Individual Events

General Rules

National Individual Events (NIES) is an educational program that offers Thespians the opportunity to receive constructive feedback on prepared theatrical material and technical designs. The performance Individual Events include: Monologue Duet Acting Group Acting Solo Musical Theatre Duet Musical Theatre Group Musical Theatre

General Rules

The technical Individual Events include: Costume Construction Costume Design Lighting Design Scenic Design Short Film Sound Design Stage Management Theatre Marketing

General Rules

Acceptable material for all Individual Performance Events: Published scripts written for the theatre ONLY. If the

participant is using a piece that is also a movie, the performance must be from the play/musical, not the movie script.

Songs from a musical that have been written for the theatre (regardless of its previous publication as a classical or popular song – e.g., Forever Plaid, Mamma Mia, etc.).

It’s difficult to address every situation in this document, but fundamentally, the guide is that the piece must either: Have publisher permission (NOT author-only permission);

or Be available for sale in a libretto, play, vocal selection,

or musical score.

General Rules

Unacceptable material for Individual Performance Events: Poetry Fiction Scripts or songs from films Scripts or songs from television Stand-alone monologues found on the internet or in

monologue books Popular songs not used in a published work for the theatre Classical songs not used in a published work for the

theatre Props or costumes - including the use of hair, non-

prescription glasses, earrings or other personal items.

Monologue

One Performer

Two Contrasting Pieces from a published script Only one character from each play may be used

Be sure to secure performance rights

Under 3 Minutes Total

Introduction must include both pieces Entrant’s Name

Troupe Number

Selection Titles

Playwright’s Name

Must wear all black

No props, costumes or theatrical makeup

One chair

Solo Musical

One Performer One Song from a published script written for theatre

Songs written for film or television or popular pop songs are not permitted

Under 5 Minutes Background music must be provided on a CD or MP3

No live accompaniment or a capella singing is permitted

Introduction must include Entrant’s name Troupe Number Title of Selection Playwright/Composer’s Name

Must wear all black No props, costumes or theatrical makeup One chair

Duet Musical or Acting

Two Performers Both have to be actively involved in the song/scene

One Song/Scene Must be from published works written for the theatre Pieces written for film, television, books or any other medium are not

permitted Be sure to secure performance rights for group acting

Under 5 Minutes Background music must be provided on a CD or MP3

No live accompaniment or a capella singing is permitted

Introduction must include Entrants’ names Troupe Number Title of Selection Playwright/Composer’s Name

Must wear all black No props, costumes or theatrical makeup Up to two chairs

Group Musical or Acting

3 – 16 Performers All have to be actively involved in the song/scene

One Song/Scene Must be from published works written for the theatre

Pieces written for film, television, books or any other medium are not permitted

Be sure to secure performance rights for group acting

Under 5 Minutes

Background music must be provided on a CD or MP3 No live accompaniment or a capella singing is permitted

Introduction must include Entrant’s names

Troupe Number

Title of Selection

Playwright/Composer’s Name

Must wear all black

No props, costumes or theatrical makeup

Up to six chairs

One table

Costume Design

One Designer

Design for a published play written for the theatre

Five Color Renderings No finished costumes are permitted

8 Minute Presentation with a 4 minute Q&A

10” x 15” or 11’ x 17” display board with 8” – 10” figures

½” binder with additional information

Must wear all black

The introduction to the presentation must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of play, and playwright. A thirty-second oral play synopsis should be prepared as part of the presentation.

Costume Construction One Designer You must choose a pattern that is currently available for purchase Must be a fully constructed item and entirely original For a millinery option, the entrant may choose to create a hat using a

pre-existing “hat blank” or use the text From the Neck Up by Denise Dreher to pattern and construct a hat

Itemized expense sheet and receipts must be mounted on board All materials may not exceed $100 (excluding pattern) For millinery, receipts may not exceed $50

20’ x 30’ display board with a collage of the process 8 Minute Presentation with a 4 minute Q&A Costume displayed on a hanger or in a box Must wear all black The introduction to the presentation must include only the entrant’s

name, troupe number, title of play, and playwright. A thirty-second oral play synopsis should be prepared as part of the presentation.

