Page History

The Condensed
CRITIC MANUAL
…FOR ALL CRITICS!
Updated 9 – 2013 –for 2013-14
Revised August 2013CONTENTS
My Cappies Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The Cappies Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Your Role As A Critic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Registering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Your Show Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Preparing To Attend A Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Your Critic Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Critic Discussions and Scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Submitting Your Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Voting For Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
THEATRE EVALUATION GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
REVIEW WRITING GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47



My Cappies Calendar
A place to keep track of your Cappies activities


Shows and Reviews (Additional shows can be listed on page iv.)
Show Review Due
Date & TimeSchool Name of Play/Musical Time & Date

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________


Voting Day _____________________
(Date)

Cappies Gala _______________________
(Date)





Contact Information

Lead Critic: __________________________________________________________________

Cappies Advisor: ______________________________________________________________

Chapter Program Director: ______________________________________________________
Additional Shows and Reviews
Show Review Due
Date & TimeSchool Name of Play/Musical Time & Date

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
WELCOME

Welcome Cappies Critics!
You are in for a wonderful experience! We are the only high-school theatre, peer-evaluated organization in North America, perhaps even in the world. Bill Strauss, Cappies co-founder, always stressed that the Critics were/are the heart of the program.
Our program is driven by students and monitored by adult volunteers. Our voting system, and indeed our entire Cappies Information System, is student-designed.
We are immensely proud of what everyone has accomplished since we began in 1999 – from the excitement of Cappies shows, to the student-critic bylines in major newspapers, to the drama and glamour of Cappies galas.
The materials in this binder reflect our on-going commitment to provide a learning program that encourages excellence in theatre and in writing.
Thank you, in advance, for helping make this our best year yet.


Judy Bowns Janie Strauss
Judy Bowns Janie Strauss
Cappies Program Director Cappies Program Chair
THE CAPPIES MISSION

"High-school theatre has never been more exciting around this city. The shows keep getting better and better. Finally, our young theatre stars are getting the same recognition our young sports stars have always had."
-- Susan Grubbs, Program Director, Cincinnati Cappies

"Before Cappies, the theatre teachers' mantra was 'we need to do something
together, with our kids.' Now we are."
-- Troy Herbort, Program Director, El Paso Cappies

"It's all about the students. Their growth as critical viewers, skilled writers, and
thoughtful performers is terrific to watch unfold."
-- Beth Ocheskey, Chair, Kansas City Cappies


The Cappies is an international, learning program for theatre and journalism students. Our mission is to:
• provide a unique, collaborative, learning experience for high-school theatre students,
• encourage, and advance the training of, student writers, performing artists, and technical crew,
• inspire creativity and critical thinking,
• offer constructive, critical feedback for student theatrical endeavors,
• foster more community recognition of student achievement in theatre arts, and
• enhance, celebrate, and add excitement to high-school theatre.

Students are trained as theatre critics and organized into Critics' Teams. They attend other schools' plays and musicals, and write reviews. Mentors (teachers) lead Critic discussions and select the most accurate and well-written reviews, which are forwarded to local print or online media for publication.
At the end of the year, Critics serve as award judges and vote for Cappie nominations and awards. Each chapter holds a Cappies gala, where awards are presented.
The Cappies program is overseen by a governing board, which includes the Cappies program director and the Cappies program chair. Each regional chapter is managed by a steering committee, which includes a local program director and a local program chair.
The following article, which appeared in The New York Times, on June 23, 2002, tells how we got our start.


