Open Interpretation
In Open Interpretation selections may be in the whole range from dramatic to humorous genres, including narrative storytelling, single voice monologues, thematic compilations, unpublished, or self-written pieces (Stoa website).
This speech can be written by the student, can be an unpublished work written by a friend or anyone else, or can be from a published work. The unpublished works can NOT be a blog or media transcript (movie scripts, or audio and video recoordings not published in written form by the owner). The published work 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. There is no limit on the number of words added to the published work.
The speech may also draw from several sources around a common theme.
The piece is performed by one person. Maximum time is 6 minutes. No minimum time.
Examples of Open Interpreation speeches are given at the bottom of the page. Please note that speeches prior to the 2017-2018 season reflect a 10 minute time limit. The current time limit for Open Interp is 6 minutes.
Click below to see the official Stoa rules and ballot for 2023-2024:
Rules for Open Interpretation for 2023-2024
Ballot for Open Interpretation for 2023-2024
What Are Acceptable Sources to Use if Using a Published Source for Open Interpretation Speeches
Script Submission Form for Open 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:
The time limit for Open Interpretation is 6 minutes instead of 10 minutes.
The grace period is only 15 seconds; not 30 seconds. Really you should be through speaking at 6 minutes. 15 seconds is the grace period for the judge to turn off the timer.
If you do use notes (common at the Oct/Nov tournaments), you can still compete, but you will have a two rank penalty.
There is no rule that you cannot use one source only once at at tournament.
A Stoa interpretive event that uses props is Interp in a Box! Props or costumes are not allowed in any other speech event.
There is no rule in Open Interpretation about where the student should look while performing.
Open Interpretation can be written by competitor or any unpublished source (except a blog or media transcript including movie, video, or radio script unless they are published ina written form by the owner) or a published source. There is also no limited on added words.
Informative Video about How to Cut An Interpretive Piece if Using a Published Source:
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:
Open interpretation can be self-written or written by a friend OR can be from one or several published sources that meet the Stoa guidelines.
Script submissions are required at most Stoa tournaments. So make the extra xerox copies of the pages from the piece of literature (if using published sources/not writting your own script) 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.
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.
In Open Interpretation you can use an unlimited number of words not in the original published source(s).
Speech Helps
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Helpful Hints for How to Do an Interpretive Speech from a Stoa Workshop
Examples of Stoa Open Interpretation Speeches
NOTE: Examples older than Fall 2017 do not reflect the shorter time limit imposed beginning in 2017-2018 on this event.