Duet Acting and Duo Interpretation
To find access to scripts and other resources, access the Humorous and Dramatic Interp link above.
TFA Rules for Duet Acting:
This contest will enable the students to develop skills in techniques, ensemble, and oral interpretation common to all communications. TFA, understanding that final judgment must remain with the individual judge concerning effect on ranking, suggests that coaches encourage their students to avoid (1) literature that is devoid of literary merit, (2) literature that is in poor taste and, therefore, may be offensive because of language or subject matter.
1. Students may qualify in both Duet Acting and Duo Interp, and may compete at the state level in both events, but in this case, they may not perform the same selection for both categories and they may only compete in one other event in which they are qualified.
2. Selections used in Duet Acting shall be cuttings from a single source from a published printed novel, short story, play, poem or screenplay. Coaches and/or students must provide the original source, including ISBN if one exists to the tournament director upon request. A photocopy is acceptable. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
3. Each year, specific documentation will be required by the Executive Council for entry into the State Tournament. During the online registration process, coaches will be required to provide the Duet title and ISBN number. The competitors’ original script and copied script is required to be checked at registration and must be available at the State Tournament.
a. A flat copy of the text with page numbers and all lines being performed highlighted is required.
b. A copy of the bibliographic information page is required.
c. A cover sheet with title, author(s), ISBN number, date of publication, number of transitional phrases, student’s name, coach’s name and signature and the school name must be completed. The cover sheet form can be found online at www.txfa.org
d. The original script, highlighted copy and bibliographic information page need to be placed in a manila envelope with the cover sheet form stapled to the outside of the envelope.
4. The selections may be serious or humorous works.
5. Time for presentation shall not exceed twelve minutes with a thirty-second grace period. There is no minimum time required. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round by the tab room when visible time signals have been given by the judge or by the authorized timekeeper. Without adding text to the previously performed selection and only considering audience response, the contestant shall not be penalized for exceeding the time limit in all qualifying and state tournament elimination and final rounds.
6. Each selection shall include an introduction which shall set the scene and mood and include the title and author of the work. Time for the introduction shall be included in the time limit. Violation shall result in an adverse effect on the team’s ranking in the round.
7. The selection shall be memorized and presented without the use of physical objects (notes, props, hand props, or scenery) or costume. Two chairs will be allowed. The two chairs may be used to create atmosphere and environment. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round.
8. No student may use the same selection at a tournament in more than one event, but may change events with the selection during a tournament season. No student can use the same selection in more than one tournament year. In addition, a student may not qualify for nor compete with the same selection at the state meet.
9. A student may compete with one partner from the same school and one selection at a given tournament.
10. Transitional phrases may be used in Duet Acting but must meet the following word requirements. Violation will result in disqualification.
a. No selection may use more than 100 total transitional words.
b. These words cannot be used to write new scenes to any piece of literature.
c. The 100 words cannot all be used in one particular location within the selection.
d. All transitional phrases must be written in the margin, by hand, on the copy of the piece of literature for checking in case of protest. At TFA State, this will be used to check that the number does not exceed the 100 word limit.
e. Introductions do not count as part of the transitional phrases.
This contest will enable the students to develop skills in techniques, ensemble, and oral interpretation common to all communications. TFA, understanding that final judgment must remain with the individual judge concerning effect on ranking, suggests that coaches encourage their students to avoid (1) literature that is devoid of literary merit, (2) literature that is in poor taste and, therefore, may be offensive because of language or subject matter.
1. Students may qualify in both Duet Acting and Duo Interp, and may compete at the state level in both events, but in this case, they may not perform the same selection for both categories and they may only compete in one other event in which they are qualified.
2. Selections used in Duet Acting shall be cuttings from a single source from a published printed novel, short story, play, poem or screenplay. Coaches and/or students must provide the original source, including ISBN if one exists to the tournament director upon request. A photocopy is acceptable. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
3. Each year, specific documentation will be required by the Executive Council for entry into the State Tournament. During the online registration process, coaches will be required to provide the Duet title and ISBN number. The competitors’ original script and copied script is required to be checked at registration and must be available at the State Tournament.
a. A flat copy of the text with page numbers and all lines being performed highlighted is required.
b. A copy of the bibliographic information page is required.
c. A cover sheet with title, author(s), ISBN number, date of publication, number of transitional phrases, student’s name, coach’s name and signature and the school name must be completed. The cover sheet form can be found online at www.txfa.org
d. The original script, highlighted copy and bibliographic information page need to be placed in a manila envelope with the cover sheet form stapled to the outside of the envelope.