THEATER STUDENTS GET THEIR SHARE OF THE LIMELIGHT

WASHINGTON, June 22 - The packed concert hall at the Kennedy Center showcased tuxedos and evening gowns, slow ballads and fast-paced chorus lines, standing ovations and stomping feet. It was another night of glittering theater awards, punctuated with delighted gasps and heartfelt thank yous with all the reticence of the Tony Awards. But these winners were all students at local high schools, not Broadway stars.
The students clutching their "Cappies" awards were the most prominent feature of the Critics and Awards Program, founded three years ago in Northern Virginia to bring theater students the same recognition that accomplished high school athletes have long taken for granted.
The original program of 23 high schools has grown to include 60 schools in Virginia and the District of Columbia, and the idea has spread to Dallas, El Paso, Cincinnati, and other cities as well as Canada.
The inspiration grew from frustrations and the pall that fell over many schools after the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado.
After Columbine, it became particularly important to find ways to give teenagers positive reinforcement, said William Strauss, the author of several sociology books. But, he added, "You have to balance out the youth culture."
"This is the real youth culture," said Mr. Strauss, a founder of the Capitol Steps, the Washington political satire troupe.
Several years ago, Mr. Strauss was speaking at a high school award ceremony and said he was dismayed at the prevalence of honors for athletes and the lack of attention paid to theater students. A few years earlier, struck by the quality of Guys and Dolls at McLean High School in Virginia, Mr. Strauss called local critics suggesting they review the play. There were no takers.
Motivated by a desire to promote positive aspects of high school after the Columbine shootings, Mr. Strauss, working with a local theater teacher, Judy Bowns, created a program that showers awards on high school theater and pushes local newspapers to run reviews of school shows.
The program also relies on developing theater critics among the students. Each participating school chooses one play or musical for critical review. Theater directors and faculty Mentors organize discussions among the student critics, edit the reviews and submit them to local newspapers, which commit to publish the best ones.
In three years, newspapers, including The Washington Post, have published 500 reviews by students.
"All over America, newspapers are taking note of high school theater," Mr. Strauss said at the Kennedy Center award ceremony last week.
"It's a brilliant program because it does so many simple things that should have been done for years now," said Matt Berger, a Cappies critic and actor. Mr. Berger, a graduating senior at Lee High School in northern Virginia, said he always felt left out when classmates pulled out the All-Met sports section of The Post.
At the end of the theater season, which runs from October through May, more than 100 student critics gathered to evaluate the shows using a point system to decide the award winners. Those names remained secret until presenters opened the envelopes at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where more than 2,000 students, teachers, school board members and family members applauded, cheered and exchanged hugs.
Also at the gala was Susan Grubbs, who started the Cincinnati Cappies in February and had 10 schools involved by the end of the year. Ms. Grubbs said the program garnered enough support for a gala attended by more than 700 parents, teachers and members of local arts institutions.
Though high school arts are suddenly getting more attention in Washington and other cities, for years the first cuts to school budgets have been in arts programs.
"It's no secret that when school systems have to make cuts they tend to preserve what is known as the basics - core subjects - and then everything beyond that is fair game," said Daniel Domenech, the school superintendent in Fairfax County, Virginia. "Sports and other curricular activities are up for grabs and it becomes political."
Dr. Domenech said he had seen athletes overshadow their talented theater counterparts for years. "It was very discouraging for very talented kids to see that athletes that were very talented in their particular sports getting all the accolades," he said. "Cappies puts this on par."
Much as it has done for student athletes for years, the recognition validates the students' talent and passion.
"Graduation is the end of something really important to you, and it occurred to me at that point that I had been in high school and that had been important to me, but right then I realized that the most important thing that I had done was theater," said Mr. Berger, who for two consecutive years won Cappies awards for his reviews and was also nominated for an award for his role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He plans to attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in the fall.
Mr. Berger sat at the annual gala holding his gold Cappies trophy, more recognition for the nine reviews he has published in The Post over two years. "Drama," he said, "had been my life."
Your Role as a Critic

Learning and Having Fun
As a Cappies Critic, you will get to see a lot of great shows, increase your understanding of theatre, improve your writing, and maybe even earn a byline as a published theatre critic. At the end of the year, you will get to score what you saw, and when a V.I.P. opens one of those envelopes at the Cappies gala, you can (secretly) recall having voted for the winner and cheer.


Promoting Area High-School Theatre
Your participation in Cappies will give you something impressive to put on your college or job application. (Go to www.cappies.com for a letter you can download and send to college admissions committees telling them what they should know about you being a Cappies Critic.) It will also help promote high-school theatre in your area as your and your fellow Cappies Critics' reviews appear in the media and create public awareness of what high-school theatre students are achieving.


Earning Feedback for Your School's Show
In addition, by submitting (along with the rest of your Critics' Team) the designated number of reviews of other school's shows, you earn your school's show the opportunity to be reviewed by the Cappies Critics – and the chance to be nominated for, or win, awards from your peers.


Maintaining the Integrity of the Cappies
This exchange of student-to-student feedback is at the heart of the Cappies program, and, as a Critic, you play a vital role in making it work. By presenting criticisms the Cappies way and maintaining Critics' confidentiality (as well as following the other Cappies procedures*), you make it possible for Critics to be frank and for theatre students to receive honest evaluations of their work without having their feelings hurt. This makes it a valuable and fun experience for everyone – with Cappies reviews that are meaningful to the readers and Cappies nominations and awards that are a treasure to receive.




