Event Rules and Guidelines

 EVENT RULES AND INFORMATION 

NOTICE: 

Due to it being an all virtual tournament and social distancing guidelines, please read all event rules because some are very different. If you are competing in an event that allows two competitors, they must be videoed on Zoom (for social distancing and to be fair for video quality). 

WARNING: 

Since this is a virtual tournament, no grace on time limits will be allowed. No performance can be over the time limit. 

IMPORTANT RULES ON ALL EVENTS: 

-Students are encouraged to wear appropriate tournament dress, unless doing Lip Synch or TV Commercials. 

-Students may NOT compete with the same materiel/piece selections that they have used or competed with in any previous year, this includes Poster Design, Costume Design and Set Design. 

- All Pieces/Performance Material must be from a PUBLISHED source unless otherwise noted in the rules. 

- All material presented at this tournament should be appropriate for middle school students to view and perform. Material inappropriate in nature (cursing, off color language, extreme sexual references, sexual acts, etc.) will not be tolerated and will be disqualified. 

EVENT RULES:

ACTING/SPEECH EVENTS: 

Dramatic Interpretation- An individual event where selections shall be cuttings from published-printed novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials which is dramatic in nature. Presentation must be memorized, without props or costumes. All selections cannot have been used by this contestant to a tournament prior to this year or another event. Multiple characters being played by the actor are allowed. Time limit will be 10 minutes, inclusive of introduction. 

Humorous Interpretation- Same as Dramatic but humorous in nature. 

Storytelling- Student has chosen and prepared a children’s story to perform. The story must be published, and the student must give an introduction with title and author stated. No props or costumes allowed. Each character should be bold and distinct. Time limit is 5 minutes. 

Prose- This is an individual event where the selection(s) must be from a published prose work NOT from a play, poetry or screenplay. Work must be read from a folder. A memorized introduction stating the title and author is required. Time limit is 7 minutes. 

Poetry- Same as Prose but must be poetic in nature. 

Duet Acting- Not offered this year because on video recordings, it would be the same as Duo. 

Duo Interp- All duos must be recorded from Zoom. Selection from a published novel, play, short story, or poem. No props, costumes or chairs. Scene are performed in groups of 2 and must be memorized and cannot have been used by either contestant prior to this year in this event. The actor's focus may be direct during the introduction and the performers may look at one another but must be indirect (off-stage) during the performance itself. The performers are not allowed to touch. The current N.S.D.A. (National Speech and Debate Association) rules apply. Time limit is 10 minutes. 

Lip Sync- Can have 1 to 2 students. However, if doing it with 2 competitors, it must be videoed from Zoom. Student(s) will lip sync to a song that they have chosen to perform with. Musical Theatre songs are highly encouraged, and all judges are aware of that. Students are allowed to use props, costumes and simple scenery. Students cannot make any noise/sounds themselves. Choreography, synchronization, creativity, costumes, and props are key judging criteria. This is not a dance competition. Time limit is 6 minutes. 

Pantomime- This is an individual event in which the performer uses highly exaggerated movements to recreate a thought, situation or event. The performer CANNOT make any noise at all. The performance should be original and created by the student. No props are used, but music and recorded sound effects are allowed. The student cannot mouth words to tape. Only one chair is allowed and will be provided. Time limit is 5 minutes. 

T.V. Commercial- Can have 1 to 2 students. However, if doing it with 2 competitors, it must be videoed from Zoom. Student(s) create own, original product or service, and they perform a commercial advertising their product. Product cannot exist already or be a pseudo-product from a show like Saturday Night Live. They can use props and background, and key elements of the event are product information, group effort, speaking, and persuasiveness. Music and sound effects are. Time limit is 5 minutes. 

Vocals - This is a solo/individual event. Students will present one musical selection from a published script/score written. The selection may contain dialogue; however, this is primarily a “sung and not spoken” selection. Contestants will introduce the performance with title of the piece, title of show. Performers must use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment, no live music is permitted. A cappella performances are not permitted. Props, costumes, chairs and theatrical makeup are not allowed. Time limit is 5 minutes. 

5th Grade Monologues - An individual event where selections shall be cuttings from a published source: printed novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or any other printed-published materials. The monologues can be dramatic or comedic in nature. Presentations must be memorized, without props or costumes. All selections cannot have been used by this contestant to a tournament prior to this year or another event. Note: There will be a Prelims round and a Finals round. Time limit is 2-3 minutes. 

TECHNICAL THEATRE EVENTS:

For All Technical Events: All the events below may be hand-drawn or generated on a computer program. Please just make sure they are turned in as a Google Slide Presentation. 

 Poster Design – Create an original poster design/advertisement for published play or musical of choice. The design can be hand-drawn or created on a computer program. The design and poster must represent something that could be easily duplicated for publicity purposes (copied in mass duplication from a printer). Designs with tactile or 3D elements will not be judged, since they would not be able to be duplicated in mass Designs must include the title of selected show, playwright, proposed show dates, the name of the group performing, proposed show times and proposed ticket prices. Designs will be judged on creativity and depiction of author's intent. Poster's used or submitted in a previous year are NOT allowed. Any rule violation of our poster design rules will result in the poster not being judged. Poster designs cannot have more than 1 Google Slide. 

Costume Design - Create original costume designs for a play. This year, the shows to design are “Alice in Wonderland” (Any script version) or the play "Midsummer Night’s Dream" (Any version). Students must choose only one of the shows. Students are to design costumes for at least four characters from the show. All costume renderings must be hand-drawn OR drawn with a computer program. Each design should include a short description and justification of the design stated below the design/character. Designs will be judged on creativity, style, concept and depiction of author's intent. Poster's used or submitted in a previous year are NOT allowed. Submit a Google Slide presentation…as many slides as you need. 

Set Design - Create original set design for a play. This year, the shows to design are “Alice in Wonderland” (Any script version) or the play "Midsummer Night’s Dream" (Any version). Students must choose only one of the shows. Students are to design a set rendering for one scene in the show. Set renderings can be hand-drawn OR drawn with a computer program. Each design should include a short description and justification of the design stated below the design the design. Designs will be judged on creativity, style, concept and depiction of author's intent. Posters/Renderings used or submitted in a previous year are NOT allowed. Only one Google Slide may be used for this event.