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The purpose of this blog is to provide resources and support for successful activities for youth and young single adults throughout the West Indies Mission. It is being managed by Elder and Sister Monson, full time missionaries, located in Trinidad. It is intended to also provide a venue for sharing ideas and success experiences with youth and ysa leaders. If you would like to share your ideas and experiences, you can email marilynn.monson@myldsmail.net or call Sister Monson 868-299-5345 or Elder Monson 868-395-5978.


On the right side of this blog under YSA/Youth Links, you will find links to lds.org, access to planning resources for specific activities and yearly planning, 150 plus activity ideas and websites with more ideas.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

February YSA Activity Trinidad/ Barbados Celebration 2015/Trinidad Celebration/ Celebration Information

 The mission statement which the YSA's composed for 2014 is, after much deliberation,"We desire to increase spiritual growth through Christlike love and foster personal progress toward missions, temple marriage, and institute participation."  The monthly purposes they selected are: January: Foster Unity, February: Build Testimonies, March: Celebration 2015, April: Develop Friendship, May: Marriage Prep, June: Service, July: Celebration 2015, August: YSA conference, September: Self Reliance/Missions, October: Service, November: Celebration 2015, December: Build Testimonies.  In February they wanted to have a dance as they had not had one for over a year.  The question was how to Build Testimonies in the process.  They decided to begin with a devotional where each of the YSA reps shared their favorite scriptures and related why it had been chosen.
Since they hadn't had a dance for ages, they wanted make it really special, so the decorating started by  making tissue paper flowers for three days before the event. Go to youtube and search how to make giant tissue paper flowers and you will see a demonstration of the huge ones.  The others were adaptions and smaller versions of them.
The centers were sprayed with glue and then glitter sprinkled on.
 The Batemans and the sister missionaries helped us decorate.
 The front of the chapel
 The entrance to the chapel with two new members (2nd one in on both sides) developing lasting friendships.
Seventy two people came, a great turn-out.  The devotionals by the YSA reps were inspiring and a young man told me he decided that night that he wanted to be baptized.  He said he had been investigating the church for quite some time, but felt inspired by the good people there at the dance and strongly felt the spirit.  It was so great.  There is nothing better than seeing that joy in the eyes of someone who has decided to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ and His gospel. We can't wait for his baptism.  
 Lining up for the refreshments
 The YSA reps assigned and set up all the food and did a great job.
 Great times.
 The wrapped present was for the drawing from the people who had the most names filled out on their dance card; gift certificates to Fridays for a future date.
 Some crazy line dancing and Michael Jackson performances
 From the first moment when the devotional started - this was the scene at the bar down the street from the church; blaring music that was such a stark contrast between what was going on in the chapel.  The difference these young people make in their lives when they join the church is astounding.
 A great event - well attended and appreciated by all.

CELEBRATION 2015 BARBADOS
  Barbados led the way, along with St. Vincent,  with the first Celebration 2015 show the same night, February 22nd.  This is the wonderful committee that jumped in and did a marvelous job.  They had a huge success with all youth and YSA participants and many less active and non-members in attendance.  The performers had a great experience!
 Sister Sinclair wrote the script and the narrator was well prepared and polished. 
All the pleased participants in the First Celebration Show in Barbados!  Awesome!


Celebration 2015 Trinidad

The Trinidad Stake Celebration 2015 first show was held on March 22nd.  It included three original poems, a dramatic reading about the prophet Joseph Smith’s first vision, and a poem about throwing off the impact of slavery. The Script led the audience from secular culture to the Restoration and then to multiple numbers that reflected the blessings of the Gospel and the Lord in the lives of Latter-day Saints.  These included a child singing a Primary song, two energetic rap songs, a song about being sealed in Holy Temples for eternity, and one underscoring the comfort found in faith when facing the death of loved ones.  There were 600 plus people in attendance with at least a third of that amount less actives, non-members and investigators.  Missionaries are following up with attendees, and all had a great celebration!  As people were leaving, the oft repeated question was, “When is the next Celebration show?”