__________
*The Cappies procedures for Critics are described in this binder. They follow the Cappies rules, which can be seen on the "Rules" page at www.cappies.com/cis.
Registering

Turning in Your Parental Authorization Form
The first thing to do to be a Cappies Critic is to get your signed Parental Authorization Form to your Cappies Advisor. (To get a form, ask your Cappies Advisor or Lead Critic. Or, if your account is activated, go to the Forms and Checklists page at www.cappies.com/cis.). If you're under 18, one of your parents needs to sign it. If you're 18 or older, you may sign it yourself.
PARENTAL AUTHORIZATION IS MANDATORY.
No student may attend a Cappies show as a Critic
unless the Program Director has received a
signed Parental Authorization Form.
No exceptions.

Connecting with Cappies Information Services (CIS)
Receiving e-mails. Throughout the year, you will receive e-mails about your upcoming shows or other Cappies news. To make sure you receive these, please see that your spam filter allows e-mail from cappies.com. Then, check for Cappies e-mail at least every other day so you know what's going on. (If you don't have an online computer at home, talk to your Cappies Advisor to see what can be worked out.)
Activating Your Account. When you become a Critic, you'll be registered on the Cappies Information Services (CIS) – the part of the Cappies web site where, among other things, you can see your show schedule and submit your reviews. You will receive an e-mail from cappies.com telling you your username and password. To be officially added to the roster of Cappies Critics, you must activate your CIS account by logging in. To log in, go to www.
cappies.com/cis and enter your username and password. Then select the region code for your Cappies chapter from the scroll down menu, and click "Log in". (Ask your Lead Critic or Cappies Advisor if you need help.) CIS can also be reached by clicking on "CIS Login", located on the left side of the www.cappies.com home page.
You will need your username and password every time you log in to CIS, so, after you log in, you may wish to change your password to something that's easier for you to remember. To do so, click on the "Change your password" page and fill in the form. Your password must be at least eight letters or numbers, in any combination, including capital letters. CIS will not allow you to choose common or easy-to-guess passwords (such as "password"). If CIS doesn't accept your new password, it will tell you. Try something else until CIS accepts your password.
Checking Your Contact Information. To use CIS, and for program officials to reach you (or your family, in an emergency), the Cappies must have accurate contact information for you, including your home phone and cell phone (if you have one) numbers. This information is kept confidential and is accessible only to program officials. Please check to be sure this information is correct at the "View your personal information" page at www.cappies.com/cis. If corrections are necessary or if you change your e-mail address or phone number during the year, go to the "Correct your personal information" page at CIS.
Your Show Schedule

The Shows You Will Review
Your Team's Show Assignments. You and your Critics' Team will see and submit reviews for a minimum of five shows over the course of the year. (In some Cappies chapters the minimum may be less. You can check with your Lead Critic for the minimum in your chapter.) Your Lead Critic will choose the shows for your team based on a round-robin selection process involving the other schools' teams. To see a list of your assigned shows go to the "View your schedule" page at www.cappies.com/cis. (If you are a Regional Team Critic, the Program Director of your Cappies chapter will assign you shows based on their need for more Critics. Each school may have up to three Regional Critics, beyond the six that make up the school's Critics' Team. If you are a Regional Team Critic you may not be able to be part of your own school's show, because under the rules, you may be asked to review a show on the same night as your school's show.)
Volunteering For Additional Shows. You may also volunteer to review additional shows beyond those assigned to your team. The only limitation is that you may not review the same play or musical at another school that your school has selected to perform for this year's Cappies show. To volunteer to review one or more shows, go to the "Volunteer for a non-assigned show" page at www.cappies.com/cis, check the "Volunteer?" box next to the show(s) you wish to review, and then click "Save changes" at the bottom of the page.
Only Seeing Shows With The Cappies. If you want to review a show, you have to attend the Cappies performance with the other Critics. You can not see the show at another time and review it. Also, you can only see a show once, so that your end-of-year score is based only on the Cappies performance and not mixed up with a second performance that may have been better or worse.

