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Cappies; the Critics and Awards
Program for High School Theater
By Nancy Taylor
The Cappies Vision:
• To create a unique collaborative learning experience for high
school theater students
• To encourage, and advance the training of, student writers,
performing artists and technical crew
• To inspire creativity and critical thinking
• To offer constructive critical feedback for student theatrical
endeavors
• To foster more community recognition of student achievement in
theater arts
• To enhance, celebrate, and add excitement to high school theater
across America
Cappies was founded in Fairfax, VA after the 1999 Columbine High
School shooting. William Strauss, author and sociologist, and Judy
Bowns, Fairfax County theater teacher wanted to highlight good
students, especially those who excelled in areas other than sports.
Since high-school theater often received very little media
attention, they decided a group that focused on the performing arts
was the perfect thing. Starting with just fourteen schools, the
group got noticed quickly. Soon a grassroots group of volunteers
became a foundation-supported, volunteer-run nonprofit charitable
organization consisting of more than 50 public and private schools
in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.
The Cappies program focuses on high-school theater. In addition to
acting, students are often the composers, lyricists and
screenwriters in their own productions. Set design, costumes and
lighting, music and screenplay, and acting are the focus of this
innovative program. Cappies kids are taught to be critics; they
attend shows at neighboring schools and write reviews that are
published in local newspapers. Teacher mentors volunteer their time
and help kids all along the way. Parent involvement is paramount.
And everyone has the opportunity to meet people from all over the
community who share their love of the theater.
Every summer, student and teacher critics for Cappies awards vote
for Cappies winners from all over the United States and Canada.
These awards are presented at the annual Cappies Gala at the Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Students dress in
formal attire for an unforgettable evening of awards, fun and
camaraderie that is hard to beat.
The organization has become an international phenomenon, and its
participants are thrilled to be a part of it. Journalism and theater
students from all over the United States and Canada are given an
opportunity to act, write screenplays, critique their peers’ work
and see their shows reviewed in local papers. Parents admit that the
program required a lot of time and energy, but is well worth the
effort. Students who are in a Cappies Production are thrilled and
excited to see their plays reviewed in local newspapers, and schools
receive recognition for their participation in the program. It’s a
win-win!
The National Satire group ‘Capital Steps,’ the William T. Grant
Foundation, The Washington Post, the Educational Records Bureau and
the John F. Kennedy Center, sponsors Cappies for the Performing
Arts. Fairfax County theater arts resource teachers provide guidance
for the program. Individual Cappies groups are primarily
self-supporting through participation fees and ticket-sale revenue.
How to Join
To join the Cappies, a school must be in a region with a Cappies
Program. The home page will direct you to a list of programs. When
it is established that a school resides within the program
boundaries, an application needs to be filed by the deadline.
Individual deadlines can be found on the web site as well.
Each school must select a Cappies show for review and evaluation, a
Cappies Room for mentors and critics, select a critic team of three
to six students and a lead critic and provide the appropriate number
of teacher mentors.
Each Cappies Team must submit a certain number of reviews and
provide voting critics to have their shows considered for awards and
pay a participation fee. Applications can be submitted in part
online, but a portion of the application must be mailed. For
complete information and applications, check out the web site at
www.cappies.com,
Starting Your Own Cappies Program
If your school or organization is not in a region with a Cappies
Program, you can charter your own program. The program is well worth
the effort! Four schools are needed to participate, and a steering
committee must be established, but the program officials from across
the US will help your Cappies group get off the ground. |
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