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11/17/2006
St. Clair High Theatre Mission Statement-
Theatre is a complex art form that can
illuminate both the wonders and the disasters of the human spirit.
Through this illumination, theatre becomes a teaching tool for human kind
in understanding, learning, and hopefully preventing past mistakes from
recurring in the future while thriving on past triumphs. With a
student’s involvement in the St. Clair High Theatre Troupe, in the
classroom or as an extracurricular activity, the student should grasp the
techniques, aesthetics and honesty for which excellent theatre strives.
Modern Theatre Mission-
To challenge the audience with questions that affect their own
lives.
Actor Audition / Technical Interview Policy-
All St Clair High students are always
welcome to audition for roles and interview for technical positions in the
major school productions. Students should attend
auditions/interviews prompt, prepared, well groomed and in appropriate
dress. Hair and clothing should be attractive and professional.
Students are given at least a one-week advance notice of the auditions
through morning announcements, theatre class, the theatre website, and
flyers around the school. If a student has questions regarding the
audition or would like help, he/she should seek the advice of the director
no later than 48hours before the audition. Students should bring a
copy of their complete schedule to the audition. IF A STUDENT
AUDITIONS / INTERVIEWS, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT HE OR SHE IS EXPECTED TO
ACCEPT THE ROLE OR POSITION ASSIGNED. Each student’s
parent / guardian will be notified of cast or crew assignments prior to
the company list posting for parental approval. Parent/guardian must
give consent to the director for their student’s involvement with the
St. Clair High Theatre Troupe.
Rehearsal / Performance Demeanor
Actors and technicians are expected to comply with the following
guidelines.
1.
Please leave your personal problems and grievances at the door upon
arriving for a rehearsal, tech call or performance. These can
be detrimental to your work and others’.
2.
Arrive at rehearsals at least 10 to 15 minutes early so you are
physically and mentally ready to begin at the designated start time of
rehearsal. Anyone arriving late for a rehearsal, costume fitting,
tech call or performance will be given a warning. A second tardy
will result in a probationary status for the student with disciplinary
action dealt with on an individual basis. The third tardy will
result the student being dismissed from the company (extenuating
circumstances given).
3.
Wear shoes, clothing and hair styles appropriate to the individual
call. Hair in your eyes or constricting clothing is frustrating to
you and your director. Sandals are never appropriate for a
rehearsal or tech work unless part of a costume. If clothing would not pass
school policy for a dance or other extracurricular event, then it is
probably not suitable for a rehearsal (modest dance clothing the exception
with director approval.)
4.
Always have paper and pencil with you at a rehearsal, performance
or tech call in addition to scripts if necessary. If the director,
music director or choreographer give you a note, always write it down and correct
the problem at the next rehearsal.
5.
Sit quietly at note sessions. Someone else’s note might be
useful to you. Unless necessary (which is almost never!) do not
comment on each note, simply respond “thank you.” Most
comments are useless and only waste everyone’s time.
6.
The only people qualified to fix any problem, big or small, are the
director, music director, choreographer, technical director, stage manager
or head costumer. Actors never correct other actors or technicians.
Technicians never correct other technicians or actors. Violation of
this supreme rule of theatre is grounds for dismissal from the company.
7.
Cell phones, watch alarms, pagers and the like should be turned to
silent during rehearsals and performances.
8.
Once you arrive at the theatre for a performance, you should sign
the sign-in sheet on the callboard in the black box. Once you sign
in, you should not leave the theatre complex. All company members
are to observe call times.
9.
Inform family, friends, fans, etc. that ALL rehearsals
are closed. Visitors are allowed only with the approval of
the director at least one day in advance.
10.
No visitors are allowed backstage before, during, or after a
rehearsal or performance. You may visit with your family, friends,
fans in the lobby after the performance. Under no circumstance are
actors allowed in the theatre space, lobby, or other “public areas”
while in costume and/or make-up. If you have a question as to
“public” areas, please see the director.
11.
Company members are to get approval from the director before
speaking with media or other outside representatives.
12.
