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Region and State Drama Competition

Did you know that we compete at a region and state level, just like sports?  You can be part of the team to lead East to victory.  Or just go and have a personal victory of your own.

The Competition

For most students this is a single event.  
In 2024, the competition will be held at East High on March 19 at 4pm.  The competition will likely go til 9pm or later.  
Click here to see this year's team so far.  

To compete you need to:

  1. Be academically eligible

  2. Prepare ONE of the following types of pieces.  

    1. Humorous Monologue​

    2. Dramatic Monologue

    3. Contemporary Scene

    4. Classical Scene

    5. Pantomime

    6. Musical Theater

  3. Show up on that day and get a name badge,  a schedule and a map.  You simply go to classrooms listed on the schedule and perform your piece.  You will perform do this three times for three different judges against three different sets of competitors from different schools. Then just hang out with your team and wait for the awards ceremony.

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3 Ways to WIN!!!!!!!

1. Qualify for State

This is competing against yourself and the standard.  You can still qualify for state if the your cempetiotors are really good.  Some years they give medals for this sometimes just certificates, but always resume entries and bragging rights.  Qualifying for state is an honor and you don’t have to commit to the second competition to receive that honor.

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2. Win First, Second or Third in your event 

The highest ranking pieces in each category (humorous monologue, dramatic monologue etc.) will be honored with first, second and third place medals.  This is competing against the other schools in the region.  Another great resume’ entry and honor.

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3: Win as a Team

All your points, even if you don’t qualify for state or win a ranking prize – even if your piece isn’t your best work – help us to win a first, second or third place trophy AS A TEAM.  That’s why we need a full team.  If we bring 4 pieces in each category and our one act play does well, we are likely to win one of those team trophies.  Without a full team, it’s nearly impossible.  WE NEED YOU!!!!!!!!

Why should you participate

  1. It’s actually fun.  Until you’ve experienced it, it’s hard to imagine a whole school filled with people in costumes carrying furniture from class to class instead of back packs.  People from other school all of whom love theater just like you talking to walls, warming up, reciting their lines talking to each other about shows.  It’s fun to see the inspiringly great work done at other schools and it’s also fun when you realize your work is just as good as most and sometimes even better than others – but don’t get a big ego, there’s always somebody better too.  Many students come away with new friends from other schools.  And with all the ways to win, odds are good you will have even more fun when you are honored in some way. 

  2. You may come away with great recognition especially for those people who don’t understand art.  Sports people, for example, may be more impressed if you say “I won first place” than if you say “I’m in a play that got a standing ovation.”  But if you don’t receive any recognition,  nobody even knows you did it. 

  3. You get to be a lead in your own piece.    You can also use this as an excuse to perform a section of a play that may never make it to our stage, or that you would get cast in otherwise.

  4. Help your team.  Truth: at East, we almost always have individuals winning all over the place at region.  But we rarely bring home a team trophy because we rarely have four entries in each category.  If we did, our trophy case would be even more full. 

Common Myths

MYTH: I have to perform in front of hundreds of people.

FACT: You will only perform in front of a judge and a small group of people you are in a round with.  Usually around 6 or 7 people for monologues and 12-15 people for scenes. 

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MYTH: I need to prepare something new.

FACT: Many of you already have a piece from a play that you were in or a piece you prepared in class that will work.  Just polish it up and bring it.  You certainly can do that scene or monologue or play that role that you always wanted to play.  But you can .

 

MYTH: I don’t have time.

FACT: This is a single event.  One Tuesday afternoon/evening.  I’m not asking you to commit to a full season of games.  Need help with food, transportation?  Struggling with work, family help, homework etc?  Let’s brainstorm ways you can talk to the people in your life so you can come. 

Categories and Rules

  • Humorous Monologue​

    • 2-6 minutes​

    • 1 person

    • Play one character

    • Any source: plays, movies, books television, the internet, original writing.

      • My advice​

        • Be funny​

        • Don't look for monologues that "just" tell stories.  Look for characters that have a reason to speak and want something from the other (imaginary) character.

    • Ballot

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  • Dramatic Monologue

    • 2-6 minutes​

    • 1 person

    • Play one character

    • Any source: plays, movies, books television, the internet, original writing.

      • My advice​

        • Be dramatic, brave in the face of trauma, deal with serious issues.​

        • Don't look for monologues that "just" tell stories.  Look for characters that have a reason to speak and want something from the other (imaginary) character.

    • ​

  • Contemporary Scene

    • 3-6 minutes​

    • 2 or three people

    • From a Published Play for the stage.

    • Written in the year 1900 or later.

    • Can be funny or dramatic.

      • My advice​

        • Don't choose a weak 3 person scene just to accommodate your group. ​2 person scenes tend to be stronger.

        • Look for the highest quality script you can find.  That's the reason for the "published play" rule.

  • Classical Scene

    • 3-6 minutes

    • two or three people

    • Written before the year 1900

    • Can be funny or dramatic

      •  

        My Advice:

        • Shakepeare, Ancient Greek, Some Oscar Wild, Some Henrik Ibsen​

        • Cut the piece to 3.5 minutes.

        • This is the easiest category to get a spot on the team and the easiest category to win in.

    • ​

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  • Pantomime

    • Pantomime/Mime may only involve 1 or 2 participants.

    • No speaking is allowed. With the exception of the exclamation, "Oh" and/or "Ah", all mouthing of words is prohibited.

    • No properties or furniture aside from 1 chair/stool/block per participant are allowed.

    • All contestants must dress in all black clothing.

    • Recorded instrumental music is optional but not required. No live or vocal music is allowed.​​​​

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  • Musical Theater

    • ​The time limit for Musical Theatre is 2-6 minutes.

    • Timing begins AFTER the introduction.

    • Introductions should ONLY include title of play, participant #, author, and characters.

    • 1-4 entrants may participate in a musical theatre scene.

    • Material must be drawn from published scripts written for the theatre. Works from poetry, film, internet or standard popular song lyrics are not permitted.

    • The performers may use pre-recorded, non-vocal musical accompaniment or live music. No acapella singing is allowed.

    • Dialogue leading into a song is encouraged but not required.

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