Handling Schedule Changes
Coordinating With Your Lead Critic. If you can't make an assigned show, let your Lead Critic know right away (and adjust your schedule on CIS as directed below), as this may affect your team's schedule. At least half of your team must attend an assigned show to make it count as fulfilling one of your team's minimum. If not, an additional show will be assigned to your whole team to make up for it. So make sure you let your Lead Critic know right away if one of your team's assigned shows conflicts with something already on your calendar. If a show assignment turns out to be a conflict for most of the Critics on your team – for instance, if your prom gets scheduled on one of your assigned dates – your Lead Critic can ask if a switch is possible.
To contact (or send files to) your Lead Critic through e-mail via CIS, go to the "Send an e-mail to lead critic" page at www.cappies.com/cis and follow the directions. Your e-mail will be sent to your Lead Critic and a copy will be e-mailed to you as well. Keep in mind that all e-mails sent through CIS can be seen by Cappies officials. Please keep your e-mails respectable and Cappies related.
Adjusting Your Schedule On CIS. If you can't make it to one of your team's assigned shows, in addition to letting your Lead Critic know, you must decline the show on CIS and volunteer to review a different show to make up for it and reach your individual minimum to be able to vote for awards at the end of the year. If you are on a Regional Team, you may not decline more than two assigned shows. (If you have volunteered for shows in addition to your team's assigned shows and you can't make it to one of them, it is not necessary to let your Lead Critic know or volunteer for another one, but you must still decline it on CIS.)
To decline a show, go to the "View your schedule" page at www.cappies.com/cis and check the "Decline?" box opposite the pertinent show, and then click "Save changes" at the bottom of the page. To volunteer for another show, click the go to "the volunteering page" link at the bottom of the page. Then check the "Volunteer?" box opposite the show you want to review, and click "Save changes" at the bottom of the page.
If you have to decline a show, do so as soon as possible so you have time to volunteer for a make-up show, if necessary – while there are still shows left in the year to see that have enough room for you to attend. If you must decline a show close to its date, do it at least 48 hours before the show's start so the final attendance list won't have your name on it. A Critic who is on the attendance list, but doesn't show up, may be asked to pay for the ticket the host school set aside for them, and their Cappies Advisor will be notified of their absence.
Emergency Cancellations. If, due to illness or personal emergency, you must decline a show closer to its start time than 48 hours ahead, still decline through CIS and notify your Lead Critic. If, due to illness, personal emergency, or transportation problems, you are unable to attend a Cappies show and cannot decline through CIS before the show's scheduled start time, then e-mail (or ask a family member to do so) your chapter's Program Director or Web Coordinator.
Preparing to Attend a Show

Equipping Yourself
Be Familiar with the Theatre Evaluation Guide. To know what to "Keep in mind" and what to "Look and listen for" in a Cappies show, see the Theatre Evaluation Guide. You may find it helpful to review it before each show, especially when you're starting out. The better you know and understand what's in the Theatre Evaluation Guide, the more you'll enjoy watching shows, the better you'll be as a Critic, and the more you'll learn from the whole experience. The cast and crew of the show you're scoring may have looked through these guidelines, too, so they'll know what they need to do to excel. While you're watching, see how well they pull it off.
Learn About the Show. A day or two before you see a show, do a little background research on the play/musical to help you appreciate what you are going to see – and give you something interesting to share with your readers in your review. It's easy on the Internet; just search the show's name, and see what comes up. For instance, what's the history of the show? When was the play written? How long was it on Broadway? Has it won any notable awards? Was it controversial or trend setting?
Print Forms as Needed. You'll need a Notes page, an Award Category Eligibility form, and a Critics' Choices page for each play or musical you attend. Even though some of the host schools may give these to you at the show; it is each Critic's responsibility to have their own available in their binder. To get the forms, go to the "Forms and Checklists" page at www.cappies.com/cis and print what you need.
Bring Your Binder and a Pen. Bring this Critic binder with you to each show so you can refer to the Theatre Evaluation Guide, as needed, during discussions and scoring. You can also use it as a hard surface to write on while you're taking notes during the show. Be sure to have something to write with as well. It works best if it's a pen that makes a fat stroke so you can see what you're writing in the dark. (No pen-lights or other light sources, please, as it can be very distracting for the cast to see them go on and off during a show.)
Dress the Part. You are going to the show as a Critic, a position of trust. The people at the host school need to see that you take this seriously so they can have confidence in your opinions. How you carry yourself, including what you wear, helps with this – especially since you and your fellow Critics will be seen as you all walk into the show together. Regular school clothing or the like is usually fine, as long as it's neat and tidy.

