Reagan Dutch Invitational
2022 — San Antonio, TX/US
Dramatic Interp
Event Description:
Dramatic Interpretation
This contest enables the student not only to develop skills common in all speech contests, but also to select and condense worthy dramatic literature suitable to the contestant’s personality and maturity, and to convey orally the meaning of that dramatic literature through characterization and narration. TFA, understanding that final judgment must remain with the individual judge concerning effect on ranking, suggests that coaches encourage their students to avoid (1) literature that is devoid of literary merit, (2) literature that is in poor taste and, therefore, may be offensive because of language or subject matter.
1. Selections used in Dramatic shall be cuttings from a single source from published novels, short stories, plays, poems, or screenplays. Published can mean traditionally printed, commercially available E-Books or PDFs, or material from approved websites as designated by the National Speech and Debate Association. Coaches and/or students must have the original source, including ISBN, electronic resource, or approved website URL, if one exists to the tournament director upon request. Coaches and/or students are solely responsible for providing any electronic device upon which electronic sources may be verified. No tournament is ever responsible for providing electronic devices or internet access for verification purposes. A photocopy of the original print source is acceptable if the publication page is included. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification. The list of NSDA approved websites may be found at https://www.speechanddebate.org/approved-websites/.
2. Each year, specific documentation will be required by the Executive Council for entry into the State Tournament. During the online registration process, coaches will be required to provide the Dramatic title and ISBN number, or approved website URL. The competitor’s original script and highlighted photocopy is required to be checked at registration and must be available at the State Tournament.
a. A flat copy of the original source with page numbers and all lines being performed highlighted is required.
b. A copy of the bibliographic information page is required.
c. A cover sheet with title, author(s), ISBN number or NSDA approved website URL, date of publication, number of transitional phrases, student’s name(s), coach’s name and signature, and the school name must be completed. The cover sheet form can be found online at www.txfa.org.
d. The original script, in printed or electronic form, and highlighted copy need to be available for the duration of the tournament.
3. The selection shall be memorized and presented without the use of physical objects (script, props, hand props, or scenery) or costume. Students should avoid movement in the presentation that would distract from the literature itself. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round.
4. No student may use the same selection at a tournament in more than one event, but may change events with the selection during a tournament season. No student can use the same selection in more than one tournament year. Violation will result in disqualification. In addition, a student may not qualify for nor compete with the same selection at the state meet. A selection shall be defined as a standalone piece of literature, often further delineated by the title of an individual piece. For example, anthologies shall be considered a collection of separate selections; books of poems shall be considered a collection of separate poem selections; a novel or an autobiography shall be considered a single selection; a news article shall be considered a selection, while the publication shall be considered a collection of separate selections.
5. The contestant shall name the author and the title of the selection being presented during his/her performance. Violation shall result in being ranked down in the round.
6. Maximum time shall be ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty.
7. Transitional phrases may be used in Dramatic Interpretation but must meet the following word requirements. Violation will result in disqualification.
a. No selection may use more than 100 total transitional words.
b. These words cannot be used to write new scenes to any piece of literature.
c. The 100 words cannot all be used in one particular location within the selection.
d. All transitional phrases must be written in the margin, by hand, on the copy of the piece of literature for checking in case of protest. At TFA State, this will be used to check that the number does not exceed the 100 word limit.
e. Introductions do not count as part of the transitional phrases.