Planning a Showcase

Planning a Showcase

At the end of each program, teens showcase their new skills and talents before a live audience.

Program providers are encouraged to plan their Campus Showcase when programs begin. Here are the elements involved in planning your Campus Showcase:

Understand the Showcase goals

1. Increase teen participation and the opportunity to have their voices heard.
2. Make the Campus Showcase more production-oriented and teen-focused.
3. Ensure teen ownership in the Campus Showcase, creating interest and natural “proper” behavior (listening, positively encouraging peers, staying in seats, starting on time).
4. Increase school participation and promote the Campus Showcase within the school or community setting.

How to accomplish these goals

Increase teen participation and the opportunity to have their voices heard:

• Increase teen involvement
• Encourage teen-driven ideas
• Promote teen committees
• Offer individual promotions to friends and family

Make the Campus Showcase more production-oriented and teen-focused:

• Enhance instructor involvement
• Work from standard guidelines that are distributed program-wide
• Make it special through preparation, discussion, and planning

Teen ownership in the Campus Showcase, creating interest and natural “proper” behavior :

• Encourage liaisons and administrator involvement
• Work with your Program Specialist to head a teen committee
• Work from standard guidelines that are distributed program-wide
• Make it special through preparation, discussion, and planning
• Work within the school community (teachers and staff)

Increase school participation and promote the Campus Showcase within the school or community setting:

• Amplify Program Specialist involvement
• Work with the Liaison to head teen committee
• Work from standard guidelines that are distributed program-wide

Teen Committees

Each school and/or community agency will create a Campus Showcase Committee of teens who work together to develop a plan for the show. Under the guidance of the Liaison and/or the Program Specialist, these teens will perform or designate caring adults to perform the tasks below.  The committee should meet by mid-program cycle and be present at the school’s Campus Showcase meeting.

Rehearsal

The Campus Showcase rehearsal should take place one afternoon in the space where the show is being performed. The director and stage manager will walk participants through the show, either a “tops and bottoms” or a full run of the show. The technical crew ushers and the emcee should be on-hand as well. The expectation is to run the rehearsal as close to a real show as possible.  Participants will understandably not be in full production mode, but this will prepare them and get their minds and hearts ready for production.  This will also give the teens an idea of what will be happening and add to the anticipation of the day.

Campus Showcase Roles

These are elements of a production that make it feel like a show to both audience members and performers.  The following list is not exhaustive and many of the roles may not be needed at each Campus Showcase. These roles can be filled or decided upon by teens in the programs. To further increase involvement, After School Matters instructors, teachers, or school administrators and staff can also perform these tasks.
       
DIRECTOR

• Oversees the entire production
• Manages each aspect of the production
• Plans and executes rehearsal

STAGE MANAGER

• Ensures that all groups and equipment are in place for the start of the show
• Starts the show on time
• Manages the flow of teens and teen groups on and off the stage
• Works with the school staff to manage flow of guests to reception

USHERS

• Greets guests at the door
• Distributes programs
• Guides guests to their seats
• Indicates restrooms

PROMOTIONS

• Posts information in the school regarding the celebration
• Develops a plan for distributing information (announcements in divisions, posters, etc.)
• Help to design the school flyer and programs with After School Matters logo and templates

TECHNICAL CREW

• Assures that all technical equipment is available and secured for the performance and rehearsal
• Assures that all equipment is in good working condition
• Works with technical staff of the school to run lights (however minimal), sound and video

SHOW ORDER

• Helps decide in what order the programs will perform

EMCEE

• Announces the beginning of the show, explains the purpose and introduces each program
• Announces After School Matters staff as well as special guests who may be present
• Is lively and even entertaining

ARTWORK DISPLAY

• Plans visual art display

OTHER

• Other topics and needs as teens, security, liaisons, and staff see fit

Closing Celebration
Teen Committee Meeting
Agenda

I.     Welcome & Introductions
    
II.    Recap of Last Semester’s closing

III.   Committee Brainstorming Session

IV.   Review Roles

VI.   Committee Role Selection

VII.  Presentation Preparation

VIII. Timeline & Next Steps

IX .  Close