Who?		Junior High or Middle School students from participating schools in grades 6 through 8
		What?		A One-Act Play Festival with critic/judges for students interested in the fine arts designed to give middle and junior high school students a positive theatre experience that fosters participation in, commitment to and appreciation of quality theatre. The students should appreciate that theatre is a collaborative art form in which each student can recognize the value of an individual's contribution to the ensemble. The students should demonstrate a willingness to constructively utilize the information provided by the critic judge.
“Promoting excellence in education and showcasing the talents of all our youth.”		When?		See the Academic Rodeo General Schedule and the Academic Rodeo Contest Timelines for specific dates and deadlines.
		Where?		Contest will be held in the Mayfair and is open to the public.
		See General Rules and Guidelines for rules that apply to all contests.

Contest Rules 

(Revised July 2008)

Responsibilities of Director

It is recommended that the director be the theatre teacher. However, any willing middle school teacher may direct for this festival.

The director must:

1. Communicate goals and behavior expectations of the festival to students, families and administrators.
2. Select a play written for children which challenges the abilities and the talents of the director and students.
3. Direct the play in a manner which gives credit to educational theatre. Communicate to all students and their families the goals of the festival, especially rules prohibiting flash photography and videotaping copyrighted material, as well as those, which prohibit parents from participating in any way at the festival site other than as audience members. Students should be advised of proper care of all stage equipment and facilities.
4. Oversee the well being and conduct of students at all times. Directors should anticipate transportation needs and accompany their students at all times.
5. The principal should be familiar with the content of the play. Obtain the signature of the school principal for the production of any play in the space provided on the Fine Arts Registration Form.
6. Send a copy of the script of the play you are presenting, with lighting and sound notes by the designated deadline.
7. Furnish a list of cast and crew by the designated deadline .

Play Section

Any play selected for entry in the one-act play festival must:

• Challenge the abilities of the actors and promote growth.
• Not offend the standards of the community through theme or language.
• Be written for children.
• May be a production performed within the last 12 months.

Participation Numbers

A total of 15 cast members, plus 4 back stage crew members from 6th, 7th and 8th grade students may participate. One director, plus 2 other adults, if needed, may participate in the production. A recorded voice-over is a sound effect and does not constitute a cast/character slot.

Length of Play/Timing Procedures

The play shall run for no more than 40 minutes. Timing begins with the first sound or light cue and ends with the last sound or light cue. A professional stopwatch will be used.

Plays shall begin on the hour and may run up to 40 minutes. There will follow a strictly enforced time limit of 10 minutes to strike the set. Then, the next performing play will have a strictly enforced 10 minutes to set up and the next play will perform. There shall be no prompting of the actors during the performance of the play.

Order of Performance

A random draw for the order of performance will be conducted as soon as the Fair office receives the School/Group Registration form indicating the school plans to participate in the One-Act Play Festival. Scheduling will consider the distance to be traveled when appropriate.  Special scheduling requests should be made to the Academic Rodeo Coordinator.  The schedule of performance date and time will be posted online after confirmation of the school's participation.

Facilities and Set

Theatre - Location of the productions will be indicated on the Academic Rodeo Contest Locations. Each participating school will be allotted a 30 minute rehearsal time during the festival schedule for the cast and crew to become familiar with the logistics of the stage, lighting and sound. A floor plan of the stage area will be sent to each participating school.

Scenery - Minimum scenery should be used for quick set up and striking. Temporary space in the contest area will be available to store the scenery prior to the production and during productions by other schools.  Each school should have an adult responsible for the safety of the scenery.

Lighting - A lighting system will be available.

Sound - A sound system will be available. The school should furnish any unusual sound effects

Dressing Rooms - Space for preparations for your production will be provided. All costumes and scenery must be stored in this designated are when not in use and are the responsibility of the school. Remember, leave all valuables at home.

Rehearsal Time and Space

Thirty minutes rehearsal time will be scheduled for each production and will be listed on the performance schedule.

Playbills

The playbill should list the school, play performed, when published, cast of characters, crew, alternates, and director.

Judges

The One-Act Play Festival committee must select a certified one-act play judge.

Festival Manager

The role of the festival manager is one of an impartial and objective administrator and enforcer of all rules at the festival site. In order to effectively manage the festival, the selected individual must be familiar with all the festival operation, specifically all rules and requirements, and must be in attendance for the entire festival.

