In Dramatic Interpretation, the competitor, using a play, short story, or other published work, performs a selection with a spotlight on character development and depth which captivates and moves the audience.  (Stoa website)   

The piece is performed by one person. Maximum time is 10 minutes. No minimum time.

The published work the speech is based on must follow these guidelines. In summary, the play or literature needs an ISBN, ISSN, LCCN, or DOI number. Media transcripts and blogs cannot be used. 

150 words can added to the published work, which includes the introduction.  Please see the rules below for what words count in the word count.

Examples of students performing a dramatic interpretation speech are found at the bottom of the page.

Rules and Ballot for Dramatic Interpretation:

Dramatic Interpretation Rules for 2023-2024 

Dramatic Interpretation Ballot for 2023-2024 

What Are Acceptable Sources to Use for Dramatic Interpretation Speeches 

Script Submission Form for Dramatic Interpretation 2023-2024 

Helpful Tips about Interpretive Events:

The above video is about how to prepare and perform interpretive events in another league.  Below are some of the corrections to the video in light of the Stoa rules:

1. The grace period is only 15 seconds; not 30 seconds.  Really you should be through speaking at 10 minutes.  15 seconds is the grace period for the judge to turn off the timer.

2. If you do use notes (common at the Oct/Nov tournaments), you can still compete, but you will have a two rank penalty.

3. There is no rule that you cannot use one source only once at at tournament.

4. A Stoa interpretive event that uses props is Interp in a Box!  Props or costumes are not allowed in any other speech event.

5. There is no rule in Dramatic Interpretation about where the student should look while performing.

6. Other Stoa interpretive events are Interp in a Box (wildcard event) and Open Interpretation (can be written by competitor, no limited on added words, 6 minutes maximum)

Informative Video about How to Cut An Interpretive Piece:

The above video is about how to cut a piece of literature for an interpretive events. It talks about rules in another league.  Below are some of the corrections to the video in light of the Stoa rules:

1. Script submissions are required at most Stoa tournaments. So make the extra xerox copies of the pages from the piece of literature at the beginning of the year with script submissions in mind.   Script submissions will require your marked up xeroxed copy of the piece of literature as well as a copy of the title page and a copy of the page that contains the copyright and original publication date.  See the link above for more information about the Script Submission.

2. In Stoa, interpretive events can have narration.  They don't have to be entirely dialogue.  The cutting for a Stoa interpretive piece may be more like the "Prose" he describes at the end of the video, where some narration is used.

3. In Stoa you can add a limited number of words.  150 words to be exact.  Please refer to the rules above for Dramatic Interpretation to see what words count and don't count toward the 150 word count.

Speech Helps 

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Helpful Hints for How to Do an Interpretive Speech from a Stoa Workshop

Examples of Stoa Dramatic Interpretation Speeches