“CAPPIES night” is a highly-anticipated event in the world of high school theatre. On one night of each production, a team of high school critics come to watch and review the play or musical.

The CAPPIES (Critics and Awards Program) is an organization that allows teams of high school critics to attend and review other schools’ productions.

Judi Greene-Jones, theatre teacher and co-founder and program chair of the St. Louis CAPPIES program, said the CAPPIES were started by a theatre teacher and journalist in Washington, D.C. who wanted to see more variety of positive news coming from American high schools.

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the CAPPIES program in the St. Louis area. The organization is made up of 12 high schools and is supported by the Fox Foundation. Each school has a team of nine critics, who attend and review their peers’ productions. Some of the reviews from each show are published in the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” and the “St. Louis Beacon”.

Connor Jenkins, senior, has had two of his own reviews published in the “Post-Dispatch”. Jenkins noted one weekend in which five MHS CAPPIES reviews were published for three different shows.

“We’ve been doing really well,” Jenkins said.

Molly Grotha, senior and lead critic of the MHS CAPPIES, said the current MHS CAPPIES learned a lot from the strong group of writers on the team last year.

“I think it is a fantastic program,” Grotha said. “It provides a community and you get to meet new people.”

After productions, high school theatre companies are able to read several CAPPIES reviews and learn from the criticism. Greene-Jones said the Marquette Theatre Company benefits from being reviewed by critics who are not emotionally connected to the actors and technicians.

“It gives constructive criticism on technical and performing arts,” Rachel Martin, junior, said.

The CAPPIES program also emphasizes other aspects of theatrical criticism, including writing skills.

“Even if you’re not in theatre, consider doing CAPPIES,” Hayley Nebrig, senior said. “It’s good if you’re interested in writing or journalism.”

At the end of each year, critics, actors and technicians involved in the program have the chance to receive awards at a CAPPIES gala. Last year the Marquette Theater Company received the award for Best Makeup for Into the Woods. Grotha and Nebrig also won Best Returning Critic and Best Female Featured Actress, respectively. Two years ago the MHS CAPPIES won the award for Best Critic team.

“It’s a wonderful validation of the work we do, technically and talent-wise,” Greene-Jones said.