The Kennedy Center states that, “devising is loosely defined as the process of collaboratively creating a new work without a pre-existing script wherein the collaborators are also the performers. In the standard theatre model, a single playwright writes the text and then a director casts actors and selects designers to interpret that text, resulting in a theatre production. With devised theatre, however, the collective artists begin without a script. A devised piece of theatre can literally start with anything: a painting, a song, a real-life event, a novel to adapt, a prompt, etc. Multiple ways to devise exist. However, a deep study of devising shows that many companies’ processes include five key stages: research, creation, development, rehearsal, and performance.”
This year MTA will be hosting 3 regional 10 Minute / Devised Theatre Festivals. This year’s focus will be Devised Theatre for Change where students will have the opportunity to engage in and promote discourse on challenging topics.
Each school will be allowed to have 3 teams consisting of 6 individuals on each team. Teams must have 6 members. Incomplete teams will be ineligible to participate. The students will then be put into groups of 6, all from different schools. The students will have 9 ½ hours to devise and rehearse the production and the performance will be performed at 6:00 pm that evening.
Each region may host a maximum of eight (8) participating groups containing six (6) students each to participate in the 10-minute festival.
Schools may choose which regional they would like to participate with, but once a region’s event is full, schools will be referred to another region that has openings available or have the option to withdraw.
Contact Information
For more information contact the regional chair.
North Region –Trisha Jordan - tjordan@starkvillesd.com
Central Region – Randy Ferino – ferino2006@gmail.com
South Region – Carrie Ferguson-Bellew – carrie.bellew@lbsdk12.com
*Registration is due September 23*
The Prompt - One Moment Can Change Everything
a. Ensemble members will be assigned from various schools.
b. Teachers will have provided them with ideas for source material related to this prompt.
c. For example – Racial Inequity, Voting Suppression, Inclusiveness.
d. Source material does not have to be heavy.
e. The prompt ”One Moment Can Change Everything” can mean many things, but students participating in this project should all come into it with an idea to serve as source material