THE WILLIAM INGE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
HIGH SCHOOL ACTING COMPETITION
To Register: Acting Competition Entry Form
ACTING COMPETITION SUMMARY:
The acting Competition takes place at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at Independence Community College, 1057 W. College Ave, Independence, KS.
Each participant is invited to attend the Inge Festival April 23-25, 2026: all public, non-meal events, performances, panels, and workshops. (All high school specific workshops and events are scheduled the morning of Thursday April 23rd.)
The Winning Scenes from the Acting Competition will perform at the Inge House at 4:00 PM on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
ACTORS IN THE SELECTED SCENES MUST BE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM on Thursday, April 23. The four selected scenes will be announced on Wednesday the 22nd, the day of the competition.
Cash Award Honorariums will be dispersed April 23rd during the Inge Festival:
∙Winner, Best scene: $400 – The two actors in the winning scene will each receive a $200 honorarium, paid directly to the students.
∙Second prize: $200- two Two actors in the runner-up scene will each receive a $100 honorarium, paid directly to the students.
∙Runner-Up: $100 – Two actors in the runner-up scene will each receive a $50 honorarium, paid directly to the students.
∙Outstanding Individual(s): Four additional performers (not in either of the winning scenes) will receive $50 Outstanding Individual award honorarium, paid directly to the students.
To register please use this link:
GUIDELINES
Criteria and Format of Scenes:
1. Each two-person team may select a scene between 3 to 5 minutes long from a William Inge play or from any past playwright honoree (please visit the PAST FESTIVALS page for the list of playwrights and THIS LINK for a folder of suggested Inge scenes)
2. Scene has one minute each for Setup and Strike.
3. Scenes must be roughly age appropriate and fall within a G to PG13 rating.
4. The words of the play may not be altered to fit your individual needs.
5. High schools are limited to three scene entries.
6. All actors must be slated to graduate from high school in 2026 or 2027 (i.e. presently juniors or seniors).
7. Actors may only appear in one scene.
8. All scenes must have an adult “sponsor.” A “sponsor” is defined as a teacher, parent/guardian, or other responsible older adult. A sponsor may supervise more than one scene.
9. Applicants, complete the Inge Center – HS Acting Competition registration form.
Each scene will have access to:
4 – 18”-square acting cubes
4 – 15’’x 15”x 24” rectangle acting cubes
For each scene:
∙No props are allowed.
∙The set must be able to set up and clean up in 60 seconds or less total.
∙Clothing may be suggestive of character, but costume and make-up is discouraged.
∙Lighting will be a general wash. No specials will be provided.
∙There will be no sound cues.
Full Festival schedule will be listed at www.ingecenter.org
Questions about the Festival or the scholarship competition contact Ashley Hovell (620) 332-5648; ahovell@ingecenter.org | ahovell@indycc.edu