Smoking is one of the worst habits created by humans. Under
no circumstance should student actors or crew members associated with St.
Clair High Theatre be found smoking. Immediate dismissal from the
current and future companies will result from breaking this rule.
13.
Actors and Technicians must make every effort to attend all
required rehearsals and must attend every performance. Generally,
only previously discussed conflicts as described and written on the
audition / interview form will be accepted as excusable absence from
rehearsal. If you are sick and / or not at school, do not assume
that the director or stage manager is aware of the circumstances.
During the week, call Mr. Eberhard’s room, (810) 676-1789 at least four
(4) hours prior to the rehearsal start time so that proper plans may be
made. On weekends, call the theatre director at home or on his cell
phone, or the production’s
stage manager. NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE! Mr.
Eberhard’s home phone is (810) 329-2151 and his cell phone is (586)
770-2148.
14.
Absences from rehearsal will be dealt with on individual basis.
15.
Company members are to always be aware that they represent the St.
Clair High Theatre Troupe at all times (on and off campus).
Correct behavior in accordance with these guidelines, St. Clair High
School, as well as Local, State and Federal laws is to be observed at all
times
Company Member Requirements-
1.
All
company members will be required to sell program ads. This is not
an option. Ads should be sold to businesses and should not be a
burden to your family. Ad forms will be available after casting has
been completed.
2.
Each company member is to supply a 100 word bio listing performance
/ scholastic / community achievements.
3.
All company members will be assigned a specific date during the
production process in which they are required to make sure the black box,
shop, dressing areas, house areas and back stage areas are left in a clean
manner for the next day’s rehearsal/production.
Crew Positions and Duties-
The following positions will be filled for
each production:
Stage Manager
(SM)- is a position of great responsibility for which previous experience
backstage is necessary. The SM has several duties at the discretion
of the director: Rehearsals- Assists the director during
rehearsals. Attends all rehearsals and production meetings. Organizes
rehearsal reports and schedules. Records blocking and keeps the
prompt book. Takes director’s notes. Distributes notes to
the production team. Contacts actors and crew when needed.
Takes care of administrative details. Tapes the stage floor.
Helps locate rehearsal and performance props.
Performance-
Responsible for all backstage activities involving cast and crew during
the run of the show. Calls all cues to lights, rails, sound, set,
spots, other as dictated by the show demands.
Assistant Stage
Manager / Prop Assistants (ASM)- works with the
stage manager and the props master under the guidance of the scenic
designer and technical director. Major productions usually require
two ASM’s. ASM’s have two major responsibilities in addition to
duties assigned on an as needed basis: a) assists the Prop Master in
gathering the final props for the production and rehearsal props for
rehearsal. Shopping may be involved, therefore, access to a vehicle
is helpful, and b) assists the SM during rehearsal as needed, and, during
the run of the production, works backstage in concert with the SM to
assure smooth operation of the backstage area.
Company Manager
/ Assistant to the Director (CM / AD)- is a
position of great responsibility for which previous experience in theatre
is required. Some duties of the CM/AD include, but are not limited
to: Organize the publicity campaign for the production with the
director’s approval. Collect company bios and headshots; collect
ad forms, ad and money; and compile the program. Contact late or
absent company members. Collect scripts following the final
performance from actors. In addition, the CM/AD will perform other duties
as dictated by the specific production and the production staff needs.
Performance-
act as house manager during the run of the show, including organizing
ushers, concession and box office staff for each production.
Not all of the following positions will be
filled / needed for each production:
Property Master
(PM)- is a position of great responsibility for which previous experience
as an ASM in helpful. The PM works with the designers and director
in locating all properties used in the production. These are all
items used on stage that are not part of the set or costumes. Props
may be pulled from stock, borrowed, built or bought within the prop budget
given to the PM. Shopping at thrift stores, antique shops, etc.,
might be required; therefore, access to a vehicle is helpful. During
the production, the PM coordinates and runs the show with the prop crew.
