The 2006 one-act play event included a Friday afternoon improv workshop and pizza party in addition to the day-long Saturday rehearsals and performances.  The activities were open to homeschoolers of all grade levels, who had not yet graduated from high school and were age 19 and younger. The event was held in McCafferty Hall at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, 1200 Sycamore, Waxahachie.  Thanks so much to SAGU for its generosity.

The aims of the One-Act Play Contest are:

T to satisfy the competitive, artistic spirit with friendly rivalry among home schools, emphasizing high quality performance in this creative art;

T to foster appreciation of good acting, good directing, and good drama;

T to promote interest in that art form most readily usable in leisure time during adult life;

T to learn to lose or win graciously, accepting in good sportsmanship the judge's decision and criticism with a view to improve future productions; and

T to increase the number of home schools which have adopted theatre arts as an academic subject in school curricula.

For information about accommodations in Waxahachie, please visit one of the following websites:

http://www.waxahachiechamber.com/lodging/lodging.php

http://www.virtualtourist.com/hotels/North_America/United_States_of_America/Texas/Waxahachie-881856/Hotels_and_Accommodations-Waxahachie-TG-C-1.html

On the contest day, the SAGU cafeteria will be open to participants during lunchtime and suppertime.  The university is graciously offering a discounted rate on food and also will allow participants to bring their own prepared food into the cafeteria. 

To learn about local attractions and other restaurants, please visit:

http://www.waxahachiechamber.com/attractions/index.html

CONTEST ENTRY PROCEDURES

1. Any homeschool group may enter. All participating students must be homeschooled, must not yet have graduated from high school, and must be no older than 19 years of age.

2. Any homeschool group entering this competition must fill out the application and have the Script Approval Sheet signed by the president and vice-president of the homeschool group or by the two highest official leaders with the group.

3. Any homeschooled student participating in the Homeschool One-Act Play Competition can enter and participate only with a single homeschool group.

Penalties for Failure to Participate in Competition.

Disqualification from the Homeschool One-Act Play Competition for the current academic year may result if a group fails to meet the entry deadline or fails to meet the title entry deadline.

Suspension from the One-Act Play Competition for the following year may result if a group fails to participate in the event after making an official entry.

Entry Deadline. The title of the play selected for competition use and the entry form shall be postmarked or delivered to ECCHO (Ellis County Christian Homeschool Organization), P.O. Box 232, Waxahachie, TX 75168 no later than September 13, 2006. The cost will be $100 per entry. If the entry form is submitted by June 1, 2006, the cost will be decreased to $75.

COMPETITION PLAY SELECTION AND ELIGIBILITY

Plays which are by nature dramatic monologues, readers theatre, story theatre, musical, choric or choral speaking, or which are predominantly music or choral speaking shall not be used in the contest.

Otherwise, any one-act play may be performed as long as it follows the following guidelines:*

1. All plays should be appropriate and modest in presentation.

2. Foul language of any kind is unacceptable.

3. Sexual references of any kind are unacceptable.

4. Blasphemous references of any kind are unacceptable.

5. Costumes must be modest in appearance.

6. Music and sound effects must be appropriate for all ages.

*Failure to abide by any or all of these rules will result in the immediate cessation of the performance and disqualification from any future One-Act Play Competitions held by ECCHO.

Sound. No additional sound systems will be allowed. Sound effects projected from a portable CD player or created off-stage are allowed.

Sets. To ensure a fair competition, this contest will allow no background sets, no ramps, no platforms, no door units, no wall units, or other set additions of this nature. All normal furnishings that will facilitate the scenes, such as tables, rugs, hat racks, chairs, and the like are allowed. Each group will be given a certain amount of space in which to store their properties; the exact dimensions of the space will be given after entries have been accepted. Any normal furnishings that can fit in to that space, stacked in any safe manner possible, will be allowed.

Lighting. Stage lighting at this location is fixed.  Because the groups are not able to adjust lighting for the competition, the judge(s) will be instructed to disregard lighting as a factor in critiquing the performance. If a group chooses to bring an additional portable spotlight, this may be allowed.  Please direct additional lighting requests to the competition manager. 

The Script Approval Statement at the bottom of this form must be signed by the president and vice-president of the homeschool group participating in the contest or by the two highest official leaders of the group.

Time Limit. Each group shall be allowed exactly 55 minutes to set, perform, and strike all properties. Time for scene changes during the progress of the play shall be included in the 55-minute time limit.

Official adult timekeepers (backstage and in the auditorium) are responsible for recording this limit. In case of violation of the above time limit, the competition manager shall, after the final curtain of the play in question, first notify the critic judge that the play is ineligible. The director of the play should be notified as soon as possible thereafter.

Firearms or Explosives. No starter pistol, real gun, rifle, pellet gun, air gun, or pistol shall be used in any way, regardless of whether or not the firing pin is removed. Toy, wooden, or model firearms may be used. Discharge of a firearm, cap pistol, starter pistol, or any explosive in connection with a contest play shall not be permitted. No fire of any kind (matches, lighters, sparklers, or anything of that sort) will be permitted in or around the facility.

Prompting. Scripts shall not be used on-stage. No prompting of actors shall be allowed during the performance by anyone off-stage or out of the acting area. (Scripts may be used in off-stage areas or for technical purposes so long as they are not used for prompting an on-stage performer or live off-stage voice.)

The Director During the Contest Performance. Directors shall not be permitted in the light booth, backstage, or off-stage areas during the competition performance of their play, but directors are permitted in these areas during the set and strike periods. Any location designated for the operation of lights or sound constitutes an off-stage area, and directors shall not make contact or communicate with crew members working in said areas during performance.

Individual awards shall include the best actress, best actor, all-star cast and honorable mention all-star cast. Each team will be given a 1 (superior), 2 (excellent), or 3 (average) rating. There will also be a "best of competition" award.  Additional awards may be added as plans for this event progress.

Script Approval Statement. This is to be filled out by the Homeschool Group entering the One-Act Play Competition. This sheet must be filled out and submitted with the application and entry fee.

Publisher Permission. No play shall be performed in contest unless the director can produce written evidence that royalty payment has been paid, if royalty is required. Publishing companies shall not provide evidence of royalty payment. If the director is producing scenes from a long play or an original play, the director shall produce written evidence that permission for production has been obtained from the publisher or author unless the specific edition of the play being used is in public domain. ECCHO assumes no responsibility for payment of royalties or obtaining permission from the publisher or author to produce plays or scenes from plays. A letter from the homeschool group president or highest ranking official stating that publisher permission has been obtained and royalty paid may constitute written evidence. A check copy or canceled check may serve as written evidence of royalty payments.

CONTEST ENTRY FORM

Ellis County Christian Homeschool Organization

P.O. Box 232, Waxahachie, TX 75168

eccho@ev1.net