Gala or Ceremony

1. Awards will be presented at an Awards Event that will be entitled and described as a "Cappies Gala" or "Cappies Awards Ceremony".
   1. A "Cappies Gala" will be formal, with entertainment.
   2. A "Cappies Awards Ceremony" will be informal, and/or without entertainment.
2. No event name, other than "Cappies", will be attached to a Gala or Ceremony.
   1. An Award will be called a "Cappie", with no other name attached.
   2. The front cover of the event program will include the Cappies name and logo, and may include the name and/or logo of the Venue, as the location (but not as the "presenter") of the Awards event.
   3. The names and/or logos of any other organizations or individuals may appear only on the inside, back cover, and/or interior printed materials of the event program, and may be described as "sponsors" but not as "presenters".
3. The Steering Committee will oversee a Gala or Ceremony, and will be responsible for its content.
   1. The Steering Committee will select one or more producers, who may be joined by one or more producers representing the Venue.
   2. The producer(s) selected by the Steering Committee will select the script writer(s), director(s), and emcee(s).
4. A Steering Committee will select an appropriate Venue for the Cappies Gala.
   1. The Program may enter into any agreement with the Venue that does not conflict with any Rule.
   2. If the Venue sets any condition that conflict with any Rule, the Steering Committee will seek approval from the Governing Board for a waiver of the Rule prior to signing an agreement that includes that condition.
   3. A Program may obtain insurance for a Cappies Gala, if this is a condition set by the Venue.
5. A Gala or Ceremony will present each "Cappie" award individually.
6. A Gala or Ceremony will involve Critics, where feasible, as ushers, handlers of envelopes and trophies, and (optional) as award presenters.
7. A Gala will emphasize student talent, with a substantial portion of the entertainment based on Nominations and/or Critics' Choices from Cappies Shows.
   1. A Steering Committee may elect to invite each Cappies Show which received a Nomination in the Song and/or Musical Categories to present the nominated song or Critics' Choice song from the nominated Musical, and each Cappies Show which received a Nomination in the Play Category to present a brief scene (recommended for Programs with twelve or more Participating Schools).
   2. At the start of the Program Year, a Program's Steering Committee may set an alternative policy of allowing Show Directors from Participating Schools with a Cappies Show that has received a nomination for Musical to select alternative songs for performance at a Gala or Ceremony, but only if:
      1. Required by compelling circumstances.
      2. The Cappies Show that received a Nomination for Musical has also received a Nomination for Song, in which case the nominated Song may not be replaced.
   3. Shortly before the Gala, another student from the Nominee's school will be designated to accept an award for the Nominee, if one is given.
   4. If no other student is present from that Nominee's school, a Critic from another school, preferably a Critic seated in the Nominee's section who
   5. Alternatively (for a small Program), a Steering Committee may elect to invite each Participating School to perform either its Critics' Choice Song or a brief Scene from its Play.
   6. When a Song or Scene from a Cappies Show is performed in a Gala or Ceremony, or in any opening or closing number, and if admission is charged at the Gala, and unless the Song or Scene is a parody under the "fair use" exception to the copyright laws, an attempt will be made to obtain permission for each Song or Scene from the lawful owner of rights to that Song or Play.
8. A Gala or Ceremony will include:
   1. Recognition of Critics.
   2. Recognition of Mentors and Show Directors.
9. A Gala will include:
   1. Opening and closing numbers (which may be, but is not required to be, the parody numbers "Come On, Get Cappies," and "One," provided by The Cappies).
   2. Procession of Nominees.
   3. Summary of the year's Cappies Shows, by video or other means.
10. A Gala or Ceremony will have award presenters who may include:
    1. Office holders.
    2. School administrators.
    3. Theater professionals, media personalities, and other locally prominent persons.
    4. Award Winners from prior Program Years.
    5. Steering Committee Members.
    6. Critics.
    7. Other persons who have provided service to the Cappies.
11. At a Gala, Awards will be presented only to persons who are, or who could be, eligible for Cappie Awards.
    1. Awards may be accepted onstage only by students in grades 9 to 12.
    2. No student in grades 8 or below, and no adult, including a director or performer in a show receiving an award, may go onstage at a Cappies Gala, alone or as part of a group, to receive a Cappie award.
    3. Shortly before a Cappies Gala, a list will be made of Nominees who are not present at the Gala.
    4. For any Nominee who is not present at a Cappies Gala:
       1. Shortly before the Gala, another student from the Nominee's school will be designated to accept an award for the Nominee, if one is given.
       2. If no other student is present from that Nominee's school, a Critic from another school, preferably a Critic seated in the Nominee's section who reviewed the Nominee's Cappies Show, will be designated to accept an award for the Nominee, if one is given.
12. A Gala or Ceremony will not be a forum for promotion of commercial enterprises or non-profit organizations other than the Cappies.
    1. Presenter introductions and comments will not include any promotional statements, beyond the stating of the name of the corporation or organization and a description of its relationships to the Cappies.
    2. No Award will be presented at a Gala or Ceremony, unless the winner is selected by Critics or through other procedures set forth in these Rules.
    3. This Rule may be waived or modified only with advance permission from the Governing Board.
13. Prior to the Awards event, information about Cappie winners will remain confidential.
14. Not later than 24 hours following a Gala or Ceremony, the Program Director will post Cappie winners on the Program's web page.