Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival Packet. Documents Enclosed. Documents to Return

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1 Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival Packet Dear School Coordinator: This packet of materials is designed to help you in planning and organizing your students performances at the Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival at the PACE Center on Wednesday, March 7, Please review the enclosed packet. Complete the Entry Form and return it to Parker Arts, c/o Shakespeare Festival, Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker, Colorado, 80138, or via at by December 1, Documents Enclosed Please review: Participation Guidelines Festival Day Schedule of Events (Tentative) Forms and Deadline Information Entry Form Evaluation Form Busker Audition Form T-Shirt Order Form Frequently Asked Questions School Audition Poster Documents to Return Please return: Entry Form - by December 1, 2017 Evaluation Form and Rubric to judges at auditions and performances with copy of play excerpt being performed Busker Audition Form by January 19, 2018 (Auditions January 30) T-Shirt Order Form by February 1, 2018 Please direct questions to Shakespeare Festival Coordinator Carmella Gates at or PACEedu@parkeronline.org. Thank you for your time and commitment to participate in this event for our student community! Sincerely, Carmella Gates Shakespeare Festival Coordinator Kirstin Fletcher Parker Arts Education Manager

2 Participation Guidelines Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival is a theatrical competition for Douglas County middle schools and high schools. Students will perform a scene or portion of a scene from a Shakespeare play or soliloquy of their choosing and be evaluated by expert judges. The highest scoring performances will perform on the PACE Center Main Stage and will win the Bard s Prize trophy for their school! Rules Student participants must attend a Douglas County middle school or high school, or be homeschooled for middle or high school in Douglas County. Student groups/soliloquies will perform a scene or part of a scene from one of William Shakespeare s plays. Group scenes should be between two to five minutes. The number of actors in a group is determined by the number of roles in the scene being performed. Soliloquies (monologues) should be one to two minutes. A student performing soliloquies must include two contrasting Shakespeare monologues (one comic; one tragic). Up to ten groups/soliloquies may audition at each school. Two to four groups/soliloquies auditioning will be selected to perform at the festival. Festival groups/soliloquies will perform the same scene twice. Each performance will be judged. Shakespeare s exact written words must be used. No paraphrasing or adaptations are allowed. Cuts or condensed formats are permitted, as long as the language is maintained. (Example: combine two sets of lines for an actor by eliminating a character s lines that are not necessary in order to fit the time line.) Please do not attempt English accents. Costumes will be judged. Costumes may be period, similar to those of Shakespeare s time, or other historical time period, or conceptual, as long as they are cohesive, appropriate and enhance performance. Costumes should be simple and should not be rented or expensive. All student props should fit within a 12 gallon tub (22 x15 x12 ). Creative interpretations are allowed, i.e. Romeo and Juliet set in the 1950 s or Macbeth in Star Wars garb, as long as the concept is consistent, cohesive, and enhances the performance.

3 Procedures School Coordinator The School Coordinator oversees the selection of groups, scenes to be performed, rehearsals, and costuming. These activities should be student-directed as much as possible, depending on student experience and skill level. The School Coordinator is responsible for coordinating an audition date, time and location for their school groups, as well as in-school communication, parent communication and permission forms, and overall supervision and coordination of the school s participating groups at the Festival. Additional chaperones are encouraged. Parker Arts is not responsible for student supervision or held liable for their actions. Auditions Each school may have up to ten groups audition (including soliloquies). Two to four groups will be chosen to perform at the Festival. All group auditions will be conducted by Parker Arts judges at your school on the same day determined by the School Coordinator and Festival Coordinator. Each group must provide an Evaluation Form with page one completed and a copy of the excerpt from Shakespeare s play to the judge(s). Scenes should be between two to five minutes. Soliloquies should be one to two minutes and include one comic and one tragic soliloquy. Students should be in costume, but pictures or sketches of costumes are allowed at this time. Judges will take page one of the Evaluation Form and the scoring pages and excerpt will be returned to the School Coordinator at auditions. Transportation Schools are responsible for transportation arrangements and costs. If using Extended Day Buses, they must get students to the Festival by 8:30 a.m. and pick up at 2:15 pm. Parking is available at the PACE Center. Festival Arrival and Attendance School groups should arrive at the PACE Center by 8:30 a.m. and proceed to the PACE Center main stage for the Opening Ceremony. Schools will receive maps and schedules, and festival ambassadors will be available to assist as needed. Students and guests are encouraged to attend the entirety of the festival in order to take advantage of the festival activities including watching other schools perform, Buskers (street performers), playing games, building a Lego model of the Globe Theatre and buying snacks at concessions, as well as pickup pre-ordered T-shirts. PACE Center Stages Performances will take place at pre-scheduled intervals throughout the PACE Center. Stages will be approximately 15 x10. Stage equipment will include: 1 table, and four chairs. Performance Performance schedules listing performance times and stage locations will be sent to school coordinators by mid-feb, 2018 for accepted groups. Groups will perform their scene twice during the Festival. Groups will be provided 10 minutes to set up, perform and strike. Scenes should be between two to five minutes. Soliloquies will be provided 7 minutes to set up, perform

