KCACTF Region VIII - Irene Rayn Scholarship Auditions

2014 Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions

News from the National Meetings

During our national meetings, the National officers, the Regional chairs, and the Regional Design and NPP chairs meet to discuss issues that effect our entire organization.

At our meeting this summer, we spent a good deal of time discussing the Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions. One of the areas of concern regarded internal cuts. Please remind your students to respect the work of the playwrights and do not make internal cuts to the audition selections. Our rules state: “Performers should seriously consider that when internal cuts and the realignment of text are made to scenes or monologues, there is the risk of significantly altering the interpretation of the dramatic idea of the play and the author’s intent. Most authors would not support such an action, even for an audition. Both coaches and students are reminded that they assume the liability if the rights holder choose to formally complain about the way the material is used.”

To this end, there will be a box on the Ryan registration form that the students will be required to check to acknowledge that they are aware that they are liable if they violate copyright laws by making internal cuts to their scenes. In addition, they will check a box that they have read and agree to the rules and criteria for the Irene Ryan Scholarship. Thank you for your attention to this detail and for helping to make the students aware of the rules. The complete information can be found here: http://www.kcactf.org/KCACTF.ORG_NATIONAL/Ryan_Rules.html

Irene Ryan Audition Process

In the Preliminary Round, each nominee presents one scene/duet with a partner, no longer than three minutes. The Preliminary Round is held on the first day of festival (your scheduled time will be posted at http://www.kcactf-8festivalinfo.org/page35.html - no special requests please). We will be using two rooms for the preliminary round.

On the morning of your scheduled preliminary, there is an orientation session at 8:00 am. At that time, we will explain to all nominees and partners how things will work (timing, response sessions afterward, etc.). The rounds/responses start at 9am - one round each hour except for lunch hour (when we're "dark"). Coaches/friends may observe your round if they arrive early enough to secure seating (starting at approx. 10 minutes before each hour), but they must stay in the room for the entire round. A respondent will meet with you in the hour immediately following your round, to give you feedback and suggestions.

In the evening after the preliminary rounds, the semifinalists will be posted at http://www.kcactf-8festivalinfo.org/page39.html.

In the Semifinal Round, each nominee will present their Preliminary Round scene/duet plus another scene/duet with the same partner, the total time (including transitions) not to exceed 5 minutes. There will be 48 to 64 semifinalists. The Semifinal Round will be held on the second day of festival. This will be presented in three acts with the response for each act following the corresponding act. If you are involved with an invited production that performs that day, you will be scheduled to to accomodate that the performance times of that production.

In the evening after the semifinal rounds, the 16 finalists will be posted http://www.kcactf-8festivalinfo.org/page43.html. Each is assigned a rehearsal time on Saturday in the theater (between 8am and 3pm). Finalists' coaches may attend this rehearsal, but friends/observers are not permitted. The rehearsals will be scheduled in order of appearance at finals, unless a nominee is involved with a production and must be accommodated.

In the Final Round, each nominee will present their Semifinal Round scenes (with the same partner) plus a monologue/solo song, the total time (including transitions) not to exceed 6 minutes. The Final Round will be held on Saturday evening, the culminating event of the festival - there is no other event scheduled opposite this.

The 16 finalists have an orientation at 6pm, and will perform beginning (approximately) 7pm, with an intermission. Afterward, a response session will take place with our guests responding to the work.

The festival awards ceremony will occur immediately following the Ryan Final Round in the same theater (probably around 10:30). This is where all festival awards (national finalist) will be announced, including the two Ryan national finalists and the alternate (if for any reason a finalist can't make it to the national festival). If advanced to national festival, registration, transportation, lodging, and a per diem allowance are provided for each national festival participant and for each partner. At the national festival, a maximum of six minutes in the national Evening of Scenes will be permitted to present the same audition package that was presented at the regional festival.

At the regional festival, there is no set order in which nominees must perform their pieces. For example, if advanced to the semifinal round, the "new" scene/duet may be performed either before or after the "old" scene/duet; and likewise for the final round - the nominee decides the order of the material.

Musical Acting Audition: All musical accompaniments must be live. No recorded accompaniment will be allowed. If a scene in the audition incorporates singing, the scene must be in dialogue or duet with the partner. The accompanist will not count as the partner (unless the accompanist performs as a character in the audition).

Each of the rounds (preliminary, semi and final) is open to festival-registrants. I encourage you to observe as many rounds as possible (when not performing or getting your response) so that you can see what others are choosing as material (a great resource for list-makers), how they are approaching the material, what and who is being selected to continue on to subsequent levels, etc.

For additional information on the Irene Ryan Scholarship Audition contact:
Christopher Clark
KCACTF Irene Ryan Coordinator, Region VIII
clarkch@uvu.edu