JRAY 2019-2020 JUDGING CRITERIA
Actor/Actress Categories (Lead, Supporting, Featured, Cameo):
SINGING
Vocal Tone:
Quality of the voice
Audibly pleasing and enjoyable
Musicianship:
Execution of notes, phrasing and rhythms; Fluid, audible quality in music
Intonation and Projection:
Ability to sing on pitch; Volume, breath and range
ACTING
Natural Ability
Instinctive talent that is spontaneous
Sensitivity in creating an emotional and physical genuineness
Chemistry—Develops a strong synergy / relationship with other characters
Characterization
Appropriate and consistent physical mannerisms, tones of voice, rhythm, etc. to play a specific character
Gives life to the character through the play’s reality; maintains consistency of character
Speech and Vocal Production
Performances are vocally appropriate; Articulation: Easy to hear, understand with clarity and consistency of diction and /or dialect used; understands timing, the extra beat/stress
PHYSICAL EXPRESSION/DANCING
Technique
Skill and execution of the movement; Ability to perform the choreography cleanly and in sync with the others; Appropriate movement for the particular character, scene, or show
Energy
Vibrancy of how the dancing is performed; Energy level appealing for the particular character, scene, or show;
Presence and confidence; a natural ease and comfort within the body; minimal tension
Style
Dancer’s ability to convey the style of the choreography in connection to the era of the show; Proper emotion conveyed through the dancing or movement
Overall Impression/Feeling
Performer has “It” or “Wow” Factor
Degree of difficulty required for the role raises performance to another level
Soloist Female/Male Category:
Vocal Tone
Quality of the voice
Audibly pleasing and enjoyable
Musicianship
Execution of notes and rhythms
Fluid, audible quality in music
Coloring & phrasing demonstrates range, emotional power and variability of style
Intonation and Projection
Ability to sing on pitch;
Volume and range—has command of breath
Overall Impression/Feeling
Performer has “It” or “Wow” Factor
Degree of difficulty required for the song raises performance to another level
COMEDIENNE/COMEDIAN Category:
Characterization
Appropriate and consistent physical mannerisms, tones of voice, rhythm, etc. to play a comedic character;
Gives life to the character through the play’s reality; maintains consistency of character IS FUNNY!
(Made you laugh out loud);
Instinctive talent that is spontaneous
Technical/Speech Skills
Performance is vocally appropriate; Articulation: Easy to hear and understand with clarity and consistency of diction and /or dialect/ accent used
Understands timing, the extra beat/stress for comedic effect;
Physicality/Presence
Sensitivity in creating an emotional and physical genuineness (believability)
Comfortable and easy in own body & movement
Chemistry—Develops a strong synergy / rapport with other characters
Impression/Feeling
Performer has “It” or “Wow” Factor
Degree of difficulty required for the role raises performance to another level
Dancer Female/Male Category:
Technique
Skill, precision, and execution of the movement
Ability to perform the choreography cleanly and in sync with the others
Appropriate movement for the particular character, scene, or show
Excellent technique possibly in more than one dance style; strong jumps and turns
Strength, balance & flexibility—evidence of good training
Control—awareness of others around them
Rhythm
Energy
Vibrancy of how the dancing is performed
Energy level appealing for the particular character, scene, or show
Strong Presence, ability to fill the theater
The performance/ characterization is sustained throughout the show
Joyfulness- loves it and radiates it
Style/Character
Dancer’s ability to convey the style of the choreography in connection to the era of the show
Proper emotion conveyed through the dancing;
Strong acting skills that stay true to the character physically and emotionally—Believability & Truthfulness;
The character’s relationships to others – interaction, connection, playfulness -ability to relate to others
The ability to further the telling of the story
Overall Impression/Feeling
Performer has “It” or “Wow” Factor
Degree of difficulty required for the choreography raises performance to another level
ENSEMBLE Category
Cohesiveness
All together now!
