The Cappies

Cappies is a year-long program for theatre and journalism students through which students attend and discuss each other's shows, write reviews for publication, and at the end of the season decide who of their colleague student performers and technicians should be honored for awards.

Our Mission

  • To provide a unique collaborative learning experience for high school theatre and journalism students.

  • To encourage and advance the training of student writers, performing artists and technical crew o promote and celebrate the powerful creative work of high school theatre students, writers and their teachers.

  • To connect theatre students and programs in our region so they can learn from, respect and support each other. To strengthen the support of the stakeholders who fund theatre and the arts in our schools.

  • Want to join the Steering Committee, learn how to become a mentor at shows, or volunteer at the Gala? Email us at AdminNCA@cappies.com.

    • Any public, private school or homeschool group in the metro area can join.

    • A member school/group forms a critic team of 3 to 9 students, provides one adult mentor to help manage discussions and read reviews, and designates one of their shows as a Cappies show which will be attended by 54 to 90 assigned critics.

    • A school or group can be a member with a critic team only and no designated show.

    • Each team must attend and review at least 5 shows. Critics may volunteer for more shows but no more than 12. Most critics attend between 5 and 10 shows.

    • All the critics and mentors, both new and returning, are trained every year.

  • Cappies Leadership strives to ensure that no student is required to drive more than 30-45 minutes to see an assigned show. At the Lead Critic Draft, critics are provided with a map to see where available shows are located and are instructed to choose shows at schools within a 45 minute radius from their school. Students are then given a swap round, to switch any shows that do not meet that criteria. Finally, the Program Director and Program Manager review the assignments, alert Advisors of any shows that are outside the radius, and provide an opportunity to switch those shows.

    Throughout the year, Cappies events, such as trainings, photoshoots, and rehearsals, are held at various participating schools. Every effort is made to provide these offerings at multiple locations to ensure ease of access for all participating schools.

    To see a map of participating schools, click here.

  • The voting algorithm is based on finding a mean score in each category not a total number of votes cast.' Each category is voted on separately with nominations and awards determined for each. The awards for play and musical are not determined by a summation of nominations given in other categories. As in all the other categories, these awards are voted on and scored separately. For more information, email AdminNCA@cappies.org