Arranging Transportation
Getting Directions to the Show. To see where a show is being held (It's not always at the host school.) and to find directions to it, go to the "View your schedule" page at www.cappies.com/cis and click on the name of the play or musical. A small window will then pop up with the address and a link to a map so you can get directions.
Planning to Arrive Before, and Stay After, the Show. There are pre-show and post-show Critic discussions, so, when scheduling your transportation, plan to arrive 45 minutes before the opening curtain and stay about 45 minutes after the show. Depending on where
you're going and the time of day, you may want to allow some extra time for in case you get temporarily lost or stuck in traffic.
When you get to the show's Cappies room on time, you'll have a chance, before the discussion begins, to linger at the food table and to chat with the other Critics. A Critic who arrives late might miss the opening discussion and have to play catch-up later about who's eligible for what award category. A Critic who gets there less than ten minutes before curtain may not get to see the show, as the school may take back their ticket. A Critic who gets there after curtain, even if the school lets them in, might have missed too much to be allowed by the Mentors to review and score the show.
Determining How You'll Get There. Work out with your parents how you're going to get to and from shows. Nearly always you'll have to get there by car.
If your plan is to have somebody drop you off at, and pick you up from, the show, make sure they will be there about half an hour after the show is over and that they know they may have to wait for you. If the school is close enough that they can get there within half an hour after bows, you can call them on your way back to the Cappies room to let them know about when you'll be ready. (Bring your cell phone or arrange to use somebody else's to call them.) If for any reason your ride is late, make sure you find and tell a Mentor. At least one Mentor must stay until the last Critic has been picked up. This way no one is left standing alone, late at night, at a place they don't know.
If your parents are going to drive you, they may want to stay for the show. If so, make sure they know they can't go in the Cappies room at any time (even before the show), and they can't sit with you. They'll need to come as early as you do (45 minutes before the show) and stay as late as you do (45 minutes after the show, or maybe later, if it takes longer). Also, they'll have to buy their own tickets – preferably in advance, so they're sure to get a seat. Call the school's theatre department to make reservations.
If you want to carpool with other Critics, first make sure you have your parents' permission and that your plans comply with the laws about teenagers driving teenagers. The reminder e-mails you will receive before each show will include an attendance list which may be used to arrange carpooling. If there is a driving curfew for teenagers, you might need to plan around that. Evening Cappies shows are to end by 10:30 p.m., and there's the discussion after that, so there will be times when you won't be leaving for home until well after 11:00 p.m. Add in the time it will take to get home to make sure you have plenty of time to make it before any curfew.
Your Critic Integrity

Displaying Objectivity
For the Cappies awards and your feedback on shows to be meaningful, people must know that your evaluation is objective – that it is based solely on your knowledge of theatre and what you observed in the show – without any outside influence. Therefore, when working as a Critic at a show, it's best to socialize only with fellow Critics. Even waving at a friend you have at the host school may be interpreted by others as bias toward the school's show. So, to preserve your integrity as a Critic, keep with your fellow Critics. Your friend(s) will understand. For the same reason (and the sake of your relationship), if you have a really close friend on the cast or crew, it's best not to even review their show. That's what professional theatre critics do in the same situation.

Saving Your Opinions for Your Review
The cast and crew of the show and their family and friends (and anyone who knows someone who knows someone who goes to the host school) will be very eager to hear what you think about the show. To save yourself from awkward moments or rumors (misguided or true) about your point of view (and thus your credibility as a Critic), it is best for you to only divulge your opinions in your review. Even if you loved the show, it's best to say nothing. For if you talk about this show, people may expect you to also talk about other shows, about which you may not have many positive things to say – and if you decline to talk then, suspicions will be raised. The safest course of action to take is that of professional critics – maintain a strict policy of saying nothing at all, to anyone, about the show. Ask them all to read your thoughts in your review, where you can't be misquoted or pressed to say more.
Here are some tips to help you at a show to save your opinions for your review:

• While watching the show, go ahead and laugh and clap as you see fit, but don't discuss your opinions – even in a whisper. You never know whose mom is sitting right behind you, reading your lips for her theatre-booster phone tree.

