(Above) Max Blackwell, Plano West Sr High School, performing Continuing Education by Jordan Douglas. 2023 NSDA Dramatic Interpretation Finals. (https://www.youtube.com/@MADDOX.FILMACT) |
Event DescriptionUsing a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece up to ten minutes in length. With a spotlight on character development and depth, Dramatic Interpretation (DI) focuses on a student’s ability to convey emotion through the use of a dramatic text. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances may also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance and state the title and author. EVENT TIMESThe time limit in Dramatic Interpretation Main Events is ten minutes with a 30-second “grace period.” If there are multiple judges in the round, all must agree that the student has gone beyond the grace period. Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. There is no other prescribed penalty for going over the grace period. The ranking is up to each individual judge’s discretion. Judges who choose to time are to use accurate (stopwatch function) timing devices. No minimum time is mandated. | Event RulesACTAA aligns with NSDA on all interpretation event rules. NSDA Interpretation Event Rules ResourcesACTAA Resource LibraryInterpretation of Literature—Bringing Words to Life NSDA High School Unified Manual NSDA Suggested Source Material |