Lawrence University: Theatre & Drama: Student Prodcution Guidelines

Policies and Guidelines for Student Productions

Forms and Guidelines | Contacts | General Policies | Production Guidelines | Scenic and Lighting Guidelines

Forms	Policies and Guidelines
Petition for Production	General Policies and Regulations
Light and Sound Loan Form	Production Guidelines
Properties Loan Form	Scenic and Lighting Guidelines
Costume Loan form	Stage Manager Guidelines
Senior Project Proposal	Production Schedule Guidelines
	Production Meeting Agenda

Contacts for 2007/2008

Scenery/Use of Shop – Dave Owens
Properties – Chelsea Seremeta
Costumes – Daniella Cartun

University Theatre Policy and Regulations

1.General Rules

a. Access to Facilities
The University Theatre facilities are available for use by production personnel during regularly scheduled Music-Drama Center hours. Special hours apply during holiday and break periods. Directors must file a written request with the Technical Director for rehearsal space.
b.Alcoholic Beverages
Alcohol may not be served at any University Theatre event or in any of the facilities in the Music-Drama Center.
c. Smoking
Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Music-Drama Complex

2. Leasing of Theatre Facilities and Equipment.

Any outside user of the University Theatre Facilities is subject to rental charges for the facilities, equipment, and personnel. A rate sheet is available upon request from the Business Office.

3. Curricular Use of Materials

Students using the facilities for Studio Productions are entitled to equipment and materials as long as the Production Guidelines are followed{see Production Guidelines}.

4. Participation in Productions

a. Eligibility
Lawrence encourages participation in theatre production activities because they provide opportunities for the expansion of the student's intellectual, cultural, social, and recreational interests. Normally, only students progressing as degree candidates in good academic standing can participate in University Theatre productions. Any exception must be approved by the Department of Theatre Arts faculty.
b. Production Credit
One unit course credit in THAR 355 Theatre Production Laboratory or THAR 357 Musical Theatre Production Laboratory is given for 24 hours or more of production work per term. A maximum of 6 units may be earned through production credit during a student's career at Lawrence.

Production Guidelines

1. Major Productions

a.Casting
Open auditions for the Lawrence Community are held for each main production. The final decision in casting belongs to the production's director.
b. Crews
Crew interest sign-ups will be circulated at the department meeting at the beginning of Fall term. Additional sign-up can occur throughout the year.

2. Student Productions

a. Producer
Each student production must have a producer who is responsible for the overall coordination of the production. The producer will act as a liaison between the production and the Department. The director or stage manager may act in this capacity.
b. Petition for Production
All producers must file a Petition for Production with the department. The petitions will be reviewed by the Department Faculty.
c. Casting
Productions shall have open auditions for the Lawrence community. Non-Lawrentians may only be cast with the permission of the Department faculty.

3. Production Schedules

In order to coordinate a production, it is necessary to establish a production schedule. The recommended production schedule is included in the handbook. Production schedules are required with the petition for Student Productions.

4. Production Meetings

a. Purpose
Production Meetings must be held to coordinate all production elements and to review their progress.
b. Agenda
The recommended production meeting agenda is included in the handbook

5. Rehearsals

The director/producer is responsible for the care of the theatre during rehearsals.
Smoking is not permitted in any theatre.
All lights must be turned off at the end of rehearsal.
All props and rehearsal furniture must be properly stored between rehearsals.
The theatre must be clear of personal effects and trash after each rehearsal.
Cloak chairs are not rehearsal furniture
Do not block fire doors
Turn off all lighting and sound equipment .
Turn on the ghost lights.
Lock all necessary cabinets and doors.

6.Materials Available for Rehearsal

a. Costumes
Rehearsal costumes are available from the Costume Studio Manager with an authorized Costume Loan Form.
b. Properties
Rehearsal Properties can be secured with a Properties Loan Form. The form must be signed by the Technical Director, and the Department Properties Master.
c. Lighting
No special lighting shall be used for rehearsals. Work lights only until the scheduled technical rehearsals.

