Honouring Excellence in Canadian Theatre Education

Every year, TAEA awards significant scholarship funding to graduating students who have distinguished themselves in school theatre. Last year alone, TAEA awarded over $2 million in scholarships nationwide, up from $1 million the year before. Scholarships are awarded through live auditions held at National STAR Fest, giving students a real audition experience in front of working theatre professionals.

Coming in 2027-2028: STAR Guild Induction Will Be Required Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, students must be inducted into the National STAR Guild to be eligible to audition for STAR Scholarships. That isn’t the case yet: for now, eligibility doesn’t require Guild induction. But schools without an active STAR Troupe should charter one now so their students aren’t caught off guard when the requirement takes effect.

Scholarship Categories

For many students, a TAEA scholarship isn’t just financial support: it’s the moment a dream starts to feel like a plan. Every year, we watch students walk off the STAR Fest stage and into programs, careers, and lives they’ve worked so hard to achieve, and these scholarships are here to help. If you’re ready to take that next step in theatre, this is where it starts.

TAEA offers five scholarship categories through the Scholarship Auditions at National STAR Fest. Look these over, and choose the one category that best matches the path you’re pursuing after high school.

Performance: Acting

For students pursuing acting for stage and/or screen who plan to continue formal training after high school.

What to Prepare: A 10-minute live audition slot at the National STAR Fest Scholarship Auditions. Prepare one monologue or two contrasting short monologues, and be ready for a brief Q&A with the adjudication panel.

Future Pathway: Recipients must enroll in a post-secondary acting, theatre performance, or closely related program. Funds are released only once enrollment in a related program is confirmed.

Performance: Musical Theatre

For students pursuing musical theatre performance (singing, acting, and dance) after high school.

What to Submit: A 10-minute live audition slot at the National STAR Fest. Prepare one musical theatre number (bring an accompaniment track on your device) or a monologue. Be ready to demonstrate basic movement or dance if asked, followed by a brief Q&A with the panel.

Future Pathway: Recipients must enroll in a post-secondary musical theatre or closely related performance program. Funds are released only once enrollment in a related program is confirmed.

Technical & Design

For students pursuing technical theatre or design work (set, lighting, sound, costume, stage management, or similar).

What to Submit: A 15-minute presentation slot at the National STAR Fest. Bring a portfolio (physical or digital) of your design or technical work and be ready to speak about your process and role on each project, followed by a brief Q&A with the panel.

Future Pathway: Recipients must enroll in a post-secondary technical theatre, design, or production program. Funds are released only once enrollment in a related program is confirmed.

Future Theatre Leader

For students who’ve shown leadership within their STAR Troupe or theatre program and are pursuing arts administration, production management, directing, or a related leadership path.

What to Submit: A 10-minute interview-style slot with the panel at the National STAR Fest. Come ready to discuss your leadership experience in theatre and your post-secondary plans. A short work sample is encouraged.

Future Pathway: Recipients must enroll in a post-secondary program aligned with theatre leadership, arts administration, directing, or a related field. Funds are released only once enrollment in a related program is confirmed.

Future Theatre Teacher

For students planning to become drama or theatre educators.

What to Submit: A 10-minute interview-style slot with the panel at the National STAR Fest. Come ready to discuss your interest in theatre education, any relevant experience (mentoring, assisting, teaching), and your post-secondary plans. A short performance demonstration is encouraged.

Future Pathway: Recipients must enroll in a Bachelor of Education program or equivalent teacher-training program with a theatre focus. Funds are released only once enrollment in a related program is confirmed.

A Note on Commitment

These scholarships exist because we believe in the future you’re building, and we want to help you get there. That belief comes with one ask: follow through. Recipients must enroll in a post-secondary program clearly connected to the category they were awarded, and share proof of that enrollment with us. Once we can confirm it, the funds are yours, a real investment in the path you’ve chosen. If your plans shift away from that path, we won’t be able to release the scholarship, but we’ll always be cheering for wherever your journey takes you next.

Why It Matters

A STAR Scholarship isn’t just funding, it’s recognition. For many students, a live audition at National STAR Fest is their first real audition in front of industry professionals, and for some, it’s the moment that turns a passion for theatre into a post-secondary path.