Expressive Arts Festival 2026
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00PM with refreshment reception following!
Location: Olivet Church (2100 Bainbridge St, La Crosse-French Island)
This event is moving away from a solo-ensemble framework and embracing a more talent-show focus. All performances will be on one stage, one at a time, for the full audience. Judges will have a more flexible rubric. Mainly pay attention to performance times so we can keep the show moving at a good pace, and do your best! Note: we have discontinued the Art/Photography section for this event.
Expressive Arts Festival Registration (google form link) – for detailed info for each item, please read below.
One rubric for all performances – All items will follow the same rubric for this event:
- Three things that impressed you about the performance.
- One challenge for the performer to work on.
- Overall summary of the performance
Drama Categories (all group focused)
- Published Play: A 20-minute or less group production, using a published script. Props and costumes are encouraged.
- Original Play: A 20-minute or less group production, using an original (un-published or devised) script. Props and costumes are encouraged
- Play Reading: Readers are to make their selection “come alive” without the use of costumes or props. Appropriate gestures and human-produced sound effects (no artificial devices) are allowed. Scripts are to be used. Maximum time limit is 15 min and groups must consist of 3 or more participants.
- Dual-Acting Performance: A 10-15 minute two-person, memorized production where there is minimal eye or physical contact between performers but will act a script of generally two or more characters. No props or costumes allowed.
- Entertaining Performance: Produced with minimal props and costumes that can be performed in any room. Examples include skits, puppetry, group improvisation or creative dramatics. Maximum time limit is 12 minutes
Speaking Categories
- Memorized Selection: Prose, poetry, or any other piece that must be memorized presented by an individual. No notes allowed. Maximum time limit is 5 minutes.
- Literary Reading: Includes prose and poetry pieces presented as a reading by an individual. No props or costumes allowed. Maximum time limit is 5 minutes.
- Original Speech: A speech written by and presented by an individual on any subject, preferably one pertaining to his/her 4-H project work. Notes are permitted. Maximum time limit is 5 minutes.
- Storytelling: Original or published narrative, told as if to a younger audience, and presented without notes by an individual. No poetry is allowed. Costumes or props are encouraged, and facial expressions or gestures are allowed. Maximum time limit is 12 minutes, props are allowed.
Music Categories – group and individual
- Instrumental: Performance from any genre using only musical instruments. Keyboard provided for pianists if desired.
- Vocal: Performance from any genre using their voices only. Costumes are permitted, but no props are allowed. Keyboard provided for accompanist if necessary.
- Dance: Performance choreographed from any genre. Costumes and props are permitted, but the focus should be on movement.
- Novelty: Performance provides musical, vocal, or movement entertainment by combining a variety of instrumental, vocal, or dance techniques. Examples of a Novelty performance include, but are not limited to lip syncing, variety shows, show choirs, or other musical performances that do not fit in the first three categories above.