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SAN JUAN COLLEGE 4 CORNERS
THEATRE FESTIVAL

GENERAL RULES AND GUIDELINES
Revised 2004

I. Eligibility

II. Main Activities

There are five activity categories: Audience-Critic, One Act Play or Long Scene, Monologue, Duet and Backstage.

1. Audience-Critic: If a school chooses to participate in this event, the respective coach will designate no more than FOUR students to represent their school in this activity. (To qualify for Sweepstakes, a high school must enter at least three students in this category. ) Students must be designated on the Instructor's Reply Form or at the time of check in.
   1. Each participant will CLEARLY and properly complete a critique sheet, provided by the festival host (see copy attached) for two One-Act Plays/Long Scenes. Each student critic may write several critiques and select his or her best two critiques to submit. However, the selections must be made by the student. Coaches will not be allowed to review critiques and enter the best.
   2. It is the responsibility of the participating student to seek out and submit the critique forms he or she wishes to be judged to an Usher or Timekeeper. DO NOT SUBMIT THEM TO A JUDGE. The participating student will clearly indicate "PLEASE ADJUDICATE" at the top of the critique form.
2. One-Act Play/Long Scene Presentation: When tallying points in this competition, this activity counts FOUR TIMES as much as any other activity.
   1. Total time of play/scene for this event will be no more than 40 minutes. (Cuttings of larger acts or plays are allowed.)
      1. Set-up and strike are included in the total time. The total set-up and strike time should not exceed 10 minutes.
      2. Dressing and makeup should be completed in the time a school is "on deck", not earlier.
   2. A school may elect to submit more than one play in the festival.
      1. If a school has elected to submit more than one play, only one will be entered in the competition. Any other will be considered a friendly entry.
      2. A student is permitted to perform in only one play/long scene.
   3. Students may participate on a crew (off stage) for more than one play/scene, but may qualify for a Backstage award for only one play, which is the FIRST PLAY IN WHICH THEY SERVE BACKSTAGE.
   4. During the 40-minute performance/setup/strike time, coaches WILL NOT be near the on-deck, set-up (acting area), nor the strike area, "directing traffic." This is up to the student Stage Manager. Coaches will remain at least ten yards from the on-deck, set-up (acting area) and strike area. Coaches are also discouraged from helping with makeup and dressing during the on deck period. Although coach support is appreciated, this is to be a student-executed activity and a student-oriented festival at all levels.
   5. Coaches must deliver to judges sufficient copies of their playbills before the 40 minute timing begins. (4-5 to performance judges and 5 to backstage judges)
      1. They must also see to it that a copy of their playbills is delivered to the tabulation room with the Audience-Critic sheets.
      2. At least 100 programs should be supplied to ushers prior to performances.
   6. Friendly entries may be accepted at the discretion of the festival director. (See Section III Friendly Entries below.)
3. Monologue
   1. Each school should have no more than four monologue entries in competition.
      1. To qualify for Sweepstakes a high school must have at least three entries in this category.
      2. Friendly Entries will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. (See Section III Friendly Entries below.)
   2. Selections must be by published authors. Selections should not be coach nor student-written. (Foreign works may be translated by the student or coach.)
      1. Selections may be humorous or serious. Awards are given for each category: humorous and serious. To qualify for Sweepstakes a school must have both humorous and serious.
      2. Students must fill out information on judges' forms and include a notation if the selection is humorous or serious.
      3. High school students must present selections from only drama.
   3. ALL MATERIALS MUST BE MEMORIZED WHEN PRESENTED.
      1. Judges should deduct points at their discretion for any obvious, unmotivated stops, halts, or poor timing that is OBSERVABLE and easily connected to a lack of memorization.
   4. Monologues must be one to three minutes long. Points will be deducted if longer or shorter at the discretion of the judges.
   5. Performers are required to remain in a 10' x 10' performance space.
      1. No more than one table, two chairs and two props are allowed.
      2. SJC provides standard armless chairs and a table if requested.
      3. All props will be provided by the entrant.
   6. Students will introduce their monologues by mentioning their own names, the play title and author, and character's name.
      1. The introduction is NOT included in the one to three minutes.
4. Duet
   1. Each school should have no more than four entries in competition.
      1. To qualify for Sweepstakes, a high school must enter at least three entries in this category.
      2. Friendly Entries will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. (See Section III Friendly Entries below.)
   2. Selections must be by published authors. Selections should not be coach nor student-written. (Foreign works may be translated by the student or coach.)
      1. Selections may be humorous or serious. Awards are given for each category: humorous and serious. (To qualify for Sweepstakes a school must have both humorous and serious selections.)
      2. Students must fill out information on judges' forms and include a notation if the selection is humorous or serious.
      3. High school students must present selections from only drama.
   3. ALL MATERIALS MUST BE MEMORIZED WHEN PRESENTED.
      1. Judges should deduct points at their discretion for any obvious, unmotivated stops, halts, or poor timing that is OBSERVABLE and easily connected to a lack of memorization.
   4. Duets must be four to six minutes long. Points will be deducted if longer or shorter at the discretion of the judges.
   5. Performers are required to remain in a 16' x 16' performance space.
      1. No more than one table, four chairs and four props are allowed.
      2. SJC provides standard armless chairs and a table if requested. All other props will be provided by the entrant.
   6. Students will introduce their duets by mentioning their own names, the play title and author, and characters' names.
      1. The introduction is NOT included in the four to six minutes.
      2. Students must wear their name tags during their duet performance or place them on the judges' table when performing.
5. Backstage
   1. During a required "orientation" meeting students will be given instructions on how to operate lighting and sound equipment. During the performances students will be expected to operate the equipment.
   2. Judges backstage will observe student stagehands and time setup and strike.
      1. Backstage judges will tell student stage managers when they can start the performance after conferring with performance judges and house manager.
   3. Although awards are given for Costumes, Makeup and Hair, Lighting and Sound, and Props and Set execution, these awards do not count towards Sweepstakes placement. Only the Stage Manager award counts towards Sweepstakes.

