Cappies’ Reviews Of High School Theater To Be Published Here

Publishing student reviews of high school theater is the cornerstone of a new service from Florida Theater On Stage and the South Florida Critics and Awards Program, better known as The Cappies.

Now in its 13^th year, the Cappies enrolls theatre and journalism students, trains them as critics and assigns them to attend shows at 25 schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The student write reviews under the mentorship of teachers
and volunteers.

Until recently, some of the reviews were published in a local newspaper, but that facet ended last spring. Florida Theater On Stage has stepped in to publish the best of those reviews on a page on our website dedicated especially to the Cappies.

Often updated weekly, the page can be found by going to our main page www.floridatheateronstage.com and clicking on the white on teal button saying “Cappies” on the right hand side of the page, about a third of the way down from the top.

We believe this will encourage high school journalism, develop young critics by providing them a public outlet for their work and encourage theater programs in the high schools by publicizing their work.

The Cappies program began in Washington, D.C., and now has 13 chapters including the one covering South Florida. The local chapter reviews shows at Archbishop McCarthy High School, Boca Raton Community High, Cardinal Gibbons, Cooper City High, Coral Glades High, Coral Springs High, Cypress Bay High, David Posnack Jewish Day School, Deerfield Beach High, Dillard Center for the Arts, Flanagan High, JP Taravella High, North Broward Prep, Pine Crest School, Plantation High, Pompano Beach High, Pope John Paul II High, South Plantation High, St. Thomas Aquinas High, Stoneman Douglas High, Suncoast Community High, The Sagemont School, University School of Nova Southeastern University, West Boca High and Western High.

Two to three dozen student critics review a show, meet with mentors, then write 300- to 500-word reviews on deadline. Teacher-mentors select which reviews should be published, usually five or six per show. All reviews are sent to the school that put on the show. Throughout the year, each critic reviews five shows.

Then in the late spring, critics vote for Cappie awards for the participants in the productions, performers and behind the scene workers, much like the Tony Awards. The critics themselves also receive awards. The awards are given out each spring at a gala that includes presentation of scenes from some of the shows.

For more information about the Cappies, visit www.cappies.com/sfc/Home.aspx

Schedule of High School Shows evaluated by The Cappies
(Dates often represent weekend of multiple performances)

—Sideshow / North Broward Preparatory School / Oct. 17 —
—Completeness / American Heritage School / Nov. 1 — 7 p.m.
—Dreamgirls / Dillard Center For The Arts / Nov. 1 – 7 p.m.
—Three Japanese Ghost Stories / Somerset Academy Arts Conservatory / Nov. 14 – 7 p.m.
—The Drowsy Chaperone / Cardinal Gibbons / Nov. 14 – 7:30
—Ragtime / JP Taravella HS / Nov. 15 – 7 p.m.
—The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wilde / Deerfield Beach High / Nov. 15 – 7 p.m.
—Harvey / Pope John Paul II High / Nov. 21 – 7 p.m.
—Gypsy / Pine Crest School /Nov. 22 – 7 p.m.
—A Few Good Men / Archbishop McCarthy High / Nov. 22 – 7 p.m.
—Annie / Plantation High / Dec. 12 – 7 p.m.
—Dark of the Moon / Western High / Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.
—Legally Blonde /West Broward High / Feb. 19 – 6:30
—Pippin / Coral Glades High / Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.
—Twelfth Night / Stoneman Douglas High / Feb. 27 – 7 p.m.
—The Drowsy Chaperone / Boca Raton Community High / Feb. 28 – 7 p.m.
—TBA / University School of NSU / March 7 – 7 p.m.
—The Addams Family / South Plantation High / March 7 – 7 p.m.
—TBA /The Sagemont School / March 8 – 2 p.m.
—In the Heights / Cypress Bay High / March 12 – 7:30
—The Addams Family / West Boca High / March 13 – 8 p.m.
—Twelve Angry Jurors / St. Thomas Aquinas High / March 5 – 2 p.m.
—TBA / Cooper City High / April 2 – 8 p.m.
—How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying / Suncoast Community High / April 4 – 7 p.m.
—Cappies Gala   / Broward Center for the Performing Arts   / May 19