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.