- In early fall, each school selects a Cappies Show, usually its big play or musical.
- Students form critics teams, and teachers volunteer as mentors.
- Critics are trained, often with help from local papers.
- At each Cappies show night, parent boosters set up a Cappies Room, with decorations and refreshments
- Two or three dozen student critics arrive to review the show and sit together.
- Before the show, during intermission, and after the show, teacher-mentors lead critic discussions.
- Critics go home and write 300 to 400 word reviews, on deadline, via the Cappies' web site.
- In their reviews, the critics are encouraged to criticize, but not name the respoinsible individuals.
- Teacher-mentors select which reviews should be published, usually five or six per show.
- All reviews are sent to the school that put on the show.
- Throughout the year, each critic reviews five shows, and each teacher-mentor volunteers twice.
- In late spring, critics vote for Cappie awards.
- Five Nominees are selected in each of 35 categories, along with four Commendees per school. (Each year, over 200 students receive honors of some kind.)
- At the end of the year, the Cappie awards are presented by local V.I.P.s at a Cappies Gala.
- Some Galas are held in a high school, others in the largest theater in the area.
- At the Gala, students perform songs and sketches from nominated shows.
- In the summer, top Cappie winners from across the U.S. are invited to perform shows together at the Kennedy Center.