Dear Region 8, 

​

Please take a moment to review the process, guidelines, and overview of the audition rounds for the 2026 Conference 58 Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions, as there were updates to the format that went into effect at last year's conference. We will also continue, as reestablished last year, the in-person preliminary rounds of auditions. Please also see a letter from the national committee below explaining why these changes were made.

​

• All rounds of the Ryans will be held in person at the regional conferences.

• All three rounds will be the same, with a total package of 4 minutes to present one monologue and one scene.

• Self-submissions are still allowed, and there will be no difference between nominations and self-submissions. To ensure your nomination or submission is seen, you must complete the region-specific entry process by the date established in each region. Individual regions may elect to set a maximum number of entries, which will be clearly communicated before submission deadlines.

• Ryan participants will still be able to partner with ONE other Ryan participant, BUT must use a different scene for each package.

 

As part of the mission of ACTF, we must continually look at programs in terms of access and intent.  There have been a lot of changes to the Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions over the past few years as we not only adapted to a global pandemic, but to the changing needs of students. It is difficult to break from long-held traditions, while it is exciting to find new and innovative ways to celebrate student work. To reiterate the mission/goals of ACTF:

​

• Encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs;

• Provide opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills and insight, and achieve professionalism;

• Improve the quality of college and university theater in the United States; and

• Encourage colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays, especially those written by students; the classics, revitalized or newly conceived; and experimental works.

​

Specifically, the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships provide recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education.
 
In looking at bullet points one and four, in order to encourage, recognize, and celebrate work, we must eliminate barriers. All students should be able to participate in a scholarship audition regardless of faculty nomination. Faculty often select material and cast productions. By opening the process to all, we eliminate any subconscious bias. We are continuing the “self-submission” option for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, in addition to the long-held practice of nominations from the director and production respondent. Additionally, in-person preliminary round auditions give all students the opportunity to publicly showcase their work and receive feedback at the regional conference.
 
By returning to an in-person preliminary round, we strengthen bullet points two and three.  All students who prepare material for presentation (including Ryan partners) will have the opportunity for their work to be seen by others at the regional conference.  While the industry is moving toward increased self-tapes, we encourage students to seek out opportunities to grow in this area. In keeping with the mission, our role is to celebrate the work, and the best way to do that is to see it live in the moment. The regional conference experience creates a community unlike any other. By making all rounds in person, we hope to foster a community that can lead to professional connections and growth.
 
The Ryan Scholarship audition is an opportunity to recognize outstanding student performers, but it can also be a learning environment in which students can learn from their peers through observation and engagement with the work of other students at the conference. Recognizing that the greatest number of participants are in the preliminary round, the greatest opportunity for in-person observation occurs in the preliminary round. This switch helps us to strengthen bullet point number two.
 
Affording more opportunities and live engagement at our regional conferences allows us to continue to improve the quality of theater in the United States and to enhance the in-person experience for our students. These opportunities manifest in learning, networking, and skill-building through peer interaction.
 
The changes to the Irene Ryan Scholarship Audition are meant to encourage new participation, celebrate all work, and most importantly, build a stronger community of emerging young artists! We must remember - this is an opportunity, not a competition. To that end, below is a copy of the ACTF Diversity and Inclusion Statement.

​

ACTF Diversity and Inclusion Statement

The American College Theater Conference affirms its commitment to policies and practices of promoting inclusion and diversity in its leadership, both regional and national, as well as in its programming. We pledge to nurture talent in all areas of the theater based solely on merit and achievement. We encourage production respondents to avoid discriminatory comments and embrace the variety of artistic choices generated by the diversity of perspectives that exist on college campuses across the country. We promote collegial exploration of new ideas, supported by a clear understanding of long-held artistic practices, fully respecting the communicated intentions of the playwright.

​

We encourage discourse that affects positive change in the ways that underrepresented groups are portrayed onstage, and we oppose acts of cultural appropriation and character depictions that deepen existing cultural divides. We embrace the idea that diversity in experience and perspective makes our organization stronger and more relevant and is therefore essential to our educational mission of training the future artistic leadership in American theater.