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Extemporaneous Musical Theater

EXTEMPORANEOUS MUSICAL THEATRE -  Information

Welcome to the 9th annual extemporaneous musical theatre competition! We are thrilled to announce an overhaul of the category to better allow students to present their best work in both preliminary and final rounds.

Rules

  1. Participants may perform alone or as part of a duo. Duo partners must remain together for the duration of the competition (e.g., one student can’t join in for round two’s performance of “Suddenly Seymour” and then not compete again). Normal duo rules apply – students may not make eye contact or touch during the performance.

  2. Students may not repeat a song selection – each draw may only be performed once.

  3. Each performance requires one song and one introduction, which must include the song title, composer/lyricist and which musical or song cycle it is from (e.g., “from Jekyll and Hyde, “Good and Evil” by Frank Wildhorn).

Preparatory Work / Song Selection: Students will come prepared to present 6 musical theater selections. They must be from different shows and within the musical theater genre (e.g., Scott Alan is acceptable, Kelly Clarkson is not). All performers must have backing track or accompaniment recorded for each song and the capability to play the recording. For example, a student may bring a Bluetooth speaker or play a song from their phone. No stereos, speakers, or other devices will be provided by the tournament host. If a student does not provide a backing track, they cannot take first in the round (though they do not need to take last).

Each song selection must be one song – no medleys allowed.

Musical Theater Registration Protocol: All students participating in extemporaneous musical theater must attend a pre-tournament meeting. At this meeting, students will register their six selections and receive draw slips for the day. These forms will be used for all prelim rounds and the final round.

Prelim Round Protocol: For the first prelim round, students will draw three options out of the six available songs. They will then choose a selection, have one minute of prep time, and then perform for the judge. Once performed, a song may NOT be repeated. Therefore, for second round, the student will draw three from the five available options. Students who qualify for the final round will choose from their remaining three selections.

Final Round Protocol: Students who qualify for the final round must report their song choice to the draw room IMMEDIATELY after finals are chosen and hand in their registration form. The final round performance will start approximately one hour before awards (about halfway through the other final rounds). Final round is held in the auditorium and the student will be given a microphone and sound system to enhance the performance.





 

EXTEMPORANEOUS MUSICAL THEATRE – Judging Information

Thank you for being a part of our almost decade-long tradition! Extemporaneous Musical Theatre is a highly competitive category and we want to ensure all students have a positive experience. Here is a quick summary of the rules and a suggested rubric for scoring their performances.

Rules

  1. Students may be performing alone or as part of a duo. Duos must adhere to typical speech rules, including no eye contact and no touching outside of the intro.

  2. Each performance should include an introduction which sets the stage for the piece.

  3. No medleys are allowed.

  4. No props or costumes may be used.

  5. Students who perform a capella (without a backing track) do not need to take last but cannot take 1st in the round.

Protocol

  1. Students should provide you with their Song Selection Form and draw slips when they enter the round. The judge should mix up the draw slips face down on the table and observe the student as they draw three and choose one.

  2. The student has ONE minute of prep time after choosing a song.

  3. VERY IMPORTANT - The judge should indicate the song selection on the Song Selection Form and ensure there are no repeat choices.

  4. The student is responsible for providing their own sound system. Many will choose to use cell phones or other electronic devices – this is acceptable!

  5. The student may also ask you to press “play” so they can deliver their intro – again, this is acceptable.

Judging Criteria

  1. Introduction – does it succinctly introduce the piece? Does it reflect thoughtful analysis of the piece?

  2. Vocal qualities – tone, breath support, clarity, consistency across registers.

  3. Interpretation – does the singer embody the character they are playing? Do their choices inform the scene/environment? Does the way they interpret the song suggest they understand the material and the context in which the song occurs in the musical?

  4. Song choice – did the singer choose a song that allows them to showcase their abilities? Because students choose their own draw options, judges may provide feedback on appropriateness of choice.  Students may be rewarded for choosing songs that fit their skills – for example, a well characterized “Master of the House” from Les Mis can beat a well-sung “On My Own.”

  5. Performance – Is the performance dynamic? Engaging? Get and sustain your attention?

  6. Final Round – for students who qualify for the final round, does their performance utilize the space? Engage the crowd? “Fill the room”?


