Be sure to bring this page to your forum for reference.
Download & Print the Facilitator Guidelines
List the 5 steps on a poster or white board for all to use as reference.
Provide copies of Participant Guidelines in some never received them.
Introduce yourself.
Have everyone introduce him/herself. Include where they are from, school & show.
Review the Forum Participant Guidelines so everyone knows how it will work.
Suggest everyone make a few notes after each show, perhaps in their program.
Ice breaking activity such as a name game.
Be aware of the time especially in the first meeting. Your primary job is to keep things on track moving from one step to the next & prompting when there is a lul.
Allow equal time for each of the shows, 10 minutes per show, no more, no less. Keep it fair. When time is up, move on. Use a countdown timer (on a phone).
The first 4 steps in the process are likely to move quickly leaving plenty of time for #5.
Introductions, Performing Company: Name, Show, Role.
One Word Reactions: Everyone in the forum has the opportunity to throw in a one-word reaction to the play. Be sensitive. This is just intended to get the ball rolling.
Performing Company Members as Questioner: Performing company members ask questions about their work. After each question, the responders answer. Responders may express opinions if they are in direct response to the question asked and do not contain suggestions for changes.
Neutral Questions: Responders, audience, ask neutral questions about the work. The performing company members respond. Questions are neutral when they do not have an opinion couched in them. For example, if you are discussing the lighting of a scene, “Why was it so dark?” is not a neutral question. “What was the point of (goal or idea behind) the lighting concept?” is neutral. Do your best.
Statements of Meaning: Responders state what was meaningful, evocative, interesting, exciting, striking in the work they have just witnessed.
Someone talks too much - dominates the group: Ask "Can we hear from someone else?" or "from someone on this side of the room," or "from a different school."
Someone does not talk: Ask if there is something they would like to add (on the current topic).
Negative comments: Attempt to rephrase the comments/questions so that they become positive/constructive.
Comments on the judges: Remind the group that they are here to talk about their opinions of the shows.
Troublemakers: Drop hints that the person is being disruptive. If those don’t work, get the student’s name and school and inform the festival coordinator who will deal with the situation through their director.
Performing Company Absent: Do not allow a free-for-all criticizing the show. Keep it positive. If folks start trash talking the show it will get around and back to the performers, guaranteed. Not cool!
Alternate Process: (performing company absent)
One Word Reactions: Same as above.
Review the Plot: Make sure everyone understands the plot. Fill in each other’s gaps.
Tech Effectiveness: Discuss the effectiveness of the technical elements; set, lights, sound, costumes, etc.
Changes: What might you have done differently?
Statements of Meaning: Responders state what was meaningful, evocative, interesting, exciting, striking in the work they have just witnessed.
Suggested Topics for Discussion:
Characterization
Voice and Diction
Interaction
Physical Skills
Directing
Staging
Blocking
Tempo
Interpretation
Technical
Lighting
Sound
Make-up
Costuming
Set
Example Performer/Technician Questions asked by artists of those who watched the show.
Were there any physical actions that the actors took that stood out as especially appropriate/inappropriate?
Were there any times in the show where you were especially drawn into or taken out of the moment?
Were there any times when you were confused about the plot?
Was the blocking effective?
Were there any parts of the set that seemed out of place?
Was the show consistent within the time period?
What would you have changed if you were the director? Why?
What especially appealed to you? Why?
Example Neutral Questions asked by responders of those involved in the show:
What was your involvement with the show?
How long did you rehearse?
How many people are in the theater group?
Why was this set chosen for the show? How long did it take to build?
What would you have done differently if you were directing? Why?
Where did your costumes come from?
What problems had to be overcome to participate in festival?
What adaptations did you have to make for this performance venue?
If there were sound selections, why were they chosen?
Were there any script changes?
Example Statement of Meaning stems:
I was struck by
I was interested in
I enjoyed
Rev 1/8/2023