Newton South Winter Festival

2025 — Newton, MA/US

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Poetry Reading

Event Description:

This event requires the use of a manuscript. The student will present material chosen from published poetry. Students may present either a single, long poem or a program of several shorter poems connected either by theme or by author. The presentation should include an introduction that cites the name of the piece(s) and the author(s). The poetry need not have a rhyming pattern. Free verse poetry is acceptable in this event. Verse dramas such as For Colored Girls . . ., including the plays of Shakespeare, are not classified as poetry. Speakers may not take lines belonging to one character and apply the to a different character in the performance. No costumes or props may be used in the presentation.

Note: Reading events are inherently different from memorized interpretation events. Students in reading events are required to hold a manuscript, which they should reference (as if they are reading) from time to time during the presentation. While students create characters by differentiating how they use their voices, stances and gestures in both genres, in reading events students should not move more than a step or two from the center of the performance space. In memorized interpretation events, students may move freely around the space.

Time: 10 minute maximum, including introduction (30 second grace); no minimum