 

EXTEMPORANEOUS MUSICAL THEATRE – Example

Sally Smith is doing extemporaneous musical theatre. She attended the pre-tournament meeting and registered her six songs.


 

  1. “Defying Gravity” from Wicked

  2. “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls

  3. “My Strongest Suit” from Aida

 

  1. “Somewhere That’s Green” from Little Shop of Horrors

  2. “Once Upon A December” from Anastasia

  3. “Superboy and the Invisible Girl” from Next To Normal


 

ROUND ONE:

Sally goes to her first round, hands her registration slip to the judge, and draws three songs.

  1. “Defying Gravity” from Wicked

  2. “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls

  3. “My Strongest Suit” from Aida

Sally selects “My Strongest Suit” from Aida. She gets one minute of prep and then performs her introduction/song.  After her performance, the judge initials next to “My Strongest Suit” and takes the draw slip. Sally then takes the registration form with her when she leaves.

ROUND TWO:

Sally goes to round two, hands her registration slip to the judge, and draws the following three songs from the remaining five options.

  1. “Defying Gravity” from Wicked

  2. “Somewhere That’s Green” from Little Shop of Horrors

  3. “Once Upon A December” from Anastasia

Sally selects “Somewhere That’s Green” from Little Shop of Horrors. She gets one minute of prep and then performs her introduction/song.  After her performance, the judge initials next to the song and takes the draw slip. Sally then takes the registration form with her when she leaves.

ROUND THREE:

Sally goes to round three, hands her registration slip to the judge, and draws the following three songs from the remaining four options.

  1. “Defying Gravity” from Wicked

  2. “Somewhere That’s Green” from Little Shop of Horrors

  3. “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls

Sally selects “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls. She gets one minute of prep and then performs her introduction/song.  After her performance, the judge initials next to the song and takes the draw slip. Sally then takes the registration form with her when she leaves.

 

FINAL ROUND:

Sally makes finals! After posting, she reports to the draw room and hands her registration form to the tournament official. She selects her song from the remaining three options – “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. She has also broken in Prose finals, so she attends that final but leaves early. She reports to the auditorium and performs in the final round of Ex Musical Theater.

 

EXTEMPORANEOUS MUSICAL THEATRE – Frequently Asked Questions

 

Do I have to sing the song in the context of the show or can I re-interpret it?

You can do

Am I being judged on how good of a singer I am?

Sort of. This is singing category, so students who feel comfortable sharing their voices will likely be successful. That being said, there are many individuals who are not exceptionally talented vocalists who succeed in professional theater because of their ability to interpret characters. We encourage ALL students who are interested to find pieces that allow them to use all of their vocal and interpretive skills. A rousing performance of “Master of the House” from Les Mis may beat a well-sung “On My Own” if the characterization is stronger.

Do I really need an intro?

YES.

Do I have to sing my intro?

If you want to. We would politely suggest that you don’t.

What are the movement rules?

Typical rules that apply to speech must be adhered to in Ex Musical Theatre. So, you can take as many steps as you want, sit on the ground, roll over, etc but you cannot exit the room or stand on tables/chairs (they would be considered props).

What if my backing track doesn’t work? Can I do a capella?

You can perform, though you will not be able to take the “1” in the round.

Is there a time limit?

No, though most performances are less than five minutes.

When do I register my songs?

All students participating in Ex Musical Theatre will attend a pre-tournament meeting. You will receive the Song Selection Form and draw slips at this time. These stay with you for the remainder of the tournament and are must be presented to the judge at the start of each prelim round.  

Only one minute of prep time? That’s not enough!

We expect all students to have prepared their performances prior to the tournament. We also expect that participants are double (or even triple) entered in other categories and longer prep time may cause unnecessary delays.

Can I sing a song typically performed by the opposite gender? Or a group song by myself?

Yes, you can! There are no rules about song format – you just can’t do a prepackaged medley. That being said, you will be judged on vocal quality during that performance, so make sure it is in your range or that you make character choices for when it gets too high/low.

What if someone else does the same song I am doing?

Then you best do it better! JK, life is a rich tapestry. This happens in real speech all the time. It’ll be ok.























 

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