Step by Step Celebration 2015 Show planning

1)      Convene a Celebration 2015 committee with at least 5 members and preferably up to 8.  The committee should function under the direction of priesthood leadership, either district or stake, or local priesthood leadership.  (Try to include committee members that:  have an interest in promoting the arts, are familiar with social media, include computer graphics people, are well connected in the community, have good writing skills to write show scripts, and are organized, dependable people who follow through on assignments.)
2)     Determine if your area will follow the recommended show composition or some other combination.  (1st show – Feb. 2014 - Spoken word and Singing, 2nd show – June 2014 - Musical instruments and Arts and Crafts, 3rd show – October 2014 - Dance and Culinary arts, 4th show – Feb.-2015 -Best of previous shows and Choirs. Summer 2015 – Celebration party and showing of mission-wide DVD
3)     Decide involvement group: will your area involve all ages or are there enough youth and YSA’s to limit participation to that age group alone.
4)     In stakes and districts, identify a Celebration point person in each unit/branch/ward through which to coordinate future practices, invitations, announcements, ticket and poster distribution, travel assistance to venue etc.  
5)     Set the date of the current Celebration 2015 show.
6)     Acquire the venue for the show.  Some locations require reservation and down payment months in advance. 
7)     Create and distribute a simple entry form for potential performers including contact information, unit, the categories included in the show, a brief description of their entry, and a commitment to be at weekly rehearsals, the dress-rehearsal and a willingness to work to perfect and polish their entry, if selected. Also a promise to attend the preliminaries that must be signed.  The date of the preliminary and the date of the dress rehearsal should be on this form, also. 
8)     If your unit is small, review the entries as a committee and select those that meet your criterion.  (see description below in #9) You may invite people to participate if you do not have enough, these can be non-members or investigators.  In stakes and districts, you will probably need to hold preliminaries (or try outs) to select from a much larger pool of entrants. 19 performers should be selected with an assumption that some will fall out due to not attending practices, illness etc.  No more than this can be selected.  Plan on five minutes per performance for your show.  So the final number for your show should be 15-16 but taking the additional few will secure the number needed after some self-select out.  The preliminaries may necessitate the committee travelling to 2-3 locations within the district or stake with well-advertised dates and times, to judge each of the entries.  These try-outs do not have to be finished, memorized, or even completely performed.  It’s purpose is for the committee to view each entry with a simple judging form that includes name, category, and a scale from 1-10 in the following categories: Voice, Stage Presence, Theme Value, Poise/Composure, Audience Appeal, Celebrates Culture and a few lines for notes/impressions.  The participants should be told when the selected performers will be contacted; a few days following the preliminaries preferably.  There should be microphone set-up prepared for the preliminaries as well as an information sheet for each participant; the important points from above should also be announced to the participants.  This meeting should begin with prayer.  Every person should be congratulated and their talent appreciated  (see attached letter) so that whether they are selected or not, participating in the preliminaries should be a very positive experience. 
9)     After the preliminaries, the committee should get together and review all the judging forms, selecting the 18-19 performers that will be the show.  The decisions should be heavily influenced by meeting the objectives of the show: introducing what it means to be a member of the Church to members of other faiths, sharing the blessings and culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, celebrating the culture of the West Indies, and “anything that is virtuous, lovely, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”  Ideally, the show should be 15-16 performances only – but you should take 18-19 to allow for illness, drop outs, etc. as you get closer to show date.
10) Set up weekly practice dates; 2-3 a week for performing arts
11) For performing arts, select coaches to give constructive feedback and work with the participants at each practice.  These people should have skills in music, theatre, etc. to be able to improve the participant’s abilities.  They will need keys to get into the church building for weekly practices, they will need contact information for all the participants in their area.  They should be willing to be at all the practices, call participants and inform them that they are coaches, and keep track of record of practice attendance.  If a high number of youth are participants, mutual should be used as one of the weekly practices and youth leaders to function as coaches.  Check Personal Progress and Duty to God as many of these activities fulfill those requirements.  Coaches are a vital part of a successful Celebration show.

