JUDGING

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Hello Producing Members,

I hope you all are doing well and looking forward to the 2026 to 2027 Season.  I have attached a copy of the DTL's Producing Member's Ballot Instructions for the 2026 to 2027 Season (PDF and WORD format) and will have it also posted in the Judging section on DTL's website (DesertTheatreLeague.org).

Please send me a copy of your upcoming season so that I have it for judging scheduling.

The DTL Nominations for the 2025 to 2026 Season will be posted on the DTL website on August 1st and the Desert Star Awards are on Sunday, October 18th at Sun City Palm Desert.  Information about the Desert Star Awards will be on the website on August 1st, including the ability to purchase tickets.

Changes for the 2026 to 2067 Season were made to the Technical Awards section of the Ballot and also to the rules for the Youth Theatre 

In the Technical Awards categories, Set Design and Special Effects were combined into a single Scenic Design category.

Special Effects was originally separated from Props to recognize the increasing use of projection technology in productions.  At the time, projections were considered a distinct technical element warranting independent evaluation.

Since the creation of the Special Effects category, the use of projections has evolved and expanded.  Projections are now frequently utilized as integral components of scenic design, representing physical set elements such as interior walls, architectural features, and outdoor environments. As a result, projections often function as part of the overall visual design of the set rather than as a standalone technical effect.

Combining Set Design and Special Effects would allow all scenic elements, including traditional construction, painted scenery, and projected imagery to be evaluated collectively as part of the overall Scenic Design. This change would ensure that projections are judged within the context of their contribution to the production's scenic presentation and artistic vision.

For Youth Theatre the following rule has been eliminated:

For High Schools, the nominee for an Individual Nomination for acting must be enrolled in the school producing the production.

Individuals nominated in the acting category in the Youth Theatre Ballot are no longer required to be enrolled in the school in which they are performing.  Also, the rule that required that individual actors be between 14 and 18 years old has now been expanded to individual actors be between 12 and 18 years old.

For the 2026 to 2027 Season, eligibility for Individual Awards in the Youth Theatre Ballot is based on the actors’ ages, not whether they attend a specific High School.

All other Youth Theatre Ballot rules still apply.

The return address for the ballots will remain as follows:

DTL Judging Coordinator

P.O. Box 854

Palm Springs, CA   92263

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at DTL92263@aol.com.  I look forward to a great season.

Regards,

John Toogood

DTL Judging Coordinator