4 and strike. Scene, one comic, one tragic, should be between one to two minutes. Group/soliloquy performances will take place in various stage locations throughout the PACE Center and evaluated by Parker Arts judges. Top Performances and Closing Ceremony Top performance results will be announced at 1:00 p.m. The two highest scoring middle school groups and two highest scoring high school groups, and two highest scoring soliloquies will perform on the PACE Center main stage and receive Bard s Prize trophies, starting at 1:15 p.m. These top performances will be followed by a Shakespeare scene performed by Denver Center for Performing Arts Shakespeare Teaching Artists, and awards ceremony. The festival will conclude at 2:15 p.m. Lunch Students should stay on campus for lunch. Students may bring a sack lunch or preorder a sandwich provided by Subway, and pick up onsite. Snacks, chips, and drinks are available for purchase from PACE Center Concessions. School Coordinators should provide the T-Shirt and Lunch Order Form to students. Students must complete forms and return to School Coordinator with payment for T-Shirts and Subway sandwich order by Feb. 1, Cash or check is acceptable payment. Please make checks payable to Town of Parker. Judges Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival judges are comprised of several local theater actors and directors, trained theater professionals, performing arts teachers, and community members with an extensive background in theater and/or Shakespeare. Questions Direct all questions to Festival Coordinator Carmella Gates at or PACEedu@parkeronline.org. Timeline October 30, 2017 Festival packet sent to school coordinators October 2017 Request Extended Day Buses December 1, 2017 Submit Entry Form January Schedule and hold auditions at schools January 19, 2018 Submit Busker Audition Form January 30, 2018 Busker Auditions at PACE Center February 2018 Release performance schedule February 1, 2018 Submit T-Shirt Order Forms with payment March 7, 2018 Attend Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival at PACE Center

5 Tentative Festival Schedule of Events Wed., March 7, 2018 By 8:30 a.m. Arrival and Fanfare Receive maps and schedule and proceed to the PACE Auditorium. Ambassadors will be available to assist you. 8:45 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. Opening Ceremony: Welcome and receive overview of Festival day. 9:05 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Proceed to Performance Areas Seven performance areas are designated on the map and schedule you received. Please use these materials to determine the time and place of your two performances. 9:20 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Performances Groups will perform their two to five minute scene twice, each in a different performance area. (Soliloquies: one to two minute monologues). Each performance will be evaluated by expert judges and tallied for a total score. While not performing, groups are encouraged to view other school group performances and Buskers, pick up T-shirts, eat lunch or snack. 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Evaluation Break While scores are being tallied, Participants may enjoy Buskers or games on the patio, eat snacks or lunches, visit friends, etc. If you did not order a lunch from PACE, please bring a sack lunch. 1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Top Performer Announcement Announcement of top-scoring performers who will perform on the PACE Center main stage: two middle school groups; two high school groups; and two soliloquies. Please proceed to PACE Auditorium. 1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Closing Ceremony: Top Performances and Awards Six top performer scenes held on the PACE Center main stage: two middle school, two high school, and two soliloquies. A Shakespeare scene performed by professional actors will immediately follow the top performances. The ceremony will conclude with awarding the Bard s Prize trophy, an in-school actor workshop, and a Parker Arts enrichment scholarship. 2:15 p.m. Bus Departure

