Playbill is partnering with the Educational Theatre Association for a new Content Creator Scholarship that will send three students to the 2026 International Thespian Festival. Those selected will work directly with Playbill writers and editors to learn the art of covering the world of theatre as a journalist, and will be tasked with covering the Festival on the scene with pieces that will be published on Playbill and featured across EdTA and Playbill's social platforms. Student content creators will also receive a letter of recommendation signed by leaders from both groups following the Festival.
The Festival is set to be held in Bloomington, Indiana, June 21-28, 2026. The event sees Thespian students and educators from around the world converging for a week of workshops, performances, college auditions, and more.
The scholarship is aimed at students interested in pursuing careers in marketing, communications, journalism, arts administration, and/or digital content creation. Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to make engaging media content across mediums with a distinct, compelling point of view. A letter of recommendation from a non-family member is required.
Applicants must be current high school juniors or seniors, and affiliated with an active Thespian troupe. Applicants do not have to be inducted Thespians at the time of application. Travel expenses to and from the festival will not be included. Each selected student will need to attend with a chaperone, and chaperone travel, housing, and registration costs are not covered by the scholarship.
Applications for the scholarship will be accepted beginning January 1 at SchoolTheatre.org. Applications must be submitted by March 1 at 11:59 PM ET.
"Theatre journalism is something we're very passionate about at Playbill, and we can't wait to help encourage that same passion in the next generation of theatre content creators at the International Thespian Festival," says Playbill Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Alex Birsh in a statement. "Every time we've attended the Festival, we have been blown away by the talent and ingenuity on display by the student Thespians on both sides of the curtain, which is why we know this program will be a huge and meaningful success. We look forward to deepening our connection with the Festival and student Thespians around the world."
"We are so excited about this opportunity for our Thespians to explore the important work of marketing in the theatre ecosystem and are delighted that our partners at Playbill are committed to investing in the future of theatre with us," adds EdTA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Katona.