Lighting Design One Designer

A design for one published play written for the theatre

¼”or ½” Light Plot, Conceptual Visualization, Magic Sheet

½” binder with additional information

8 Minute Presentation with 4 Minute Q&A

Must wear all black

The introduction to the presentation must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of play, and playwright. A thirty-second oral play synopsis should be prepared as part of the presentation.

Scenic Design

One Designer A design for one published play written for the theatre (full play, not

just a scene from the play) Ground Plan, Model and/or Perspective Rendering (model must be

brought to conference – pictures of the model are not acceptable) ½” binder with additional information 8 Minute Presentation with 4 Minute Q&A Must wear all black The introduction to the presentation must include only the entrant’s

name, troupe number, title of play, and playwright. A thirty-second oral play synopsis should be prepared as part of the presentation.

Sound Design

One Designer

A design for one published play written for the theatre

Speaker Plot, Block Diagram, Design Statement, CD Be sure to have a back up CD!

8 Minute Presentation with 4 Minute Q&A

Must wear all black

The introduction to the presentation must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of play, and playwright. A thirty-second oral play synopsis should be prepared as part of the presentation.

Theatre Marketing

One Designer

A design for one published play written for the theatre and presented by the school

½” binder with additional information

8 Minute Presentation with 4 Minute Q&A

Poster, Programs, Press Releases, Promotional Project, Budget

Must wear all black

The introduction to the presentation must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of play, and playwright. A thirty-second oral play synopsis should be prepared as part of the presentation.

Stage Management

One Entrant

Must be from a realized production in school or community theatre

Prompt Book and relevant paperwork in a three ring binder

8 Minute Presentation with 4 Minute Q&A

Must wear all black

The introduction to the presentation must include only the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of play, and playwright. A thirty-second oral play synopsis should be prepared as part of the presentation.

Short Film

One Director May be a collaboration

Original Concept

No Copyrighted Music

Under 5 Minutes - including opening title screen and final credits

Material deemed disruptive or obscene may result in a lower rating or disqualification

New rubrics have been added for Documentary and Animated

For an example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMNz_RQRMAs

Additional Info

If you are using a piece from a published play that is also a movie, the piece MUST BE from the published play.

Judges will mark final times on the score sheet. They will also mark any infractions (not wearing all black, use of props). The tab room will determine disqualifications. Performances that exceed the time limit by 30 seconds will be stopped by the judges.

Black shoes are now required.

Double check rights. Neil Simon now requires prior approval and fee.

Additional Info

For complete information, please read the NIES Guide and the Red Light/Green Light list at http://www.mo-thespians.com/individual-events

General Rules - ITF

Qualifying for the National Individual Events

To qualify for NIES at the International Thespian Festival, entrants must receive an overall assessment rating of Superior at their Chapter Conference/Festival or at a similar qualifying event for their chapter.

Inclement weather In the event that weather prevents entrants from traveling to the

Chapter’s qualifying event, a school administrator must provide written documentation to EdTA stating that entrants were prevented from attending the Chapter event because the administration canceled all travel due to inclement weather. EdTA must receive this written documentation within the two weeks following the qualifying event. When this letter has been received, entrants may follow the procedure for schools that do not offer Individual Events.

General Rules - ITF

1. Entrants who qualify for Individual Events through participation in a Chapter Conference/Festival must present exactly the same work at both the chapter and national levels. 2. Substitutions are not allowed. Entrants who qualified at a Chapter Conference/Festival and who are listed on the chapter qualifier form are the only ones qualified to perform at ITF. 3. However, in the category of Group Musical and Group Acting, drops will be allowed, but no substitutions are permitted in any category.

For more information or sample rubrics for Individual Events, go to: http://www.mo-thespians.com/individual-events