Below you will find answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions about Storm the Stage in Tasmania.

If you have any other questions please email tassts@gmail.com.

• What is STS and how does it work?
• Why should I enter STS?
• What are the eligibility requirements?
• How do I enter?
• What is the cost?
• What are the rules of STS?
• When are the Tasmanian heats, semi-finals and state final?
• When and where is the National Grand Final?
• Who is the State Arts Mentor?
• How many judges will there be?
• How do I select a performance piece?
• Should I wear costume and have props?
• What criteria will the judges be using?
• Anything else I should know about performing?
• If I’m performing a musical piece, must I have an accompanist or can I have a recorded backing?
• Who will the accompanist be and can I contact him/her to arrange a practice session?
• Will I have to pay the accompanist for a private a practice session?
• What happens after I enter? When will someone contact me?
• When and how will I find out if I’m through to the next round?
• If I entered last year can I enter again this year?
• If I won last year can I enter again this year?
• Can I enter both the drama and musical theatre categories?
• Who are the Tasmanian State Coordinators and how can I contact them?
• How has Tasmania faired at the National level in the past?
• If I am selected to go to Perth for the National Grand Final, what expenses are involved?
• How long will I be in Perth?
• When and how will I know if Storm the Stage is on next year?

What is STS and how does it work?

Storm the Stage is a unique opportunity for 16 to 19 year olds with a talent and passion for drama and musical theatre to showcase their skills in a positive, competitive environment. It provides young performers with a rare opportunity to further develop their skills and gain the valuable professional guidance and advice to successfully make the leap from secondary school into one of Australia’s top performing arts academies

Storm the Stage is an annual, Australia-wide event that started in Western Australia in 2004. It was run successfully in Tasmania for the first time in 2006. It has created considerable excitement and opened doors for many talented young people. Tasmanian entrants eligible for entry into the major national performing arts academies found the experience greatly helped them prepare for their auditions. Several Tasmanians have gained places at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and the Victorian College of the Arts.

Contestants perform solo, in front of a live audience, progressing through heats and semi-finals to a state final in one or both of the two categories: Drama and Musical Theatre.

Heats and semi-finals are conducted in the north and south of Tasmania, with the State Final being held in Hobart. The State Final is an exciting and entertaining event showcasing Tasmania’s best young performing artists. The State Final winners are announced at the event and later travel to Perth, Western Australia, for the National Grand Final.

The judges for Storm the Stage in Tasmania are professionals from the entertainment industry who volunteer their time to support the development of our young performers. The judges are selected and chaired by a State Arts Mentor who is appointed by the two Storm the Stage State Coordinators. The Arts Mentor is appointed from the senior professional performing arts community to ensure that the standard of work and the adjudication of the contestants is executed in accordance with the expectations of the Australian Entertainment Industry.

Hugh Jackman - Patron

The National Patrons for the Storm the Stage are:

• Principal Patron - Hugh Jackman, award-winning actor.
• Co-Patron - Jill Perryman, award-winning actress.

The Principal National Sponsor is:

• International Foundation for Arts and Culture

Why should I enter STS?

Storm the Stage is a rare opportunity for young performing artists in the 16 to 19 year age bracket to further develop their skills and gain the valuable professional guidance and advice to successfully make the leap from secondary school into one of Australia’s top performing arts academies

Past performers found that the experience and stage craft skills they gained through participating in Storm the Stage, as well as the feedback and advice received from the judges and the State Arts Mentor, greatly helped them prepare for their performing arts academy auditions. Several Tasmanians “Stormers” have gained places at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and the Victorian College of the Arts.

There is also the opportunity to make new friends by meeting other like-minded performer from around the state.

What are the eligibility requirements?

If you are 16, 17, 18 or 19 years of age at any time during 2009 you are eligible to enter.

How do I enter?

You need to enter via the national storm the stage website.

What is the cost?

The entry fee is $35 for each category. (If entering both categories the fee is $70).

See the national storm the stage website for payment methods.

What are the rules of STS?

Please see the national storm the stage website.

When are the Tasmanian heats, semi-finals and state final?

Tasmanian State Finalists, 2008

When and where is the National Grand Final?

4 December in Perth, Western Australia.

Who is the State Arts Mentor?