Cast was supportive and embellished rather than detracting; constant engagement; no drops!
Energy
Vibrancy with movement and interactions; Energy level high but varied and appropriate for the particular scene or moment of the show
Execution
In sync with blocking and staging—timely cues;
Integrated seamlessly with the leads; no upstaging;
Presence and confidence; a natural ease and comfort within the body ensemble; minimal tension or stiffness
Overall Impression/Feeling
Ensemble has “It” or “Wow” Factor
Extra cohesiveness and/or engagement raises performance to another level
STUDENT ORCHESTRA Category
Pitch
No “sour horns,” wayward strings or squeaking reeds; ability to complement each other, harmonize and be together
Tempo
Varied and appropriate to the score; mindful of the mood and energy within the story being told.
Supportive of Performers
Not overly loud or zealous; complemented the singers without drowning them out; cued off the actors and kept tim
Overall Impression/Feeling
“It”/ “Wow” Factor
Degree of Difficulty
STUDENT STAGE MANAGER Category
Pre-production/ Rehearsals
Student ran rehearsals, created a schedule
Created a prompt book; assisted director with props, cues, other production issues
Technical Execution
Called lighting, sound, set change cues; smoothness of scene transitions
Demonstrated technical standards—no glaring detractions from the flow and sequence of the production
Evidence of “in-show” adjustments of fixing of issues
Leadership/Collaboration
Visible evidence of a process, choice of and/or work-arounds for available technical resources, crew selection and delegation of duties
Overall Impression/Feeling
“It”/ “Wow” Factor
Degree of Difficulty
COSTUME DESIGN Category
Design, Research, and Analysis
Design, research and analysis addresses the artistic, historical (proper period/era) and practical requirements of the script to support the design and the unifying concept.
Artistic Interpretation
Design choices reflect the mood, style, period, locale, and genre of the play through the controllable properties of color, material and styling choices
Creativity and originality
Execution
Available resources/materials were appropriately chosen;
Workmanship evident; design consistently sustains the unifying concept; No glaring exceptions or inconsistencies of design, period or style in support of unifying theme.
“It” or “Wow” Factor
Originality and creativity stand out
Excellence achieved within limited budget/resources; degree of difficulty noted.
SETS Category
Design, Research, and Analysis
Design, research and analysis addresses the artistic, historical and practical requirements of the script to support the design and the unifying concept
Functionality of set. How well the set changes are accomplished from a mechanical standpoint
There is a balanced and appropriate blend of material and mixed medium
Artistic Interpretation
Design choices reflect the mood, style, period, locale, and genre of the play through the controllable properties of color, material and styling choices
Structure and/or rigging is consistent and supports unifying concept
Harmonious elements that augment rather than detract in a glaring or noticeable way
Use of space
Balance and scale of set for the size of the stage and needed space for actors
Entrance and Exit for actors. How well this is integrated into the set.
Utilizes multiple levels and/or viewing perspectives;
Minimalism/use of lighting vs physical structure
“It” or “Wow” Factor
Originality and creativity stand out
Excellence achieved within limited budget/resources; degree of difficulty noted.
LIGHTING Category
Design, Research, and Analysis
Lighting design, research and analysis addresses the artistic, historical and practical requirements of the script to support the design and the unifying concept
Effective use of color, gobos, spots, specials, area lighting
Use of a light plot
Atmosphere
Does it create and enhance the set mood and feeling of the production (scenes)
Does it create depth within the setDoes it create and define space for the actors
Does it help to aid in carrying the eye through the set
Cueing
Extent to which crew/lighting cue execution did or did not detract from the production
“It” or “Wow” Factor
Originality and creativity stand out
Excellence achieved within limited budget/resources; degree of difficulty noted.
AUDIO/SOUND Category
Effective use of microphone and sound board
Are the right actors mic’d?
Is the sound balanced and mixed properly so the music and vocals work together without over powering each other?
