2026 Youth Conference

2026 Youth Conference

Registration

Schedule & Class Descriptions

Meet the Instructors
Scholarship Opportunity
Hotel Information

2026 OCTA Youth Conference

Students who are age twelve through high school senior are eligible to partake in the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association’s Youth Conference. Youth Conference is a two-day event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the Wyndham Garden hotel Oklahoma City Airport. This conference is a two-day intensive theatrical training workshop for performance and technical skills, including auditioning, musical theatre, acting, and much more, which will culminate with a Saturday 4:00 pm Showcase performance.
Each attendee will have the chance to select classes. (Not all selections will be guaranteed.) Classes include: Mind Your Miming, Acting Techniques, Conquering Cold Readings, Overcoming Stage Fright, Salsa Dancing, How to Ace That Musical Theatre Audition, Master Class in Musical Theatre, Master Class in Acting, Tech Tournament, Stand up and Deliver, Stunts, Mapping Shakespeare, and College Q&A.

This year’s OCTA conference is in Oklahoma City, OK, at the Wyndham Garden hotel Oklahoma City Airport.  The youth conference is March 19 -21, 2026. The cost of attendance is $100, and this does not include lodging. If you need financial assistance, please contact info@oktheatre.org.

Conference Tuition – $100 (lodging not included)

  1. 2026 OCTA Youth Conference T-shirt
  2. 2 Tickets to the OCTA Youth Final Showcase
  3. Either a Makeup Kit or a Tool Kit
2026 Registration
 After purchasing your “ticket” you’ll receive a link to a form to complete your registration.
Registration

Deadline for Registration!

All forms are due by March 15, 2026. (T-shirts will be ordered on March 1, any registration after that date may not include a T-shirt).

Schedule of Events

Classes will be held at the

Wyndham Garden hotel Oklahoma City Airport
2101 South Meridian Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK  73108

Each attendee will have the chance to select classes. (Not all selections will be guaranteed.)  All will participate in some form in the showcase.

THURSDAY, MARCH 19 (Optional)

7:00 PM – Enrollment 

7:30 – 8:00 PM – Orientation

8:00 – 9:00 PM – Fun Evening / Games 

FRIDAY, MARCH 20

8:30 AM – Registration Table Opens

8:45 AM – Orientation

9:00 AM – Mind your Miming      OR    Acting Techniques

10:20 AM – Break

10:30 AM – Conquering Cold Readings     OR    Overcoming Stage Fright

11:50 AM – LUNCH (Provided)

12:20 PM – Theatre Games

1:20 PM – Break

1:30 PM – Salsa Dancing

2:50 PM – Break

3:00 PM – How to Ace that Musical Theatre Audition

4:20 PM – Break

4:30 PM – Master Class in Musical Theatre OR Master Class in Acting

6:00 PM – End of Day

6:30 PM – Fun Evening (Dinner provided) – TBA

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

8:30 AM – Doors Open

9:00 AM – Tech Tournament

10:20 AM – Break

10:30 AM – Stand up and Deliver     OR    Stunts

11:50 AM – LUNCH (Provided)

12:30 PM – Mapping Shakespeare

1:50 PM – Break

2:00 PM – College Q&A

3:00 PM – Break

3:30 PM – House Opens for the OCTA Youth Camp Production

4:00 PM – OCTA Youth Camp Production

Camp photos to follow.

5:00 PM – End of Camp

 

Class Descriptions

Mind your Miming

Learn how to hold space for imaginary props that open your acting to an immersive world of your creation.

Acting Techniques

Learn to connect the mind and body with psychological gestures.

Conquering Cold Readings

Be prepared for the unpreparable. Learn techniques to hold the script and make quick character choices with confidence.

Overcoming Stage Fright

Learn techniques to calm the mind and body and give you confidence on and off the stage.

Salsa Dancing

Learn the basic salsa technique.

How to Ace that Musical Theatre Audition

Experience a mock musical theater audition with singing and dancing together as an ensemble.

Master Class in Musical Theatre

Here you will perform a prepared 16 Bar audition piece to receive feedback from a master.  *Must bring a prepared 16 Bar piece with backing music / sheet music.

Master Class in Acting

Here you will perform a prepared monologue audition piece to receive feedback from a master.  *Must bring a prepared monologue

Tech Tournament

Master the skills of the tech tournament. Scene changes, quick changes, managing cables, and tying knots are all vital foundations for shows to be safe and magical.

Stand up and Deliver

This class will cover the basics of Stand up and delivering a joke. Here you will write a joke and learn how timing and style affects the landing.

Stunts

Learn unarmed combat with trained professionals.

Mapping Shakespeare

Learn to connect with the language of Shakespeare using the mapping technique to help lift those words off the page.

College Q&A

A Q&A panel with college representatives of all things theater in the collegiate and professional world.

Meet the Instructors

Shawn Hancock

Mind Your Miming

Janie Huebert

Stunts

Scholarship Opportunity

OCTA does offer scholarships for the Youth Conference.

Deadline for scholarship is March 1, 2026

Applicants will need a letter of recommendation from a school/church/organization official.

Apply for Scholarship

Scholarship Recipient will be notified by email upon receipt of scholarship.

Hotel Information

Recommended Lodging:

Wyndham Garden Hotel Oklahoma City Airport
2101 South Meridian Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73108

Phone:  405-685-4000

The hotel offers an OCTA group rate for $65 + tax = $74.19 per room per night, which includes a full complimentary breakfast and has an indoor pool. Book a room by calling the front desk at (405) 685-4000.