• During bows, do pretty much what the rest of the audience is doing. Don't start a standing ovation – let the parents of the performers do that – but if you liked the show, it's fine to stand, too. If nearly everybody in the audience is standing, and you thought a show was only so-so, go ahead and stand anyway so as to not give your thoughts away. (If it's closing night, and the school is giving special acknowledgements at the end of the show, the school is to let you leave the theatre before that. There's supposed to be an announcement excusing the Critics, but, if there isn't, the Mentor will gesture to you all to stand and exit the theatre as quietly as you can.)

• When you walk between the theatre and the Cappies room – during intermission or after the show – don't say anything about the show, even to another Critic. You never know who may be a few feet away overhearing. If someone from the host school asks what you thought of the show, it's best to say that you're a Critic and not permitted to talk about the show.

Keeping Critics' Confidentiality
Because Cappies is a learning program, there is one exception to saving your opinions just for your review. That is, talking with your fellow Critics in the Cappies room at the show. In the Cappies room, you and your fellow Critics may freely discuss the show to compare observations and information and to make Critics' Choices. However, everything that is said in the Cappies room is to be kept in confidence – forever. What goes on in the Cappies room must stay in the Cappies room. Just as you save your own opinions for print, let your fellow Critics save their opinions for print – or not – as they see fit, and let your Program Director announce the Critics' Choices when the time is right. All of this protects the integrity of each individual Critic and of the Cappies program now and in the future – and makes it possible for everyone to speak candidly in the Cappies room.

Scoring Privately
Your Critics' Choices scores and award votes are even more private than the opinions you save to put in your review. They are not even to be shared with other Critics, not even the ones on your team. The results (names of award winners) will be divulged at the Cappies gala, but the scores are not revealed at any time so peoples' feelings are not hurt and you are not put in the awkward position of having to defend your score.

Writing Carefully
While the cast and crew of the show are eager to hear what you thought of their work, your opinions must be presented carefully to give a balanced evaluation of the whole production – and to prevent hurting their feelings. After all, these students are amateurs like you, just learning their craft. The Review Writing Guide will show you how to appropriately present your evaluation of these students' work.
Critic Discussions and Scoring

The Opening Discussion
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), 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.

Post-Show Discussions
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.

Making Critics' Choices
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.

Scoring
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.
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 "mean." If your average score is above 6, maybe you're a little too nice.
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.
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.)
Submitting Your Review

Meeting Your Deadline
After the show, write your review, letting the cast and crew, their family and friends, and the general public know how well you think it went. The Review Writing Guide will show you what to put in your review and how to present it. To see the deadline for your review, go to the "Submit a review" page at www.cappies.com/cis and look for the deadline listed next to the show. All reviews are due on the Sunday of the same week after a show. For most Cappies chapters, the deadlines for Critics' review submissions are:

Reviews are submitted through Cappies Information Services (CIS), which keeps precise time. Once you submit your review, you will receive an e-mail notifying you that your review was received – and that it was on time (or late). If you miss the deadline by even one second, your review will be marked late and it will not be eligible for publication.
If your review is not in 24 hours after the deadline, e-mail reminders will be sent to you, your Lead Critic, and your Cappies Advisor. If your review is still not in 72 hours after the deadline: (1) you can't submit it any more; (2) your Lead Critic and Advisor will be notified; (3) you will not be allowed to evaluate that show in the award voting; and (4) your school's theatre program may be charged $15 for the price of your ticket and refreshments. If this happens a second time, you will be removed from the roster. (However, if you did not submit a review because of illness or personal emergency, your Advisor can e-mail your chapter Program Director to request a three-day extension, but your Advisor must do so within seven days after the review deadline.)

Formatting Your Review
You'll be sending in your review electronically, so write it on your computer's word-processing program, where you can use spell-check or grammar-check and save your work. Just write the text of your review (no title or byline), use block paragraphing (no indenting), and skip a line between paragraphs. (Your review will remain anonymous during the Mentors' selection process. If it is selected for publication, the media will receive your and your school's names as they appear on your "View your personal information" page.)

Counting Your Words
The best reviews are usually about 400 to 550 words long. (Your word-processing program most likely has a word-counting tool that can quickly count the words for you.) Reviews that are close to 600 words will be accepted, but are unlikely to be selected for publication. Reviews that are close to 300 words are unlikely to be selected and reviews of fewer than 300 words may not count as a submitted review.

