1. A Breakdown of the Grading for Your Productions
The Big Show
A Breakdown of the Grading for Your Productions

2. Overview
Each production will be produced once (perhaps twice); your grade will be determined based on the one performance. The grade will be a composite of each individual member’s contribution to the production and the overall performance by the troupe on the day of the production. - Remember that this is a fine arts credit! Everyone has to pick up the slack for everyone else – there are no individual zeros.

3. Roles
Each member will have a specific role (or two) within in the troupe. This role will have specific requirements that the troupe will depend upon. It is the director’s job (using his or her assistants) to make sure all of these jobs are completed – and completed well.

4. Review: Roles Defined
1) writer/director (1) 2) sound/1st assistant director (1) 3) lights/2nd assistant director (1) 4) major actors (1-3) 5) set designers/prop managers (1-2) 6) costume designers/makeup artists (1-2) 7) marketers/publicists/stage crew (1-2) 8) minor actors (2-6)

5. Grading
Your production will be graded in ten different areas – each one on a ten point scale, for a total of 100 points. In addition to the 100-point scale mentioned above, each production will be given an “overall” grade of 1-10 which will essentially function as extra credit points. Thus, the highest grade possible is a 110%.

6. #1: Exposition Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
designed to introduce all of your main characters (by name)
…to introduce your setting (i.e., time, place, and mood)
…to introduce (the beginning stages of) your conflict
In order to receive a score of “10” – the exposition must be subtle enough so as not to be obvious with what it is trying to accomplish, but at the same time interesting enough so as not to be boring.

7. #2: Nonverbal Scene Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
designed to achieve a singular effect: to build a scene of strong, dramatic tension through the presentation and resolution of incredible internal conflict
In order to receive a score of “10” – the scene must be completely nonverbal, using strong lighting, music, and acting to achieve its effect.
Remember that, in order to do this, the nonverbal scene must be given enough space to fully develop.

8. #3: Creative Scene Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
designed to express an aspect of your story that wouldn’t be as clear or as impactful with a more traditional scene
must have a scene that utilizes one of the following: black comedy, a musical number, tableau vivant, magical realism
In order to receive a score of “10” – the scene must be fully developed, must clearly demonstrate the fundamental elements of one (and only one) of the creative options available, and it must do so both seamlessly and effectively.

9. #4: Philosophical Scene
Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
designed to push beyond mere entertainment, by making your audience think and wonder
deals with life’s biggest questions (e.g., What is life? Why are we here? What is the meaning?, et cetera)
must be dialogue-heavy, involving at least one of the main characters in a verbal disagreement
In order to receive a score of “10” – the scene must be fully developed, having a main character grapple with a large, philosophical issue in an interesting, creative, and insightful way, prompting the audience to think and wonder.

10. Quick Note:
Over the course of rehearsals, each group will complete “graded rehearsals” in which your troupe will be given a day on the stage dedicated to perfecting a particular scene (and the transitions before/after it). These are considered assessment grades and are the cornerstones to your quarter grades.

11. #5: Visual Symbol Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
designed to facilitate the expression of a larger idea and/or theme of the story as a whole
needs to be a physical object that has no prior symbolic significance
In order to receive a score of “10” – the symbol must be clearly presented to the audience and revisited often. The meaning of the symbol must be subtle enough so as not to be obviously understood or trite, while clear enough so as to be connected to the larger ideas or themes of the play.

12. #6: Lighting Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
designed to facilitate the telling of the story by highlighting mood, tone, characterization, setting, et cetera
also concerned with engaging the audience in ways that the script, acting, sound, et cetera cannot
In order to receive a score of “10” – the lighting must accent various aspects of the story while remaining subtle enough to go unnoticed in-and-of-itself. It must also incorporate additional, alternative, and diegetic sources of light and should be executed seamlessly without any noticeable missteps or misstakes.

13. #7: Sound Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
designed to facilitate the telling of the story by highlighting mood, tone, characterization, setting, et cetera
also concerned with engaging the audience in ways that the script, acting, lights, et cetera cannot
In order to receive a score of “10” – the sound must accent various aspects of the story while remaining subtle enough to go unnoticed in-and-of-itself. It must also incorporate additional, alternative, and diegetic sources of sound and should be executed seamlessly without any noticeable missteps or mistakes.

14. #8: Set Design Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
set design includes the creative vision and execution of certain aspects of the play’s look including the furniture and props for each scene and the overall visual patterns and visual themes of the play as a whole
In order to receive a score of “10” – the set design must include visual design submissions that are thorough and comprehensive of both each scene and the play as a whole. Some of these elements of design must be realized in the final production, and a report detailing the rationale behind inclusions and exclusions must be submitted.

15. #9: Costume Design Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
costume design includes the creative vision and execution of certain aspects of the play’s look including the costumes and makeup for each character and the overall visual patterns and visual themes of the play as a whole
In order to receive a score of “10” – the costume design must include visual design submissions for every character – both in general, and on a scene-by-scene basis. Some of these elements of design must be realized in the final production, and a report detailing the rationale behind inclusions and exclusions must be submitted.

16. #10: Marketing/Tech Graded on a scale of: 0, 6, 8, 10
marketing is designed to build buzz about and interest in the play, and ultimately to promote attendance
the technical aspects mostly involve all of those all-important, invisible aspects of the production such as seating, scene changes, et cetera
In order to receive a score of “10” – marketers must submit multiple versions of promotional material, eventually creating and distributing at least one. Stage hands should execute the technical aspects of the production seamlessly without any noticeable missteps or mistakes.

17. Extra Credit
Graded on a scale of: 1-10 At the end of the play, I will assign an “overall” grade for the production. These points are in addition to the final score your troupe has earned as a sort of extra credit. It is largely based on the overall impression of the play as gauged by both my own personal response and the overall response of the audience in attendance.

18. Questions?