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WATCH Adjudication Guidelines for 2001
Each element should:
 | Serve the story being told |
| Be appropriate to the piece and the presenting space (in context of director’s
vision) |
| Be of consistent quality throughout the piece |
Please note: Adjudicator’s personal likes/dislikes should not affect scores.
Adjudicators are encouraged to familiarize themselves with pieces that are new to them.
25 Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the following categories:
Performance (8 awards):
Lead Actor in a Play
Lead Actor in a Musical
Lead Actress in a Play
Lead Actress in a Musical
Featured Actor in a Play
Featured Actor in a Musical
Featured Actress in a Play
Featured
Actress in a Musical
Creative:
 | Character serves the story and is believable – choices are clear, appropriate,
consistent. |
Technical (stagecraft):
| Maintains focus throughout; projection, diction, dialect (if applicable) are
appropriate; movement, physicality appropriate and consistent for development of
character. Plays well with others. |
| Additional consideration of musical performances: Vocal/dance abilities consistent and
appropriate to the character. Able to maintain focus and character through musical and/or
dance numbers as appropriate to the story. |
Lead:
| Who the story is about or whose presence is primary to the piece. |
| NOTE: There may be multiple leads by gender or none at all – depending on the
piece. |
Featured:
| All supporting and minor characters. |
Overall (7 awards):
Production of a Musical
Production of a Play
Direction of a Musical
Direction of a Play
Musical Direction
Stage Combat
Choreography
Production (both Play and Musical):
| Story told effectively, blending of technical elements and performance elements
(continuity, flow, pace appropriate). Impact of the piece overall. |
| Production challenges (degree of difficulty) should be considered (think Fantastiks
vs. Follies, or Love Letters vs. Noises Off). |
Direction (both Play and Musical):
| Effective storytelling. Continuity, pace, blocking. |
| Blending of technical elements. Effective use of the presenting space. |
| Vision/concept clear to cast and designers, then presented to audience as a cohesive
whole. Commitment to this vision evident. |
| Appropriate casting. |
| For musicals: seemlessness of songs and dances in the piece as the story is being told. |
Musical Direction:
| Music serves the story – seemlessness from scenes into songs; sensitive to the
theatrical aspects of the music; appropriate use of scene change music; tempos appropriate
to flow and pace of the production |
| Degree of difficulty – consider the music, orchestrations, vocals; large chorus,
difficult harmonies |
| Vocal – consider intonation, harmonies, diction, phrasing, rhythm, style, integrity
to score |
| Orchestra – balance and blend between sections, balance with singers, scale is
appropriate to the piece and the space, intonation within and between sections, integrity
to the score |
Choreography:
| Dance serves the story and is appropriate to the music. |
| Degree of difficulty – should be considered – large production numbers, many
numbers, intricate styles (dream ballets, tap, Fosse), creativity and variety of styles,
integrity to the score (large cuts?) |
| Composition – appropriate steps, formation work, transitions between formations as
well as into and out of dances; style consistent and appropriate to the piece; overall
flow within numbers as well is in the piece |
| Execution – clean, appropriate to level of performers, considerate of singing and
acting while dancing |
Combat Choreography:
| Action serves the story – fits the tone of the scene and motivation of the
characters, weapon choice is appropriate to the period/setting. |
| Degree of difficulty should be considered – large ensembles, intricate movements,
variety of styles. Safety of both performers and audience considered. Taught by certified
individual (SAFD actor/combatant). |
| Natural transitions, realistic movements and reactions. Convincing. |
| Execution – clean, appropriate to level of performers, considerate of singing and
acting while fighting. |
Technical Design (10 awards):
Set Design
Lighting Design
Set Construction
Sound Design
Set Painting
Costumes
Set Decoration/Dressing Make-up/Hair
Properties
Special Effects
Set Design:
| Serves the story and the space – flow smooth between and within scenes, entrances
appropriate. Appropriate scope to the piece. |
| Creative solutions to obstacles in the presenting space (or inherent in the piece) |
| Period and place appropriate. Aids in defining the mood of the piece (reflects
characters). |
| Balances with other technical elements (lights, costumes). Visual interest, style. |
| Sight lines considered – masking adequate as appropriate. |
Set Construction:
| Serves the set design and the story. Safe for the performers. Facilitates scene changes
(quiet, simple). |
| Difficulty of design should be considered. |
| Creative use of materials in creating the illusion of reality. Attention to detail. |
Set Painting:
| Serves the set design and the story. Aids in setting place and time. |
| Balance with other technical elements (lights, costumes). |
| Degree of difficulty – large drops, intricate design, attention to detail. |
| Textures and colors appropriate. Creativity, artistry. |
Set Decoration./Dressing:
| Enhance and complement the set design and the story. |
| Helps set place and period, also a reflects the characters or the piece. |
| Degree of difficulty – unusual demands of story or set design, enhances reality. |
Properties:
| Enhance the storytelling – placement on stage, ease of use as appropriate. |
| Appropriate to time and place – authentic appearance |
| Degree of difficulty – large numbers, unusual items. |
Lighting Design:
| Enhance the story – creates time, place, mood. |
| Creative use in defining space, aiding the flow of the piece. |
| Degree of difficulty – area lights, specials, appropriate effects (gobos, strobes,
etc) blend into the overall storytelling without drawing attention to themselves. |
| Works in conjunction with set and costumes. |
| Effective illumination of stage, actors (as appropriate). Shadows intentional. |
Sound Design:
| Enhance the story – creates time, place, mood. Creative use in aiding the flow of
the piece. |
| Amplification (if applicable) is natural sounding. For musicals: seemlessness into and
out of musical numbers. Orchestra balances with singers. |
| Degree of difficulty – sound effects blend into the overall storytelling without
drawing attention to themselves. |
| Overcame obstacles inherent in presenting space or piece itself (large tap numbers on a
hollow stage). |
Costumes:
| Serve the story – consistent and appropriate period. Compliment the action. Ease of
performance. |
| Color palette works with set and lights. |
| Degree of difficulty – unusual period, large cast, many costume changes.
Authenticity. |
Make-up/Hair:
| Serves the story – aids projection of character. Accurate to period and consistent. |
| Incorporates six key elements of character analysis – HEARTH (Heredity; Environment
– occupation, geography, etc; Age; Race; Temperament – personality, emotional
state; and Health) |
| Consistent with costumes and lights. |
| Degree of difficulty – specialty makeup, large casts, makeup changes (aging
characters during the production |
Special Effects:
| Creative and appropriate use (not gratuitous) in serving the story. |
| Ease of use by performers (if applicable). |
| Degree of difficulty – large or unusual effects. |
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