Mount St Mary Academy Forensics Festival
2025 — Little Rock, AR/US
JH Readers Theatre
Event Description:
Criteria:
Readers Theatre (RT} is a group event consisting of at least three (3) competitors performing a piece together selected from a literary form of prose, poetry, drama, essay, diaries, journals, a composite script based on a variety of sources, or may be an original work. Readers may not touch at any time during the performance. Readers must provide off-stage focus during the entire performance. Manuscripts must be used.
Performers must present an introduction that provides the necessary background and relevant context for the speech selection .
Title and author must be stated in the introduction .
Students must use a manuscript. Scripts must be in a uniform black binder per ACTM event rules via the Qualifying Document.
. Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 10 minutes with a 30 second grace period (if the performer goes beyond the 30 second grace period, the performer may not be ranked first). There is no time minimum.
Note: It is the expectation that performances are the artistic creation of the performer(s). If there is suspicion of plagiarism, please be prepared to cite the source that was copied and consult with the tournament director.
Comments:
Introduction: Did it capture your attention? Did it establish background information?
Selection: Did the selection meet literary standards? Was the selection worthy of study on the part of the student? Was the cutting adequate?
Insight and Understanding: Did the speaker understand the issues the topic deals with? Did the student understand the author’stheme and purpose?
Characterization: Ability to create a believable character? Were the characters differentiated clearly? Were the emotional and mental elements of the characters understood and projected efficiently?
Voice and Diction: Did the voice communicate objective, tactics, and relationships through bothdialogue and music? Use of focus and concentration, vocal skill, technique, and expression?
Bodily Action: Use of movement, gestures, facial expressions, integration of body, movement, and staging?
General Effectiveness: Did the speaker portray theliterature and characters effectively? Was it entertaining?And/or enjoyable?