Is Your Program a Good Fit for JRAY?

 

Here are a few questions which will help you decide whether or not your school program is a good fit for the JRAY Program:

 

1.Would you consider your production and design team to be student-centered?

 

• Many of our JRAY award categories are in non-performance, technical and production categories (like Set Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Crew/Technical Execution, Stage Management, Costumes, Hair & Make-Up, Props, Graphic Design & Media). To be eligible for these categories, your program needs to have student leads and crew in these positions (Adults/Teachers in an advisory/supervisor capacity only.)

• Consider how many lead positions in these areas are currently held by students in your program. Do you have the material resources, administrative support and facilities to make this happen? We only ask these questions because we understand the struggles and limitations that many programs are faced with. In a perfect JRAY world, all schools would have robust, student-centered stage craft elements in their program. Whether it’s designing and building sets, creating a sound or lighting board program, putting together a social media campaign, or building customized props—we encourage programs to empower students with greater roles of responsibility and to take ownership of their production in all the myriad ways the theater has to offer. These are professional and life skills/experiences that can be leveraged into success.

• Does that mean if you don’t have such student-centered leadership roles that you are less likely to be accepted into our JRAY program? The short answer is “no.” But please know that a large portion of our awards program is dedicated to these categories and the students who have excelled and achieved recognition in these areas, so if your school is not eligible (because adults or professionals design and build your set or design your sound/lights, costumes, etc.) then some of your students may feel left out and “under-represented.” Currently, our participating schools have about a 70% eligibility for these award categories. That is a number that is trending up.

 

2.Do you participate in any other competitive award programs (like the Jerry Hermans or the Macy’s)?

 

• JRAY has no conflict of interest if you do, but we suggest that you reflect on how that experience has impacted your program and the students who participated in it.

• Other questions to consider: Do competitive award programs complement your school’s philosophy? Do you have a busy Spring or end-of-the-year schedule that may adversely affect your students or calendar? How do your students feel about participating in such programs? Prepared and proud to represent? Or stressed and anxious? Participation in a program like the JRAYs should create positive feelings of excitement and joy—win or lose. It is our hope that students feel a certain esprit de corps for the greater theatre community and be eager to support their fellow students and competitors.

 

3.Can you commit to attending our Award Ceremony on Memorial Day Weekend? (This year we are scheduled for Saturday, May 24th, 2025 @ the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse.)

 

• All participating schools must attend and are given an option to perform a musical cut/medley of their production.

• If you are unable to join us for that event, you will be placed on a “Waiting List” and may not be granted enrollment in our program if we reach our capacity of participating schools (which we have for the past 4 seasons!)

• Attendance is important for nominated students (who may win!) and also for students who have been awarded one of our scholarships--all of these things are announced and handed out at the ceremony. On a very personal level, school performances are a fundamental part of what makes our award show special and different from others. JRAY feels very strongly that any participating school that does not show up in numbers to perform is really missing out! The outpouring of support and the sense of camaraderie that is engendered by all the attending schools when they root and cheer for each other is unique, and for many of us, it is the defining aspect of the JRAY experience.

• Do you have a conflict with our scheduled award date? (Graduation? End-of-the-year commitments/craziness? Already released your students for the Summer?) Contact us. We do make exceptions for this rule.

 

4.Would you consider entering a production that does not run in April-May?

 

• Our calendar fills up quickly for the Spring Musical season, and priority for these dates is given to those school programs that have a long-standing tradition of participation in our program with a sustained record of excellence.

• If you are a new school, your chances of being accepted into our program increase dramatically if you choose an earlier production date (Sep-Mar).

 

5.And finally, if you are new to JRAY, would you be willing to send us a video link or copy of previous productions for our enrollment committee to view?

 

• If you are new to JRAY, and we have not seen any of your recent productions, we might ask! At the very least, we would like to see your website and/or social media sites.

 

A Summary of our Criteria for Eligibility:

 

Because we have been exceeding our program capacity for these past few years (and our judges are travelling all over the greater OC and LA County region) we are in the unpleasant position of having to deny enrollment to certain schools. Here follows a brief list of our enrollment criteria:

 

• Only one production per school (we do not adjudicate multiple productions from the same school)

• School location within LA and Orange Counties. After this season, we will no longer be adjudicating schools outside of these regions. (Some exceptions may apply.)

• Although we do not begrudge the casting of elementary and middle school students in certain roles that are age-appropriate, we do not encourage mixed grade-level casts in general. Only high school grade students are eligible for our award categories and scholarships. Similarly, an occasional cameo appearance by an adult is fine when it is called for by a particular script or adds an element of surprise and connection to the community or audience. We encourage all directors to use this particular tool in the box sparingly, however. 

• Submit application before the enrollment deadline of October 1, 2024. Our calendar of available dates fills up quickly.

• Commit to attending our May Award Ceremony (All participating schools receive 20 complimentary tickets. Additional tickets are $25).

• Offer show dates earlier in the year. For all schools (and new schools in particular) show dates from September through early March are preferred.

• Current state of your program. We expect certain standards for participating schools. These standards include but are not limited to:

  • Overall production value

  • Increased student involvement in technical, design and other production aspects

  • A commitment to or evidence of building a sustainable and dynamic musical theatre culture and program

  • Existing amenities (free or reasonably priced parking, accommodation of our judges' needs, etc.)

  • Audience experience and proper theatre etiquette

 

Please consider all of these factors before you submit an enrollment application.

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Have any questions? Contact us via email at kyle.d@jrayawards.com

 

Thank you for your interest in and continuing support of JRAY!