III. Friendly Entries

1. "Friendly entries," which are monologues, duets, one act plays or scenes performed for practice or experience only, may be accepted at the discretion of the festival director as time and space permit.
   1. Entries will be considered after receiving a written request from a coach at least two weeks before the festival.
   2. Friendly entries will receive critique sheets from judges, but will not qualify for "place" or for awards in any event.
   3. A school may have no more than 4 monologues, 4 duets, and one play or long scene in competition. All others must be considered "friendly entries." The coach must indicate at the time of registration which play is to be considered for competitive purposes.
   4. If more than one One-Act Play is to be entered, it must be clearly indicated on the Instructor's Reply Form.
   5. See section on student eligibility under II.B

IV. Awards

(NOTE: If for any reason the Festival Judges, Director, or Officials determine that there are not enough entrants for a given category or categories, or participant presentation(s) do not satisfy the general caliber of a given category or categories, the Festival Officials are not obligated to offer an award or points for such categories.)

1. First, second, and third place awards will be given (as funding permits) in the following categories:
   1. Audience-Critic
   2. One-Act/Long Scene Presentation
   3. Monologue
      1. A first, second, and third place are awarded in both humorous and serious categories.
   4. Duet
      1. A first, second, and third place are awarded in both humorous and serious categories.
   5. Stage Manager
   6. Costumes
   7. Makeup/Hair
   8. Lighting/Sound
   9. Props/Set

   *Please note: Categories six through nine are for the execution of each category, not the design of each category. Coaches may design the technical aspects of the production, but students must be stagehands and handle these technical elements efficiently in order to qualify for awards.

2. A Sweepstakes award will be presented (as funding permits) in Athens and Sparta divisions.
   1. To be eligible for Sweepstakes, a High School must participate in all five activities and must have at least:
      1. Three entries in Audience-Critic.
      2. One One-Act play or Long Scene
      3. Three entries in Monologues.
      4. Three entries in Duets.
      5. A designated Stage Manager for the One Act play
3. Award determination for Monologues and Duets
   1. Awards will be given on a point averaging basis to determine "place."
      1. Judges' critique sheets will be averaged on a 15-point basis, rounded up to the hundredth point.
      2. See attached critique sheet for judging categories.
   2. Place is determined and points given for each place as follows:
      • 1st=5 points
      • 2nd=3 points
      • 3rd=2 points
      • 4th=1 point
   3. In the event of a tie, all points will be EQUALLY shared at that level and the next descending level.
   4. Remember that there are TWO FIRST PLACES IN MONOLOGUE AND DUET that count towards overall point tally: Monologue has First Place Humorous and Serious; Duet has First Place Humorous and Serious. The places that remain in each category are "at large."
4. Award determination for One-Act Play/Long Scene Presentations
   1. Awards will be given on a point averaging basis to determine "place."
      1. Judges' critique sheets will be averaged on a 15-point basis, rounded up to the hundredth point.
      2. See attached critique sheet for judging categories.
   2. Place is determined and points given for each place as follows:
      • 1st=5 points
      • 2nd=3 points
      • 3rd=2 points
      • 4th=1 point
   3. In the event of a tie, all points will be EQUALLY shared at that level and the next descending level.
   4. After the Place-Point assignment is made, each One-Act play's score is quadrupled (X4) for final point value.
5. Backstage awards
   1. For Backstage achievement awards each place within each category goes to a different school.
   2. Awards are given on a point averaging basis to determine "place."
      1. Judges' critique sheets will be averaged on a 15-point basis, rounded up to the hundredth point.
      2. See attached critique sheet for judging categories.
   3. Place is determined and points given for each place as follows:
      • 1st=5 points
      • 2nd=3 points
      • 3rd=2 points
   4. In the event of a tie, all points will be EQUALLY shared at that level and the next descending level.
   5. The Stage Manager Activity only will be counted towards Sweepstakes.
   6. All Coaches must mark their critique sheets "please adjudicate" for any Backstage events they wish to have counted for any awards.

V. Timing

Each school is responsible for the overall preparedness and timing factors of their own entries. Neither judges nor timekeepers will try to overtly distract or get the attention of a performer during the performance simply to make the performer aware of time limits.

VI. Conduct/Etiquette

1. All judges, coaches, students, and chaperones are expected to display good examples of fair play, good "sportsmanship," respectfulness, and responsibility. Poor conduct and etiquette during the oral critique of One-Act plays by either students or coaches will not be tolerated. Any obvious rule violation may result in the disqualification of an entire school entry or individual(s) entry as appropriate. If there are any disputes, the decision of the Festival Director is final.
2. Anyone arriving after a performance has begun will be seated in the balcony. Late arrivals are to be discouraged because it disrupts students performing.
3. It is suggested that all schools, if not on deck or in a critique session, attend all shows in order to provide an audience for those schools which are performing.
4. Appropriate audience etiquette will be expected from all audience members.

VII. Criteria for each Event/Activity

See the critique sheet (usually publicized in the back of the Festival Playbill/Guide) or write to the SJC Theatre Director for critique sheets of the respective event(s) you desire.

San Juan College Director of Theatre
4601 College Boulevard
Farmington, New Mexico, 87402
Telephone: (505) 566-3242 FAX: (505) 566-3673;
E-mail: heaths@sanjuancollege.edu