Wakefield Theatre Company

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Handbook

Formatting your CRITIQUES

Your critique must include a cover sheet, your ticket stub, and your program. The cover sheets should be formatted like the example including the italicized play title, the producing company, the theatre space where you saw the show, they date you attended, the play, your name, your course and level, and your class period.

Double check the basics before turning in your critique as follows:
-1” Margins
-Times New Roman 12 point font
-Double Spaced
-No skipping lines between paragraphs in scholarly writing!
-Check spelling & grammar (do not depend on spell/grammar check to pick up all errors)
-Back up broad generalizations with specific examples.
-Begin with a brief summary. The bulk of you paper should then be comprised of description and analysis/evaluation of your experience of attending the play.

The Sound of Music

Presented by North Carolina Theatre

Memorial Auditorium

1/1/09

John Smith

Theatre I

1^st Period

Some Suggestions for Finding & Attending Plays
There are several ways to get free or inexpensive tickets. For just about all of them, YOU MUST PLAN AHEAD!
You can . . .
-Use your activity card (FREE!)
-Usher (take tickets, assist patrons with seating, etc.) for WTC productions (FREE!)
-Act in, or work on the running crew for WTC productions (FREE!)
-Attend “pay what you can” night of a professional show’s run (CHEAP to FREE!)
-Attend student night for many shows coming to Raleigh Memorial Auditorium (GREAT DISCOUNT @ ONLY $10-$20)
“But I don’t have a car and my parents are both surgeons who have to work late and save lives and they can’t leave in the middle of surgery to take me to a play . . .”

That’s OK! Be nice to your theatre classmates and to the environment and hitch a ride . . . then you have someone to discuss the show with after the performance!
“But I don’t have internet access at home so I can’t look for plays or order tickets . . .”

That’s OK! You can go to the media center before or after school or during your lunch period to use a compuer or read a good old fashioned newspaper!

Some Venues in the area (there are many more!):

Local High School theatre productions (check various websites similar to ours: www.wakefieldtheatre.net)

Playmakers Repertory Company (UNC-CH)	www.playmakersrep.org
University Theatre (NC STATE)	www.ncsu.edu/arts
Raleigh Little Theatre	www.raleighlittletheatre.org/index.html
ManBites Dog Theatre	www.manbitesdogtheatre.org
Bare Theatre	www.baretheatre.org
Burning Coal Theatre	www.burningcoal.org
Broadway Series South(Memorial Auditorium)	www.broadwayseriessouth.com
North Carolina Theatre	www.nctheatre.com
Theatre in the Park	www.theatreinthepark.com
Raleigh Ensemble Players	www.realtheatre.org/index.html

Criteria	A Excellent	B Proficient	C Competent	D Adequate	F Unsatisfactory
Instructions for Formatting were followed: 12 point font, 1” margins, 2-4 pages, Double Spaced
The critique begins with a very brief summary of the play, in the writer’s own words (of course)
The paper is rich with details and specific examples from the production. These details are used to illustrate the writer’s opinions and evaluation of the production.
Supporting documents are attached: -ticket stub -program

Student Information

Student Information Home

Exams

Mid-term Exam
The mid-term exam is an integral part of a student’s grade. The weight of the exam will be 20% of a student’s total grade. Thus the student’s class grade is 80% of their total grade.

Final Exam
The final exam is an integral part of a student’s grade. The exam grade is based on successful assessment of concepts learned in class (80%) combined with field experiences* (20%).

*Field Experiences
Please note that FIELD EXPERIENCE EVALUATIONS count for 20% of the FINAL EXAM GRADE.

A 93-100

B 85-92

C 77-84

D 70-76

F Below 70 FF Failure due to excessive absences

Grading/Make-up Work

Daily Skills Assessment 40%
Students are expected to develop an understanding of theatre arts and demonstrate comprehension through assessment of skills during lesson presentation. Students are not evaluated on the amount of talent they possess but will be evaluated by the degree of effort put forth in class, therefore daily attendance is extremely important. (DSA = daily skills assessment)

Daily Attendance
Each student has the responsibility to attend classes regularly. Due to the ephemeral nature of class time experiences, excessive absences can affect the student’s individual grade negatively.

