What the pros can learn from "The Cappies'

About a decade ago I wrote a column criticizing the partisan cheering that came from parts of the audience at a Philadelphia Barrymore Awards ceremony. (Truth to tell, it did add some excitement to the celebration.)

Now, under slightly different circumstances, I must recant my earlier reaction. What seemed unprofessional at a show by professionals is entirely proper when high school kids are involved, as was the case when I attended the 2011 Cappie Awards show at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.

I don't care who won prizes. What does interest me is the encouragement given to school kids by the Cappie organization (an acronym for Critics and Awards Program), and the enthusiasm with which the students, on the stage and in the audience, connect to the theater arts. It was refreshing to see kids cheering for something other than sports.

The Cappies are an international project for high school theater and journalism students. They were begun in the District of Columbia in 1999 by the founder of the Capital Steps comedy troupe, Bill Strauss, to bring positive attention to teenagers engaged in music, theater and journalism. The Greater Philadelphia chapter, established in 2006, honors high school performers, technicians and, yes, even newspaper critics from 34 participating schools in a nine-county region.

Critiquing the critics

The idea of recognizing critics fascinates me. Students are encouraged to attend performances at high schools other than their own and review them on deadline. Their work is critiqued by English and drama teachers, and published by community newspapers.

Parts of the Cappie ceremony are more entertaining than the Barrymores or even the Tonys, and I say this without any animosity towards those big shows. I've attended Tonys at Radio City Music Hall as a reporter, an audience member and even as a participant, so my praise for the Cappies is not faint.

Uniquely, the Cappies present an original song-and-dance opening number involving students from all 34 participating schools. Then come scenes from musicals and straight plays, giving the teenagers a chance to repeat their work in front of a larger and more eclectic audience than they had at their own schools. Unlike the professional award shows, no time is wasted on commercials or speeches; attention is concentrated on performances.

Professionals barred

Reaction was not just enthusiastic but also well informed. Cheers interrupted fancy-stepping choreography and long-held high notes. It's instructive to see that the kids have learned how to appreciate good work by others.

Adult involvement in offstage work (building sets, sewing costumes, playing in orchestras, etc.) is restricted, so no advantage goes to the richer school districts that can afford professional help. The Cappies show is financed with a $150 fee from each school, plus ticket sales; and the only big outlay is the hiring of a band for the gala. Winners receive emblems and trophies; there are no cash awards.

One impressive accomplishment of the Cappies is the limiting of acceptance speeches to ten words or less, proving"“ as Oscar Hammerstein wrote for The King and I"“ that, from children, adults can be taught.