adjudication

The Nebraska Theater Academy provides participating schools the opportunity for up to three local performing arts professionals to provide educationally-focused written feedback on their performances.

For schools

If interested in adjudication, please submit the online Production Information Form no later than one month prior to your performance. We cannot guarantee adjudication for late forms.

For performing arts professionals

Join our team of local performing arts professionals providing feedback on school shows! Adjudicator applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please be prepared to send your performing arts résumé.

1. Interested schools who are already registered with the Nebraska Theater Academy can submit the Production Information Form no later than four weeks before the show opens.
2. Once O-pa receives your form, we will schedule up to three adjudicators to attend the production and email the dates/times adjudicators plan to attend. Schools should be prepared to hold up to six tickets (two per adjudicator x up to three adjudicators) under the name “O-pa Adjudicator.” Please note that the adjudication panel may or may not attend the same performance and tickets should be held for the performance date/time requested by O-pa staff.
3. NEW! Receive Written OR Oral Feedback:
   
   • Written Feedback: Adjudicators will submit written feedback to O-pa staff within 5 business days of attending your show. O-pa staff will proof feedback to ensure quality and consistency. O-pa staff will email you the final, proofed feedback approximately 2 weeks after the show. Please note that if you choose this option, you will not receive oral feedback.
   • Oral Feedback: Adjudicators will attend opening night of your school’s production and provide oral feedback immediately following the performance. Please note that if you choose this option, you will not receive written feedback.

Adjudicators will complete a comprehensive response to the performance. Feedback will include praise and constructive criticism, focusing on a production’s strengths and opportunities for growth. O-pa staff members will email feedback to directors. Feedback is intended to serve as a learning tool for directors and students. Our goal is to provide high-quality feedback that celebrates students’ work and encourages them to grow.

Adjudicators will score various production elements. These scores will be used to determine award recipients in various categories. Schools producing a musical for Nebraska Theater Academy awards consideration should perform between Thursday, August 15, 2024, and Sunday, May 4, 2025. Omaha Performing Arts staff members will notify award-winning schools and students with further information the week of May 5, 2025.

Written feedback and/or scoring will be submitted through a secure online form. Please note that if you choose written feedback, adjudicators will not provide oral critiques and vice versa, nor should schools expect to receive scores. Please do not contact adjudicators with questions (including follow-up questions after oral critiques). All inquiries should be directed to O-pa staff.

We are asking that all schools who wish to be considered for awards (i.e. anyone whose musical receives written feedback and scores) make best efforts to submit an archival video for O-pa to keep on hand in case of ties. Omaha Performing Arts will contact Licensing Houses for the rights to record the production.

Video adjudication is also available!

Schools participating in the Nebraska Theater Academy can request to have a professional adjudicator provide oral feedback on their musical, play, or one-act at any point in the rehearsal process. Pre-show evaluations are offered as an additional learning opportunity and are NOT connected to the formal adjudication process, scores, or awards. Schools are responsible for scheduling pre-show evaluations. For a full list of pre-show evaluators, their contact information, and areas of expertise, please email NTA@O-pa.org.

If you are an adjudicator who has completed a pre-show evaluation, please click here to fill out the survey.