Don Gay. Don started his involvement with the theatre as a singer/actor. He played the lead in several musicals and plays in Devonport until turning professional in 1976. He was the Artistic Director of the Polygon Theatre Company and also worked in Sydney, Adelaide, New York and San Francisco. He has worked extensively in Tasmania as a director, actor writer and designer. Several of his plays have been produced with For the Term of his Natural Life gaining national recognition in 2003.

How many judges will there be?

Heats and semis - panel of 3.

State final - panel of 4.

Any ties will adjudicated by the State Arts Mentor.

How do I select a performance piece?

• All pieces must be from a performed play script or musical libretto.
• They should be at least 2 minutes and not more than 5 minutes in length.
• Select something that suits you and can be accepted as such by the audience and judges.
• The judges are looking for a performance that looks as if it has been lifted out of a stage production. Make it real!

Should I wear costume and have props?

Make it real (as above)! Do whatever it takes to present the whole character. Marks are given for presentation and that includes costume and props. However, don’t attempt sets or complicated props. Keep it simple!

Anya Row - National Winner,
Special Audience Appeal
Award, 2008

What criteria will the judges be using?

The judges will be scoring you out of 10 against the following criteria:

1. Preparation - suitability of piece, understanding of piece, familiarity and learning, rehearsal and structure
2. Presentation - costuming, blocking, setting/props, vocalisation, movement, truth
3. Performance - clarity, potency, control, realness
4. X Factor - stage presence, flair, talent, wow!

Anything else I should know about performing?

Mostly make it real! Understand your piece and character thoroughly. Prepare carefully and enter into the performance completely. Storm the Stage is not a talent quest. It’s about performance, presentation and preparation (of course talent will help but not by itself). Storm the Stage is for general audiences so keep the piece “clean”. Focus yourself for your piece, get into character and perform! And above all else, have fun!!

If I’m performing a musical piece, must I have an accompanist or can I have a recorded backing?

It’s up to you. We can start and stop a recording for you (make directions clear to our stage manager). You should have your own accompanist (or recording) for heats and semi finals. We will provide a professional accompanist for the State Final.

Who will the accompanist be and can I contact him/her to arrange a practice session?

The contact details for the accompanist will be provided at the semi finals..

Will I have to pay the accompanist for a private a practice session?

Each performer will have the opportunity to rehearse with the accompanist on the day of the State Final. Any additional rehearsals prior to the State Final must be arranged and paid for by you.

What happens after I enter? When will someone contact me?

Entries close on the 30^th June. You will be contacted within 2 weeks after the closing date to notify you of your heat timeslot(s).

When and how will I find out if I’m through to the next round?

Heats - If you have been successful in reaching the semi-finals you will be contacted by phone within 3 days after the heat by the State Arts Mentor. If you have been unsuccessful you will be contacted by mail or email within 7 days after the heat.

Semi-finals - The performers who have been successful in reaching the state final will be announced at the semi-final by the State Arts Mentor.

State-final - The performers who have been successful in reaching the national final will be announced the state final by the State Arts Mentor.

If I entered last year can I enter again this year?

Provided you still meet the eligibility requirements, yes.

If I won last year can I enter again this year?

Provided you still meet the eligibility requirements, yes.

Can I enter both the drama and musical theatre categories?

Yes. However, you may only enter each category with one piece.

Who are the Tasmanian State Coordinators and how can I contact them?

Stuart Edwards and Peta Knott. They can be contacted via the following email address: tassts@gmail.com

How has Tasmania faired at the National level in the past?

Tasmania has performed exceptionally well at the National Finals.

In 2006, Evan Dowling won auditions with Channel 10 whilst Jacob Cook narrowly missed out on winning the Musical Theatre category.

In 2008, Anya Row from Rosny College won the Briggs-Gibbs Prize for Special Audience Appeal which entailed a cash prize of $1000!

If I am selected to go to Perth for the National Grand Final, what expenses are involved?

The cost of the flights, accommodation, transfers and most meals will be covered. However, you will be responsible for spending money and some meals.

How long will I be in Perth?

Usually 2 days. One day for rehearsal and the other is grand final day. You return the following day so it will most likely be a 3 night stay.

When and how will I know if Storm the Stage is on next year?

Keep an eye on the national website: www.stormthestage.com and the Rotary Club of City Central Hobart’s website: www.citycentralhobart.org.au

A mail out to all of the schools is usually done around April/May each year so keep an eye out and remind your performing arts teachers!! Storm the Stage is also usually advertised in the community announcements of the local newspapers and ABC local radio.