  November 2009

Dear College and University Representatives:

I wish to invite you to audition our Florida Thespians for your schools at the Florida State Festival in Tampa, April 7-10, 2010.

This year our Juniors will be the only students auditioning for colleges. In that our Festival is in April, seniors are already committed to a college. Auditions will be held on Thursday, April 8, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. You will be notified of the location in Tampa in a mailing in early 2010. All students are screened to meet the minimal requirements you have requested. We also strongly encourage minority and technical students to audition. Seniors will be auditioning for scholarships only on Friday.

If you would like to register by the internet, simply click here. Part of this form will ask you to confirm or change the information we have on your college. This information is available by clicking here. The application can then be printed and mailed; printed and faxed; or automatically e-mailed. You are also welcome to submit the enclosed forms by mail as always.

I realize our Festival is always late in the Spring and most of you have completed your selections. Unfortunately, the size of our State does not allow us to schedule much earlier. However, we are one of the few organizations to include juniors, and what better time of year to see them!!

The board continues to increase the funding of scholarships and offer additional bonuses to those who pursue their higher education in Florida. We encourage our students to pursue post secondary education. I know this is a rough time of year for you, but our students; your students of tomorrow, need to be seen and given every chance to further their future. Many of you also do workshops and adjudicate for us. I ask you to set these auditions as your priority; our students deserve it. There have been enough obstacles put in Education's path, we are offering you the best of Florida's future.

Please fill out the enclosed forms and return with your positive reply by January 11, 2010. Our students thank you; we thank you. NEW FOR 2010: We will be using an on-line program this year and will NOT BE ACCEPTING ADS for this pilot year of the program. Sorry. I look forward to seeing you at our Festival 2010 aptly titled:

Welcome Home!

Sincerely,

Michael J. Higgins - Florida State Thespian Director