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Upcoming Productions
see full schedule

Beauty & the Beast
@ Academy of the New Church
12/06 - 12/14/2024

Mean Girls, School Edition
@ The Baldwin School
02/07 - 02/09/2025

Young Frankenstein
@ Neshaminy High School
02/14 - 02/16/2025

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High Schools

Enrollment is open to any public, private, charter, or parochial Pennsylvania high school (grades 9-12 participants only) within a 25 mile radius of City Hall, Philadelphia.

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Adjudicators

Adjudicators must be theater professionals, graduate students pursuing a Theatre Arts degree (either performing or technical), community members with theatre experience, or current/former theatre educators, that are currently unaffiliated with a participating school.

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Outreach

Through grants and free workshops, the Philadelphia Independence Awards provides opportunities to help local high schools grow their theater programs.

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9/1

Registration Opens

10/1

Registration Closes

4/20

Last Performance Date

5/19

Awards Show



Philadelphia Independence Awards

Categories

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Acting

Acting awards include lead, supporting and featured actor and actresses. Additionally, there are awards for small and large ensembles.

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Music

Male and female vocalists are recognized as are student orchestras.

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Dance

There are dance awards for solo and ensemble dancers.

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Technical Theater

Technical theater awards are given for sound, light, stage management, makeup, costumes, scenic design and effects.

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Specialty

Specialty awards include song, production, leadership and marketing.

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Education

Each year we honor one theater educator that has made an impact on their students lives.

2023-2024 Statistics

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Schools

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Adjudicators

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Nominees

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Winners

Featured School

Garnet Valley High School

Garnet Valley Performing Arts has been producing plays and musicals since 1966. Self funded with the exception of some staff, by sponsorships, ticket sales, and donations the program serves over 200 K-12 students and 5000 plus community members a year. The Garnet Valley High School Program is a no cut program that embraces students of all abilities and backgrounds on stage and off. Our program consists of cast, pit, stage crew, costume crew, makeup crew, tech crew, four levels of theater classes, a summer camp, and a great marketing team. Garnet Valley produces two musicals a year, co-hosts two senior citizen dinner and a show matinees, produces various nights of scenes and cabarets, and is a partner with the Garnet Valley annual community show. Our actors and crew help direct, choreograph, build, costume, market, and chaperone one middle and two elementary shows a year, perform at local events, and are all members of the Educational Theater Association's Thespian Honor Society and proud members of the Philadelphia Independence Awards.

Recent News

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2024 Call for Schools!

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PIA on ABC!