12) Get the word out!  The local public affairs person should be engaged on the committee in posting the date, venue, time, and free admission on social media, posters that go in each unit, invitations/tickets to be delivered to missionaries and members to give to neighbors, less-actives, colleagues and neighborhoods. Posters need to be in each unit.  Weekly announcements starting at least four weeks prior to the show should emphasize the show is free and transportation will be provided from the local chapel to the venue.  This must be prior approved by priesthood leadership) In stakes and districts those announcements should include the names of performers in each unit to encourage members to come out to support their representative in the show.  (Individual tickets or invitations need to be distributed through church leaders to the point person in each area explaining that these are to be given to non-members and less-active, and family members of other faiths only.  Additional invitations should be given to missionaries.  A meeting should be scheduled between missionaries and ward/branch counsels to identify less-actives and recent investigators who might be most likely to respond to an invitation.  This meeting should occur at least two weeks before the program to allow missionaries time to follow up.  Facebook  postings should be frequent to establish a buzz about the show.  Youtube video may be made of practices to invite people to come to the show.  Transportation should be coordinated through the unit point person and arranged by local priesthood leadership.  This outreach is vitally important to bring the church out of obscurity.
13) Identify the following specialists to prepare for the show: Stage manager: this person makes sure the next person to perform is queued up, keeps the show moving, and is the overall stage coordinator. Stage worker: this person will make sure the mike is working and is close enough to each person for optimal sound as they begin their performance, move props or any stage adjustments for each performance.  Sound and Lighting specialist: this person manages the spotlight and stage lights and the microphones.  Decoration specialist: this person designs, assigns preparation, set-up and cleanup; with committee help, all the decorations.  Refreshments specialist: this person organizes light refreshments (cookies or cake) to be prepared or purchased.  The idea is not to serve a meal, but to make guests feel welcomed.  Performers, coaches and rehearsals specialist: this person makes sure performers are aware of all practices, information and directions, organizes coaches in refining and perfecting the individual performers in local units, and insures that rehearsals are held regularly.   Missionary outreach specialist: this person makes sure the missionaries are informed and getting tickets to investigators and less actives.
DJ/ Music specialist: This person queues up the next song/ CD with seamless transitions and sound level. 
14) Select a scriptwriter.  This person must be comfortable writing.  The scriptwriter will take all of the selected performances and write the theme, transitions and overall narrative/MC language to tie the entire show together.  This is very important for a finished production. It is a task that will require several weeks to complete.
15) The committee must have each performer’s
written lyrics from each song or spoken word by three weeks before show time. This information will allow the scriptwriter to tie each performance together under a central theme.  Remember the objective of Celebration: to bring the church out of obscurity and invite the public to feel the spirit and blessings found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
14)       There MUST be an  accompaniment acquisition deadline for every performer.  This means that whatever accompaniment they are using must be certain and final by two weeks prior to show time to allow enough time for each participant to practice with their final accompaniment.  This should be instrumental only, no background voices.  One of the biggest challenges for singers is to stay WITH the cd accompaniment.  They must practice only with their recorded music, not singing acapella, to make sure they are practicing this skill for at least two weeks prior to show time.
15)     There must also be a no changes deadline!          There can be no last minute song changes, or accompaniment changes after this date. 2 weeks out.
16)    Each performer must have his/her accompaniment, unless it is live, burned onto a CD by two weeks before show time.  This will allow the DJ/music specialist to have the accompaniment numbered and sequenced prior to the stage/dress rehearsal.  The music cannot be on phones!  It must have been burned to a cd two weeks ahead.
17)     There should be a stage rehearsal scheduled one week prior to ShowTime and the day before, if possible.  These are mandatory rehearsals to which all performers and stage support specialists must be in attendance.  At the week before, all attire should be worn with clothes to change into.  This is so there are no surprises with regard to modesty and clothing standards of the church.  This practice is to finalize attire, lighting, sound etc and run through the entire show.  The day before rehearsal is to finalize transitions etc.  The MC/narrator does not need to read the entire script at this day-before rehearsal, just the line before each performer walks on stage. 
The sound is ALWAYS a problem.  The week before rehearsal must have all mics that will be used for the show so that the performers will be able to adjust to whatever sound system is being used for the show. 
18) The night of the performance missionaries should be in attendance as well as a sign-up table with name and address if attendees would like to be contacted to learn more about the church.
The Lord is in this work!  You will be blessed as you work to bring the church out of obscurity!
Celebration 2015 Trinidad March 22nd 2014
The decoration committee did a fabulous job!  This display was on the entrance wall into the Lions center.
The beautiful stage after the decorators were done.
Behind the scenes the cast enjoying each other before going on stage.
The great co-MC's
Sister Payne was recognized as the first member in Trinidad and was given a marble Christus statue to acknowledge the great example she set for the rest of the members of the church here.
Ah come to Celebrate!
Black Me
'Say something,"a song about a couple breaking up
"Bring down the power of Love"
The Joseph Smith Story
 I'm trying to be like Jesus
We Are Latter-Day Saints
I Am A Caribbean Mormon
Steady and Sure
Errand of Angels
My Endless Love
Sister in Christ
                                                                                 Be Thou With Me  
If You Were A Flower
I Am Beautiful
Middle audience
Right Side
Left Side
There were just over 600 people in attendance!  A Stake leader told Elder Monson, "This is the biggest thing that has happened in our country since we were made a Stake!"  A third of the people in attendance were non members, less actives or investigators.  

