Drama Rules

Entry Limit: Two Lower Level (German I – II) per school; Two Upper Level (German III-V) per school

Time Limits:  Level 1: 3-5 minutes      Level 2: 4-6 minutes             Levels 3 & 4: 5-7 minutes

This competition follows the basic rules of the National Forensic League, which include the following:  The 2 contestants may use no more than 2 chairs, no other props and no costumes; may only pantomime actions; must have a memorized introduction in German; may have no prompting; must use a piece from a published work by a German-speaking author (no translations); must have 2 copies of this piece for the judges; and must adhere to the time limits set forth above with a 30-second grace period (under or over). The merit of the selection will be a criterion in judging.  Duets may not be excerpts from a play, skit or puppet show, in which the contestants are performing.

Click here to download the critique sheet for Duet Acting.

Note: It is not allowed to use the same script (or a substantially similar script) in more than one event at the same contest if there are any common cast members in both events. For example: A school may not use the same script for a skit and a puppet show if one or more students are in both casts. It is also not allowed for any cast member to perform a script which he/she has performed in any previous year. For example: If your Skit 2 in 2022 was “Rotkäppchen,” you may not use “Rotkäppchen” for Skit 3 in 2023 or for Skit 4 in 2024 (unless the casts from one year to the next are 100% different). The spirit of this rules is that students should be challenged to work with different material in each event they enter.

Source Idea: 101 Szenen für 2 Personen, ISBN 3-89487-481-3 (but be careful, some of the scenes are translations from plays by non-German authors, but it also has quite a few scenes from German plays).  Otherwise, simply look through plays that you have in your personal collection or that you read in your classes.

Entry Limit: One Lower Level (German I-II) play per school; one Upper Level (German III-V, incl. advantaged speakers) play per school
Time Limits:  Lower Level: 4-8 minutes                   Upper Level: 7-10 minutes
Contestants have a 30-second grace period (under or over) plus a maximum of 3 minutes to set up.

Puppet shows may be written by the class, the teacher, German-speaking authors, or others.   Fairy tales may be adapted as puppet shows.  The performers must memorize all lines from the script.  The judges will ensure that the performers have no scripts.  No stage will be provided, nor used on the contest site, but rather, contestants will perform behind chairs or desks covered by a black cloth (which is provided onsite).  Each group must provide its own puppets, props, backdrops, and painter’s tape.  Backdrops should be no larger than 10’ X 10’.  They may be secured to the wall with painter’s tape only.  If advantaged speakers are included in an Upper-Level cast, this information must be given to the judges.  Two copies of the script must be provided for the judges.  Excerpts from the puppet show may not be reused in other categories by the same cast member.

Most schools do fairy tales, although there is no requirement to do so.

Click here to download the critique sheet for Puppet Show.

Note: It is not allowed to use the same script (or a substantially similar script) in more than one event at the same contest if there are any common cast members in both events. For example: A school may not use the same script for a skit and a puppet show if one or more students are in both casts. It is also not allowed for any cast member to perform a script which he/she has performed in any previous year. For example: If your Skit 2 in 2022 was “Rotkäppchen,” you may not use “Rotkäppchen” for Skit 3 in 2023 or for Skit 4 in 2024 (unless the casts from one year to the next are 100% different). The spirit of this rules is that students should be challenged to work with different material in each event they enter.

Entry Limit: One skit per level, per school:  Levels 1, 2, 3, & 4.  There must be a minimum of 3 performers with speaking parts, no maximum.

Time Limits:  Levels 1 & 2: 4-8 minutes                                 Levels 3 & 4, 7-10 minutes

Contestants have a 30-second grace period (under or over), plus a maximum of 3 minutes to set up.
If it is a mixed-level skit, then it must be entered on the level of the most-advanced cast member.  If advantaged speakers are included in a level 4 skit, this information must be given to the judges.  Skits may be written by the class, the teacher, German-speaking authors, or others.  Skits may be from fairy tales.  Good pronunciation and grammatically-correct German are most important in the judging.  Costumes and props may be added for flavor and effect, but are not required.  Two copies of the script must be provided for the judges.  Excerpts from the skit may not be reused in other categories by the same cast member. 

Click here to download the critique sheet for Skit.

Note: It is not allowed to use the same script (or a substantially similar script) in more than one event at the same contest if there are any common cast members in both events. For example: A school may not use the same script for a skit and a puppet show if one or more students are in both casts. It is also not allowed for any cast member to perform a script which he/she has performed in any previous year. For example: If your Skit 2 in 2022 was “Rotkäppchen,” you may not use “Rotkäppchen” for Skit 3 in 2023 or for Skit 4 in 2024 (unless the casts from one year to the next are 100% different). The spirit of this rules is that students should be challenged to work with different material in each event they enter.

You can use published materials, but it may work better to assemble your group and then brainstorm a skit that fits the particular group size and personality: fairy tale, modern riff on a fairy tale, smash-up of several fairy tales, common TV formats such as game shows or talk shows, etc. One idea could be to pick a theme for the year and have all your skits center on that theme. At least this gives you a starting point for your brainstorming.

This event is submitted and judged virtually. The entry is due one week prior to contest day. Websites will be updated each year to reflect the submission due dates.  Instructions for uploading the entry will be published on the contest website and/or distributed to teachers each year. 

Entry Limit: One video per school. At least 6 contestants must be included in the video.

Time Limits:  6 – 15 minutes

Format: .pdf

The video may be an original screenplay or a documentary and may not include animation. This may not be a video of one of your school’s drama entries (puppet show, skit, etc.). All dialogue must be in German. Judging includes originality, German dialogue, and the professional quality of the video presentation. Creativity is encouraged.

Click here to download the critique sheet for Video Show.

Submission Process:

1. Upload the finished video to YouTube or Vimeo.
2. Type the script in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.
3. Create a title page with the student names, school, title of the video, and the YouTube/Vimeo hyperlink to the video. **If you are concerned about privacy and want to password-protect your video, include the password along with the hyperlink.
4. Convert the document to a PDF and upload it according to the instructions provided. Do NOT upload the video itself; the judges will access your video via the link that you include on the title page.

Preparation Tip: Students, you should come up with the original wording, but it is suggested that you have a more-experienced speaker (teacher, exchange student, German speaker from the community, etc) check it for grammar and syntax.