DI

-- DRAMA INTERPRETATION

Official description: A cutting which represents one or more characters from a play or plays of literary merit. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction .

What you should expect to get out of this event:

  1. You will enjoy some very good literature, making it "yours" in a special way.
  2. You will enjoy coming to understand and appreciate what makes it good.
  3. You will enjoy sharing your story and your insights with audiences.
  4. You will learn greater control of your voice and body, making both more expressive.
  5. You will learn self-control and poise under pressure.
  6. You will learn to become a better observer of the world around you, as you stay alert for clues that will make you a better interpreter.
  7. You will come to a better understanding of yourself, as you search your own experience to help you comprehend and convey your chosen reading.
  8. You will learn to "control a room" with your performance.
  9. You will learn a lot by watching excellent interpreters.

Special features of this event in competition:

Some Drama Interpretation involves monologue, a single character speaking. But most involves two or more characters in a play, all represented, of course, by you the interpreter. You will have to be careful to keep the characters distinct from one another, so the listener doesn't get lost. At most tournaments DI is a much smaller event than PRO or POE.

What you will do to become competitive in this event:

Initial preparation: about 3 weeks

  1. select the Drama Interpretation event
  2. find a good piece of a play 2-3 days
  3. rough cut to approach time limit 1-2 days
  4. type onto computer disk 1 day
  5. final cut to about 7-8 minutes 1 day
  6. print-out into competition book 1 day
  7. preliminary analysis of material 2-3 days
  8. early rehearsals 4-5 days
  9. compose introduction and transitions (brief)
  10. polishing rehearsals 4-5 days

Between-tournament preparation:

  1. Possible recutting to improve selection or timing
  2. Possible revision of introduction and transitions
  3. Continuing analysis and rehearsals

Hints for finding material:

Start by remembering plays you have seen (or been in) and liked. Movie and TV screenplays are good sources too, as well as radio scripts. Sometimes you can get a good cutting by audio-taping the sound track from a video, and typing out the words. But be careful of drawing from famous scenes or popular movies; the judge has seen Meryl Streep or Dustin Hoffman do it, and it will be hard for you to measure up to that competition. Maybe the best thing is to head for the library and read some new plays.

Return to Chooser menu or move on to next event.

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Most recent update 10 June 1995
Send comments or suggestions to tkuster@blc.edu