Resources for Celebration Planners - The following is the complete script of the Trinidad first Celebration Show.  This is just an example for a script writer.

CELEBRATION 2015/ SCRIPT/ JASON BYNG AND CURFEW ALI

Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen!  I am Jason Byng and this is Curfew Ali.  We are happy to have you join us tonight as we celebrate the colorful culture of the Caribbean and the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 We would like to welcome our esteemed guests in the audience tonight – especially leaders of government, and local churches and their spouses. 

We begin our program with a prayer to God to bless the events of this evening.  Maria McClaran, a long time lion’s member, will lead us.

Music has always been an important part of Trinidadians lives. Calypso and steel drums have brought their distinct rhythms to folk songs, jazz, big band music, R&B and rock and roll.

Our show tonight features a broad range of musical genres and the spoken word by local Trini’s from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 
Our church presence started here when missionaries came from Venezuela in 1977. They shared the restored gospel with Sister Lucy Payne who was baptized on June 2, 1977. Sister Payne is in the audience with us tonight.  We would like her to stand as we present her with a marble Christus statue; a token of the appreciation we feel for her courage, to follow Jesus Christ’s example, into the waters of baptism, leading the way for so many of us here to follow.  Elder Felix, a full-time missionary serving here in Trinidad, will present it to her; he is the first missionary called to serve from Saint Lucia.
 (applause) Jason lifts the statue, taken from behind the podium –(taken out of the box previous to show time)- hands it to Elder Felix, who takes it to her seat, hands it to her, and shakes her hand.
 Elder M. Russell Ballard dedicated this beautiful land for the teaching of the gospel in 1990; in 2015 the West Indies Mission will have enjoyed the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for twenty-five years, hence the name of our show, Celebration 2015!
 Lisa Chanqui and the Zion Crew have come to Celebrate! “ Hailing from Chaguanas, Lisa wrote the joyous refrain, “THERE IS SO MUCH TO THANK GOD FOR, AH COME TO CELEBRATE, LEAVE MY TROUBLES OUTSIDE THE DOOR.”
-SONG –

The dedicatory service for Trinidad and Tobago was held on a warm, but cloudy day on February 22, 1990 at a proposed meetinghouse site in POS.  In attendance were local members and investigators, and all the full-time missionaries on the islands, which totaled 108 people.  The Trinidad Branch was organized on June 5th 1980 in Port of Spain.  Today, Trindad POS is a stake with over nine locations in Trindad, one in Tobago, and over 2,400 members. 