6 Forms and Deadline Information Required Forms Entry Form indicates your school s commitment to participate, contact information, the expected number of groups auditioning, and preferred dates for auditions to be held at your school. This form is due no later than December 1, Please mail to Parker Arts c/o Shakespeare Festival, Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, CO, or to PACEedu@parkeronline.org. Evaluation Form identifies participating groups/soliloquies scheduled to audition at your school and perform at the Festival. For Auditions: Complete page one of the Evaluation Form for each group/soliloquy auditioning. Attach a copy of the excerpt from Shakespeare s play that will be performed to the Evaluation Form. Give the form and excerpt to the judges(s) at auditions. Due at scheduled auditions. For Performances: Bring two copies of the Evaluation Form with page one completed and a copy of the excerpt for each group/soliloquy performing. Give one form and excerpt to the judge(s) at each of the two performances. Due at each Festival performance. Optional Forms Busker Audition Form audition form to participate in the festival as a street performer. Parker Arts is looking for Buskers to provide entertainment for students and guests during the Shakespeare Festival. Please encourage talented students to audition by providing them the Busker Audition Form. Due to scheduling difficulties, students may not perform in the Shakespeare Festival as a group/soliloquy and also be a busker. Forms are due by January 19, Auditions are January 30, 2018 at the PACE Center. T-Shirt Order Form 2018 Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival T-Shirts will be sold only in advance of the event. T-shirt sales help to defray the cost of the event and keep the festival free for students. We request that you strongly encourage students to purchase T-Shirts. Please provide each participating student with a T-Shirt Order Form, collect completed forms and payment and deliver or mail to Parker Arts, c/o Shakespeare Festival, Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, CO, Checks should be written to the Town of Parker. Forms are due by February 1, 2018.

7 Entry Form Due Date December 1, 2017 Please complete this Entry Form in order for your school to compete in the Shakespeare Festival. Forms must be submitted by December 1, 2017 to Shakespeare Festival Coordinator Carmella Gates via at or mail to Parker Arts, c/o Shakespeare Festival, Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, CO, School Information School Name: School Address: City, State, Zip: School Coordinator Name: Expected # of Groups Auditioning County: Phone: Audition Date Request Please list possible audition dates and times from January 8, to February 9, Each group will audition for two to five minutes (soliloquies one to two minutes) at your school consecutively on the same day. Please list dates in order of preference. You will be contacted to confirm the date and time by December 15, Date: Time: 2. Date: Time: 3. Date: Time: 4. Date: Time: Please direct questions to Carmella Gates, Shakespeare Festival Coordinator, at or at PACEedu@parkeronline.org.

8 Evaluation Form Please have this page completed for each group/soliloquy performing. Give one copy to a Judge in each performance area along with a copy of the Shakespeare text to be performed. School: Group #: Date: School Coordinator: Shakespeare play: Act: Scene: Run time: Performance Stage: Score: Group: Soliloquy: Student Names Participating In Group/Soliloquy:

9 School Scene Group # Performance Evaluation Rubric Distinguished 10-8 points Exemplary 7-5 points Satisfactory 4-2 points Limited 1 point Total Points Shakespearean English (Shakespeare s exact written words) Follows script exactly Excellent understanding of text Comfortable and conversational text delivery enhances performance Few script errors Proficient understanding of text Mostly comfortable text delivery Several script errors Some understanding of text Text delivery is awkward and not convincing Long pauses, loss lines and errors Inconsistent understanding of text Inadequate delivery of text Costumes Appropriate, cohesive and enhance performance Design well thought out and appropriate to character, concept and time period Appropriate and cohesive Fit concept and/or time period Loosely fit concept of scene Inconsistent concept across characters Does not fit concept of scene Concept not apparent Character Development / Relationships Creates unique characters through voice and body Stays in character throughout entire scene Strong depth of character and believability Clearly defined relationships and interactions motivated by text and active listening Strong character journey Creates characters through voice and body Stay in character throughout most of the scene Portrayal of character sustains believability Relationships and interactions somewhat motivated by text & listening Effective character journey Voice and body does not enhance character Inconsistently stays in character Some believable character moments Relationships and Interactions may be forced and not conversational, no active listening Some character journey Minimal use of voice and body In character only when speaking Characterization not believable Relationships not evident, lack of listening Character journey not evident Voice / Projection Voices clear, loud enough to fill the room Various pitches and inflections enhance meaning Voices clear, mostly loud enough to fill the room Use various pitches and inflections Usually clear, sometimes hard to understand or hear Limited variation in pitch and inflection Hard to understand and hear Lack of pitch and inflection Diction Speech is clear, articulate, and easily understood Pauses and phrases are creative, show character s thoughts, and emotions Speech is mostly well articulated and understood Vocal variety somewhat enhance character portrayal Articulation varies, affecting understanding Some vocal variation Words are not understood Lack of vocal variation affects understanding and interest

