2025 DTM Expo Details

Greetings from KCACTF Region 1 DTM (Design, Technology and Management) Team!

We are thrilled you are interested in presenting at the 2025 KCACTF Region 1 Design, Technology & Management Expo.

The DTM Expo provides an opportunity for you to exhibit work and receive feedback from theatre professionals, designers and technicians. If you’ve signed up for a DTM presentation, it’s likely your project fits into one of the following areas:

  • Scenic Design

  • Lighting Design

  • Costume Design

  • Sound Design

  • Projection Design

  • Hair & Makeup Design

  • Production & Stage Management

  • Allied Crafts

  • Technical Direction

  • Properties & Crafts

  • Sound Engineering

  • Paint Charge Artist

  • Master Electrician

  • Puppeteering

Who Can Present:

Presenting is open to all students nominated during a production response session or to those who would like to participate.

What to Present:

Non-realized Work – the project that is done in the classroom and never was produced – i.e. never sent through the production process and subsequently shown to a live audience. This work is eligible to be recognized on both a regional and national level.

Realized, Produced Work – the project that was ‘brought to life’ and fully produced. This work is eligible to be recognized on both a regional and national level.

Note: If you are presenting in more than one (1) field or area of study, you will need to submit one DTM Expo Entry Form for each presentation.

What Is A Response and Who Are Respondents?

The team of theatre professionals will be responding to you after you present. They will reflect on your summary video, and what they see in your presentation materials to give useful recommendations and feedback in a friendly manner. In the end, they will recommend candidates for the DTM awards.

Next Steps to Take:

Step 1 – Choose the presentation option that works best for you:

Option 1: Table Presentation

    • Students prepare and present using physical materials they display in a communal hall with other students, for all Festival attendees to admire.
      • For Design and technology students, an approximately 3’x3’ table space or vertical wall will be available to display your board and selected materials.
      • For Stage Management students, this looks like a family-style table with space for your SM binder and paperwork.

Option 2: In-Person Digital Presentation

    • Students prepare and present a digitized design presentation that uses the Digital Presentation Template. The presentation will be displayed on a screen in a communal hall with other students, for all Festival attendees to admire

Step 2 – Prepare your materials. Please view our Orientation Video HERE.

  • All Digital Presentations must be Electronically Submitted HERE by Monday, Jan 27th.

  • If you have not done so already, save and document your work! We want to see items from your process, execution, and any finalized work. Typical items we see on posters and in presentations include but are not limited to:

  • Sketches, plans, and conceptual pieces

  • Costumes and costume crafts
    (loose or on a form)

  • Puppets, electronics, and motorized items

  • Models and drafting

  • Fabric swatches, paint elevations, and storyboards

  • Recordings, tracks, music, or something to listen to

  • Call scripts and show bibles

  • Paperwork, call board items, production rulebooks, and tracking sheets

  • Properties like weaponry, fake food, or custom-built items

  • Photography of the process, publicity, and archival shots

  • Design statements, stories, and descriptions
  • When selecting your materials, pick the items that tell the best story, without being too elaborate. Sometimes more is not better!
  • Your school or institution should NOT appear in any of your materials!

Step 3 – Prepare a short summary video about your project and submit it electronically.

  • Everyone who participates in the DTM Expo is required to create a 3-4 minute video for the respondents to view in advance. Regardless of your presentation format (table or digital), this intro video serves to help us learn about your work ahead of time, allowing for more interaction in person.
  • This video introducing the respondents to your project, and covering the major points of your presentation.  The submission of this video beforehand will give the responders the opportunity to learn more about your project before you present, allowing more time for interaction during your presentation slot.
  • Use this video to cover things like:
    • Why the show is important to you or your institution
    • Something you learned along the way or a challenge you overcame
    • An overview of your concept or approach
  • All students presenting at the Festival must Submit Their Summary Video HERE electronically by Friday, January 24th

At the Festival:

By Wednesday, January 29th, each student presenter will be provided with a specific presentation time and location. Presentation Load-In will be that same day over a four (4) hour period, which students can use at their leisure for set up. Each presenter will be assigned a 10-minute block to present their project and receive feedback from the respondents.  It is strongly recommended that you talk about your work for three minutes, allowing sufficient time for the responders to engage with your presentation and ask questions. Presentation times will be assigned during Load-In.

Presentation and Responses will occur on Thursday and Friday, January 30th and 31st.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of DTM Leadership if you have any questions about the presentation process.

Summary of DTM Links:

Orientation Video

DTM Expo Entry Form (All DTM Student Presenters)

Digital Presentation Template (Only if you are submitting a Digital Presentation)

Summary Video Submission (All DTM Student Presenters)

Digital Presentation Submission (Only if yo uare submitting a Digital Presentation)

We look forward to seeing your work and meeting you at the Festival!