LAMDA EXAM CRITERIA

 General Information    Theatre One, Two and IB    Theatre Two and IB    IB Theatre    Marking Scheme    List A Playwrights    List B Playwrights

To the Parents of Sunny Hills Theatre Students,

            Since 1996 Sunny Hills High School participated in the LAMDA Exams.  This exam process is part of the British system of external examinations in speech, communications, and theatre arts. For many years large percentage of our Theatre students at all levels have participated in these examinations conducted by highly trained examiners who come from England every year. These experiences in speech and dramatic arts have proved highly valuable to the students who have participated in them. Due to international conflicts, we took a three year hiatus from the exam process.  I am happy to report, however, that Sunny Hills will again be participating in the LAMDA examination process.  Our participation will take place in May, and all Theatre students are encouraged to enter for the examinations.

            The truth of the college admittance situation today is that it is becoming more and more difficult for students to be accepted by the institutions of their choice. The competition is becoming increasingly stronger every year. It is not enough for a student to maintain a high GPA in high school. Colleges and universities look closely at extra-curricular activities in their decisions regarding the student they will admit. Any form of extra-curricular work that shows that a student possesses intellectual curiosity and a strong sense of self-motivated development is highly regarded by Academia.

            It is important for students to begin to fill their resumes before they reach their senior year. For that reason, these exams have proven to be important tools; furthermore, they enable teachers who are asked to write letters of recommendation for students to have solid information that portrays the student as exceptional.

While the primary focus of our re-entry into the LAMDA examinations will be Monologues and 2 Person Scene Work, we are, for the first time, opening up the process to Musical Theatre in both solo and duets. 

             Please speak to your student about the advisability of taking the LAMDA exams in May. The fees range from $85.00 for Monologues up to $150 for 2 Person Scenes (it is one fee, not $150.00 per person) depending on the level at which the students registers and the length of the examination time. Beginning levels are 20 minutes and advanced (seniors] can run for 1 hour. Students work one-to-one with the British examiner; they receive both a written and an oral critique and, in certain areas and levels, Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals. Provided the student is successful, the student receives a certificate stating she has Passed, Passed with Merit, or Passed with Distinction. It is suggested that they include copies of these certificates when they apply to colleges and universities. The certificates at all levels often become sources of discussion in interviews, allowing students to draw the interviews into their areas of expertise and accomplishment. Hopefully, your student will be among those who will receive a LAMDA certificate this year.

 Thank you,

GENERAL INFORMATION 

1.                  Selected scenes must differ in genre and style or theme, setting, character and mood enabling the candidate to display range and ability.

2.                  Selected scenes must enable candidates to engage with complex emotions and universal themes

3.                  The content and language of selected scens must be technically challenging (in terms of vocal range and dexterity)

4.                  Selected scenes in both Monologue and Scenes must be a minimum of three minutes and no more than four minutes in performance time

Theatre One, Two and IB— Bronze Medal                       

             Monologue:  $85.00                          2 Person Scene  $130.00 (per group, not person)

Monologue—20 minutes            2 Person Scene—25 minutes

1 Interpretation and Technique

The candidate(s) must perform a scene from memory, which has been selected from a  play by one of the playwrights on either List A or List B. The candidate(s) must present a brief introduction prior to  the performance, of no more than 30 seconds, announcing the play title, author and character and outlining the context of the extract.

 2  Interpretation and Technique

The candidate(s) must perform a scene from memory, which has been selected from a published play or screenplay written since 1980. The candidate(s) must present a brief introduction prior to the             performance, of no more than 30 seconds, announcing the play title, author and character and outlining the context of the extract.

 3  Knowledge

The candidate(s) must have read the full text of the plays from which the scenes have been selected in order to discuss character, subtext and context with the examiner. Thecandidate(s) will be asked:

            •            What is the character’s objective in the scene?
            •            Is there anything that the character isn’t telling us?

The examiner may ask other related questions in order to gain further clarification. The candidate(s) must also be prepared to answer questions from previous grades.

 Theatre Two and IB— Silver Medal 

            Monologue    $95.00             2 Person Scene            $140.00 (per group, not person)

Monologue—25 minutes            2 Person Scene—30 minutes

 1 Interpretation and Technique

The candidate(s) must perform a scene from memory, which has been selected from a play by one of the authors on List A. The candidate(s) must present a brief introduction prior to the performance, of no more than 30 seconds, announcing the play title, author and character and outlining the context of the extract.

 2  Interpretation and Technique

The candidate(s) must perform a scene from memory, which has been selected from a play by one of the authors on List B. The candidate(s) must present a brief introduction prior to the performance,            of no more than 30 seconds, announcing the play title, author and character and outlining the context of the extract.

 3  Interpretation and Technique

The candidate(s) must perform a scene from memory, which has been selected from a published play or screenplay written since 1980. The candidate(s) must present a brief introduction prior to performance, of no more than 30 seconds, announcing the play title, author and character and outlining the context of the extract.

 4  Knowledge

The candidate(s) must have read the full text of the plays from which the scenes have been selected in order to discuss style and period with the examiner. The candidate(s) will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the writer’s style, knowledge of the period and its application to performance.

 IB Theatre— Gold Medal

            Monologue:            $105.00          2 Person Scene:            $160.00 (per group not person)

Minimum age: 16 years

 1 Interpretation and Technique

The candidate(s) must perform a scene from memory, which has been selected from a play by one of the authors on List A. The candidate(s) must present a brief introduction prior to the performance of no more than 30 seconds, announcing the play title, author and character and outlining the context of the extract.

 2  Interpretation and Technique

 The candidate(s) must perform a scene from memory, which has been selected from a play by one of the authors on List B. The candidate(s) must present a brief introduction prior to the performance~ of no more than 30 seconds, announcing the play title, author and character and outlining the context of the extract.

 3  Interpretation and Technique:

The candidate(s) must perform a scene from memory, which has been selected from a  published play or screenpIay written since 1980. The candidate(s) must present a brief  introduction prior to the performance of no more than 30 seconds, announcing the play title, author and character and outlining the context of the extract.

 4  Knowledge

The candidate(s) must have read the full text of the plays from which the scenes have been selected in order to discuss the process of acting with the examiner. The candidate(s) must be able to describe the process for creating detailed characterizations, in relation to their chosen scenes.

 The candidate(s) must also be prepared to answer questions from previous grades.

 MARKING SCHEME

 Pass:  50                      Merit:            65                    Distinction:  80

 LIST A

 LIST B

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