Newmarket Voice Festival

Syllabus 2025

27th Annual Newmarket Voice Festival Syllabus

Speech Arts and Drama Classes
With the exception of original poetry and public speaking, all selections must be from:
published works, plays or monologue anthologies

Stand-alone monologues from “free” websites (monologuearchive.com, ace-your-audition.com, dramanotebook.com, stagemilk.com, etc.)

Poetry from published sources and collections, public domain, (poets.org, famouspoetsandpoems.com, etc.)
Participants must bring the book/published source for use by the adjudicator. For “free” online monologues, bring a printed text which cites the author and website source. When original content, bring a printout of the text for use by the adjudicator.
All selections should be age-appropriate and language/content should be suitable for ALL ages and audiences.
NEW: Actors may enter any of these categories multiple times with material that has not previously been performed at the Festival, but a separate entry and fee is required for each selection.
*** If a selection is under two minutes performance time, participant may choose a second selection from any speech category.

Lyric Poetry - Solo
Entry Fee $30
A lyric poem is contemplative; an expression of inner thought and feelings of the speaker in the poem. It includes sonnets, odes and elegies. Selections exhibit a graceful rhythm and flow. The content is typically written in the first person, and the story element is of secondary importance to the emotion/feeling. It is not dramatized, therefore costumes and props are not appropriate. No (or limited) movement or gestures. (Examples include select works from Dickinson, Shelley, Keats, Rossetti, Tagore, etc.)
One choice of one published selection. Memorization is required. 5 minute time limit. A text must be provided for the adjudicator.

Class	Description
LP01	Open
LP02	21 and under
LP03	18 and under
LP04	16 and under
LP05	14 and under
LP06	12 and under
LP07	10 and under

Narative Poetry - Solo
Entry Fee $30
A narrative poem tells a story, or recounts an event, through verse. It contains a plot, characters and a setting. It often contains action and dialogue but is told from the narrator’s perspective. Usually written in metered verse, but does not need to rhyme. Gestures are allowed for emphasis, but the poem is not dramatized. (Examples include select works of Poe, Longfellow, Tennyson, St. Vincent Millay, etc.)
One choice of one published selection. Memorization is required. 5 minute time limit. A text must be provided for the adjudicator.

Class	Description
NP01	Open
NP02	21 and under
NP03	18 and under
NP04	16 and under
NP05	14 and under
NP06	12 and under
NP07	10 and under

Humorous Poetry - Solo
Entry Fee $30
Own choice of a light or humorous published poem (examples include Roald Dahl, Ogden Nash, Shel Silverstein, etc.) Content should be appropriate for all audiences. Memorization is required. A text must be provided for the adjudicator. 5 minute time limit.

Class	Description
HP01	Open
HP02	21 and under
HP03	18 and under
HP04	16 and under
HP05	14 and under
HP06	12 and under
HP07	10 and under

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