First Place Prize $50, to be awarded in each category: Scenery, Costume and Lighting

REGISTER HERE

THIS COMPETION IS RESTRCITED TO UNDERGRADUATE DESIGNERS, ONLY.  The following information applies to all
categories of undergraduate designs:

• You may enter only one design in each of the categories.
• The design may be either a class project or a realized production.
• Your school need NOT be a institutional member of MTA; however, the student MUST be currently enrolled in an undergraduate
  program in the state of Mississippi.  Students MUST pre-register for this competition.  No “walk in” entries will be accepted.  Application forms for EACH entry must be postmarked no later than January 2, 2012. (or Apply Online)
• Limit the size of each entry to 30”x 30” of standard table space.  Limit the height to 48”.  No entry may include spotlights,
  slide projections or other electrified items.  The convention facilities do not provide electricity.  Laptops may be
  used but the participant runs the risk of battery failure undermining a successful presentation.
• MTA reserves the right to refuse to exhibit entries that do not adhere to the stated criteria.
• Vertical displays must be self supporting.  Do not assume that there will be wall surfaces on which to mount sketches.  Do not frame
  or cover work with acetate.
• Do Not Send Materials by Mail to MTA or Festival Location.  Entrants must attend the Thursday event and should bring displays to the competition room in time to be completely set up by 3:00pm Thursday, January 12th.  Design entries will be on display from 3:00pm to 9:00 pm. There will be a brief talk back during which the adjudicators will give feedback to the entered designers before announcing the winners.  Display materials must be removed from the display room that evening at the end of the competition.
• Cash award Certificates will be presented at the award General MTA Awards Ceremony.  Winning entrants are encouraged to attend.

MTA will make every effort to secure all design displays, but it cannot be responsible or held liable for damaged or lost displays.  Be
sure your name and telephone number is on everything.

If, through unusual circumstances (car trouble, etc.) you see you will be arriving late, you WILL be allowed to enter.  These cases are
dealt with on a case-by-case basis.  Entrants are urged to call the convention and communicate any difficulties to Dex Edwards, Chair of College/University Division.

MTA DESIGN COMPETITION GUIDELINES-BY CATEGORY

These guidelines are intended to be Very similar to those of the SETC and KCACTF Design Competitions to negate extra work for students wishing to enter those competitions.  However, the MTA Design Competition is not intended to be a “screening process” for either of those regional competitions.

Bring the following to the MTA Convention: Do Not Mail Design Materials.

In ALL categories, a concise statement of the designer’s approach to the production is required.  This should be typewritten and
approximately ½ page.

SCENERY

• Minimum requirements: A Ground plan at least ¼” = 1’-0” scale, Color Rendering, model, or painter’s elevations, ½ page or
  less statement of your approach to the design.
• Suggested elements: Research materials, preliminary sketches, full drafting package including ground plan, elevations, section, and detail drawings, photographs if presenting a realized project.

COSTUME

• Minimum requirements: Six or more color costume sketches, each sketch must be accompanied by swatches. ½ page or less statement of your approach to the design.
• Suggested elements: Research materials, preliminary sketches, a costume plot, and photographs if presenting a realized
  project.

LIGHTING

• Minimum requirements: Light plot drawn in ¼” = 1’-0” or ½” = 1’-0” scale using standard symbols, dimmer/control schedule, magic sheets, instrument schedule, ½ page or less statement of your approach to the design.
• Suggested elements: Research materials, preliminary sketches, Cue sheets, Story boards, Hanging Section (scenic designer’s is acceptable), photographs if presenting a realized project.

HELPFUL HINTS

This is a competition, but more importantly, an opportunity to receive a new opinion and perspective on your work and growth as a designer. This is not PRIMARILY a presentation competition; do not overproduce the display of your design. In this case, size does not matter! Content is more important than presentation technique.

Binder clips may be used to affix multiple costume plates to your display boards. The adjudicators WILL look at all costume plates, so mount two or three on a two or three-fold stand up display and place the rest in a pile or clipped to the board. For scenic designers, the adjudicators will look at all sheets of drafting, research and other material so displaying all of it on a threefold board is not necessary.

Each item submitted must be clearly marked with your name and address.  Business cards and resumes may be displayed
with competition entries.  Do NOT feature the name of your school on your entry.

Please make every attempt to get your entry to the competition room by 1:00pm on Thursday, January 12th, 2012. The convention schedule will provide information on exactly where to set up your display – or you may get directions from the hosts at the registration desk upon checking in.

If you have any other questions about entering the MTA Design Competition you may contact:

Dex Edwards
Chair, College/University Division, MTA
(662) 915-5816
dedwards@olemiss.edu