Let’s take a look at a segment of our culture in Trinidad dramatized in a poem called “Black Me, written by George Joseph and performed by Jauzada Morrison.  This poem hearkens back to the roots of many people in Trinidad.  Our ancestors threw off the chains that held them and moved forward without being defined by the past.

-POEM-

The story behind our next duet is about a couple walking away and breaking up.  Much of society today, all over the world, seems to be wandering in darkness and confusion, ever searching for happiness in all the wrong places. 
Chris and Akisha Danzell  from POS will share Axell and Vaccarino’s, “Say Something.”

-SONG-

 The Caribbean people, indeed all God's children on earth, need light and direction, which cannot be found in the current philosophies of the world.  So many wander in darkness without hope and faith to guide them.  St. John states, “He that loveth not- knoweth not God; for God is love.”  Crystal Camejo and her singing sisters supplicate that Love to intervene, in their rendition of Ella Andall’s, “Bring Down The Power.”

-SONG-

A very young boy, in another time and place, desired direction from God.  Nicholas Victor shares with us tonight, the Prophet Joseph Smith’s experience in 1820 when love did come down from heaven.

-DRAMATIZED STORY-

After the Gospel was restored to the earth, people found direction and answers to their questions.  Even a very young child can choose to follow God.  Rebecca Ramdhanie shares her desire to follow the light of Love singing, “I’m trying to be like Jesus,” by Janice Kapp Peery.

-SONG-

A young man has poured his deeply held testimony into an original rap song.  Brandon Blackburn will share with us, “I Am a Latter-day Saint.”

