ACADEMIC POLICIES:

Academic Performance — All Theatre majors and minors must maintain an acceptable level of academic performance in all their courses, and they must receive the approval of their advisors in order to be cast in a Program production, including mainstage and student-directed plays.

Performance Restriction — To facilitate each individuals academic performance, students, regardless of major, who are cast in a Program mainstage production are not permitted to participate in any capacity in another production, whether on- or off-campus, until after the mainstage production closes.

Time Commitment — Students should expect to spend an average of up to three to four hours per class day in rehearsals. This amount of time could be less depending upon the director’s rehearsal schedule and the role the student is playing.

PRODUCTION POLICIES & PROCEDURES:

Theater Production Board — The Theatre Production Board is located on the wall opposite the scene shop entrance. It is a critical communication tool used to post all production notices — actor and crew sign-in sheets, rehearsal schedules, work calls, work assignments, etc. Individual messages between production members (one actor to another, a stage manager to an actor, etc.) can also be posted on this bulletin board. All production members are to check this board on a daily basis. NOTE: This board is not to be used for any other postings.

Theater Information Board — The Theatre Information Board is used to post all educational and work opportunities and the announcements of other area productions. It is located on the wall next to the scene shop entrance. NOTE: This board is not to be used for any other postings.

Work Calls — All students enrolled in Acting Seminar or Performance Studies are required to attend all work calls in the shops and participate in the myriad tasks of the building of the shows.

Publicity and Promotion — Actors and production staff members are to participate in publicity and promotion. This will include distributing flyers and posters, interviewing for the Campus Voice and/or on radio station WSKB-FM, recording of promotional spots, etc.

No Smoking Building — Ely Hall is a no-smoking building. All smoking must be done outside. There is to be no smoking in the bathrooms in the men's and women's dressing rooms.

Rehearsals:
Stage Managers’ Calls  — Stage managers are to report 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the rehearsal period in order to set the stage with all necessary set pieces and to place all the necessary properties on the properties table.

Actors’ Calls — All actors are to be on time for their calls. If for any reason he/she will be late, he/she must call the director at his or her extension. Actors are to report to the rehearsal hall 10-15 minutes prior to their call times (e.g.: Call is for 7:00; report at 6:45 to 6:50). Actors are to be in rehearsal costume and ready to work by their call time.

Waiting Areas — Actors waiting to be called into rehearsals may wait in one of two areas. If an actor needs to leave one of these areas, he or she must first inform a stage manager. Each of these areas must be kept clean: all refuse should be placed in the proper trash/recycle receptacles.

Study Hall — During rehearsal periods, Ely Room 233 (or another available classroom) will be designed as a study hall for all students participating in the production. The study hall is to be quiet place of study.

Theater Lobby — Actors waiting in the theatre's lobby must be courteous of other classes and students on the floor. Actors are NOT to move any of the furniture in the lobby.

Rehearsal Decorum — Students in the theatre during rehearsals must be quiet and courteous.

Actor Notebooks —All actors are to keep a spiral notebook in which all director's notes will be entered. The notebooks are also to be used for any notes the actor wishes to make. The director's notes must be entered with the day and date the notes were given. THESE NOTEBOOKS ARE DUE AT THE FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL.

Script Work and Off-Book Dates — Actors will be given dates to be off-book for scenes, acts, or the entire play. The times are assignment due dates and must be treated as such. Students must expect to spend time out of rehearsals to analyze and memorize the script and to do research on the play. NOTE: Actors must bring their scripts with them to all rehearsals and performances.

Rehearsal Properties — All rehearsal properties will be placed on a properties table prior to rehearsal. Actors are not to be handle a property until it is required in a scene. Actors are to immediately return the properties to the table when they are no longer in use.

Handling of Weapons — Weapons used in rehearsals are dangerous instruments and are to be treated and handled accordingly. Instruction on proper handling and safety will be provided. Handguns firing blank cartridges and swords can do serious harm to a person if used improperly. NO UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS TO HANDLE A WEAPON AT ANY TIME!!

Rehearsal Strikes — Actors are to assist stage managers in striking all rehearsal properties and set pieces to their proper storage places. Actors are responsible for returning all rehearsal costumes to their proper storage places. All debris is to be picked up and placed in the proper trash/recycling receptacles.

Storage of Weapons — Stage manager are to properly store the weapons following each rehearsal.

Technical Rehearsals — In order to make technical rehearsals time efficient, actors are not to leave the assigned waiting areas (study hall classroom and theatre lobby) without notifying a stage manager. Actors should wear comfortable, non-white clothing. Patience, quiet, cooperation, and courtesy on the part of each participant are essential for a smooth, effective, relaxed, and efficient rehearsal process.