Clarity/Quality Tone
Any feedback, distortion, dead spaces, etc?
How quickly were perceived issues addressed and corrected?
Are the EQ’s set properly. This will help mix the sound better.
Cueing
Cues on time and crisp?
Body mics turned off/on in a timely and appropriate manner?
“It” or “Wow” Factor
Excellence achieved within limited budget/resources; degree of difficulty noted.
No FLAWS detected!
CREW/TECHNICAL EXECUTION Category
Unified concept
Artistic, historical and practical requirements of the script supported by crew, the design and the unifying concept
Ease of set changes
Choreographed aspects; crisp and clean transitions;
No disruption to flow of show
Physical structure appropriate in its mechanical application and movement
Integration
How well the movement of scenery and transitions were smoothly (seamlessly) integrated into the flow of the show
Structure and design elements were complemented by use of actors and staging to minimize disruption and/or disguise scene changes
“It” or “Wow” Factor
Excellence achieved within limited budget/resources; degree of difficulty noted.
No FLAWS detected!
Graphic Design/Publicity Category
Design, Research, and Analysis
Beauty and skill of created images;
Originality; Eye-catchability;
Cohesiveness of creative plan applied to marketing;
Use of social media and/or mixed mediumfor marketing concepts
Relevance
Creative relevance to show; themes, colors, layout, concepts consistent with unifying concept of the show
Effective use of resources
(some high schools have more resources);
Demonstrated “outside the box” thinking in multiple media or available school platforms. Student-centered synergy and commitment drove the design campaign.
“It” or “Wow” Factor
Originality and creativity stand out
Excellence achieved within limited budget/resources; degree of difficulty noted
Choreography Category
Concept/Design
Furthers the story
Reinforces/supports relationships
Fits the music, rhythm and musicality;
True to the period
Artistic Interpretation
Has a beginning, middle, and an end- if each number builds
Uniqueness, originality—Is it interesting?
Cleverness- use of props (like the tap number done with the spoons we saw)
Proper balance of homage to original show choreography and blending in of new elements
Execution
Skill, precision, and execution of the movement
Utilizes (takes into account) ability level of the dancers at hand—does not overextend and feature dancers who cannot deliver; features those that do!
“It” or “Wow” Factor
Originality and creativity stand out
Excellence achieved within limited budget/resources or student talent pool;
Degree of difficulty noted
DIRECTION Category
Blocking/Staging
utilizes all available spaces, exits/entrances;
well-balanced dispersal of scenes in multiple staging areas—availed actors of possibilities provided by set;
avoided clutter/“busy-ness;” staging had dynamic flow
-allowed actors to explore physicality and utilize space
evidence of nuanced and purposeful direction that is consistent but appropriate within the script
integration of actors or “disguised” scene changes
Artistic Interpretation
originality and creativity;
vision consistent and supplies cohesive, unified theme;
balance of traditional elements (with an iconic script, for example) with original touches or style that did not detract;
ensemble as integrated, meaningful moving pieces (not just bumps on a log waiting to sing their chorus parts)
Casting
Assigned roles matched students’ natural acting/singing style & abilities, physicality and/or “look”
assignments supported artistic vision and unifying concept;
Diversity and inclusion—non-traditional casting reflects student population
Overall Impression/
Feeling – “Wow” Factor
Excellence achieved within limited budget/talent pool/resources; degree of difficulty noted.
OVERALL PRODUCTION Categories (Drama and Comedy)
Energy
Sustained energy and poppin’ – no drops!
a great range of textures and contrasts fill out the theater experience; both leads and ensemble carried their weight
Acting
Consistently achieved artistic and unifying theme with characterization, speech/intonation, physicality and chemistry.
Singing
clear and pleasant tones;
projection and articulation;
harmonies and ensemble;
appropriateness for show, period and style
Production Value has “it” or “wow” factor
Excellence achieved within limited budget/talent pool/resources; degree of difficulty noted.