The History of the Maine Drama Council

In 1970, the Maine Drama Council was formed. Its membership was made up of directors participating in the annual Festival.

The MDC assisted the principals with the administration for the first few years until 1977 when the State Principal's Association chose to leave the NE Council and to divest itself of all NE- sponsored activities. The MDC requested that they be able to run the entire Festival with continued financial sponsorship by the Principals' Association. This arrangement existed throughout the 1980's, while the number of schools entering continually increased. Following a marathon 1987 state finals of 14 plays, a three-tiered system was instituted in 1988 where seven Regionals selected three representatives each who competed at two "semi-finals" - each choosing five schools to go on to the finals. The advantage was that more schools advanced to a second level, but the disadvantages of scheduling an additional weekend and other complications never gave this format a chance.

With the increasing number of participating schools, administration of theFestival became more difficult. Traditionally, the chairperson of the Maine Drama Council, with input from the MDC Governing Board (then six, now twelve members) handled the selection and assignment of sites and judges. In 1990, the principals hired a coordinator to assume administrative duties. At the same time, the MPA decided that the three-tiered system was not successful and instituted the current system of two divisions with small or new programs in Division 2 and the well-established ones competing in Division 1.

Currently, the MPA Drama Committee, the Festival Coordinator, and the Maine Drama Council work together to produce the annual Maine Drama Festival and Competition, a competition which involves more students and schools than any other Festival in the New England states.

Some information from "A History of the Maine Drama Festival" by John Stuart III (UMO 1976)