7. Materials Used for Technical Rehearsals and Performance

a. Costumes
The director and costumer of a production shall arrange with the Costume Studio Manager for use of costumes during final rehearsals and performances. A Costume Loan Form must be approved by the Costume Studio Manager and Technical Director before the costumes are made available.
b. Properties
Care and use of properties will be specified on the Property Loan Form and by the Property Master and/or the Technical Director.
c. Lighting
Lighting equipment will be specified between the Lighting Designer and the Department Technical Director.
d. Make-up
The Department supplies special make-up throughout the school year. Actors are normally expected to supply their own standard make-up.

8.Standard Performance Procedures

a. Curtain Time
Proper theatre etiquette demands that the curtain rise at the advertised time. The stage manger and house manager must cooperate to insure the public a prompt curtain time.
b. Hold on Curtain
The house and stage managers shall avoid any unnecessary delay in the curtain time. At no time shall any audience be inconvenienced of a curtain delay of no more than seven minutes. A strict line of communication must exist between the house and stage managers.
c. Emergencies
If there is a physical emergency, the house and stage managers shall have a list of emergency phone numbers, i.e. Campus Security, police, fire, ambulance,Technical Director, etc.

9. Strike

a. Major Productions
All departmental assistants, cast and crew will assist with the strike at the designated strike call. All cast and crew members who wish to receive THAR 355 credit must assist in strike until it is completed or until the Technical Director has determined a the appropriate stopping point. When strike is complete, the stage manger will have a roll call. If a cast or crew member is not present at roll call, they will not receive THAR 355 credit. Anyone reporting to strike under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be sent home and will therefore not be granted credit.
b. Student Productions
The producer and technical director of the student production, as well as the cast and crew are responsible for the strike of the production. The strike is to happen following the final performance of the production. All props, costumes, lighting equipment, etc. must be returned to its proper place. The theatre must be left cleaner than it was found. Failure to strike the production properly will result in departmental exclusions from future productions. Department Assistants are not available for Studio Production strikes.
c. Post Strike Festivities
Any strike participant is welcome to attend. No such party will commence until strike is completed, and roll has been taken. No food or beverage will be consumed until the festivities commence.

10. Finances

a. Major Production Budgets
Major production budgets are allocated by the University. These budgets are established on a yearly basis according to the production demands.
b. Student Production Budgets
Studio production budgets will be determined on a yearly basis by the Theatre Department staff.
c. Purchasing Procedure
Purchases for Studio Productions must be approved by the Department Technical Director. Other department purchases can be made by the Department Staff.

Scenic and Lighting Studio Guidelines

1A. Scenic &Lighting Studio Regulations

All staff must be trained on all tools and guidelines of the Scenic Studio.
All work areas must be cleaned after daily work sessions.
No staff member is to leave until the Technical Director or designate approves the workplace.
Staff members must be alert and safety conscious.
The Technical Director or designate will send home any staff member who appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance.

1B. Scenic & Lighting Studio Hours

Work hours will be posted at the beginning of each term. Special hours apply during holidays and break periods. During classes, dress rehearsals, or special events, studio use will be restricted

2. Tools

Tools are available during posted studio hours. Special arrangements can be made through the Technical Director for after hours use. The following apply to the use of the tools in the Scenic Studio:

The proper tool must be used for the proper job.
At the end of work each day, all tools must be returned to it's proper place.
Check to see if all has been properly stored.
Report any broken, missing, or dull tool to the Technical Director ASAP.
Carefully sweep all work areas, mop if necessary.

3. Paint

To keep the paint area neat and clean, the following must be observed:
All paint containers must be properly covered.
All paint containers must be in their proper storage area.
Flammables must go in the flammables lockers.
The workbench must be clean at all times.
Make sure the paint frame is properly counterweighted at all times.

