Research Week: Performing Arts Presentations | Jerry Falwell Library

Research Week: Performing Arts Presentations

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Performing arts presentations include the categories of music, theatre, and film. The date, time, and location for this year’s competition can be found on the Research Week Schedule.

Performing arts presentations must follow the guidelines noted below for the relevant category.


Categories and Judging Rubric

Students may enter materials into one or more of these categories:

  • Music—Performance of an existing or new composition
  • Theatre—Performance of an interpretive or original work, monologue, or scene with up to five actors
  • Film—Screening of an original film

The performing arts competition will be judged using this grading rubric.


Presentation Guidelines

All performing arts presentations must:

  • include 2-3 double-spaced pages of typed program notes that explain the research and creative process that went into preparing the performance. Program notes should be submitted as a PDF and named using this format:
    • Last Name_First Name_Middle Initial_Program Notes.pdf.
  • include a full score or script (or a significant portion of a work in progress) that is submitted as a PDF and named using the appropriate format.
    • Music score PDF name: Last Name_First Name_Middle Initial_Score.pdf
    • Theatre and film script PDF name: Last Name_First Name_Middle Initial_Script.pdf
  • include a link to an unlisted YouTube video of the performance/film (or a portion of it) that is no more than 10 minutes in length.
  • reflect the approved final products. (Once the final product has been approved, minor changes to charts, graphs, and text are allowed, but changes to the template format or adding new pictures/images are not. If any changes are made, a copy of the new version must be provided to the moderator.)

Music proposals must:

  • be for the performance of an existing or new composition.
  • include a list of equipment needs (specifying the number needed of each) from among the available items listed below.
    • piano
    • microphones, music stands, and chairs
    • audio and video connections to the house projector, VGA, and HDMI inputs
    • a retractable screen
    • a podium

Theatre proposals must be for a performance of an interpretive or original work, monologue, or scene with up to five actors. Available resources include:

  • basic lighting (lights up, lights down)
  • a sound system that can accommodate being plugged into a laptop
  • piano (upon request)

Film proposals must be for the screening of an original film. Available resources include:

  • a screen
  • a sound system that can accommodate being plugged into a laptop

Participant Guidelines

Students must:

  • review the Research Week Schedule in advance to ensure availability to participate during the Performing Arts presentation time. (Rescheduling of presentation times is not allowed due to the availability of judges.)
  • be physically present.
  • check in at the welcome desk in JFL’s upper atrium between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on the day of the assigned presentation time.
  • provide their own laptops/devices and their own adapters.
  • set up and be ready for the presentation at least 10 minutes prior to the assigned presentation time. (JFL reserves the right to cancel a presenter’s performance if the participant is not ready to begin at the assigned time.)
  • dress professionally or in character, as appropriate.
  • provide 20 copies of program notes to distribute to the audience prior to the performance.
  • perform an existing or new composition (music); perform an interpretive or original work, monologue, or scene with up to five actors (theatre); or show an original film (film). 
  • not exceed 15 minutes in length for the presentation.
  • be prepared to answer questions during the five minutes following the presentation.

Helpful Resources

Students may find it helpful to review performing arts proposals and presentations from Research Week 2023.