There are currently 12 active Cappies programs in the U.S. and Canada, which range in size from five to 55 participating high school level institutions.
After receiving training in theater criticism and review writing, they attend plays and musicals at other high schools in their area.
Volunteer teacher-mentors lead discussions and select the critic-written reviews that are later published by regional newspapers and other publications, with student bylines.
The Cappies began in 1999, in response to the Columbine tragedy, as an effort to bring more positive attention to teenagers engaged in creative pursuits.
[1] Capitol Steps founder Bill Strauss approached Fairfax County, Virginia public school administrator Judy Bowns, and together they developed the plan for the program.
The schools also select teachers to be mentors, who supervise the student critics and help maintain the integrity of the review-writing process.
At the conclusion of each season, all critics attend a mandatory voting session in which they select from the shows they viewed who should be nominated for and/or win a Cappie Award.
These galas are formal and generally include local VIP award presenters, along with performances of songs or scenes from nominated shows.
At the end of the school year, within each program, critics who review the required minimum number of shows (usually five) become judges for Cappie nominations and awards.
Every summer, winners of Lead Actor and Actress awards from all programs are invited to attend the Cappies International Theater.
Starting in 2006, CIT began featuring works by high school student playwrights, including the two full-length musicals Edit:Undo and Senioritis.
In 2006, CIT presented the student-written musical Edit:Undo, which is about teenage life and relationships in the digital era.
In 2008, the Cappies entered into a licensing agreement with the school's musical publisher Next Gen Publications, to represent Edit:Undo, Senioritis, Free-the-Music.com and founder Strauss' Makiddo worldwide.