Sending It In Via CIS
To submit a review, first copy it from your word-processing program. Then, go to the "Submit a review" page at www.cappies.com/cis, and click on the name of the show for which you wish to submit a review. Paste your review in the text box, and click "Preview Review." Here, make sure you have completed all tasks and check them off on the checklist. If you wish to make any changes, click on "Edit Review," make your changes, and click again on "Preview Review." (The word count is listed at the top of the "Preview Review" page, so you can track it as you edit your review.) You may want to copy your revised review back to your computer program to save it. Once you are completely satisfied with what you are submitting, click "Submit Review."
Fixing Submission Errors. Suppose you discover, after you've submitted your review, that you've made a major error. For example, suppose you reviewed two shows over a weekend and submitted the wrong one for a particular show. If this (or something comparable) happens, please send an e-mail to your chapter's Program Director and/or Web Coordinator, requesting that your review be deleted. When they have done this – which may or may not be prior to the review deadline – you can submit the correct review instead.
If CIS Is Down. The "Current CIS Status" is listed on the Cappies home page at www.cappies.com. If it says "Online", your review must be submitted through CIS as directed above in order to count. However, if CIS is "Offline", submit your review via e-mail to critic.xxx@cappies.com (replacing the "xxx" with the three-letter code for your Cappies chapter). From here, it will be forwarded to the Mentors. Please keep a digital copy on your computer as you may be requested to resubmit your review on CIS.

Getting Read At The Host School Or In The Media
After you click "Submit Review", your review will be forwarded, along with all of the others, to the Discussion and Editor Mentors who will look them over before they are sent to your readers at the host school or the media. The Mentors will edit out any unfair criticism and spot check for plagiarism before the cast and crew read them. (A review found to have substantially violated the rules of criticism may be withheld from the host school and a notice sent to the Critic and/or their Advisor. A Critic found, in any part of their review, to have plagiarized – that is, used someone else's words as their own – will be removed from the roster.)
The Mentors will also select the very best reviews for publication. All of the Critics who attended the show will receive an e-mail letting them know whose reviews have been selected and for which publications. Please be aware that reviews selected for publication may be further edited by the media, and, if there are space limitations, may not actually get published. However, these reviews are posted under "Reviews" at your chapter's home page on www.cappies.com for everyone to see.
Voting for Awards
Preparing For Voting Day
At the end of the year, you and your fellow Critics will vote to determine who is nominated for and wins Cappies awards. You'll be presented with the Critic's Choices (by actor name, versus character name) in each category and asked to score them in three ways, as shown below. Keep in mind that if you are the Critics' Choice in any category for your school's show, you won't get to vote for anyone in that category.
Before voting day, you may want to refresh your memory about the shows you saw by looking over the programs, your notes, and your reviews. (To see your reviews as kept by CIS, go to the "View your submitted reviews" page at www.cappies.com/cis and click on the name of a show.) You may bring notes with you to the voting place. When you get there, you will also be able to see your Critics' Choices sheets with the notes you made at each show.

The Voting Process
On voting day, you'll check in, pick up your Critics' Choices sheets, receive voting instructions, and be directed to the in-house computers, where you will vote in all three of the following ways.
Evaluation Scores. Give each Critics' Choice (from the shows you saw) a score from 1 (poor) to 10 (professional quality). You may use the same score you wrote on your Critics' Choices sheet at the show or you may adjust it up or down. Remember to keep your scoring average somewhere between a 5 and a 6.
Tie-Breakers. Rank the candidates within each category. If you gave the same score to more than one candidate, still rank one above the other. For instance, if you gave three candidates a score of 6, designate them as 6A, 6B, and 6C, with "A" being higher than "B", and "B" higher than "C".
Nomination and Award Points. Give points to those candidates you think deserve nominations or awards. You will have five nomination points and one award point to distribute for every show you reviewed. (For instance, if you reviewed five shows, you'll have 25 nomination points and 5 award points to distribute.) You must give out all the points you earn, and one-fifth are to go to tech categories. You may give these points to candidates in several shows or in one show, but you may only give one of each kind of point to any one candidate.

How Results Are Calculated
When voting is over, the following scores are calculated for each candidate:

• • a mean evaluation score (the mean of the evaluation scores received from Critics),

• • a nomination point score (the number of nomination points received by a candidate,
    • divided by the number of Critics who saw their show), and

• • an award point score (the number of award points received by a candidate, divided by the number of Critics who saw their show).

• Nominations and awards are based on a combination of these scores – with tie-breaker rankings used as needed. The nominations will be announced a day or two after voting.

...