Performing Arts – Drama Senior Project Guide

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Overview

Georgia 4-H Project Achievement empowers young people with skills for a lifetime. Through a competitive process, students explore their interests, unleash their creativity, share their work, and celebrate their achievements! This guide provides 9th—12th graders with examples for getting started with their project exploration.

Overview of Project Achievement Process

1) Choose project
2) Develop skills in leadership and service
3) Prepare portfolio for work completed from January 1 – December 31
4) Prepare presentation
5) Practice
6) Compete
7) Reflect

Description of Performing Arts – Drama Project

4-H’ers may explore areas of expression using their bodies and voices to convey a message in a performance. Through this project 4-H’ers may:

• Develop an appreciation for appropriate use of leisure time
• Express originality and creativity through performance
• Identify different methods of expression through drama which may include monologue, spoken word/ poetry, oral interpretation, comedy, or pantomime performances with an emphasis on acting/drama skills
• Learn how to select dramatic performance pieces
• Explore career opportunities in the area of performing arts

Each Performing Arts Drama Participant will:

• Prepare and present a 4 minute performance that includes a short
introduction. Talent acts should primarily include a dramatic presentation. Background music is allowed, but singing, dancing, or playing an instrument in this project is not appropriate.
• Use the microphone provided at the contest and not his/her own personal microphone.

Examples of Project Development Experiences

• Enroll in drama classes, lessons, workshops, or camps to build your stage confidence and stage presence — consider musical theatre, improv, creative theatre, theatre therapy, etc.
• Have yourself critiqued—Remember practice makes perfect
• Attend professional performances
• Participate in a school, community, or church drama group, such as your school’s literary team, solo and ensemble, etc.
• Audition for performing groups, such as Georgia 4-H Clovers & Company, theatre camps, etc.
• Enter talent shows, direct a local play, and/or create your own monologue
• Interview theatre teachers, directors, or professional actors
• Organize a book of selections for community performances

Project Sharing and Helping Examples

• Form a performing arts group to perform for other 4-H’ers, your community, or at district or statewide events
• Start a project club for younger 4-H’ers and teach performance techniques. Consider performing at such places as elder care homes, hospitals, local theaters, festivals, music stores, etc.
• Plan your own 4-H Variety Show, such as Valentine Variety Show, Christmas Clovers Chorus, caroling, etc.
• Make props or backdrops for a local theatre group
• Create your own musical theatre review with younger students
• Teach the basics to younger kids at day care centers, day camps, or other youth groups
• Volunteer to assist the band, chorus, or drama coordinator as a leader for new students
• Teach others to write effective dialogue and monologues
• Showcase your work in a performing arts mini-booth at a local fair, library, community festival, etc.
• Mentor a younger 4-H’er in the Performing Arts General project

Considerations in Performance Selection

• Showcasing your skill is important. Be sure to highlight your unique talents.
• Consider your performing mechanics, such as diction and poise.
• Characterization is 40 points of your total score! This includes facial expression, costume, skills, and stage presence.
• Consider filming yourself or performing in front of a mirror.
• Any song, routine, costume, etc. should be appropriate and comply with the 4-H Code of Conduct.
• Practice a brief introduction that includes your name, county, length of study, name of selection, and author. You may also choose to include the performance’s origin/history.
• Make sure you time yourself—including your introduction, you have a total of 4 minutes.
• Be dramatic! That is what this project is all about!

Recommended Resources

• Project Achievement – Georgia 4-H
• Atlanta Theater: Broadway Shows, Musicals, Plays, Concerts in 2026-2027
• Fox Theatre Atlanta | Broadway, Concerts, Private Events & History | Fox Theatre
• How to act: stage stars share their acting tips | Theatre | The Guardian

At Competition

Talent acts should primarily include a dramatic presentation. Background music is allowed, but singing, dancing, or playing an instrument in this project is not appropriate. Performances will be judged on introduction, mechanics, imagination and creativity, characterization, script, and time. Acts are limited to 4 minutes total. Youth are required to use microphones provided at the contest.

Prepared by: Cheryl Varnadoe and Rachel Grimsley
Reviewed by: Keri Hobbs, Jason Estep, and Jennifer Cantwell