10 Blocking / Staging Interesting movement about the stage, motivated by text, that enhances performance Actors open to audience throughout Creates interesting and exciting stage pictures Movement is natural and appropriate, to the performance Actors mostly open to audience Creates some interesting stage pictures Some movement about stage, but may not enhance the performance Actors inconsistently open to audience Creates some stage pictures Minimal or unnatural movement Actors often seem unaware of audience Minimal use of stage No stage pictures evident Stage Presence / Energy Honest & strong level of character emotion High level of energy throughout, even in stillness Somewhat honest and appropriate level of character emotions High level of energy evident Some level of character emotion Energy evident only when speaking Minimal character emotion Low or inconsistent energy Overall Presentation Exceptional acting relating to text, and understanding of the purpose of the scene result in overall exceptional performance Creatively orchestrated performance from beginning to end Exceptional ensemble equally involved in every moment Strong acting, understanding of text, and purpose of scene result in effective performance Well-orchestrated throughout Ensemble involved throughout scene Acting demonstrates understanding of text, if not purpose of scene Good flow from beginning to end Some ensemble involved throughout scene Performance does not indicate understanding or purpose of text Uneven or choppy flow throughout Lack of ensemble Total Score for Performance: /80 Comments: Judge Name: *Rubric aligns to Colorado Academic Standards in Theatre Arts and Colorado Thespians Individual Event Criteria, and is adapted from Denver Public Schools Shakespeare Festival rubric.

11 Busker Audition Form Busker: someone who entertains by dancing, singing, or reciting on the street or in a public place. Have you ever wanted to be a street performer? Well, here s your chance! Parker Arts is auditioning voluntary Buskers to perform at the Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival on March 7, Buskers will perform at various locations throughout the PACE Center throughout the morning. Students may not perform in a Shakespeare Festival group and be a Busker. Some Buskers will be in a stationary location, and others will move throughout the festival. Busker Audition Form must be submitted to PACEedu@parkeronline.org by January 19, Busker Auditions will be held on Jan. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the PACE Center. Please prepare a 30 second to one minute sample of your talent for the audition. You will be responsible for your own costume, equipment and instruments. Performances may be of Elizabethan or other historical periods, but they should not include modern music. Some of the talents might include, but are not limited to the following: -jugglers -stilt walkers -balladeers -mimes -small groups of singers -musicians -acrobats/tumblers -clowns -animal tricks -simple magic tricks -shell/pea game -fortune tellers -puppeteers -caricature or profile artist -storytellers Buskers will be cast and notified by February 8, 2018 via provided below. Direct questions to Shakespeare Festival Coordinator Carmella Gates at or PACEedu@parkeronline.org. Busker Audition Registration Name: Age: Phone: School Name: School Coordinator: Busker Performance: Props: Parent Signature:

