Live Modern Christian Drama

LIVE MODERN CHRISTIAN DRAMA 
PURPOSE:  This event encourages students to dramatize life applications to Christian truths. Drama is a legitimate art form that enhances our understanding and appreciation of the great truths of our faith. Through drama, youth as well as adults can see the issues they confront acted out, and they become more receptive to hearing what God has to say.

PROCESS:

Each participating team will:

  1. Select or write an appropriate life application drama which illustrates the current LTC theme.
  2. It is requested that the Church Coordinator send to the Drama Event Director a copy of each team’s script (or a detailed description) at least two weeks before Convention for programming purposes. If it is copyrighted, please include the title, author, and publisher.
  3. Provide costumes, sets and lighting if desired. Please use minimum props.
  4. Provide for storage of costumes, sets, and lighting at the convention. No storage will be available on site.
  5. Submit a completed Team Form to the Event Director for each drama team prior to performance.

The Event Director will:

  1. Provide and instruct three judges per event room on judging procedure.
  2. Oversee room coordination, posting a performance schedule of all registered teams
  3. Provide judges with judging forms and critique forms for each drama team.
  4. Review judging forms and confirm award ratings. 
  5. Submit completed Team and Judging and Critique Forms to the Convention Events Coordinator.
  6. Notify the Celebration Director of the drama teams chosen by the judges (2 plus an alternative) to perform at the celebration ceremony.

RULES:

General

  1. There are two grade categories for this event: Grades 3 – 6, Grades 7 – 12
  2. A drama team may include students from any grade level or more than one grade category; however, the drama will be judged at the level of the oldest participant. EXCEPTION: A student may serve as director or writer in the younger grade category without affecting the grade category placement of the team.
  3. Participants may be part of only one entry. EXCEPTION: An older student who serves as writer or director in a younger category may also participate at his/her own grade level.
  4. The drama will be a modern life application of a Christian truth that clearly illustrates the current LTC theme. It may be a drama, a comedy or a parody. This is not to be  a Bible story re-enactment.
  5. A Drama Team may be made up of two or more actors.
  6. You will perform on a raised platform approximately 32’ X 16’ or on a real stage. Please stay within the 32’ X 16’ limit when staging your drama.
  7. No one will be allowed to enter or leave the room while participants are performing.
  8. Video taping is allowed; however, video equipment must be set up prior to the event. Please be courteous of spectators while filming.

Script:

  1. The script(s) must clearly represent the current LTC theme and convey spiritual truth.
  2. Scripts may be original or published. Original scripts may be written by an adult, an older student, or one or more of the participants. NOTE: The grade level of the older student writer will not affect the grade category placement of the team. Please include the word “WRITER” after his/her name on the team form.
  3. NOTE: If you choose a play or excerpt from a play that is covered by royalties, please be sure you pay the performance royalty or obtain permission from the publisher before performing the play at LTC. If your play is performed at the closing ceremonies you will also be responsible for paying the royalties on that performance.
  4. Scripts may be dramas, comedies, or parodies; however, they must be one play, not a compilation of several short skits.
  5.  Minimum length of performance is four minutes. Maximum total time for the drama, including set-up and take-down, is NINE MINUTES. There will be a five point penalty for each minute, or portion thereof, under the 4 minute minimum performance time limit and a five point penalty for each minute, or portion thereof, over the NINE MINUTE MAXIMUM total time limit.

Sets/Props/Costumes/Make-up:

  1. Teams are encouraged to use sets, props, costumes, and make-up to enhance the play.
  2. Adults may assist with set construction; however, students are encouraged to do as much of the construction as possible.
  3. If a student does not perform; however, does help with set construction/set-up and take-down, props, costumes, or make-up, his/her name should be included on the Team Form with the words “Tech Crew”.
  4. Adults may help move sets and props to the stage wings; however, actual set-up and take-down during timed sequence must be done by actors and/or tech crew. Adults must be clear of the stage.
  5. All lighting and/or sound effects must be controlled by student technicians.
  6. 6.    In keeping with LTC’s guidelines, shorts, thin strapped tops, or tops baring the midriff may not be worn. Participants wearing shorts thin strapped tops, or tops baring the midriff will not be allowed to perform or serve as tech crew. Costumes must be modest and appropriate. Immodest or inappropriate costumes will also result in a five-point penalty.

Technical:

  1. Adult directors are allowed.
  2. Student directors are encouraged. If a student directs, his/her name is included on the Team Form with the word “DIRECTOR”.
  3. 3.    An older student may choose to serve as the director in the lower grade category. An older student’s participation as director will not affect the grade category placement of the team. Please include the word “DIRECTOR” after his/her name on the team form.

Performance:

  1. Each team will have NINE MINUTES to set up, perform and exit the staging area. This includes fully setting up and taking down any lighting or prop requirements as well as performance. The play, itself, must be a minimum of four minutes. The maximum, including set-up and take-down, and performance must not exceed nine minutes. Penalty points will be given for dramas that exceed the maximum time or fail to meet the minimum time.
  2. Sets and props will be “lined up” outside the staging area. Teams may move their sets and props to stage wings when the Director tells them to prepare. Teams may not move sets onto the stage until their Team number has been announced by the Event Director and the Team Captain announces “Set Stage”. Timing will commence at “Set Stage”.
  3. Team Captains will announce “Action” after sets are in place and the team is ready to begin the play. They will announce “Stage Clear” when all props and sets are removed. Completion times will be recorded after “Stage Clear” is announced.
  4. Chewing gum on stage is not allowed unless expressly required by the character being portrayed. A five-point penalty will be assessed for any actor chewing gum, unless expressly required by the character.

JUDGING:

  1. There will be three judges and a time keeper provided by the Event Director.
  2. Penalty points will be subtracted from the average of the judges’ point total.

AWARDS:

  1. Award ratings will be assigned to each team based upon the overall point total of the three Judges.
  2. Gold = 5         Silver = 3       Bronze = 1
  3. An appropriately colored engraved plate for the individual’s award plaque will be awarded to each of the members of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze rated teams. A team plate will be awarded to hang on the congregational plaque.