CONTENT:

• ELIGIBILITY FOR JUDGING
• JUDGES
• JUDGES ELIGIBILITY
• JUDGES APPOINTMENT
• JUDGES DISQUALIFICATION
• JUDGES RESPONSIBILITIES
• CHIEF JUDGES RESPONSIBILITIES
• JUDGING PROCESS AND SCORING
• PRODUCERS GUIDLINES
• APPROVED AWARDS CATEGORIES
• ACTOR BOY AWARDS GENRE CATEGORY DEFINITIONS
• ADMINISTRATION OF SYSTEM
• THE NOMINATION PROCESS
  • NOMINEE SELECTION SCORING FOR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
• THE VOTING PROCESS

1. ELIGIBILITY FOR JUDGING

Commercial productions are defined as promoted by a production company, group, or individual but not include productions promoted by and for community expression, schools, with exception of groups or companies recognised as theatre practitioners.

• Commercial productions targeting a general public audience are judged.
• Secondary Schools Festival, UWI Tallawah" series and Parish Drama Festival Productions are not included.  
• Productions subject to other competition rules are not eligible. (ie Secondary Schools Festival)
• Variety Shows such as fundraisers, outside of the context of a revue are not eligible
• Commercial Productions by The UWI Drama Society, Jamaica School of Drama etc. are included. In the case of Jamaica School of Drama, students are not eligible. (This is requested by the Administration as student Nominees often subsequently suffer from arrested development). Outside practitioners, Staff and the overall production can be judged.
• Commercial Productions AROUND THE ISLAND are eligible.
• Productions MUST HAVE A MINIMUM RUN OF SIX (6) PERFORMANCES WITHIN A FOUR (4) WEEK PERIOD in order to be eligible for award consideration.
• Criteria for assessing different categories of theatre may vary according to specific genre. Definitions for judges are included.
• A performer having only appeared the following year in a previously judged production may be judged based on it being a new performance. The production and elements such as set, music etc unless substantially changed shall not be again eligible.
• A production remounted by the same production house or by principals of said, the following year as previously judged shall not be eligible.
• New productions of previously mounted shows are eligible for ALL awards EXCEPT "New Jamaican Play”.
• Awards are not necessarily presented annually in all categories.

2. JUDGES

• The total number of judges for the Actor Boy awards will not exceed TEN and shall not be less than FIVE in any one year.
• Judges shall meet at least three times per year.
• Producers will be asked to supply complimentary tickets to judges, whose names will be supplied to all producers.
• Complimentary programmes should also be made available to judges.
• Producers advising the ITI of their withdrawal from the judging process are under no obligation to supply complimentary tickets, and judges attending such performances may be reimbursed on notification to an ITI representative.
• The first Judges meeting held after the Actor Boy Awards should be to debrief the previous year’s results and issues and involve discussion for the year to come.

3. JUDGES ELIGIBILITY

• The Judging panel is to consist of as so far is possible a combination of, and include, but not be limited to representation by theatre practitioners, reviewers, performing artists, avid theatre goers, educators and other visual and performing artists. The panel should include a minimum of one and no more than three “lay persons” not specifically as theatre practitioners, but may include administrators, business persons and /or anyone who has a general interest in theatre.
• Judges who are also theatre practitioners and who are associated with productions during the year under review become ineligible to take part in the process.
• If a Judge subsequently becomes involved in a production during the year under review they must immediately withdraw and all scores attributed to them shall be disqualified

4.JUDGES APPOINTMENT

• Judges are recommended to the Judges panel and elected by the Judges Panel with the Chief Judge as chairman.
• The Selection of, or scoring by a judge may be vetoed by the Awards Ceremony planning committee. This can not be done by an individual and must be submitted in writing and signed by a minimum of three planning committee members.
• The Chief Judge is selected by and from the judges’ panel.

