Creative Expression

[wasoe]

Creative Expression is a category which, as far as I know, is exclusive to the good old state of Minnesota. In Illinois, it takes on a different form known as Original Comedy. If it goes by different names in other states, please say so.

Creative Expression is a unique category in which the performer writes and performs his or her own piece. The tone can be humorous, dramatic, or a little bit of both. Personally, I think this is one of the most overlooked speech events in the country. If you come and watch a good Creative round (such as the 05-06 Eastview final round), it's amazing to find how funny some of these pieces can be.

Well, I've spoken my part. What do you think?

[nirorivers6]

wow, that's awesome, I wish we had that here in Virginia! I would love to do that!

[tgjdlc]

It's called OPP (Orginal Prose/Poetry) here in California...You write your own 10 Minute Drama/Humor script...it's kind of like a duo competition (drama and humor mixed, not the partner thing). Some rounds can be really dull, but at a good tournament, it's actually very entertaining...and it seems to be the only even that Logan doesn't absolutely dominate. haha.

[popper2014]

in Indiana it is known as Original Performance (OP) and can be humorous or dramatic or a little bit of both

[nirorivers6]

is it pretty common amoung invitationals?

[popper2014]

in Illinois, yes

[bwspeechteam]

is it pretty common amoung invitationals?

Original Comedy is offered at every tournament in Illinois. It's a little different than what some of you are talking about, though, as we don't have an original event for dramatic material.

[nirorivers6]

what about Glenbrooks?

[DrFushman]

Creative Expression is a pretty popular category in Minnesota. A lot of people in Eastview trade HI for it because you have so much more freedom with it. It is very much like an HI exept you write the scripts, and I think that you have to somehow convey some sort of message. I don't know if it is a requirement, but I know that most people do it, so that it isn't just 8-10 minutes of havoc. I have seen sone truly great pieces including, one where this girl talks to God and he leads her through a day and makes her discover like a good life lesson (Caroline Hittler did that piece), A piece where Chirstopher Walken makes people dissapear and this one kid tries to stop him, another where God goes to school and goes to a school dance and other funny incidents. I mean the only limitations you have are time, otherwise you are free to do anything that you want to with the script, and with the blocking (HI rules apply to the blocking).

Another popular category here is storytelling.

[mangotwentytwo]

Yeah, in Illinois we have Original Comedy...we do it at regionals/sectionals/state so it is consequently offered at all invitationals. Its strictly comedy though, which isnt as cool as "Creative Expression"

[OverMyHead]

Yeah, it is nice that it isn't limited to comedy. it's refreshing in the way that duo is I guess. But most people write humorous scripts.

DrFushman, I wouldn't really consider Storytelling to be that popular. It's sort of treated like a training ground for HIers and such. I think it's because it requires you to build up a large number of characters, and that is nice to have a diversity of characters to bring into a latere HI.

[wasoe]

Creative expression peces are usually humorous, and the dramatic ones I have seen are almost always bad and almost always from class A schools. There have been a few dramatic ones that were good (one made it to state finals.)

I'm actually making mine somewhat dramatic this year.

[alexgarlock]

um... don't be ragging on the storytelling. ALOT of the competetors came from it and i personally have a giant place in my heart for it. i would argue that storytelling is the best category the has come from minnesota and that nationals should adopt the style and make it an extemp style category... grrr people ragging on storytelling i tell you... people these days.. bah

[OverMyHead]

I wasn't ragging on Storytelling...I just said it isn't anywhere near as popular as duo, hi, or creative x. I think it's a great event as it is done in Minnesota.

[Aequaleis]

That reminds me of POI (programmed oral interpretation), err, kind of.


I would love to try that, that would make some hilarious rounds, but our State doesn't allow that.


So what's the most unique event there is?

[TheModernEgg]

I cast my vote for Impromptu Interpretation. It's only offered here in AZ (as far as I know) and only at one or two tournaments a year. It's just a mess-around/ have a good time event in which you receive a blackbook with a pre-selected piece in it, have your Impromtu-sized prep time and speaking time, only you perform a piece... it's rockin'.

[jma]

I hear about POI all of the time, but I don't actually know what it is; what is it?

[Aequaleis]

POI is programmed Oral Interpretation. It's an interpretation of a lot of pieces from different sources. I don't know the exact rules, though.

[jma]

Thank you

do they have it in TX?

[Aequaleis]

It's an event mainly done in College, or so I hear. I know it's not offered in my state (Nevada).

[jma]

Thanks
I've been in interp for 3 yrs and I never actually knew what it was. I always felt like an idiot when people were talking about it

[ssuhag]

POI was a consolation event at Texas State once. Other than that it was done at a couple national tournaments like Harvard or something...although I dont know if it was actually done at Harvard or I'm just reaching for a name.

[justine]

POI was a consolation event at Texas State once. Other than that it was done at a couple national tournaments like Harvard or something...although I dont know if it was actually done at Harvard or I'm just reaching for a name.

Nope, not at Harvard.

[reboot]

I saw the State final round of Creative Expression last year in Minnesota and it stands as the best round of speech i have ever seen. Abrajeet Roy (who won it) gave the funniest 8 mins of performance, even funnier than Kung Fu Hamlet. Past state champs also include Natalie Sintek and Tom Finely.

How cool would it be if there was a category like this at Nationals!? It would easily become the most attended event.

[wasoe]

Class AA finals was the best creative final round ever. My second favorite creative final was the Eastview final that year (Partially because I was in it)

[nirorivers6]

in virginia, there's a new and uprising event: Duo improv! You know how sweet that is? Mucho sweet. it is the funnest thing ever. I like doing it more than HI. I wish it was a national event. i'm sorry it's just so ridiculosly fun, creative, and hilarious.

[wasoe]

Really, why is there no such category at nats?
I suppose you could write a piece and get it published and then perform it...

[ssuhag]

I hear that's something they sometimes do at WKU cuz they have their own facility to publish books...but perhaps its a rumor.

[Rab1dFetus]

Yeah We have Duet Improv in Texas. Its not a state qual event though.

[popper2014]

here is an example of an Original Comedy from Illinois

it is Jon Sokolow from Warren Township. he got third at state with this performance.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEnPsNe3QAY&mode=user&search=

[Little Fresh]

Yeah We have Duet Improv in Texas. Its not a state qual event though.

we have improv pair (probably the same thing) in CO...it's cool, but not a state quals event either.