-SONG-

From a handful of people in 1830 when the church was established to today; Latter-day Saints, or Mormons as they are sometimes called, live all over the world, more than fifteen million strong. They come from all professions, races, cultures, and economic and educational levels.  They share, as do all Christians, the certainty that Jesus Christ died for each of us; that we might repent of our sins, follow him and hope for eternal life. Collan Moore has written a poem sharing with us what it means to be Caribbean and a Mormon.
-POEM-
Mr. Philip P. Bliss, the well-known hymn writer, attended one of D.L. Moody’s meetings in America at which the story was related about a shipwreck on a dark and tempestuous night, when not even one star was visible. A ship was approaching the harbor of Cleveland, with a pilot on board. The captain, noticing only one light as they drew near — which shown from the lighthouse —asked the pilot if he was quite sure that it was Cleveland harbor, as other lights should have been burning at the harbor mouth. The pilot replied that he was quite certain, whereupon the captain enquired: “Where are the lower lights?” “Gone out, sir,” replied the pilot. Can you make the harbor, then?” asked the captain, to which the pilot answered: “We must, sir, or perish! “Bravely the old man steered the vessel upon her course toward safety. But alas! In the darkness of the harbor mouth he missed the channel, the ship struck upon hidden rocks, and in the stormy waters many lives were lost. Moody made his appeal to his audience: “Brothers, the Master will take care of the great lighthouse! Let us keep the lower lights burning!” This powerful story motivated Mr. Bliss to pen the great Christian song, “Let the lower lights be burning” shared with us tonight in a double quartet; Marilyn and Neville Cummings, Alicia and Joseph Warner, Julio Camejo, Nicholas Victor, Nejma Leone and Victoria Danzell
-SONG-
In Christ we can do all things.  Donika Samuel shares with us, “Steady and sure,” a song that celebrates that through the challenges we face in our lives, we will prevail by holding on to the light of the Lord!
-SONG-
In her poem, Errand of Angels, Donnaleiz Rees describes the empowering strength found in the association of women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Called, “The Relief Society,” it is the oldest and largest women's organization in the world; established in 1842 for women 18 years of age and older.
-POEM-
Shantel Robain is certain of her eternal value and worth because of the love the Lord has for her.  She will now share, “I Am Beautiful,” by Candace Glover.
-SONG-
 The knowledge that we are the spirit children of a loving, eternal Father has the power to change our lives; for example a young man who recently joined our Church, shared his story.  He was abandoned by his mother when he was 16-months old; his father abandoned him at the age of 3; and he was raised by grandparents who kicked him out to live on his own at 17-years old. He said he had never felt a parent’s love until the missionaries came and told him that he had a Heavenly Father and that we are all brothers and sisters. He testified that the Spirit bore witness to him that God is his literal Spirit Father and a loving parent who will never abandon him.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that families can be eternal, rather than until death do we part, if sealed in a Holy Temple of God.  Adrian Christopher will illustrate with My Endless Love, by Lionel Richie.
-SONG-
Alicia Cooper Warner underscores the difference it makes in life to have an eternal understanding of relationships that help us stay strong in our faith; sharing tonight, Marilyn Cazoe Cumming’s poem, Sisters in Christ.
-POEM-
The certainty that we will see our loved ones after this life is celebrated in this classical Bach solo performed by Adali Baisden.  The peace that passeth understanding is described in the following words: Be Thou with me, then I will go gladly unto my death and to my rest.  Ah, what a pleasant end for me, if your dear hands be the last I see, closing, shut my faithful eyes to rest!
-SONG-
Thank you for joining us tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen.  Watch for our next Celebration 2015 show featuring Musical Instruments and Arts and Crafts in July of this year.  Until then, remember He has engraved us all on the palms of His hands.  Stay in His light and in His peace, until we meet again.
We conclude our Celebration tonight with a final, rousing tribute.  It expresses the joy one young man has found since joining our church just over a year ago. An original song, centered in his love for the Lord, Kurt Felix brings us together with, “If You Were a Flower, Lord. 
-SONG-
APPLAUSE / Kurt exits the stage-Thank everyone for coming – as applause continues say,
LET’S BRING THEM ALL BACK ONE MORE TIME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
Everyone comes back on stage singing the chorus of Brandon’s song, “We are Latter-day Saints.  Sing the chorus three-four times and then exit the stage while singing.
GOOD NIGHT!!         All  leave the stage.


 Policies and Rules/Celebration 2015


Celebration 2015 was initially designed to include youth and YSAs, ages twelve to thirty.  Its purpose is to celebrate the Church’s presence in the West Indies for twenty-five years in 2015.  Depending on individual committee decisions and interest in local areas, participation may be increased to include all ages.  There may be four separate shows beginning in February 2014 and culminating in June 2015.  They will be held in local areas. Each show should be filmed locally and sent to the Celebration committee in Trinidad.  They will determine the best performances of the entire mission, which will be combined into one mission-wide DVD.   The suggested time for the four shows are as follows: (These dates may be changed as needed locally) In small areas, it may make sense to combine shows to invite more participation.  One show should include 15-17 entries and be no longer than two hours.
·      Feb. 2014 – Singing, Poems, Speech & Stories
·      June 2014 – Musical Instruments, Arts and Crafts
·      October 2014– Dance and Cooking Arts
·      February 2015– Choirs and Best of previous shows
·      June 2015 – Gather to view the mission-wide DVD locally.  Have a party celebrating twenty-five years of the West Indies Mission!
All participants in Celebration 2015 must be willing to abide Church standards as outlined in “For the strength of Youth.” The following standards must be strictly followed.
·      Dress and Appearance……...pg. 6
·      Entertainment and Media….pg 11
·      Language………………………….pg 20
·      Music and Dancing…………….pg22
1.    Coaches, youth leaders, and senior missionaries should assist each participant.  Original stories may be conveyed verbally and typed for them, correcting grammar and sentence structure without changing the basic story.  Coaches can also suggest options for stories and subject matter.  Each participant should be helped to be successful and encouraged to rehearse.
2.    Participants need to be a member of the church, invited by a member, or be a current investigator.
3.    Original writing for poems, speeches and stories could be about the following:  (with a 3-5 minute limit each)
·      Conversion stories of early members of the Church
·      Basic values of the Church
·      Personal conversion stories
·      Dramatic reading: (not original) History of the church or any uplifting material
4.    Singing for the February show is limited to:
·      Solo singers with any type accompaniment
·      Duets (2 singers) Trios (3 singers) Quartet (4 singers or Double Quartet (8 singers)
·      Accompaniment can be live or recorded; no Acapella performances.  Drums, steel pan, recorders, violin, etc.
5.    Cut off date for entries should be no less than one month prior to date of show to allow time to prepare.
6.    One participant may enter multiple categories but is allowed only one performance per category. Example:  A person may sing a solo, tell a story and sing in a double quartet.  That person may not sing two solos.
7.    Celebration is intended to assist in bringing the Church out of obscurity, so the public should be encouraged to attend.  The shows should present to the public an insight into our beliefs, culture, standards and values. 
8.    A concerted effort should be made to invite less-active members, friends, neighbors, family members and prospective investigators.  Advertise in newspapers and social media to have as much exposure to members of other faiths in attendance as possible.
9.    The night of the performance there should be missionaries in attendance as well as pamphlets, pass-along cards and brochures for interested guests.
1.     Most of all………….CELEBRATE!!  Have fun!  Rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings it brings to our lives.