5. JUDGES DISQUALIFICATION
A Judge may be disqualified for the following reasons:

• As far as involvement in a production under review is apparent.
• A Judge’s conduct in the process of judging may be deemed prejudicial to the integrity of the process.
• A judges comments to anyone that would be revealing of nominees or winners before the final announcement of the winners to the public could warrant disqualification, but any such case will review upon its individual circumstances and decided within the panel along with two members of the planning committee.
• A Judge may also be disqualified if it is deemed that due diligence is not being exercised in fulfilling their responsibilities under these guidelines.

6. JUDGES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

• It is the responsibility of the judges to check relevant box- offices to ensure that tickets are available for productions on the night they wish to attend. However as best as possible a judge should not inform the producers of their intention to review a production before hand on a particular date.
• In the event that a Producer does not wish the production to be judged, the Judges are to attend anyway and review the performers and or other eligible categories of the production.
• It is the responsibility of the judges to check relevant newspapers or other media to determine which productions are playing. Judges may discuss in meetings which productions are eligible.
• Judges are expected to view all eligible productions.
• Where plays utilize a dual cast or particular alternating roles, the judges should see all players.
• Judges who are also theatre practitioners and who are associated with productions during the year under review become ineligible to take part in the process.
• The selection of winners will be made by the judges' RANKING the nominated candidates in order of merit. Judges will be asked NOT to rank any nominees they have not seen. (See "Nomination Process" and "Voting Process.")
• Judges are required to fill out their judges/adjudicator’s form within two (2) weeks of viewing a production.
• The judge’s personal notes are the sole property of each judge and are private to them.
• Judges are required to attend workshops as and when these are held.
• The decision of the judges, confirmed by the ITI's official auditor, will be final.

7. CHIEF JUDGE’S RESPONSIBILITIES

• The chief Judge is responsible for the convening of all meetings of the Judges.
• To ensure and follow up attendance of productions by all judges.
• To liaison with and update the Awards Planning Committee, Auditor, and Judges Panel.
• To ensure that relevant forms are issued and collected to and from judges and collected and handed to the auditor/s in a timely manner.
• Be fully knowledgeable of the guidelines and act as advisor to all parties.
• The Chief Judge will be the only official spokes - person for the Judges and shall be available on occasion to address public opinion and the media.
• The chief judge is expected to submit a written report at the end of each year, primarily to be included in a souvenir Show Programme but not limited to that format.

8. JUDGING PROCESS AND SCORING

• Judges are issued forms with a list of all categories. Each category has a list of criteria to judge with a score from 0-5
• For each production viewed each Judge fills out the form indicating their average Score for each category. This should be done within two weeks of seeing a production.
• All forms for productions opening in last week of December are to be submitted no later than January 21st or the end of the third weekend in January each year. Whichever comes first.
• The Judges are required to attend a production within the first two weekends of the production opening.
• The Forms for each production when filled out are to be signed, dated and  put in an envelope (how many in an envelope doesn’t matter, they can be grouped) and delivered or collected and sent to The Chief Judge no later than two weeks after viewing a production. The Chairperson or their agent may be contacted to pick up.
• All the forms will be submitted to three independent persons to be tallied, and the nominees selected. The nominee recommendations must match. These persons shall be selected for mathematical or accounting ability and may have no connection to theatre.
• There will be no more than 5 nominees in each category. The highest scores determine the best five. The Judges at no time will make nominations.
• Where there are similar scores exceeding the five nominees in any one category the three independents shall add these names and scores to the bottom of the list.
• If there is a Tie between two or more potential Nominees for fifth place then The Chief Judge along with Two other senior Judges will decide. This decision is to be informed by analyzing scores for each of the criteria for each nominee in that category.
• In the event that there are enough tied scores to cause the five nominee limit to be exceeded the decision shall be made at a meeting of The Chief Judge and Two other Senior Judges where the list of nominees will be finalized. Only the lower end same score nominees will be debated though.
• If in the case there is one nominee in a category, then the highest and the lowest score will be omitted, and the remainder averaged. If the average score is less than 3 there will be no nominee in this category. (This is to ensure that a substandard production cannot be nominated solely on being the only one)
• The final list of Nominees will be announced then be sent to the Judges and then their preference shall be listed in order 1st to 5th.
• This selection will then be sent to the Auditor and calculated accordingly.
• The Nominee in any category in this phase with the lowest score is the winner.

