Ovation: RIT’s Performing Arts Showcase

A woman dances on stage with colorful ribbons.
 

Ovation: RIT Performing Arts Showcase

Friday, February 7, 2025
Ingle Auditorium
Student Alumni Union
6-8pm

Part of RIT FreezeFest

Circular graphic with various objects. Around the outside is the text Ovation, RIT's Performing Arts Showcase.
 


2024 Finalists

  • 2+1 Percussion Duet on Marimba by Kelsey and Mia
  • MJ You Rock My World Performed by Freshh Desy
  • Mirrors performed by Eight Beat Measure
  • Kewl KidZ
  • Jaharie
  • Smooth Criminal performed by Brandon Faunce and Gavin Palmer 
  • Officially Missing You performed by Angelis Cordero and Sedrick Thomas
  • Velocity
  • Katie Updegrove
  • All Again performed by Carly Wicka and Teresa Uhl
  • Love of My Life performed and arranged by Alexandria Pross 
  • WADAIKO
  • Mexican Folkloric Dance performed by Alma de Mexico
  • Kitri's Entrance Variation from Don Quixote performed by Katie Miller

Per the RIT Safety Plan, attendance at this event requires all attendees to be in compliance with the RIT Event Safety Guidelines. All attendees and participants must provide proof of vaccination and photo identification. Current RIT students, faculty, and staff that are in compliance with the vaccination policy and do not have access to a vaccination card, can present their RIT compliance pass along with their RIT ID. For more information, visit the RIT Safety Plan.

2025 Judges - Coming Soon

Portrait of Jimmie Highsmith Jr. with a saxophone.

Jimmie, or as friends call him, Tjari, was born September 18, 1967, in “Flower City” Rochester, NY.

Critically acclaimed, 1986 SOTA Alumni, Grammy® Nominated and award-winning Saxophonist/Flutist Jimmie Highsmith Jr. has shared the stage with and opened for multiple Grammy® Award winners, including Najee, Alicia Keys, Natalie Cole and Wynton Marselis.

In the last 20 years, he has recorded 11 top-selling smooth jazz CDs sold thousands worldwide.

Jimmie has also been honored to play on over 200 recordings with other musicians, singers, and rappers.

Jimmie Highsmith Jr’s sax work and production represent some of the best in the Smooth Jazz Genre.

Portrait of Fiona Kyle

Fiona Kyle is a New York-based theater artist and administrator. Currently, she serves as the Literary Manager & Artistic Associate at Geva Theatre. As a Dramaturg at Geva: Jane Eyre, Dial M for Murder, Newtown (upcoming). Other Dramaturgy credits include Family Tree, Leviathan (Clay & Water Playwright’s Retreat, Clamour Theatre Company); Randy’s Dandy Coaster Castle, Faculty Portrait (3B Development Series at IRT Theater); Jane Eyre, Cloud 9, The Comedy of Errors, The Piano Lesson, Having Our Say (co-production with Long Wharf Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Hartford Stage); Bomber’s Moon (Williams Street Repertory); Beneath the Gavel (Bated Breath Theater Company at 59E59); The Lily’s Revenge, The Shape She Makes (American Repertory Theater); Boxcutter Harmonica (Minnesota Fringe Festival); BACK (Poetic Theater Productions). Associate Dramaturg: Russian Troll Farm (Geva Theatre). Assistant Dramaturg: Queens for a Year, Anastasia, Romeo & Juliet, The Body of an American, Rear Window (Hartford Stage). Education: BA Marymount Manhattan College; MA Ohio University; MFA A.R.T./MXAT Institute at Harvard University.

Portrait of Kelly Norris Martin

Dr. Martin currently serves as the Interim Dean for the College of Liberal Arts (COLA). Prior to this role she served as the COLA Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs and Director of the School of Communication. Dr. Martin holds her Ph.D. in Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media from North Carolina State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in music through John Carroll University and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her research focuses on communication in the disciplines, workforce education, and visual communication analysis. She is a principal investigator with Professor Katie Terezakis on a Teagle Foundation Cornerstone grant with the NEH and a co-PI on NSF-funded projects that examine the skills that help U.S. college students succeed and increase employer competitiveness. Dr. Martin is a co-founder with Elizabeth Reeves O’Connor of RIT’s Expressive Communication Center and a past recipient of the Richard and Virginia Eisenhart Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Provost’s Innovative Teaching with Technology Award. She is also the editor of the Graphic Design Chapbook Series for RIT Press.

