IMPORTANT! Message for all coaches and administrators--PGFC, NJFL, NFL

The WPR board met during this past week and agreed on a schedule of meetings and some changes this year.

Basic terminology:
Coaches are those who help students with technique and rehearsals.

Administrators are those who do the much more important, but less glorious, job of keeping things organized, registering students for competitions, etc.

If you are short-handed at your schools, it is more important to have an Administrator than a coach.

Judges are NEUTRAL arbitrators who follow the rules and adjudge the competitions, assigning both scores and rankings to the competitors.

Certified Judges are those judges who complete certain requirements that the Board sets and pass a test. In the event of ties, the certified judge's scoring/ranking will prevail. And we're looking into the possibility of some kind of remuneration for certified judges.

All competing schools must provide judges in compliance with the formula that is set for each competition.

Changes:
The first meetings of the competition year have been set. (See below.) The agendas, which are not yet finalized, will include important information about some changes that affect everyone. (On-line code assignments, code changes, etc.) You need to be sure to attend the meetings so you don't miss out on these details and changes. If you do things incorrectly, you may jeopardize your students' participation (and wins!) in the competition events.


Meetings:
COACHES and ADMINISTRATORS --NJFL/NFL
There will be a meeting for Coaches and Administrators of NJFL and NFL on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 at 5 PM at MHS 101 D.


COACHES and ADMINISTRATORS--PGFC
There will be a meeting for Coaches and Administrators of PGFC on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 5 PM at MHS 101 D.

JUDGES--ALL COMPETITIONS
There will be a meeting for Judges of all competitions on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 6PM at MHS 101 D.

Need more information? See the website with rules first; then contact Hal with your questions and comments.

ITS-First Thespian Competition

Despite the late start of school and the shortened planning time, the first Thespian competition came off successfully!

There were many high school students competing, with entrants in ALL categories. Yay! There were also some junior thespians competing, but not enough and no one competed in MIME.

Congratulations to all the students who showed up and competed. Despite some mix-ups and mistakes on knowing and following the rules, the competition was a success and the students were great!

And a special thanks to our volunteer judges, coaches and coordinators, and "president-for-life".

SOME SPECIAL RULE NOTICES:

It is important for students to know and follow the rules. Many rule violations result in disqualifications (which means the student disqualified will only get a participation point, and not be otherwise ranked with the other students competing).

Common mistakes:

1. In solo musical--the student must sing a song from musical theatre (Broadway usually). ITS has changed the rules this year, and songs from movies are not allowable. Other popular songs have never been allowed.

2. In solo musical--the accompanying musical track may not have any vocal singing on it. Students can sing to karaoke or minus-one tracks, or sing a capella.

3. In monologue--the two pieces must CONTRAST. And Mr. Easton has clarified the rules by saying that they must come from 2 DIFFERENT PLAYS.

4. In monologue and duet acting--pieces must be from published plays or other published stage performance pieces. They can't be poems or original writing, etc.

5. There are specific format rules for costume and set design; also film. Be sure not to get too close to the edge (literally and figuratively).

Good job, everyone!

Time Deadlines-ITS

Thespians coaches and coordinators: please talk to each other at your school. Make sure your coordinator has the information and meets the deadlines, as follows:


NAMES OF COMPETITORS: Submit to Hal Easton by Friday, September 26, 2008.
Submit what names you have, even if you're not sure it's complete or accurate. This will give Hal a chance to create a format for each school competing, and make it easier when adding or dropping competitors.

ADDS: Submit to Hal Easton by Monday, September 29, 2008. There will be no chance to add any students after this date. So be sure to include any and all students who may potentially compete.

REVIEW: Hal will provide a copy of the draft matrix. Please review it for accuracy. Let him know if names are spelled incorrectly or codes are inaccurate, etc.

DROPS: Submit to Hal starting on Tuesday, September 30 and have all names of students who are DROPS to Hal by Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

REVIEW: Hal will provide a copy of the 2nd draft matrix. Be sure to note the date of the matrix before commenting and make sure you are commenting on the latest matrix.

FINAL DROPS: Submit to Hal on Thursday, October 2, 2008 by 4 PM.

REVIEW: Hal will provide a copy of the FINAL matrix, which will be used at the competition on Saturday, October 4, 2008.

CHECK-IN: Thespians, check in (and pay $1 per competitor) October 4, 2008 at 1 PM at Kagman Elementary School.

Time Deadlines-PGFC

PGFC coaches and coordinators: please talk to each other at your school. Make sure your coordinator has the information and meets the deadlines, as follows:


NAMES OF COMPETITORS: Submit to Hal Easton by Friday, September 26, 2008.
Submit what names you have, even if you're not sure it's complete or accurate. This will give Hal a chance to create a format for each school competing, and make it easier when adding or dropping competitors.

ADDS: Submit to Hal Easton by Monday, September 29, 2008. There will be no chance to add any students after this date. So be sure to include any and all students who may potentially compete.

REVIEW: Hal will provide a copy of the draft matrix. Please review it for accuracy. Let him know if names are spelled incorrectly or codes are inaccurate, etc.

DROPS: Submit to Hal starting on Tuesday, September 30 and have all names of students who are DROPS to Hal by Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

REVIEW: Hal will provide a copy of the 2nd draft matrix. Be sure to note the date of the matrix before commenting and make sure you are commenting on the latest matrix.

FINAL DROPS: Submit to Hal on Thursday, October 2, 2008 by 4 PM.

REVIEW: Hal will provide a copy of the FINAL matrix, which will be used at the competition on Saturday, October 4, 2008.

CHECK-IN: PGFC grades 3 to 5, check in (and pay $1 per competitor) October 4, 2008 at 8 AM at Kagman Elementary School.

PGFC grades K-2, check in (and pay $1 per competitor) October 4, 2008 at 9 AM at Kagman Elementary School.