Like many clubs and sports, Productions Company has competitions against other schools. The first competition they are involved in is Region, where they compete against local schools.
Monologues and scored straight superiors in Region and State. Competing in general can be very difficult, but also rewarding. “The hardest part of competition would definitely be finding a good piece to compete with.” This can be difficult because it needs to be a piece that can stand-alone and highlight the performer. This means that the piece cannot have something that needs a back-story or explanation to the audience, but it includes natural pauses and pulses where the actor can pull out different tactics. “For me,” Chandler continued, “the most rewarding part is when you personally know that you did the very best you could and you hit all of your tactics and facial expressions.”
Those who get overall superiors in Region move on to compete with schools from all over the state of Utah. There are seven categories: Musical Theatre, Pantomime, Humorous Monologues, Dramatic Monologues, Classical Scenes, Contemporary Scenes, and One Act Plays. These separate categories are judged on Interpretation and Characterization. In order to get superiors in Interpretation, one must be practically perfect with understanding and communication of emotional content of the story, facial expression and gestures, tempo and rhythm, voice and diction (articulation, variety, projection, control), and use of staging (blocking, movement, picturization and balance). For characterization, the performer must have clear and motivated objectives, and then creative and appropriate choices to achieve said objective.
Kearns High School’s Productions Company recently sent some of its members to State. Chandler Paskett, a senior on Productions Company, shared some of his experiences from competition. Last year, Chandler competed and placed second in Classical Scenes. This year, he competed with Humorous
With this being his last year, Chandler expressed his love for Productions Company and all that it has taught him throughout high school at Kearns. “I learned the most about myself. In every character that I play, I draw from different aspects of my personality. I learn more about why people do what they do, I love that. I’m going to miss all the people; they truly have become a family to me.”