Note: All nomination forms may be viewed by the planning committee and public after the awards event.

9. PRODUCER'S GUIDLINES

• Producers have a responsibility to notify any Awards Planning Committee representative and ensure that the Judges are apprised of their production before and after/during the run of a production.
• The producer should advise on possible dates that a viewing may take place and or ensure that purchasers of benefits are aware that seats should be made available for judge.
• To help facilitate what is essentially a volunteer process, Producers are requested to waiver any entrance fee for a Judge and at least one guest.
• Producers are expected to deliver onto any Judge after identifying themselves to the relevant principal member of the production team, a souvenir program.
  

10. APPROVED ACTOR BOY AWARDS CATEGORIES* - 2003. Reviewed 2008

• Best Lighting Design
• Best Set Design
• Best Costume Design
• Best Special Effects
• Best Musical
• Best Original Song
• Best Original Score
• Best Choreography
• Best Drama
• Best Comedy
• Best Children’s Theatre
• Best Revue
• Best Roots Play
• Best New Jamaican Play (Writer's award)
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• Best Actor in a Leading Role
• Best Actress in a Leading Role
• Best Director
• Best Production

* note that not all categories may be included for awards in any given year under review.

11. ACTOR BOY AWARDS GENRE & CATEGORY DEFINITIONS

 DRAMA- Primarily "serious" plays or "melodrama" in which the protagonists are often characterised by courage, nobility etc. and where the plot may include intrigue or violent action.
COMEDY- A work in which the elements are combined and managed primarily to amuse the audience, as the characters and their discomfiture engage delighted attention rather than profound concern.
MUSICAL- Involves the essential elements of theatre but where the emphasis is on the interweaving of music, singing and movement as essential components of plot.
CHILDREN’S THEATRE- Theatre BY children (majority aged 16 years and under), OR by adults produced for children.
REVUE- A series of unrelated sketches but may include a connecting or reoccurring theme with or without music, usually comic or satiric in-nature, but not necessarily so.

ROOTS- A particular type of Jamaican Theatre employing predominantly Jamaican Creole and social stereotypes and expressing exaggerated character -types, in ludicrous, even improbable, situations. The emphasis is on the "belly- laugh" in productions marked by much physical energy and boisterous vocal expression. This does not preclude any such production from being nominated in any other category or genre as defined in these guidelines.
NEW J AMAICAN PLAY- An Original Script (Not an Adaptation of a previous Work) and Produced in Jamaica, written by a citizen or resident of Jamaica , and not subject to having had a previous extended run anywhere else, or previously mounted in Jamaica.
ORIGINAL SONG - Any new song with original music and lyrics written for a Jamaican production
ORIGINAL SCORE- Original Music written and arranged for a Jamaican production.
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY - Choreographed Dance and Movement in a Production.
BEST LEAD ACTOR/ACTRESS- Defined by Whose story. Who goes through the most change, and or drives the main story forward, and who is involved in but not necessarily so, the climactic or defining moment of the Play. It is determined that there can only be a maximum of TWO leads of each gender in any production. Any more under consideration will make all considered an ensemble cast. All others would be supporting roles.
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS- Defined by an illusion or illusions created involving a combination of any or singularly the elements of lights, set, props, makeup , costume, smoke etc. and defined differently from lighting in which mood and atmosphere is created alone.
BEST PRODUCTION- As defined by a summation combination of all the elements of a production, involving script, onstage execution, backstage and off stage production excellence, including programme design and information, FOH all to enhance the overall theatre experience.