Securing the Theatre — The stage manager is charged with securing the theatre after all rehearsals and performances. The theatre's main entrance and its four corner doors, the two crossover doors, the costume shop door, and the scene shop door are to be locked. All equipment is to be turned off. All lights are to be turned off except the ghost lights.

Performances:
Stage Managers’ Calls — Stage managers are called at least one and one-half hours prior to curtain (6:30 pm for evening performances; 1:00 pm for matinees).

Stage Manager’s Pre-Show Duties — The Stage Manager is to make a list of all pre-show duties, including but not limited to the following, and assigning crew members to the each task:

— Opening of the dressing rooms, the theatre, and the shops
— Checking the actors and crew sign-in sheets
— Collecting all costume pieces in need of repair or ironing
— Collecting all valuables from the actors and placing them in a secure area
— Cleaning the house
— Setting up backstage, including setting the properties table(s)
— Sweeping and mopping the stage floor
— Lighting and sound checks and troubleshooting all and any problems
— Establishing the lighting pre-set on the stage prior to the opening of the house

Sign-In Sheets — All actors and crew members are to sign in on the posted sheets on the Production Bulletin Board upon arriving at the theatre.

Crew Call — Running crew members are called one-hour prior to curtain (7:00 pm for evening performances; 1:30 pm for matinees) unless a production's demands require an earlier call. If a crew member is more than 10 minutes late for his/her call, prescribed penalties may attach.

Actors’ Call — Actors are called two hours prior to curtain (6:00 pm for evening performances and 12:30 pm for matinee performances) unless a production's demands require actors to be called at an earlier time. Actors are to be punctual. If an actor is more than 10 minutes late for his/her call, prescribed penalties may attach.

Handling of Costumes — A costume, no matter how pedestrian looking, is a work of art and should be regarded and treated accordingly. Actors are to keep the costumes clean and are to hang them up after each performance. There is to be NO SMOKING, DRINKING, OR EATING WHILE IN COSTUME. Actors are not to leave backstage while in costume. Following a performance, actors are to notify the stage manager of any repairs, cleaning, or ironing needed for the next performance, and they are to place those costume articles in the designated place.

Performance Properties — Only the actor using a property is to handle it at any time prior to or during a performance. Actors are to set their personal properties prior to each performance. No one is to handle any property once it has been set. Prior to the opening of the house, actors will be asked to check all their personal properties to ensure they are set properly. Properties are not to be handled until prior to going onstage. Actors are to return their properties to their designated places immediately upon leaving the stage.

Handling of Weapons — Weapons used in performances are dangerous instruments and are to be treated and handled accordingly. Actors will receive instruction on the proper handling of the weapons and all safety precautions. Handguns firing blank cartridges and swords can do serious harm to a person if used improperly.  NO UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS TO HANDLE A WEAPON AT ANY TIME!

Backstage — No one other than authorized production personnel is allowed backstage prior to or during a performance. Backstage is closed one and one-half hours prior to curtain. Actors are not to leave backstage while in costume.

Dressing Rooms — Actors are to maintain their individual dressing areas and makeup tables during the show’s run. The cast is expected to keep the dressing room bathrooms neat and clean as well. The windows in the bathrooms are not to be opened. Following a performance, actors are to neatly hang up their costumes and straighten up their individual dressing areas and makeup tables.

Stage Manager’s Post-Show Duties — Stage Managers are not to leave the theatre until all other production members have left. The stage managers should attend to the following duties:

— Shutting down all lighting and sound equipment.
— Striking backstage, returning all properties and tables to the scene shop.
— Properly storing all weapons.
— Checking the dressing rooms to ensure all costumes have been hung up and that the bathrooms are in order.
— Securing the theatre's five entrances — the two crossover doors, the costume shop door, the scene shop door, and the two dressing room doors.

Post-Production:
Strike — After the final performance of a production, the dressing rooms and their interior bathrooms must be thoroughly cleaned and all costumes are to be hung up. NO ACTORS ARE RELEASED UNTIL AFTER THE STAGE MANAGER'S INSPECTION.

Photo Shoots — All production photo shoots are held on the Monday afternoon following the closing performance. Actors will be called one hour prior to the start of the shoot to get into full costume and makeup. As with technical rehearsals, patience, quiet, cooperation, and courtesy are essential for a smooth, effective, relaxed, and efficient process.

Student Evaluations — Students enrolled in a production/performance course will be required to attend a meeting of the class to do student evaluations of the instructor. The individual instructors will set the date for this and any other necessary class meetings.