                          Possible CELEBRATION 2015 ENTRY FORM


(Month)  2014 Show

  Name: _____________________________________________________________

  Ward/Branch: _______________________________________________________

  Phone & Email: ______________________________________________________
  Category: Singing (Solo, Duet, Trio, Quartet, Other – live or CD accompaniment)
            Poetry                        Speech                       Dramatic Reading                          Other

  Entry Description: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

   I will be available on (Month)  __ to present my entry at the preliminary mandatory show.
                                                Signed: _______________________________

   Entry forms must be submitted by (Month) 


   The following form should only be used for preliminaries. (needed in districts and stakes where many more people will want to participate than could possibly be featured in one show.  Each performance should be approximately 5 minutes.  Ideal number is 15-17.  So a preliminary is held for the committee to decide which entries to select that will best represent the Church to the public.

  Sign-In Sheet Preliminaries /Celebration 2015 /(Location)
  Singing: Solo__Duet__Trio___Duet___
  Spoken Word: Poem___Story___Dramatic reading___
((Change above to current show composition)


 Name/Category         Phone #                  Email address
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


            To be read before the Preliminary by the presiding priesthood authority:

   Welcome to the Preliminaries for Celebration 2015.  We appreciate your desire to participate in the show and wish you the best of luck in your audition today. 
We wish every person that so desired would be able to be part of the final show.  Fifty people in the stake have signed up, hoping to participate.  Today’s audition will determine which 17 of those performers will proceed on to be a part of the final Celebration Show.  The final audition will be held next Thursday in POS so the results will not be announced until Saturday the 22nd.  You will be contacted by phone.  Please make sure to sign-in today so that we have your correct contact information. 
You will be selected based on stage presence, poise, composure, voice, adherence to church standards, and whether your entry will help achieve the objectives of the show.
Being selected does not necessarily mean your performance was the best.  Not being selected does not reflect negatively on your talents or ability.  Rather, that in the total combination of participants, your entry will help the Celebration committee put together a show that meets the overall objective of Celebration 2015 most effectively.  That objective is to help bring the Church out of obscurity and to introduce to the community the great blessing of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
You do not need to have your final costume today or complete your entire number.  Your entry does not have to be memorized today.  However, if you are selected, you will be required to: (1) be available March 22nd the date of Celebration 2015 (2) attend the mandatory stage rehearsal which will be held approximately one week before the show date (3) have your number completely memorized by the stage rehearsal date (4) use language, clothing and behavior that adheres strictly to the standards of the church and (5) commit to practice and perfect your performance if selected to participate.
When the judges call out your name, please come forward to the microphone, announce your name, your entry category and then begin.

