North Allegheny
2025 — Wexford, PA/US
Dramatic Interpretation
Event Description:
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION
Dramatic Interpretation is an individual (solo) performance of dramatic (serious) literature with selections drawn from published, printed: novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or other printed, published works, PDFs, e-books, as well as limited online and recorded works.
Dramatic Interpretation lacks props, costuming, sets, and other luxuries seen in various forms of performance art. There is a set time limit of ten minutes, with a thirty second grace period. Students who choose to compete in Dramatic Interpretation should focus on suspending the disbelief of the audience by portraying a realistic, emotional journey of a character(s). The performance should connect to the audience.
NA's Tournament follows the National Speech and Debate Rules for Dramatic Interpretation
https://www.speechanddebate.org/high-school-unified-manual/
Guidelines for comments (optional resource): After adjudicating the round, please enter your ranks as soon as possible then provide constructive feedback to each competitor in the space provided below. Your comments should highlight areas of strength as well as provide areas for growth. Be as specific as possible in your feedback. Use the space to expand your thoughts on any of these areas or to comment on specific moments or lines that stood out to you. Please do not comment on participants’ attire or appearance; this should not play a role in your decision.
Characterization Is each character well-developed? Is each character relatable? Does a character’s response seem believable given the situation being portrayed?
Blocking Can you tell what the performer is doing in the scene? Is it clear what character(s) they are playing? Is the movement motivated?
Cutting Do you understand what is happening? Is the story line easy to follow? Does the sequence of events make sense?