The festival manager must:

1. Start the festival on time.
2. Make necessary announcements to the house, including non-use of recording devices. Law strictly prohibits videotaping or otherwise recording copyrighted material. Flash photography is not permitted during performances as it may be distracting to audience members and presents a hazard to the performers.
3. Stop performance if audience behavior or technical difficulties (not under the control of company's performance) interfere with judge's ability to see, hear, and critique the play.
4. See that all set and strike times are recorded with an approved stopwatch in addition to running times. The festival manager may have an impartial adult assistant(s) with no connections to any participating school to time the set and strike periods.
5. Disqualify any participant for violation of rules.
6. Hear any protest from a participating director and take necessary steps in accordance with festival policy.
7. Provide the critic judge an area with writing table and small light where the view is unobstructed and no one can approach or speak to the judge. Escort or have assistant escort judge to private room for decisions.
8. Introduce critic judge to company for critique, which is open to all interested individuals, who must adhere to appropriate behavior during critique.

Responsibilities of the Critic Judge

One or two judges will be available for the critiques. These judges must be certified one-act play judges selected by the One-Act Play Festival committee. The function of the critic/judge is to serve as an educator who provides a carefully prepared critique according to the judging standards agreed upon by the festival committee. The critique will provide valuable information to allow for qualitative improvement by the participants.

The critic judge must:

1. Read and become familiar with judging standards as put forth by the festival committee.
2. Provide sound feedback to directors and students in a kind and tactful manner, which serves to justify the ranking, and upon which the participants can focus their attention to improve future performances. Specific examples should be given in terms of the judging standards to support any decision or criticism of the performance.
3. Include positive comments on something that was executed well and identify those elements or aspects of the production, which interferes with full understanding, and communication of the essence of the play.
4. Not evaluate the choice of play, nor compare to other productions, seen or directed.
5. Not give directors initial notes made during performances. A written critique may be provided, but only after reviewing and revising commentary to a format acceptable to directors and students.
6. Select the award recipients and give this information to the festival manager to be announced.

Volunteers

Representatives from support partner organizations will serve as volunteers as needed. Volunteer responsibilities could be:

• Assist directors in on-site control of students.
• Distribute playbills for each production.
• One or two volunteers will be assigned to each school. These volunteers are to escort each cast and crew from the staging area to the performance theatre.

If you are performing next on the schedule

When cued by the festival manager, take your cast to the room designated to make final preparations for your production. Limited makeup is encouraged and each school is expected to furnish its own make-up. This room will not be locked and any valuables should be left at home. Cast and designated crew ONLY are allowed in this area. (No parents are allowed).

Pre-Show Setup Procedures (10 Minutes Allowed Before Play)

When cued by the festival manager, cast and crew will be allowed 10 minutes to set up the play. Cast and designated crew ONLY are allowed in the backstage areas, including dressing rooms. (No parents are allowed.)

Post Show Strike (10 Minutes Allowed After Play Ends)

Immediately after the performance, each school will have up to 10 minutes to clear the stage of set pieces and properties. These items should be neatly stored in the designated area. It is highly recommended that directors should rehearse pre-show set up and post-show strike with their companies.

Critique Process

The oral critique will be given immediately following each performance . The oral critique should not be more than 10 minutes.

Process of Disqualification

Disqualification decision is to be made by the Festival Manager only. Schools will be disqualified for not following all of the rules of the festival.

Audience Behavior Expectations

1. Everyone is expected to behave in a manner that does not interfere with the performance or distracts the audience or critic judge from the performance.
2. Applause, vigorous or polite, is the only acceptable form of appreciation to be used.
3. Photography and video recording devices are not permitted during a performance.
4. No one may enter the theatre once a performance has begun. Doors will be closed. It is recommended that audience members arrive approximately 10 minutes prior to the performance.
5. Food, drinks and gum are prohibited in the theatre .
6. The use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol in any manner is not allowed in the theatre.

 

One-Act Play Festival Timeline

(See Academic Rodeo Timeline for specific dates and deadlines.) 

• Primary Contact for school or organization will submit the School/Organization Registration Form by the deadline. See the Academic Rodeo Timeline for specific deadline.  Click here to see if your school is registered.
• The Play Director should submit the Fine Arts Registration Form by the deadline.
• Registered schools will be assigned rehearsal and performance times to be listed on the One-Act Play Festival Schedule .
• The Play Director will register cast members using the Student Registration Form by the deadline. This can be coordinated with other sponsors.
• The play director should submit the cast list, script, and sound/lighting notes by the deadline.
• Winners will be recognized at the Academic Rodeo Awards Celebration. Students and/or school sponsors should attend to accept awards for the school.