Morgaine Gooding-Silverwood, lead-critic
Ben Fletcher, returning critic
Conrad Boyd
Sean Casey
Sam Wipf
Nora Daly, regional critic
Kate Hoffinger, regional critic
Swetara Joshi, regional critic
Dr. Virginia Palmer-Fuechsel, Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Michael Oliver, Theatre Director
Rozanne Silverwood, Cappies Booster
Ben Fletcher and Virginia MUST attend either:
October 6 - Monday
Returning Critic/Mentor Training
7:00p - 9:00p
Location: Leis Center (in Fairfax)
or
October 14- Tuesday
Returning Critic/Mentor Training
7:00p - 9:00p
Location: Churchill HS (Potomac, MD)
Kate, Nora, Sean, Conrad, Swetara and Sam MUST attend either:
October 11 - Saturday
New Critic/Mentor Training
10:00a - 2:00p
Location: Churchill HS
11300 Gainsborough Rd, Potomac, MD
or
October 15 - Wednesday
New Critic/Mentor Training
4:00p - 8:00p
At Chantilly High School
4201 Stringfellow Road
Chantilly, VA 20151
REVIEWING SCHEDULE:
(Kate, Nora and Swetara will be given a few different assignments; otherwise, they will be joining the full team at these shows). Our Cappies Night is included, too.
11/1/2008, Saturday, 2:00 PM
WK Wakefield School (The Plains) Arsenic and Old Lace
11/21/2008, Friday, 7:30 PM
LA Langley HS Noises Off
2/13/2008, Friday, 7:30 PM
NS New School Cappies Night The Bachae
2/21/2009, Saturday, 2:00 PM
ST St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Urinetown
4/17/2009, Friday, 7:30 PM
SH J.E.B. Stuart HS Little Shop of Horrors
5/1/2009, Friday, 7:00 PM
SL South Lakes HS TBA
May 3
LAST DATE FOR REVIEWING SHOWS!
May 10
Voting Day
Time: TBA
Location: Leis Center, Falls Church
June 7
10th Annual Cappies Awards Gala
Time: 7 pm
Location: Kennedy Center
Founded six years ago in Fairfax, Cappies is a internationally recognized critics and awards organization for promoting high school theater.
The New School joined Cappies in September, 2005.
Training Sessions:
In October, our team of eight student critics must attend either a critic training session or a returning critic session.
Reviewing:
Once trained, critics are responsible for accepting, declining or volunteering for shows in a timely manner, as well as for working out transportation for getting to the shows and other Cappies events. Carpooling and getting parent drivers is highly recommended (some of the shows are farther away and we sometimes get out as late as 10:30 or 11 PM.) At least 3 students must attend all of our assigned shows! At the shows, students received free tickets, programs, food and information about the show, and are expected to participate in pre- and post-show discussions. After each show, students are responsible for writing and submitting a 400-500 word review according to the given guidelines and fixed deadlines (see www.cappies.com). The best six of the fifty or more reviews for that show are selected for publication. Good reviewing skills and attention to the details of fine writing pays off: last year several New School student reviews were published in area newspapers, including the Washington Post.
As representatives of our school, critics are exprected to behave in a professional manner at all functions, and to work toward submitting quality reviews.
Cappies Night:
Each year, we also host the Cappies during our big theatre production. On our "Cappies Night," our team is responsible for organizing and handling the logistics of hosting 40-50 reviewers and advisors from other high schools.
Voting:
At the end of May, students who complete their minimum of five successfully submitted reviews receive nomination and voting rights. We need a minimum of two voting critics and fifteen reviewed shows in order to qualify our show for awards.
Awards:
Student critics' votes determine which shows and performers receive awards at the National Capital Area Cappies Gala in the Kennedy Center. In addition, top critics are eligible for awards and the names of Cappies Commendees (students who were honored for outstanding contributions to their school's theater program) will be listed in the program.