4. The selections may be serious or humorous works.
5. Time for presentation shall not exceed twelve minutes with a thirty-second grace period. There is no minimum time required. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round by the tab room when visible time signals have been given by the judge or by the authorized timekeeper. Without adding text to the previously performed selection and only considering audience response, the contestant shall not be penalized for exceeding the time limit in all qualifying and state tournament elimination and final rounds.
6. Each selection shall include an introduction which shall set the scene and mood and include the title and author of the work. Time for the introduction shall be included in the time limit. Violation shall result in an adverse effect on the team’s ranking in the round.
7. The selection shall be memorized and presented without the use of physical objects (notes, props, hand props, or scenery) or costume. Two chairs will be allowed. The two chairs may be used to create atmosphere and environment. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round.
8. No student may use the same selection at a tournament in more than one event, but may change events with the selection during a tournament season. No student can use the same selection in more than one tournament year. In addition, a student may not qualify for nor compete with the same selection at the state meet.
9. A student may compete with one partner from the same school and one selection at a given tournament.
10. Transitional phrases may be used in Duet Acting but must meet the following word requirements. Violation will result in disqualification.
a. No selection may use more than 100 total transitional words.
b. These words cannot be used to write new scenes to any piece of literature.
c. The 100 words cannot all be used in one particular location within the selection.
d. All transitional phrases must be written in the margin, by hand, on the copy of the piece of literature for checking in case of protest. At TFA State, this will be used to check that the number does not exceed the 100 word limit.
e. Introductions do not count as part of the transitional phrases.
TFA Rules for Duo Interpretation:
This contest will enable the students to develop skills in techniques, ensemble, and oral interpretation common to all communications. TFA, understanding that final judgment must remain with the individual judge concerning effect on ranking, suggests that coaches encourage their students to avoid (1) literature that is devoid of literary merit, (2) literature that is in poor taste and, therefore, may be offensive because of language or subject matter.
1. Students may qualify in both Duet Acting and Duo Interp, and may compete at the state level in both events, but in this case, they may not perform the same selection for both categories and they may only compete in one other event in which they are qualified.
2. Selections used in Duo shall be cuttings from a single source from a published printed novel, short story, play, poem or screenplay. Coaches and/or students must provide the original source, including ISBN if one exists to the tournament director upon request. A photocopy is acceptable. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
3. Each year, specific documentation will be required by the Executive Council for entry into the State Tournament. During the online registration process, coaches will be required to provide the Duo title and ISBN number. The competitors original script and copied script is required to be checked at registration and must be available at the State Tournament.
a. A flat copy of the text with page numbers and all lines being performed highlighted is required.
b. A copy of the bibliographic information page is required.
c. A cover sheet with title, author(s), ISBN number, date of publication, number of transitional phrases, student’s name, coach’s name and signature and the school name must be completed. The cover sheet form can be found online at www.txfa.org
d. The original script, highlighted copy and bibliographic information page need to be placed in a manila envelope with the cover sheet form stapled to the outside of the envelope.
4. The selections may be serious or humorous works.
5. Time for presentation shall not exceed ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. There is no minimum time required. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round by the tab room when visible time signals have been given by the judge or by the authorized timekeeper. Without adding text to the previously performed selection and only considering audience response, the contestant shall not be penalized for exceeding the time limit in all qualifying and state tournament elimination and final rounds.
6. Each selection shall include an introduction which shall set the scene and mood and include the title and author of the work. Time for the introduction shall be included in the time limit. Violation shall result in an adverse effect on the team’s ranking in the round.
7. The selection shall be memorized and presented without the use of physical objects (script, props, hand props, or scenery) or costume. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round.
8. In Duo Interpretation focus may be direct during the introduction and the performers may look at each other, but must be indirect (off-stage) during the performance itself.
