The GHSA — Georgia High School Association is the official governing body for interscholastic activities among public and some private high schools in Georgia. While it’s best known for overseeing sports like football and basketball, GHSA also plays a major role in fine arts, particularly theatre. How It Works, Schools select and perform a one-act play (usually under 55 minutes). They compete within their classification (like 5A, 6A, 7A, based on school size). Winners at the region level advance to the state championships. Judging & Awards  Judged by theatre professionals on: Acting • Directing • Ensemble work • Set, costumes, and technical elements • Awards include: Best Play • Best Actor/Actress • All-Star Cast

Alpharetta Theatre actively participates in the GHSA One Act Play competition aligning with its commitment to excellence in the performing arts.the school’s involvement in such competitions underscores its dedication to fostering theatrical talent among students.

LeadCon, short for Leadership Conference, takes place at Houston County High School in Warner Robins, GA. This event provides opportunities to promote and develop student leadership in Georgia’s Thespian troupes, as well as the opportunity for troupe directors to learn more about conference, registration, ticketing, new programs, etc. They invite schools troupes to bring the following attendees to LeadCon: Troupe’s Student Representatives to participate in the annual STO election process (up to 2 student reps per troupe) Troupe’s State Thespian Officer Candidate (one candidate per troupe) Troupe Directors

Visit  https://www.gathespians.org/leadcon

Fashioned after Broadway’s Tony Awards, the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards (GHSMTA) program celebrates excellence in high school musical theatre. The Awards are named in honor of actor/singer and Georgia native, Shuler Hensley, winner of the prestigious Tony Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award. The year-round program embodies a spirit of camaraderie and celebration for the arts in high schools across Georgia. From volunteer training and high school theatre adjudication, to the Student Ensemble, S.T.A.R. Council, scholarship program to the weeklong training with industry professionals and much more, nearly 5,000 students participate annually in the life-changing program.
The School productions are evaluated on how well each production is meeting or exceeding its own potential. Each production is adjudicated and scored against itself for consideration, rather than against all other school productions, charging schools to create the best possible work in their unique circumstance and environment. The program uses the awards show format but emphasizes celebration, community and camaraderie among all schools. During the awards evening, there are moments when the student nominees perform together, and each participating school is asked to assign two students to perform with others students around Georgia for the opening and finale numbers of the event (shuler ensamble).
 Alpharetta area schools have built a strong legacy in Georgia’s high school musical theatre scene, consistently vying for and winning recognition across a wide range of artistic disciplines at the Shuler Awards.

Visit https://artsbridgega.org/programs/shuler-awards/ for ,ore information 

 Georgia ThesCon (short for Georgia Thespian Conference) is one of the largest and most exciting annual gatherings of high school theatre students, teachers, and professionals in the Southeast. It’s hosted by the Georgia chapter of the International Thespian Society (ITS) and is typically held in February at the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center. Georgia ThesCon is a 3-day theatre conference where over 5,000 students and educators come together to celebrate theatre, learn from industry professionals, and showcase their work. It’s a high-energy, immersive experience filled with workshops and performances. What Happens at ThesCon?
1. Workshops & Masterclasses • Led by theatre professionals, college faculty, and experienced educators. • Topics include acting, musical theatre, improv, audition technique, tech/design, playwriting, and more. • Open to all skill levels.
2. Mainstage & Chapter Select Performances • Selected high schools perform full-length shows (Mainstage) or one-acts (Chapter Select) for large audiences. • These are chosen based on excellence and represent some of the best high school theatre in the state.
3. Individual Events (IEs) • Students perform solos, duets, monologues, or tech presentations for adjudication. • High-scoring events can qualify for Nationals at the International Thespian Festival. 4. College Auditions & Recruiting • Seniors can audition for dozens of college theatre programs in one place. • Colleges also have booths where students can meet faculty and learn about theatre degrees.
5. Tech Challenge • A fun, fast-paced competition where tech theatre students race to complete stagecraft tasks like knot-tying, costume quick-changes, or lighting hangs.
6. Scholarships • Students can apply for and audition for scholarship opportunities.
7. Thespian Store & Swag Trading • Conference-exclusive merch, theatre books, costume pieces, and “swag trading” (buttons, stickers, etc. shared between troupes).
8. Opening and Closing Ceremonies • Featuring performances, awards, Thespian traditions, and tons of energy.

Visit https://www.gathespians.org for more information 

GHSA Literary is a competitive event where students from Georgia high schools compete in various categories involving Drama, writing, speech, and music. The goal is to showcase students’ talents in literature, communication, and performing arts. A Fine Arts and Academic event that produces State Champions in each classification

Visit https://www.ghsa.net/constitution-section-2024-2025-literary for more information 

 a special night celebrating our students' accomplishments 

A fun, organized camp featuring games, activities,food and team building exercises designed for enjoyment, social interaction, and community bonding.