University of Northern Colorado's production number, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Conference 2007.

Improv Frenzy - New Event for Conference 2008 

Part of being a great improviser is being able to stay calm while in the midst of the flurry and excitement surrounding a performance. Because you are not only acting, you are also writing your entire script as you go, and being able to focus and be in the moment with your fellow cast members is crucial. The Improv Frenzy will test the player’s ability to stay connected and perform fluidly by giving a completely fresh approach to what they currently know about improv.

The Improv Frenzy event will combine students from different schools on teams with people from other schools who have been working on playing the same games. A good improviser knows their stuff and is excited to jump into The Improv Frenzy and play with people they meet for the first time.

How the Improv Frenzy works:

• There is a limit of 20 teams who may participate in this event.
• Each school may submit one team of five students who have been working solidly on the games that will be scored by the Improv Frenzy moderators.
• Each school’s submitted team of five will be divided and placed on a new team of five, consisting of students all from other schools. Each team will have 30 minutes to meet, warm up and go over the five games they will be playing together.
• Each game will be played in one of four rooms and each of those rooms is assigned a game. Teams will be assigned random, five-minute time slots in each of the four rooms where they will enter to play. Teams will not know what game is going to be played in what room. They will simply show up and play whichever of the four games the Improv Frenzy Moderator assigned to that room announces.
• The team with the highest cumulative score for the day will be announced Saturday afternoon at the Conference’s closing ceremonies, and that team will perform their highest scoring game for the entire audience.

Points are awarded based on:

• Each group’s ability to play together as a cohesive unit. The four games in this event are to be played by all members of the team. Group participation and each individual’s ability to participate in a way that helps build something unique, as a team, is essential. This includes being able to give and take focus in a way that is polite and helps you to share the stage without railroading one another.
• A group’s ability to follow the rules of each game set forth by the Improv Frenzy Coordinator. This is especially important, as many games are taught by different names or with slightly different rules. In order to maintain consistency across the board, it is imperative that all teams learn to play these games by the same rules.
• Ability to play each game within the allotted time limit.
• Playing at the top of their intelligence, i.e., no blue or shock value humor, please & thank you!

Colorado Thespians is happy to announce our Improv Frenzy Coordinator, is the long-time state conference improv instructor Kerstin Caldwell from Gaining Perspective. All participants of The Improv Frenzy are highly welcomed and encouraged to contact Kerstin with any questions regarding how the Frenzy works or if you would like clarification of game rules. Kerstin can be reached via email at Kerstin or at 720-280-9824.  Improv Frenzy Rules and Events.

 Mountain Vista High School, Rosencrantz, and Denver School of the Arts, Parade. Conference 2007

Colorado Individual Events Showcase (CIES)

The Colorado Individual Events Showcase (CIES) audition series is intended to be an educational program that offers Conference delegates the opportunity (using the audition approach) to receive constructive feedback on prepared theatrical material and technical designs. The goal for participating students is to find their talent, strengths, and weaknesses and to grow as theatre artists. The auditions culminate in the selection of a performance showcase cast of outstanding entries.

Participants from up to twelve selected performance events will present their selections on main stage. Three participants will also be selected from the technical events (Publicity Design, Costume Design, and Scenic Design) to participate in the showcase. Because the showcase will be cast with representatives of the highest quality performances, each category may not be represented.

The following is a list of eligibility requirements and rules regarding Individual Events.

Qualifying for National IES auditions

Most entrants qualify for the NIES auditions at their chapter conference or festival; at these, the last adjudicated event in the chapter, even if it is a regional and not a chapter-wide event, is the chapter’s qualifying event. The following are the only ways to qualify for NIES auditions at the International Thespian Festival:

• Qualification for students from chapters that do offer Individual Events at their chapter conference:
• For students from chapters that offer IEs at their chapter Thespian conference, the only means of qualification is by receiving a superior rating or a first-, second-, or third-place ranking at this year’s chapter conference. A student is considered “qualified” only if he or she met the chapter’s qualification criteria; that is, if a chapter requires that a student(s) must have a superior to qualify for NIES, then regardless of whether or not the student(s) received a first-, second-, or third-place ranking, they must have a superior rating and be on the form submitted by the chapter director, with no exceptions. Students who do not participate in Individual Events at their chapter conference or do not place as described above are ineligible.
• After their chapter conference, Thespian chapter directors are required to send to the home office the Individual Events Qualification Form, which will list those students who qualified to participate at International Thespian Festival. Students who register for NIES at Festival must appear on their chapter’s qualification form—no exceptions!

• Students from chapters that do not have a chapter conference or do not offer Individual Events at their chapter conference can qualify by one of two ways:

• Students may qualify by receiving one of the rankings or ratings listed in the first paragraph under item 1 above at a similar non-Thespian theatre festival (those students must send in a copy of proof of their ranking or rating with their registration).
• Students may qualify by submitting two letters of recommendation from individuals (other than the student’s troupe director) who teach or direct theatre.