4. Lumber Storage

For fire safety and easy loading and unloading of materials, there must be free access to the loading doors at all times.
All stock lumber and plywood must be arranged for easy access.
Full trash barrels should be emptied at once.

5. Design Balcony & Lighting Lab

The Design Balcony is used as a classroom. It must be free and clean of personal property after every work session
The instruments, dimmers and related equipment cannot be removed from the Lighting Lab.
Do not remove any Design Balcony furniture, they are not rehearsal props

6. Lighting Equipment

All lighting instruments, gels, lamps. etc.. are stored in the Lighting Balcony.
All cable is stored in the cable storage hamper.
All drapery is stored on stage in the appropriate drapery cabinets and hampers.
A workbench is provided on the Lighting Balcony for equipment maintenance.
An accurate lighting inventory is kept by the Technical Director.
All lighting equipment and storage areas must be carefully maintained.

7. Sound Equipment

Stansbury and Cloak Theatres are adequately equipped with sound equipment.
Clear-Com is stored on the Sound Balcony.
All cable is stored in the cable hamper.
The Sound Balcony must be carefully maintained and accessible.
Sound Effects, and microphones can be obtained through the Technical Director.
All sound operators must be trained on the sound systems by the Technical Director.
All sound operators must adhere to the guidelines referring to the sound systems. These guidelines will be set forth in training sessions.

8. Theatre Storage Areas

The doors and aisles in the Storage areas must be kept clear at all times in accordance with Appleton Fire Dept. regulations.
The Prop Room must be locked at all times.
The storage rooms must remain neat and organized at all times.
If you obtain something from one of the storage rooms, return the items to its proper place.
Areas under the trap doors must be clear.
Props can be obtained with the permission of the Technical Director.

9. Theatre Reservations and Use

Cloak and Stansbury can be used for Department sponsored productions, events, student productions, on-campus users and outside organizations.
A room reservation must be filled out and submitted to the Technical Director for approval. All charges apply for equipment used by outside organizations. All charges apply to any user for damaged equipment, theatre cleaning, and appropriate staffing.

10 Costume Studio

The costume studio facilities are available only for approved LU Theatre productions and curricular use. Special arrangements can be made with the Department Chair.

Costume Loan Procedure

No articles shall be removed from the Costume Studio without a Costume Loan Form, approved by the Costume Studio Manager and the Technical Director.
Upon return of the articles, the Costume Studio Manager and Technical Director will check in the borrowed articles and destroy the Loan Form.
All articles must be returned clean and in a condition comparable to that when borrowed.
No alterations or changes shall be made without the approval of the Costume Studio Manager.
The borrower must return all unused costume pieces to the boxes and closets before leaving the premises.
All costume pieces must be hung neatly on wardrobe racks when left in the studio for storage.
No costumes or props shall be left in the Costume Studio or dressing rooms unless during technical rehearsals.
It is the borrower’s responsibility to inform the actors of costume rules.
The Costume Studio Manager and Designer of the production are responsible for the closing of the Costume Studio.
Costumes may be loaned for non-campus use only with the approval of the Department Chair.
Actors are prohibited from eating, drinking, or smoking while in costume

11. Make-up and Green Room

All make-up must be returned to the proper cabinet after use.
Cabinets are locked when not in use. The Costume Studio Manager locks and unlocks the cabinets for dress rehearsals and performances.
Counters must be kept clean and free of costumes, props, personal effects,etc...
Green room furniture and make-up chairs must be arranged neatly.
All lights, including dressing room and make-up mirrors, must be turned off by the stage manager at the end of the night.

12. Dressing Rooms

All costumes must be returned to the Costume Studio after rehearsals
All personal belongings must be removed from the premises
No personal effects can be left in the dressing rooms overnight. If they are, the Department is not responsible for them.
All lights must be turned off after use

Forms and Guidelines | Contacts | General Policies | Production Guidelines | Scenic and Lighting Guidelines

Lawrence University Theatre