TRY THIS is part of an on-going series of ideas, suggestions, experiments, and exercises coaches and competitors can utilize to expand their skill set. 

Image via BrainPickings

It's hard to do oral interp if you're not using your vocal chords. There are times, however, when we take our voices for granted. We expect all the power and emotion to come from our mouths. We shout. We laugh. We cry. We forget what our faces and bodies are doing when we're 'in the moment.' Unless we video tape ourselves or have someone point it out, our physical presence may not always be what we think it is. 

Bear Despair is a charming illustrated story that follows a bear's obsessive pursuit of its stolen teddy. There's anger! Revenge! Desperation! It's an excellent opportunity to try using your face and body to tell a wordless story. If a coach or team-mate watches, have them rank the intensity of your performance. Maybe your face isn't as expressive as you think it is. Perhaps you could have more power in your physical choices. Different circuits have requirements on the amount of movement one can use in a performance, so it is also a great chance to see how much you can convey while obeying the rules.

READ THIS is a new series that highlights literature that should be worth your attention. 

“Only parts of us will ever
touch parts of others –
one’s own truth is just that really –
one’s own truth.” – Marilyn Monroe, “Fragments”

Some celebrities’ burn bright but fade quickly. [We miss you, Pauly Shore!] A few stars, though, still glow long after their time has passed.  The iconic blonde bombshell of the 1960’s, Marilyn Monroe’s name has been etched into our collective cultural consciousness as a symbol of unparalleled beauty and tragic demise.

But behind the platinum locks and rosy pout laid a mind far more complex than the purring kitten she portrayed in films. Her personal library contained over 400 books. She preferred to be photographed with books, tons of them, in fact. She read Dostoyevsky, Hemingway, and Kerouac. She studied literature and history at UCLA. Monroe was bubbly on-screen, and brainy off-screen.

 This month marked the 50^th anniversary of Monroe’s passing. Younger generations have been introduced to her through her films. Today, her private poetry, fragments of ideas, and observations have been collected and compiled into a new collection.

 So, interpers, whether you’re a fan of the actress, or interested in running a ‘celebrity’ piece that digs beneath the surface, “Fragments” is definitely worth reading. If you’re a speaker, Marilyn Monroe’s posthumous ponderings offer an excellent example of not judging a book by its (admittedly) beautiful cover. 

via BrainPickings

SpeechGeek has published under the International Serial Standard Number 1545-9209 since the publication launched in 2003. To better assist coaches and competitors, we have registered each SpeechGeek issue with an ISBN number.  Such number removes any question on “publication” questions by the National Forensic League, Catholic Forensic League, and state organizations. These numbers will begin making their way into newly printed editions of the scripts later this year.  If you are a previous customer of SpeechGeek, you can present this documentation should any questions arise.

SpeechGeek has also submitted a modified version of our digital editions to the National Forensic League for approval under the coming season's guidelines for digital edition certification.  We are pleased with this development and look forward to continuing to provide interp scripts in digital form at the lowest prices available to teams.

SpeechGeek Season One: Fall 2003

978-1-61387-000-6

SpeechGeek Season Two: Winter 2005

978-1-61387-002-0

SpeechGeek Season Three: Fall 2005

978-1-61387-004-4

SpeechGeek Season Three: Winter 2006

978-1-61387-005-1

SpeechGeek Season Three: Spring 2006

978-1-61387-006-8

SpeechGeek Season Four: Fall 2006

978-1-61387-008-2

SpeechGeek Season Four: Winter 2007

978-1-61387-009-9

SpeechGeek Season Four: Spring 2007

978-1-61387-010-5

SpeechGeek Season Four: Nationals 2007

978-1-61387-011-2

SpeechGeek Season Five: Fall 2007

978-1-61387-012-9

SpeechGeek Season Five: Winter 2008

978-1-61387-013-6

SpeechGeek Season Five: Spring 2008

978-1-61387-014-3

SpeechGeek Season Five: Nationals 2008

978-1-61387-015-0

SpeechGeek Season Five: Anniversary

978-1-61387-016-7

SpeechGeek Season Six: Fall 2008

978-1-61387-017-4

SpeechGeek Season Six: Winter 2009

978-1-61387-018-1

SpeechGeek Season Six: Spring 2009

978-1-61387-019-8

SpeechGeek Season Six: Nationals 2009

978-1-61387-020-4

SpeechGeek Season Seven: Fall 2009

978-1-61387-021-1

SpeechGeek Season Seven: Winter 2010

978-1-61387-022-8

SpeechGeek Season Seven: Spring 2010

978-1-61387-023-5

SpeechGeek Season Seven: Nationals 2010

978-1-61387-024-2

SpeechGeek Season Eight: Fall 2010

978-1-61387-025-9

SpeechGeek Season Eight: Winter 2011

978-1-61387-026-6

SpeechGeek Season Nine: Fall 2011

978-1-61387-027-3

SpeechGeek Season Nine: Winter 2012

978-1-61387-028-0

SpeechGeek Presents: Female/Female Duos, Vol. 1

978-1-61387-029-7

SpeechGeek Presents: Female/Female Duos, Vol. 2

978-1-61387-032-7

SpeechGeek Presents: Female/Female Duos, Vol. 3

978-1-61387-033-4

SpeechGeek Presents: Junior, Vol. 1

978-1-61387-034-1

SpeechGeek Presents: Junior, Vol. 2

978-1-61387-035-8

SpeechGeek Presents: Junior, Vol. 3

978-1-61387-036-5

SpeechGeek Presents: Junior, Vol. 4

978-1-61387-037-2

After eight season of publication, SpeechGeek has decided to try something new.  In addition to offering collections of interp scripts, SpeechGeek will premiere new selection of oral interpretation performance literature as individual scripts.  Our new SpeechGeek "Singles" will offer fresh interp as it becomes available.  Never fear for those of you who love and prefer our issues, we'll continue to collect these individual scripts together at unbeatable prices.

Purchase SpeechGeek Singles exclusively at DebateChamps!