Division 7 – SPEECH ARTS AND DRAMA
Entry Deadline: The final deadline for entries in this division February 15th.
Please be sure to read all the rules and regulations. Also note the following:
- Participants from both community and schools are welcome to enter classes in this division.
- Participants must be of the prescribed age on the first day of January in the current year of the Festival.
- Participants are to announce the title and composer of their selected pieces.
- In all classes in which the “performance piece” is to be the participant’s “Own Choice”, the selection chosen must not be a work for which the participant has received a Gold standing in any previous Orillia Kiwanis Music Festival.
- No participant may participate in more than one entry in any class.
- Memorization is required for all of the classes in this division.
- Participation is limited to amateurs only, as defined in Rule 2.1 in the “Official Rules and Regulations” in this syllabus.
- All efforts will be made to provide a “warm-up” room at the Festival location for any necessary costume changes, etc.
- Participants will be permitted to have another person assist with the carrying of any properties to be used for the presentation on to the performing platform.
- If the passage is an “Own Choice” selection, an original printed copy must be given to the session secretary for the adjudicator’s use.
- The adjudicator may recommend an outstanding participant to represent the Orillia Festival at the Ontario Provincial competitions in Speech and Drama, or Music Theatre. For more information visit the Ontario Music Festivals Association website: www.omfa.ca.
- All “Own Choice” selections presented must be appropriate in content and language for a Family audience, including very young children. For clarification of this matter contact the Festival’s Artistic Director.
- According to Federal Law, it is illegal to copy documents which are copyrighted without first obtaining permission from the copyright owner. No photocopies will be accepted by a Festival representative unless there is accompanying documentation indicating permission to photocopy was granted by the copyright holder.
- Music that has been downloaded from the Internet must indicate that it has been legally downloaded.
In this Division:
| Beginner: | 8 years and under |
| Junior: | 12 years and under |
| Intermediate: | 16 years and under |
| Senior: | 21 years and under |
| Open: | Any age, unless otherwise specified |
Participants must be prepared to perform a selection of their own choosing.
Performances may be in English, French, or Ojibwe. A copy of the translation, if useful, should be made available to the session secretary for the adjudicator’s use, in addition to the books or other publications containing their repertoire selections.
SPEECH ARTS
PROSE RECITATION
Perform from memory a prose selection (fiction, non-fiction or sacred text) of your own choosing from a published source.
POETRY RECITATION
Perform from memory a poem of your own choosing.
POETRY RECITATION – FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Perform from memory a poem of your own choosing in any language other than English.
POETRY RECITATION – JAZZ, RAP, SLAM
STORYTELLING
Retell a story of your own choosing from memory. Decide who your audience will be – children, teenagers or adults. This should be a narrative presentation without props. Provide the text for the adjudicator.
QUICK STUDY
The script for each of these classes will be selected by the adjudicator and will be available from the Adjudicator Coordinator no sooner than 48 hours before the scheduled time of the class. The excerpt to be performed will be approximately 3 to 5 minutes in duration for the Solo classes and 5 to 10 minutes in duration for the Ensemble classes. An ensemble consists of two to four people. Memorization is not essential but may be considered in the assessment at the adjudicator’s discretion.
RECITAL CLASSES
These classes are modeled on the requirements for the Provincial Speech Arts Competitions. (More details on the Provincial competitions are available on the Provincial Festival website www.omfa.ca.)
Each participant must be prepared to perform:
1. one selection of Drama
2. one selection of Narrative Poetry on the same theme as the Drama section
3. one selection of Prose OR Lyric Poetry (or one of each, providing the time limit is not exceeded.)
The material used in these Recital Classes may be used in other classes in the Speech Arts Division.
CHORAL SPEAKING – GROUP
Each participating group must be prepared to recite from memory two contrasting selections of your own choosing.
SPEECH ARTS WORKSHOPS – SOLOS AND ENSEMBLES
Each participant will be given a mini-lesson by the adjudicator on a piece of your choosing.
DRAMA
MONOLOGUES AND DIALOGUES
Perform from memory a monologue or dialogue (other than Shakespeare) of your own choosing.
**NOTE: Participants in classes for Beginner Level (8 years and under) will be awarded Certificates of Participation. Neither marks nor standings will be given.
SHAKESPEAREAN DRAMA
Perform a Scene or Speech of your own choosing from memory.
MIME – SOLO AND DUO
Perform a scene entirely in mime (i.e.no speaking). Original or published material may be used, as well as props and costumes.
ORIGINAL PLAY
Each participant is to present a self-produced original short play with any number of characters. Props and costumes may be used.
MUSIC THEATRE – SOLO AND DUETS
Perform a song from any type of musical play. Dialogue may be included. Performers are encouraged to wear costumes to enhance their characterizations and may also use props, set pieces, etc. Emphasis will be given to the overall dramatic interpretation in the Adjudicator’s assessment.
**NOTE: Participants in classes for Beginner Level (8 years and under) will be awarded Certificates of Participation. Neither marks nor standings will be given.
MUSIC THEATRE – GROUPS
Each participating group is to perform a scene or selections from any type of musical play. It is suggested that the presentation include both dialogue and music. Costumes, props and set pieces may be used.
MUSIC THEATRE – TRIPLE THREAT – SOLOS AND DUETS
Perform a selection written for and performed in a professional musical theatre stage production. A triple threat performer shows aptitude in singing, dancing and acting, combining these three elements into a performance. Performances should be age appropriate and voice specific.
**NOTE: Participants in classes for Beginner Level (8 years and under) will be awarded
Certificates of Participation. Neither marks nor standings will be given.
IMPROVISATION
Each participant is to present an impromptu performance in the manner given for each class.
TV CHANNELS
Imagine the adjudicator is watching three different TV channels. The performer portrays three different characters – changing roles each time the adjudicator announces a new topic, such as ‘weather report’ or ‘dog food commercial’ or ‘music-variety host’.
FIRST LINE
Each pair will be given one minute to develop a scene based on a line of dialogue which the adjudicator will assign. Examples of first lines are “Haven’t we met somewhere?” or “Is this seat taken?”.
SITUATION DRAMA
Each group of three to five performers is given a situation. One person becomes an authority figure (e.g. parent, police officer, school principal). Other performers are subordinates (e.g. children, protesters, students) who challenge the dictates of the authority figure. Over the course of the improv, the power must shift between the authority figure and the subordinates.
IMPROVISATION WITH PROPS – SOLO AND GROUP
The adjudicator gives an object (e.g. eggbeater, tennis racquet, bar of soap) to each participant or group. Participants must then improvise a scene based on the object they have received.
DRAMA WORKSHOPS – SOLOS AND ENSEMBLES
Each participant will be given a mini-lesson by the adjudicator on a piece of your choosing.