12. ADMINISTRATION OF SYSTEM

• The ITI Jamaica Centre will circulate the names of all judges for the awards year under review to Theatre producers. Judges will make their own arrangements to attend performances convenient to them BUT within the first 2 weeks of a production opening. Judges MUST identify themselves as ITI judges on arrival. Any difficulties in admittance should be brought to the producers' attention on the night in question and to an ITI representative attention thereafter.
• When new productions open, an ITI representative (to be named) from time to time may be in touch with judges to convey information regarding playing dates and times and the duration of the show's run.
• The Chief Judge will maintain all records relating to the attendance of judges at various productions, and will be responsible for calling judges periodically to confirm that current productions have been seen.
• Judges will be responsible for maintaining their own notes and data on the productions for the year.
• Judges should bring these notes with them for the tri- annual meetings.

13. THE NOMINATION PROCESS

NOMINEE SELECTION SCORING FOR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

• Score cards from the Judges will be received before the end of January and additional cards issued periodically as needed.
• The score cards are to be grouped by production and copied in triplicate and issued to three independent Auditors.
• In Each category if a name appears on a Judges score card with a score of 3 or above the Auditors will note these names and include them on the Nominee Calculation sheet.(Note: Below 3 is not to be included)
• If a name appears in the same or in another category for a different production then the name shall be included again as though it were another Name.
• The added scores from all judges for each name is to be averaged and the Five highest will be the nominees.
• Where there are similar scores causing the five nominees limit to be exceeded in any one category the three independents shall add these names for final determination by the Chief Judge and two Senior Judges.

EXAMPLE. (For Choreography)

• Six productions are judged that have a Choreographer. There should be Minimum six forms, one form from each Judge with the score for each choreographer averaged. This is to be checked by the Auditor.
• Any Choreographer’s name with a Judges Average score of 3 and above will be included along with any other judges score even if it is below 3.
• If no judge scores 3 then the person will not be included on the Nomination Calculations Sheet.
• The scores for each name will then be averaged.
• The five highest scores will be the nominees.
• The Scores shall be averages based on no less than Three (3) Judges viewing a production.
• If a production is viewed by less than three judges the scores are to still be averaged and a determination made by the Chief Judge and Two Other Senior Judges whether the score will be included.
• If in the case there is one nominee in a category, then the highest and the lowest score will be omitted, and the remainder averaged. If the average score is less than 3 there will be no nominee in this category. (This is to ensure that a substandard production cannot be nominated solely on being the only one)
• Any scores that add up to less than 3 after the averaging of all Judges scores in a particular category are to be discarded.
• There will be no more than 5 nominees in each category. The highest scores determine the best five. The Judges at no time will make nominations.

14. THE FINAL VOTING PROCESS

• Judges will not be required to convene for the final voting. Voting Ballots will be delivered to judges, and judging may be done privately but not necessarily.
• The Voting Ballot will carry the names of all categories and the individuals or productions nominated in each category.
• Judges will be asked to RANK the candidates in order of merit - i.e. the candidate who, in the judge’s opinion, deserves the award, should be ranked first, the runner up in this category, second, the third most deserving third, and so on.
• In instances where judges HAVE NOT SEEN all candidates in a particular category judges , Judges are asked to RANK THE CANDIDATES THEY HAVE SEEN, and simply leave the box BLANK beside those they have not seen -i.e.- judges should NOT rank anything they have NOT seen.
• Judges will then be asked to bring or send in their SEALED ballots along with a copy of their adjudicator’s form to a central locale (to be decided to be determined by the chief judge).
• The responsibility of tabulating the final results will be that of the ITI's official Auditors. At present, Oliver Campbell and Company.
• The forms are tallied and re calculated based on all variables allowing for blank boxes if filled with every possible score.
• Any anomalies after final calculations are made, i.e. a tie or a different winner emerging under different variables, the adjudicators forms shall be added up and a weighted average be applied to decide the winner. The adjudicators form will be brought into play if there is a wide divergence between a category being judged and an inordinate number of Judges Ballots left blank for any category.
• Only the Auditor and the Adjudication Co­ordinator will know the winners until Awards night, when the sealed envelopes are opened.

                                                Date of the Awards show will be confirmed in due course.