the master that you know you are! Come learn two of the games of Improv Spectacular (Movie Director and 4 Ways to Die)! Come get into a team! You'll have fun and also over-use exclamation points!!!!
Teaching Artists
PM

Patrick McLoy

Director, Dr. Olga Mohan High School Troupe 10354
Pat McLoy has been teaching improv since pterodactyls flew the open air. He has developed an improv show, Made Up Stuff, that has been going for 23 years. He developed Improv Spectacular for the California State Thespian Festival, took a hiatus, and is honored to be running it again... Read More →
Sunday March 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm PDT
Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges)

2:45pm PDT

In the Moment Advanced Acting
FILLING
Sunday March 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm PDT
Limited Capacity filling up
Learn how to be authentic and make strong choices. Whether you are headed to an audition or were just handed a new script, this workshop will give you the tools to break it down and embrace the character and the script with confidence.
Teaching Artists
Sunday March 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm PDT
Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges)

7:00pm PDT

Improv Spectacular Round#1
Sunday March 15, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Here is the Link to the Round#1 Schedule
Sunday March 15, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges)

8:30pm PDT

Improv Spectacular Finals
Sunday March 15, 2026 8:30pm - 10:00pm PDT
Final Teams are:
Notre Dame
Heritage
Santa Susana
Carlmont

Congratulations!
Sunday March 15, 2026 8:30pm - 10:00pm PDT
Bridges Hall of Music (Little Bridges)
 

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