12 T-Shirt & Lunch Order Form Order your Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival T-Shirt and Subway Sandwich for lunch! Advanced orders are required. Complete and return your order form to your school coordinator by February 1, 2018, along with a check made payable to the Town of Parker. Parker Arts Shakespeare Festival T-shirt Indicate quantity of T-Shirt sizes below: Adult Size Chart Small: x $15 = $ Medium: x $15 = $ Large: x $15 = $ X-Large: x $15 = $ XX-Large: x $18 = $ Total: $ Pre-Ordered Subway Sandwich Indicate quantity of sandwich options below: BLT: x $5 = $ Cold Cut Combo: x $5 = $ Ham and Cheese: x $5 = $ Veggie: X $5 = $ Purchaser Information Total: $ Chips, snacks, and drinks are available for purchase at PACE Center Concessions. School Name: Student Name: Phone: School Coordinator Name:

13 Frequently Asked Questions If you cannot locate the answer to your questions within the Shakespeare Festival Packet, you may find the answers below or additional FAQs listed at You may also contact Festival Coordinator Carmella Gates with specific questions at or FAQs Where can I obtain copies of Shakespeare s plays? All of Shakespeare s works are in public domain, meaning they are not under copyright and can be used and copied at no cost. The complete collection of plays can be found online at shakespeare.mit.edu or How should groups be chosen? Due to the mission of the Shakespeare Festival, Parker Arts prefers all interested students be given the opportunity to audition. Therefore, school coordinators should encourage and accept any student entry. How school coordinators assist students in choosing play excerpts, schedule rehearsals, and prepare costumes is up to the individual coordinator. The Shakespeare Festival is intended to be student driven with minimal support from school coordinators. However, coordinators may consider studying a Shakespeare play in its entirety, and have groups perform scenes to enhance understanding, or allowing auditions to be a factor in student grades, etc. What is meant by Shakespearean English? Shakespearean English means Shakespeare s exact written words, with no adaptations or paraphrasing. Shakespeare s original scripts must be used, not adaptations such as No Fear Shakespeare or other interpretations of his works. How knowledgeable do students need to be about Shakespeare and his works? Students in middle and high school may have a limited knowledge of Shakespeare and his plays. We highly suggest teaching a short unit on Shakespeare, or coordinate with a Language Arts teacher to do so. Even though students are only performing one scene from the play, it is important that they read the play in its entirety to understand how their scene and role fit into the total story. Reading Minimized Shakespeare, Spark Notes or other online summary will suffice. Try to include reading aloud and/or act out parts of the plays. Shakespeare was meant to be performed and observed, and doing this makes it much easier to understand.

14 Should the actors use English accents? Please do not attempt English accents. Americans performing Shakespeare do not use English accents. Also, young people have difficulty maintaining accents throughout a performance, and mistakes might affect performance scores. Where can I obtain costumes? Performers must be in costume, but please do not rent costumes. Costumes do not need to be elaborate or expensive. Many schools have a costume room with appropriate items or ones that are easily adapted. Thrift stores or students and their families may also have useful items. For example, if the performance takes place in the Shakespearean period, a simple long gown or skirt might be appropriate, or leggings and a large pullover with a belt. Creative costuming that fits the time period and/or concept is all that is required. How much should the students do in planning performances? Performances should be as student-directed as possible. Obviously student involvement will vary from school to school, depending on student experience and skills. Middle school students may need more assistance with choosing scenes, rehearsing, costuming, etc., while high school students involved in theatre and literature courses may be able to do all of the planning and coordination with minimal assistance from the School Coordinator. It is up to the School Coordinator to determine what is needed, involving students in these activities as much as possible. However, the School Coordinator must schedule auditions complete and return forms and arrange transportation. Is it appropriate for students to see the evaluation rubric? Absolutely! Definitely review the rubric with the students. It is important they know how and on what they will be evaluated. May a student perform in more than one group? No, due to limited space and time, students may only perform in one soliloquy or group Will groups/soliloquies perform the same scene twice at the festival? Yes. Groups/soliloquies will perform the same scene twice during the festival. Each performance will be evaluated and tallied for a total score. Who is invited to attend the festival? Parents, friends, school representatives, or anyone interested in Shakespeare or theater should attend. All guests may be audience members to any of the stages or festival events at no cost. Will there be a place to store belongings (lunches, jackets, props, etc.)? No. The PACE Center cannot accommodate safe storage of personal belongings. Student performers must carry belongings. All group props must fit within a 12 gallon tub.

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