Lighting Technicians-
prepare the lighting in terms of hanging, focusing, gelling, and updating
instruments as stated by the lighting plot. During level set,
technicians are expected to be present to assist in setting levels.
During the production, technicians run the board, run follow spot, assist
in light checks, correct lighting problems, etc.
Costume Technicians-
This crew includes the costume coordinator and assistants. The crew
is responsible for having a complete costume plot for each character in
each scene. The coordinator works with the designer and director to
find acceptable costumes. The crew assists by locating the necessary
costume pieces from St. Clair High Theatre stock, the actor’s personal
wardrobe, thrift stores, discount stores, other theatre’s collections,
etc. All purchases must be within the budget given to the
coordinator and must be returnable if necessary. The crew is also
responsible for maintaining the costumes during production (including
laundering) and helping with dressing and quick changes. Black box
and costume room cleanliness, dressing room neatness/order, make-up, and
wigs fall under costumes. Schedules for costume crew members vary
per show.
Stage Crew-
duties involve preparation of the stage for use at each performance:
sweeping, mopping, cleaning the stage/set, setting the stage for
performance, and cleaning/prepping the house for audience. It may include
construction, finishing and painting scenery, operation of rails, slides,
special effects and other responsibilities specific to each show.
Stage crew calls will be sporadic throughout the rehearsal process and
continuous throughout the performance process.
Sound Crew-
is responsible for the setting up of sound equipment, generation of sound
effects / cues, maintaining sound equipment, checking equipment before
each performance and, when wireless mic’s are used, keeping fresh
batteries, delivering mic’s to actors at half-hour and retrieving
mic’s after the production.
In addition, the sound crew runs the sound board during the production.
Sound crew calls are sporadic throughout the rehearsal process and
continuous throughout the performance process.
Designers / Technical Director-
Set, lighting and costume designers are generally chosen at least two
weeks before auditions from students who express interest. A student
must express interest to be considered for a designer position.
All crew members must wear a solid black long sleeve shirt
and pants/jeans for performance.
Actor
Duties-
1.
All cast are to be at every rehearsal in which they are scheduled.
2.
Actors are to be off book on the designated days for memorization. NO
EXCEPTIONS!
3.
Actors should have a pencil and their script with them at every
rehearsal. In the case of rented scripts and materials, if the actor
feels the need to make notation, it must be done only in light pencil.
Rented scripts are to be turned in fully erased by the close of the last
performance. Strike time is not to be used for erasing scripts!
4.
Unless otherwise noted, all actors should have their own make-up
and character shoes. Makeup
kits may be purchased through Mr. Eberhard or through a theatrical supply
store.
5.
Costumes are sometimes provided; on most occasions, actors are
asked to provide clothing from their own wardrobe.
6.
The black box and dressing rooms are provided for actors to relax
and prepare for rehearsal and performance. It must be maintained.
Trash must be thrown away and the black box must be returned after each
use (daily) to immaculate condition. Violation of this rule will
result in banishment from the black box and dressing rooms.
7.
Actors
must always be willing to work at rehearsals, be open to criticism, and be
willing to play. Bad attitudes will not be tolerated. Respect
is mutual. Casting is changeable well into the process.
8.
Actors will be required to assist with technical duties before the
show opens, with this in mind, actors should know they will be required to
put in a specific number of hours (different with each production) on set
construction and technical rehearsal days.
Strike Duties-
ALL company members
are required to attend strike for the production. Each department is
responsible for through strike of items associated with its department.
Attendance at strike is MANDATORY for all company members and
strike will not be complete until each department is completely struck.
Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action. Strike time is
not for erasing rented scores/scripts.
Other-
This published guidebook may be amended
and/or revised at any time without notice. It is intended to provide
clear and complete communication regarding the divide between the division
administrators and the students who choose to be involved. Concerns
should be addressed to the theatre director as soon as they are realized.
Epilogue-
We are very fortunate to have a school
faculty and administration that realizes the importance of cultivating
theatre at the high school level. The chance to produce theatre is a
privilege, not a right. Cherish the opportunity and the great power
that comes with this privilege.
November 16, 2007
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