 

Portrait Alexa Scott-Flaherty

Alexa Scott-Flaherty is a director, actor, producer, and teacher. Most recently she has co-created and co-directed Thy Name is Woman at RIT/NTID and will be directing Sisters-in-Law at JCC Centerstage, opening in April 2024. Locally, for Blackfriars Theatre, she has directed Cry it Out, Calendar Girls, The Undeniable Sound of Right Now and Twelfth Night . In 2022 she directed Men on Boats at RIT/NTID. She has also directed two plays written by local playwrights -Fielder’s Choice by Dave Andreatta and Between Silences by S.J. Henschel. A proud member of Labyrinth Theatre Company in New York City, she works locally at Blackfriars, Geva Theatre Center, and The JCC Centerstage. She has worked as an actor in New York City at many theaters, including The Public Theatre, SoHo Rep, and PS 122; with the Royal Shakespeare Company of London; and The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. Alexa holds a B.A. from Vassar College and an MFA in directing from University of Idaho. Alexa is a Visiting Lecturer in the School of Performing Arts at the Rochester Institute of Technology; serves on the Rochester Fringe Festival’s Board of Directors; and is an ensemble member of Impact Interactive LLC. Impact Interactive is an innovative, theatre-based training company that helps organizations create healthy, diverse and inclusive learning and working environments. We use interactive, theatre-based techniques and trained performance educators to stimulate dialogue, challenge assumptions and engage groups in collaborative problem solving around issues that matter.

Portrait of Seth Sealfon with a guitar.

Seth Sealfon is an RIT grad from the school of engineering (BSEE ‘97).

Outside of academics at RIT, Seth was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity and the Varsity swimming/waterpolo team.

Currently, in addition to working in the engineering field, Seth has also had the honor of playing with and managing the Uptown Groove, which is a prominent Western and Central NY corporate event and wedding band.

He is excited to be a part of this year’s RIT performing arts showcase!

Contest Rules and Entry Criteria

The showcase is open to all current RIT students (undergraduate or graduate level) who enjoy dance, music, theatre, comedy, juggling, and more. Students may participate as an individual, ensemble or group. There is no fee to register.

Prize money will be awarded to the top two performances of the showcase. First place will receive $1,000 and second place will receive $500. 

Registration forms must be submitted by the deadline of December 2, 2024 by 8am, via the RIT Performing Arts Department CampusGroups page. Questions can be submitted to the Associate Director, Conferences and Special Events, Debbie Kiel, at dlkgrl@rit.edu.

Event organizers will review submissions using CampusGroups. An audio/video file of your performance (YouTube link preferred) must be included with your submission to be considered for the final show. Finalists will be chosen by January 17, 2025. Winners will be announced at the conclusion of the event on February 7, 2025.

* All awards, prizes, and/or gifts given by RIT are taxable to the recipient, students, and non-students alike.

For Non-resident aliens: Any awards, prizes, and/or gifts received by a non-resident alien are immediately taxable at 30%.

All non-resident alien prize recipients should contact RIT payroll/accounts payable as soon as possible to make arrangements to pay their tax due upon receipt of the award/prize/gift. A 1042-S document will be issued at year-end to summarize the amount of miscellaneous income that is being reported to the IRS.

For U.S. citizens and/or U.S. resident aliens: Any awards, prizes, and/or gifts received by a U.S. citizen and/or U.S. resident are taxable at TBD%.

All U.S. citizens and/or U.S. resident alien prize recipients will receive a 1099-MISC document from RIT’s payroll/accounts payable, if applicable, at year-end to summarize the amount of miscellaneous income that is being reported to the IRS.

General Rules

The showcase is open to all RIT amateur students and student groups with the exception of Faculty led ensembles. The students and/or student groups may consist of student clubs, organizations, or unaffiliated groups or individuals.