9. Each of the two performers may play one or more characters, as long as performance responsibility in the cutting remains as balanced as possible. If the selection is prose or poetry and contains narration, either or both of the performers may present the narration.
10. No student may use the same selection at a tournament in more than one event, but may change events with the selection during a tournament season. No student can use the same selection in more than one tournament year. In addition, a student may not qualify for nor compete with the same selection at the state meet.
11. A student may compete with only one partner from the same school and one selection at a given tournament.
12. Transitional phrases may be used in Duo Interpretation but must meet the following word requirements. Violation will result in disqualification.
a. No selection may use more than 100 total transitional words.
b. These words cannot be used to write new scenes to any piece of literature.
c. The 100 words cannot all be used in one particular location within the selection.
d. All transitional phrases must be written in the margin, by hand, on the copy of the piece of literature for checking in case of protest. At TFA State, this will be used to check that the number does not exceed the 100 word limit.
e. Introductions do not count as part of the transitional phrases.
This contest will enable the students to develop skills in techniques, ensemble, and oral interpretation common to all communications. TFA, understanding that final judgment must remain with the individual judge concerning effect on ranking, suggests that coaches encourage their students to avoid (1) literature that is devoid of literary merit, (2) literature that is in poor taste and, therefore, may be offensive because of language or subject matter.
1. Students may qualify in both Duet Acting and Duo Interp, and may compete at the state level in both events, but in this case, they may not perform the same selection for both categories and they may only compete in one other event in which they are qualified.
2. Selections used in Duo shall be cuttings from a single source from a published printed novel, short story, play, poem or screenplay. Coaches and/or students must provide the original source, including ISBN if one exists to the tournament director upon request. A photocopy is acceptable. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
3. Each year, specific documentation will be required by the Executive Council for entry into the State Tournament. During the online registration process, coaches will be required to provide the Duo title and ISBN number. The competitors original script and copied script is required to be checked at registration and must be available at the State Tournament.
a. A flat copy of the text with page numbers and all lines being performed highlighted is required.
b. A copy of the bibliographic information page is required.
c. A cover sheet with title, author(s), ISBN number, date of publication, number of transitional phrases, student’s name, coach’s name and signature and the school name must be completed. The cover sheet form can be found online at www.txfa.org
d. The original script, highlighted copy and bibliographic information page need to be placed in a manila envelope with the cover sheet form stapled to the outside of the envelope.
4. The selections may be serious or humorous works.
5. Time for presentation shall not exceed ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. There is no minimum time required. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round by the tab room when visible time signals have been given by the judge or by the authorized timekeeper. Without adding text to the previously performed selection and only considering audience response, the contestant shall not be penalized for exceeding the time limit in all qualifying and state tournament elimination and final rounds.
6. Each selection shall include an introduction which shall set the scene and mood and include the title and author of the work. Time for the introduction shall be included in the time limit. Violation shall result in an adverse effect on the team’s ranking in the round.
7. The selection shall be memorized and presented without the use of physical objects (script, props, hand props, or scenery) or costume. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round.
8. In Duo Interpretation focus may be direct during the introduction and the performers may look at each other, but must be indirect (off-stage) during the performance itself.
9. Each of the two performers may play one or more characters, as long as performance responsibility in the cutting remains as balanced as possible. If the selection is prose or poetry and contains narration, either or both of the performers may present the narration.
10. No student may use the same selection at a tournament in more than one event, but may change events with the selection during a tournament season. No student can use the same selection in more than one tournament year. In addition, a student may not qualify for nor compete with the same selection at the state meet.
11. A student may compete with only one partner from the same school and one selection at a given tournament.
12. Transitional phrases may be used in Duo Interpretation but must meet the following word requirements. Violation will result in disqualification.
a. No selection may use more than 100 total transitional words.
b. These words cannot be used to write new scenes to any piece of literature.
c. The 100 words cannot all be used in one particular location within the selection.
d. All transitional phrases must be written in the margin, by hand, on the copy of the piece of literature for checking in case of protest. At TFA State, this will be used to check that the number does not exceed the 100 word limit.
e. Introductions do not count as part of the transitional phrases.
