Category: Interp

An Original Start for Your Original Interpretation by: Serenity Spada

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Twelve years ago, Seven-year-old Serenity mindlessly walked around at her first official Speech and Debate Tournament. Here, I was exposed to interp speeches that exploded my little brain. I watched with awe at the phenomenal acting skills, blocking, and characterization and quickly fell in love and couldn’t wait to begin myself. So, I wrote and performed my first interp speech, which was adorable for a six-year-old. But then something extremely unfortunate happened—I grew up, and twelve-year-old Serenity could no longer hide behind her cuteness. I was abruptly thrown into a new type of competition that required a much higher level of acting, writing, and blocking. After eleven years of writing and competing in interp speeches, I have learned many lessons that have improved my skills over the years. I wanted to share some of the first steps you would need to take as you start writing your own Original Interpretation…

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Understanding New Speech Categories: Specifically Biblical Thematic

Posted on by Heather Neumann

As competitive speech evolves, new categories are introduced to challenge competitors and enrich the repertoire of performance styles. Back in 2016, NCFCA created a new category geared to using a prop and the Bible. Versions of the category stuck, and I don’t think it’s going to go away because of the specific benefits you can gain by competing in it. 

Stoa also created a new category in 2023 called Interp in a Box. They have since retired the category, however those that got to partake in it learned a great deal. You see, new categories bring forth fresh dynamics and specific rules that participants must master. So let’s explore how to tackle new categories, detailing their rules, objectives, and strategies for understanding the benefits of exploring a different type of Interp… Read on OR SIGN UP FOR INTERP CLUB - https://lastingimpact.info/product/club22492/ Uncover all of the benefits, mysteries, and JOYS of Interpretive Speech!

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Dramatic Interpretation: A Journey into the Depths of Emotion

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Dramatic Interpretation stands as one of the most emotionally charged and profoundly impactful categories in competitive speech. It requires competitors to delve into complex characters and narratives, often exploring themes of conflict, tragedy, and human resilience. Dramatic Interp is not just about death and dying! This category not only showcases a speaker's ability to interpret and convey intense emotions but also their skill in bringing to life the subtleties and depths of human experience. In some leagues they don’t have Dramatic Interp, so you can apply this article to Open Interp, or a dramatic duo! Really this article is how to dig deeper…

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Unlocking the Power of Interpretive Speeches

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Is this your year to try an interpretive speech? It’s not too late to jump in! Not sure where to begin or want to get on a FAST TRACK? Join me and Mrs. D for Fast Track Interp. We will be your very own guides through the World of Interp. Sign up now! Or keep reading this article on WHY you need to add an interpretive speech to your high school speech and debate career!

You might be wondering, "Why on earth should we care about these speeches?" Well, you're in for a treat because interpretive speaking isn't just another high school requirement – it's a valuable skill that can benefit you in countless ways. So, let's break it down and discover why interpretive speeches are worth your time and effort.

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Interp 101 – Why Interpretive Speech

Posted on by Heather Neumann

For the second year in a row we will be offering Intro to Interpretive Speech (Tuesdays at noon CT). Why!? Because there is a HUGE NEED for students to understand PEOPLE! The Art of Communication isn’t just standing up reciting a speech or debating… it’s about understanding who we are, where are coming from, what we have been through, and so much more. My interpretive/drama students learn this by exploring literature, the stage, characters, settings, scenes, etc. If you have been on the fence about trying out an interpretive speech or want to learn how to get better at it… this is the class/club for you! Instructors, Heather Neumann and Lynda DePasacreta can’t wait to explore the Interpretive Speech Events such as Open, Duo, Humorous, Dramatic, Biblical, and/or Original. You will learn how to pick the right piece of you, how to grow as a character, understanding characters, how to cut a piece, making sure you know what you want to say in an introduction and/or conclusion, and so much more. Together this dynamic duo have coached thousands of students, including National Champions. If you want to become a better speaker in ANY type of speech… add an Interp and sign up NOW! https://lastingimpact.info/product/club15243/

The Exploratory Stage – Choosing a Topic by: Alaina Hoyt

Posted on by Heather Neumann


Whether taking a High School Speech class or preparing to compete in Nationals, choosing the right speech topic can seem daunting. Topic possibilities are endless, ranging from persuasive platforms to abstract interps! The thousands of choices swirling like a storm through your mind or scribbled on your notes may make your head spin, but they don’t have to. Using these principles will provide you with a step-by-step map for any situation, always resulting in the same destination: success. Don’t allow yourself to rush through or be intimidated by, what Heather Neumann calls, The Exploratory Stage…

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Don’t Be Afraid To Think Outside of the Box by Emalyn Sharp

Posted on by Heather Neumann

The season for contemplating speech topics is upon us, and as camps, clubs, and the start of a new year of Speech and Debate competition approaches, one dreaded question will swirl amongst them all. 

What are you giving a speech on?

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Help! I don’t know how to judge an Interp speech!

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

I am actually privy to this sentiment fairly often.  Parents mostly know what they like best when they watch interps.  They might even know why they liked it best over some other interp. But they want to know how to say that articulately to the students on the ballot.  The point of this post is NOT to tell you what should rank higher than something else but to help you identify the bits and pieces that are part of any interp…bits and pieces that you can talk about from your own perspective on your ballots, giving students bits and pieces they can actually work on after the tournament. I was recently in a club meeting where the leader asked the students to share the most helpful comment they had received on a ballot.  The students struggled to find one.  I want students to have LOTS of helpful, useable things.  Things they can take to club and say, “can someone show me how to ___________?” Or “can someone help me change ___________?”  I want things filling in those blanks for our kids!

So here goes….How DO you look at an interp speech?

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The Biggest Mistakes I See Students Make in Interp Speeches

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

I’ve been at this a LONG time – teaching students how to manage the interpretive speech.  It is definitely a purist endeavor that relies on the student alone to create the entire context suggested by a reduced segment of a piece of literature.  There is nothing easy about it.  When it’s done well, it really works.  As students strive to reach that mark, I find that they make the same basic mistakes along the way, and these fall into two basic categories: technical mistakes and ownership mistakes.  Let me explain….

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Breaking the Fourth Wall… Why it Matters

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Breaking the Fourth Wall results when people on a stage detach from the scene to reach out to the audience, speaking directly to that audience as though they were characters in the scene. I recently read an article comparing an Interpretive Speech to a movie, and that interpers should stay in their little bubble- in other words, the article suggested that interpretive speakers should NOT break the Fourth Wall that stands between themselves and the audience. Kristi and I both agree with each other that we could not DISAGREE more with this concept...

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Humorous Interp – A Deeper Purpose? By: Nina Romeo

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Hallelujah! Humorous Interpretation has returned to the NCFCA. We should all celebrate our triumph in overcoming the great injustice that has been the last two humorousless years. How could they have done this to us? Do they even care? Well, it may come as a shock, but the answer is a resounding yes. They care for the judges who were forced to sit through eighty minutes of poorly timed jokes, an overuse of Patrick McManus, superficial characters, and hyper teens using Humorous as an excuse to be obnoxious. This event was misused for years, and it is my hope that it’s return this year will be stronger and more powerful than ever.

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Kristie breaks it down – What makes cutting soooooo hard?

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

If you ever tried to take on the task of cutting a story of any length at all down to a ten-minute “cut” for presentation, you’ve tasted the difficulty of the effort.  It’s HARD.  The longer the story and the more you love it, the harder it is.  Why is that?  What makes cutting such a difficult undertaking, and how do you know when you’ve got it right?

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