Performances/Projects 30%
Acting students will periodically be evaluated while performing individually or in small groups. Each student will be graded on proper staging, vocal projection, articulation, and improvement throughout the process of rehearsal. There will also be a weekly juggling quiz for appropriate students to evaluate progress on concentration and multi-tasking.

Technical theatre students will periodically be evaluated individually or in small groups on concepts learned in class. These projects will be evaluated to ensure complete understanding of lessons being taught.

Unexcused absences from mandatory performances or missing critical deadlines cannot be tolerated.

Written Tests/Journal 15%/15%
All students will journal as well as complete periodic written examinations during each term. Journals will be picked up and checked randomly for a grade. Each examination will evaluate the student’s knowledge of theatre arts terms, history, techniques and other curriculum as introduced to students.

Criteria for Journal Check

Criteria for Journal Check	A Excellent	B Proficient	C Competent	D Adequate	F Unsatisfactory
Correct number of journals are fully completed. (number changes throughout the term)
Writing is reflective and thoughtful.
Entries represent 10 minutes of daily writing.
Basics are covered: dates are present and in upper right hand corner, entries are legible, entries are chronological, clear divisions exist between entries.

Make-up work
Any student who misses a class due to an excused absence is entitled and expected to make up missed assignments. The student is responsible for getting the missed assignments from the teacher and scheduling times to make up tests.

Assignments that are assigned prior to an absence will be due upon return; this includes tests that are scheduled for the day of return.

If the make-up work has not been assigned in advance, for absences of one (1) to three (3) days, the student will have a minimum of one (1) day for each day absence to complete the missed assignments. For absences exceeding three (3) days, the student will have a minimum of two (2) days for each day absent to complete missed assignments.

Students will receive full credit for all make-up work following an excused absence as long as the work is completed within the prescribed time limit and to teacher expectations.

Absences resulting from out-of-school suspensions are considered unexcused.

Students will not be able to receive any grade higher than 70% for work due to unexcused absences. Make-up work can be arranged with teachers. Students will be given full credit for semester exams.

Anything not addressed here will be consistent with the Wakefield High School make-up work policies.

Field Experiences

Performances/Field Experiences are considered necessary laboratory experiences for theatre arts classes and are mandatory.

• To receive credit for a WTC performance, students must sign in with their teacher immediately following the performance and turn in a ticket and program with a two page typed in depth critical review the following MONDAY*.
• To receive credit for community performances, a ticket and program are required as well as a two page typed in depth critical review is due the following MONDAY*. Below are the requirements for specific classes:

*Evaluations are a CRITICAL exploration of elements and techniques studied in your particular class. Papers that focus on the synopsis of the show will NOT receive credit.

Level I classes: Must attend all Wakefield Theatre Company productions during each term plus ONE (1) additional community performance prior to the end of the term.

Level II classes: Must attend all Wakefield Theatre Company productions during each term plus TWO (2) additional community performances during the term.

Level III classes: Must attend all Wakefield Theatre Company productions during each term plus THREE (3) additional community performances prior to the end of the term.

Level IV classes: Must attend all Wakefield Theatre Company productions plus FOUR (4) additional community performances prior to the end of the term.

Ind. Study classes: Must attend all Wakefield Theatre company productions plus FOUR (4) additional community performances prior to the end of the term.

If students are in more than one theatre arts class, (IE: Drama II/Tech. Theatre) they must attend the highest number of performances required and write an evaluation for each class specifically pertaining to the aspect of curriculum.

Lack of attending the required number of events will result in a lower FINAL grade.

Regular WTC performances are held in Wakefield High School Studio or Auditorium. Community performances are held at various sites. Site locations are available through local news media.

Activity Card holders get one FREE student ticket for each mainstage production as well as the annual haunted house. If there is a legitimate financial hardship, please speak to Mr. Orsett and we will work out ways to attend the mandatory performances. “If I don’t know, I can’t help!”