All categories of the Performing Arts will be judged together to determine a final winner. Approximately fifteen finalists will be chosen from the applications to compete during the Ovation event. No more than three performing groups or individuals from any category will be selected to perform in the final showcase.

Submissions containing copyrighted material (e.g., music, dramatic works, etc.) may require permission from the copyright owner(s). In some cases, RIT may already have the appropriate permissions. However, submissions will be reviewed to determine whether additional or separate permissions are required prior to the event. In the event permission is not obtained for a submission prior to February 7, 2025, the submission may not be included in the event.

Each type of performance must adhere to the category-specific criteria below.

  • Sole or ensemble dance.
  • All dance pieces must not be more than 4 minutes.
  • Please indicate the song(s) you will use on your registration form. If an original music mix is being used, please submit a copy of the recording with your registration form.
  • No sound enhancements on tapes may be used. Background sound enhancements of taps, clogging, etc. are not permitted.
  • The sound system in Ingle auditorium can use a MP3 Player or iPod/iPhone. 

  • Solo or Ensemble: Jazz, classical, etc.
  • Instrumental pieces may not be over 4 minutes.
  • Instrumental participants must include a copy of the music with the registration form.
  • Instrumental pieces are not required to be memorized, but it may be to your advantage to have it memorized.
  • An electric keyboard may be used.

  • Monologues or Soliloquies, performance pieces, scenes from comedies, tragedies or drama, or One-Act Plays must be at least 3 minutes and no longer than 4 minutes in length.
  • Interruption by audience applause does not count against time.
  • A copy of the script must be turned in with the registration form.
  • Set up and tear down on stage is limited to 5 minutes.

  • Comedy, juggling, acrobatics, magic or novelty acts no more than 4 minutes in length.
  • Interruption by audience applause or laughter does not count against time.
  • Set up and tear down on stage is limited to 5 minutes.

  • Solo or ensemble singing with or without accompaniment.
  • Vocal pieces may not be over 4 minutes.
  • Vocal participants must include a copy of their music with the registration form. Music turned in must have both music and lyrics.
  • If using recorded music for accompaniment, there should be no voices in the background unless it is those of actual performers.
  • If recorded musical accompaniment is required, a CD or playable music file must be delivered to dlkgrl@rit.edu, University Services Center suite 2350 one week in advance of the challenge. Challenge committee will not edit or mix any music files for the performer.
  • Accompaniment time is included in the time limit.
  • We strongly encourage that vocal pieces be memorized.

  • Solo or ensemble singing with an accompaniment.
  • Vocal pieces may not be over 4 minutes.
  • Vocal participants must include a copy of their music with the registration form. Music turned in must have both music and lyrics.
  • If using recorded music for accompaniment, there should be no voices in the background unless it is those of actual performers.
  • If recorded musical accompaniment is required, a CD or playable music file must be delivered to dlkgrl@rit.edu, University Services Center suite 2350 one week in advance of the challenge. Challenge committee will not edit or mix any music files for the performer.
  • Accompaniment time is included in the time limit.
  • We strongly encourage that vocal pieces be memorized.

We ask that all performing arts entries are sensitive to a diverse audience which includes families and children (people of all ages).

All materials to be performed are subject to review and approval by event organizers. Materials which include foul language, racial or religious overtones, or other topics/subjects deemed inappropriate by event organizers will not be allowed.

  1. Be considerate of other participants.
  2. If special introductions are desired, please send with entry.
  3. No Props, costumes, set pieces will be provided.
  4. A sound system, microphones and lighting will be provided.
  5. No explosive devices or smoke bombs will be allowed.
  6. For ensembles and groups, a majority of participants should be current RIT students. Remaining participants may be faculty, staff, alumni, or non-RIT students/individuals.
  7. Individuals may participate in more than one performance.
  8. At the judges’ discretion, points may be deducted for performances that go over the allotted time.
  9. Material used may be original or obtained from any source and/or any suitable subject.

 

Final Judging

A panel of judges will use a scoring rubric that addresses the following categories: execution, artistic expression, presentation, creativity, and audience reaction.

Please direct all questions related to the competition to the Associate Director, Conferences and Special Events Debbie Kiel, at dlkgrl@rit.edu or call 585-475-7408. Thank you.