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Checking in with the Editor Mentor. When you get to a Cappies show, go right to the Cappies room. Look around; there should be signs leading you there. If not, people at the ticket window should be able to help you find it. When you get to the Cappies room, check in with the Editor Mentor (usually a teacher), who will mark you present on the attendance list, indicating that you are eligible to review the show.
After you're signed in, you can spend some time having refreshments (provided by the parent Boosters of the host school ), and looking through the show program and other materials the school has provided, and talking with friends (or making some new ones) until the discussion begins.
Finding Out What's Particular about This Show. Twenty minutes before show time, the Discussion Mentor (typically a teacher) will start a discussion about the show and particular things to watch for in this production of it – in addition to what's in the Theatre Evaluation Guide to "Keep in mind" and "Look and listen for". A few minutes before curtain, the usher will come get everybody from the Cappies room. Take your binder with you so you can note your observations during the show.
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Sharing Opinions and Learning about Theatre. At intermission and again at the end of the show, you'll return to the Cappies room to discuss what you thought about the show per the four evaluation factors for each category in the Theatre Evaluation Guide. This sharing of opinions brings out observations and information that help everyone learn more about theatre, and, thus, write thoughtful reviews and give knowledgeable scores. For instance, you may be wondering what positive aspects you can use in your review to balance the criticism you have for a show, when a fellow Critic notes the difficulty level of the lighting, making you realize how well the lighting was done under the circumstances. Or you may think those simple-looking jeans involved little costuming ability until a fellow Critic points out details showing how cleverly they were designed.
Keeping the Discussion Moving. The discussion after the show is supposed to take about 45 minutes. To keep it moving along so everyone can go home in a timely manner, please raise your hand to speak, state your opinion briefly when you're called on, and then listen quietly while other Critics give theirs.
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During the post-show discussion, you and your fellow Critics, as a group (by majority rule), will select a Critics' Choice in each category for which the show is eligible.
Choosing the Best. You're picking the best-in-show for each category. If the lead actor is also the best vocalist, comic actor, and dancer, then that's who your Critics' Choice will be for each of those categories. (That doesn't happen much, but it's often true that you'll want to pick one person in two categories.) Remember, you are picking the best compared only with the others (if there is more than one) in that category in this show. (How well they did in comparison with how well it can be done will be reflected in your scoring.)
Determining Eligibility. The Theatre Evaluation Guide defines what's eligible for each category. In addition, the Show Director provides an Award Category Eligibility form listing particulars for this show. If a show doesn't have a Lead role, you may select the most dominant performer of that gender for the category of Lead. When scoring that person, however, keep in mind the range and degree of difficulty of the role – which may be less than in performances where the Lead has a more significant role.
Resolving Disagreements. If disagreements arise about how to apply an eligibility rule, the following steps will be taken. First, the category definition will be read aloud. Then, the Discussion Mentor will consult with the Lead Critics (either with a vote or a brief meeting). Finally, the Discussion Mentor will make a decision. (If you think that decision doesn't follow the rules, when you get home send an e-mail to the chapter Program Director.) If you don't think a show qualifies for a non-performing category (like Sets or Costumes) but the Show Director says it does, go ahead and make it a Critics' Choice, and score it. Then, make sure a Mentor and at least one Lead Critic notify the Program Director about the difference of opinion.
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After you and your fellow Critics make Critics' Choices, you will choose your own score for each one and the play/musical as a whole. These preliminary scores are to help you remember, at the end-of-year voting, what you thought about each of the shows you saw. The 10-point scale you'll use is explained at the bottom of the Critics' Choices form, and tips for scoring are given for each category in the Theatre Evaluation Guide. If your school has done this show, take extra care to base your scores only on the production you are reviewing. Do not base them on a comparison with any other performances. Review the theater guide for scoring and consider the degree of difficulty of a role.
Fair Scoring
Across all the shows you see, and all of the Critics' Choices you score, try to keep your overall average score somewhere between a 5 and a 6 – especially if this is your first year as a critic. If you're mean evaluation score is below 5, maybe you're too "meancritical." If your average score is above 6, maybe you're a little too nice. Your overall score for a show category should be in a similar range as the individual scores. If you scored a majority of the performers and technical categories with a 6 and 7 you should not score the show category a 3 or a 9.
Apply the same scoring standards to shows in the fall, winter, and spring. If, over the course of the year, you feel that your scoring scale has changed, you can fix that when you vote for awards at the end of the school year.
Nomination and Award Notes
The Critics' Choices are the names that will appear on the ballot at the end of the year, that is, those that could be selected to receive Cappies nominations or awards. So, you may also wish to mark a few N's and A's next to the score of people you think might deserve nominations (N) or awards (A) – to help you remember what you thought when it comes time to vote at the end of the year. For example: If you scored the orchestra a 3 it should not receive a nomination or award.
Turning in Your Scoring Sheet
When you are done scoring and making whatever notes you want, sign your sheet and turn it in to the Mentors before you leave. It will be kept safe so you can see it on voting day. You may also wish to save your show programs to refresh your memory before you vote for awards. (If you forget to hand in your form, bring it to the next show, and give it to a Mentor when other forms are turned in for that show. Clip on a note as a reminder that it's for an earlier show. If this happens at your last show, just bring the form with you when you vote.)