INCLEMENT WEATHER CLARIFICATION: In the event that weather prevents entrants from traveling to the chapter’s qualifying auditions at a chapter festival, the school must provide written documentation to the home office from a school administrator stating they were prevented from attending the chapter event because the administration canceled all travel due to inclement weather. The home office must receive this written documentation within two weeks of the chapter festival. Upon receipt, the school may then register students for NIES auditions following the procedure for those schools that do not have a chapter NIES-qualifying audition.

Colorado Conference CIES registration

In order to be accepted into the CIES auditions at the Colorado Thespian Conference, each entrant must:

• be registered for the conference
• be registered for no more than two Individual Events as part of the online registration process
• pay a registration fee of $10 per individual and per event (an event means each monologue, duet acting, solo musical theatre, duet musical theatre, group musical theatre, mime, costume design, publicity design, scenic design, short film, or stage management).

All complete applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be accepted until all requirements are met. Incomplete applications include:

• those of students not registered for Conference
• those not accompanied by registration fee
• those that do not include titles of performance or design presentations

Individual Events scheduling

• The CIES events are scheduled on Friday from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Events selected for main stage and exhibition will be posted by 7:00 p.m. Friday evening outside of the registration room.
• Delegates may attend any Individual Events session. Seats will available on a first-come, first-served basis. Audience members will be allowed entrance between performances. Because Individual Events include an adjudication process, audience members are required to remain quiet throughout the session. Silent applause is encouraged in CIES rooms in order not to disturb other events at the Colorado Convention Center.
• The CIES will be held in the Colorado Convention Center. Those selected for the showcase (both performance and technical) will need to be available for a “technical run-through” prior to the showcase, meet in the Wells Fargo Theatre during session six.

Rules

Rules for all performance/design events are as follows:

1. The performance events offered at Colorado Thespian Conference are Monologue, Duet Acting, Solo Musical Theatre, Duet Musical Theatre, Group Musical Theatre, and Mime (solo or duet). The technical events offered are Costume Design, Publicity Design, Scenic Design, Short Film, and Stage Management.
2. Each entrant is permitted to participate in only two events.
3. Entrants who qualify for National IES auditions through participation in the Colorado Thespian conference must present the same work at both chapter and international levels. Other qualifying entrants are expected to present the works listed on their registration.
4. Substitutions are not allowed; those who qualified at a chapter conference (and who are listed on the registration form) are the only ones who are qualified to perform at the National Festival; however, in the category of Group Musical, drops will be allowed. No substitutions are permitted in any category.
5. No theatrical makeup is allowed in any event. Costumes are not allowed in a solo event. Participants should dress as they would for a general audition or interview. The wearing of appropriate footwear is strongly encouraged in all events. In duet and group events, an actor wearing dancewear and coordinated clothing of combinations of black and white or colors is acceptable if, in the opinion of the judges, it does not costume the character in a traditional way (appropriate to the time and place of the piece as written). Care should be taken to avoid replicating a non-traditional costume style associated with the selection.
6. No props are allowed. This includes hand-held props.
7. All performance events are limited to five (5) minutes after the introduction. All technical presentations will be limited to ten (10) minutes. Any entrant who goes over the time limit cannot be considered for callbacks.
8. The introduction must only include the entrant’s name, troupe number, title of selection(s), and the name of the playwright, composer, or lyricist.
9. For all music events, performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. NO live music, accompanists, or a capella is permitted. A CD/cassette player will be provided. Performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player.
10. For Mime, a CD/cassette player will be provided. Performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player.
11. Evaluation forms are available to CIES participants to help them understand adjudication criteria; the forms can be found on the EdTA website or by contacting the CIES coordinator.

Specific event rules

Monologue

1. Entrants must present two contrasting selections that may be different in period, style, or mood.
2. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as film, poetry, fiction, or song lyrics are not permitted.
3. Only one character from each play may be used.
4. The performance of both selections combined cannot exceed five (5) minutes. Time will start once the performer speaks after the conclusion of the introduction.

Duet Acting

1. Entrants must present one selection.
2. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as film, poetry, fiction, or song lyrics are not permitted.
3. Each participant must be actively involved in the scene.
4. The performance cannot exceed five (5) minutes. Time will start once a performer speaks after conclusion of the introduction.

Solo Musical Theatre

1. Entrant must present one selection.
2. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as film, poetry, fiction, or song lyrics are not permitted.
3. The selection may contain dialogue.
4. The performer MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. NO live music, accompanists, or accapella is permitted. A CD/cassette player will be provided. Performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player.
5. The performance cannot exceed five (5) minutes. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.

Duet Musical Theatre

1. Entrants must present one selection.
2. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as film, poetry, fiction, or song lyrics are not permitted.
3. Performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. NO live music, accompanists, or accapella is permitted. A CD/cassette player will be provided. Performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player.
4. Each participant must be actively involved in the scene.
5. The performance cannot exceed five (5) minutes. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.