Thank you and good luck!



Judging Form
 Name_______________________________Category__________________
  Voice   1        2        3        4         5         6         7         8         9         10
  Stage Presence   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9      10
  Theme Value   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9       10
  Poise/Composure   1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9      10
  Audience Appeal   1      2      3       4       5       6      7      8     9      10 
  Celebrates culture  1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8       9       10
 Notes/thoughts_________________________________________________


Judging Form
  Name__________________________________Category_______________
  Voice   1        2        3        4         5         6         7         8         9         10
  Stage Presence   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9      10
  Theme Value   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9       10
  Poise/Composure   1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9      10
  Audience Appeal   1      2      3       4       5       6      7      8     9      10 
  Celebrates culture  1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8       9       10
 Notes/thoughts_________________________________________________



Judging Form
 Name____________________________________Catgeory_____________
  Voice   1        2        3        4         5         6         7         8         9         10
  Stage Presence   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9      10
  Theme Value   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9       10
  Poise/Composure   1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9      10
  Audience Appeal   1      2      3       4       5       6      7      8     9      10 
  Celebrates culture  1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8       9       10
 Notes/thoughts_________________________________________________




Preliminary Celebration 2015
Participant Information Sheet

  We appreciate your desire to participate in the show and wish you the best of luck in your audition today. 

  We wish every person that so desired would be able to be part of the final show.  Fifty people in the stake have signed up, hoping to participate.  Today’s audition will determine which 17 of those performers will proceed to be a part of the final Celebration Show.  The final audition will be held next Thursday in POS so the results will not be announced until Saturday the 22nd.  You will be contacted by phone.  Please make sure to sign-in today so that we have your correct contact information. 

  You will be selected based on stage presence, poise, composure, voice, adherence to church standards, and whether your entry will help achieve the objectives of the show.

  Being selected does not necessarily mean your performance was the best.  Not being selected does not reflect negatively on your talents or ability.  Rather, that in the total combination of participants, your entry will help the Celebration committee put together a show that meets the overall objective of Celebration 2015 most effectively.  That objective is to help bring the Church out of obscurity and to introduce to the community the great blessing of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  You do not need to have your final costume today or complete your entire number.  Your entry does not have to be memorized today.


I  If you are selected, you will be required to: (1) be available: (Month) the date of Celebration 2015 (2) attend the mandatory stage rehearsal which will be held approximately one week before the show date (3) have your number completely memorized by the stage rehearsal date (4) use language, clothing and behavior that adheres strictly to the standards of the church and (5) commit to practice and perfect your performance if selected to participate.


Instructions for judges:(usually members of the committee)
Change the following categories for future shows 
Singing:  Solo s(S)   Duet s(D)   Trio s(T)   Quartet s(Q)
Spoken Word:  Poem sw(P) Story  sw(S)Dramatic Reading  sw(DR)

According to the above key, designate on the form the category of the audition performer.  When they come forward check their name and category to make sure it is correct on the judging form. 

The following scale is on the judging form; one for each entry. The number 10 is perfect.  Carefully circle the number you think represents the appropriate response.  Keep your sheet covered at all times.  Mark it discretely.  Be sensitive to the information on it.
Judging Form
Name__________________________________Category_________________
Voice   1        2        3        4         5         6         7         8         9         10
Stage Presence   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9      10
Theme Value   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9       10
Poise/Composure   1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9      10
Audience Appeal   1      2      3       4       5       6      7      8     9      10 
Celebrates culture  1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8       9       10
Notes/thoughts__________________________________________________



The notes are to remind you who and what about this person impressed you.  Later, when decisions must be made, you will have to refer to these notes to remember what you felt and your initial reaction.

Don’t think about it too hard.  Just decide if this entry will represent the church well to the community.

All of the above forms may be copied and adapted (dates, composition of shows etc. changed) for future Celebration 2015 shows.







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