Group Musical Theatre

1. “Group” means three (3) to sixteen (16) performers.
2. Entrants must present one selection.
3. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as film, poetry, fiction, or song lyrics are not permitted.
4. Material must be drawn from published scripts written for theatre. Works from other forms such as film, poetry, fiction, or song lyrics are not permitted. The selection may contain dialogue.
5. Performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment. NO live music, accompanists, or accapella is permitted. A CD/cassette player will be provided. Performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player.
6. Each participant must be actively involved in the scene.
7. The performance cannot exceed five (5) minutes. Time will start once the music begins after conclusion of the introduction.

Mime (formerly pantomime)

• Entrant(s) must present one selection.
• Only solo or duet performances are allowed.

1. No lip-synching or audible vocal sounds by the performer(s) are permitted.
2. Performers MUST use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment or non-vocal sound effects. A CD/cassette player will be provided. Performers are encouraged to bring their own CD player.
3. If the performance is a duet, both participants must be actively involved in the scene.
4. Performance cannot exceed five (5) minutes. Time will start once a performer moves after conclusion of the introduction.

Costume Design

1. Presentation must be a design for one published play written for the theatre. Designs for performances of poetry, fiction, screenplays, or any other medium are not permitted.
2. The entrant must present five character renderings. These may represent five different characters or follow a single character through several appropriate changes. No more than five renderings will be permitted. No finished costumes will be permitted.
3. Each design must be executed in full color on a 10" x 15" white illustration board. All figures must be 10" tall. The base of the figure must be 3" from the lower edge of the board. Template or trace characters may be used as a base.
4. The board should be labeled in the following manner: (a) upper left-hand corner: play title and playwright; (b) upper right-hand corner: character’s name, act, and scene; (c) lower right-hand corner: entrant’s name and troupe number. No other information may be written on the board.
5. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
6. The entrant must make an oral presentation justifying the designs. Note cards may be used. The entrant must also be prepared to answer questions about the design presented. Questions will not be part of the ten (10) minute allotted time.
7. The oral presentation cannot exceed ten (10) minutes. Time will start once the presenter speaks after conclusion of the introduction.

Publicity Design

The following materials are to be presented:

1. Poster design or finished poster
2. Program design or finished program
3. Two press releases consisting of an informational article and feature article
4. A promotional project idea or documentation of a completed promotional project
5. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
6. The entrant must make an oral presentation justifying the designs. Note cards may be used. The entrant must also be prepared to answer questions about the design presented. Questions will not be part of the ten (10) minute allotted time.
7. The oral presentation cannot exceed ten (10) minutes. Time will start once the presenter speaks after conclusion of the introduction.

Scenic Design

1. The presentation must be a design for one published play written for the theatre. Designs for performances of poetry, fiction, screenplays, or any other medium are not permitted.
2. The entrant must construct an original three-dimensional model OR a perspective rendering executed to the scale of either ¼" = 1'0" OR ½"=1'0" showing the set and its relationship to the theatrical space. Either model or rendering will be permitted, but not both.
3. At least one figure must be included in the model or rendering to show proportion and scale.
4. The entrant must draw a floor plan to the same scale.
5. All forms of staging are permitted. The set design must clearly define the performance space and audience configuration.
6. Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
7. The entrant must make an oral presentation justifying the designs. Note cards may be used. The entrant must also be prepared to answer questions about the design presented. Questions will not be part of the ten (10) minute allotted time.
8. The oral presentation cannot exceed ten (10) minutes. Time will start once the presenter speaks after conclusion of the introduction.
   

Short Film

• Entrants must submit a DVD, capable of being played on a multi-scan DVD player, with an original short film that is no longer than five (5) minutes in length from opening title screen to final credits.

1. Films must be of original content and may be collaborations between entrants. 
2. Music must be original or documented public domain material.
3. Films must contain content that is appropriate for high school audiences.

Stage Management

1. Entrants must present a production book including but not limited to:
1. Script with blocking and tech cues (i.e., sounds, lights, etc.)
2. Schedules: rehearsal and performance
3. Scene shift information
4. Costume plot information
5. Prop plot information
2. Entrant has ten (10) minutes to present the production book. Questions from the adjudicators are not included in the ten (10) minute allotted time.

Important note on copyright

Individual Events participants are required to comply with the law in the use of copyrighted material—monologues and scenes from published plays. Each CIES entrant is required to secure, proof of permission to perform any copyrighted material used in the performance. It is the responsibility of the CIES participant or his or her school to contact the publisher of the copyrighted material and request permission to perform the piece. We recommend making the permission request as early as possible.

Musical Events, Mime, Design, and Stage Management events are not required to submit proof of permission.

If the text of the IE performance is in the public domain, the participant or school is responsible for verifying the public domain status.

No Individual Event registration will be accepted for the National Festival without evidence of permission or verification of public domain status.