Actors, Actresses and Parents/Guardians,
Please read the following rules and sign the agreement at the end.
We look forward to a wonderful and positive learning experience as well as a fantastic production this summer!
Table of contents:
I. The Company responsibilities
II. Fundamental rehearsal techniques and procedures
III. Attendance Policy
IV. Relationship to Directors, Crew and Other Company Members
V. Dress Code and Costume/Prop Code
VI. Relationship with equipment
VII. Guests at the theatre
VIII. Rehearsal costumes
IX. Performance props
X. Costume calls
XI. Handling of costumes
XII. General Costume reminders
XIII. Technical Rehearsal, Dress Rehearsal and Performance Procedures
XIV. Set building and work calls
XV. Parent Volunteers
Release of Liability
Consent page
Emergency contact form
Media release form
I. The Company Responsibilities
a. Training: Theatre is a physically exhausting art form. It requires complete concentration and stamina.
1.Eat healthy foods and stay hydrated each day.
2. Get as much sleep as possible. Good health is essential to good performance.
3.Take care of your voice. (This means that you have to be attentive to how you are using it outside of rehearsal as well as during rehearsal.) If you feel vocal strain in rehearsal, tell the director immediately.
4.BE ON TIME! Try to get to rehearsals at least 10 minutes early. You will need the time to get ready physically, vocally, and psychologically to rehearse.
5.Always allow yourself enough prep time for an adequate warm-up.
b. Rehearsal Notes
1. Notes concerning your performance may be taking during rehearsal.
2. Notes will be given during the “Notes” session immediately following rehearsal.
3. Bring a pencil and character journal to every rehearsal. Write your notes in this journal and study them in order to improve performance
4. If you do not understand a note fully, be sure and check it with either the director or the assistant director before your next rehearsal.
II. Fundamental Rehearsal Techniques and Procedures
a. Script
1. Keep your script with you all day and night during the rehearsal period.
2. Put your name in your script in marker.
3. All blocking and stage business should be marked in your script as it is given to you.
4. Always rehearse with a pencil.
5. Take thorough notes on anything told to you by the directorial staff concerning your performance.
b. Learning Lines
1. Lines and blocking should be memorized by the date specified on the rehearsal
schedule.
2. When you drop a line on stage, simply hold your character position and characterization and say, "Line!" in character. The stage manager should not feed you your line until you indicate that you need help remembering the line.
3. Being "off book" means that you have memorized your lines and can proceed through a scene without the help of the script. After you are off book, be sure you have read through your part and have someone cue you through your role at least once a day.
4. ALWAYS bring your script to rehearsal…even after you have learned your lines.
III. Attendance
It is very important to be at rehearsals. Please, notify the director or assistant director AHEAD OF TIME, if you have a scheduling conflict.
REPEATED TARDINESS WILL RESULT IN POSSIBLE REMOVAL FROM YOUR ROLE
CHILDREN 10 YR OLD AND UNDER: A parent must be present at all rehearsals.
a. Rehearsal Schedule
1. Rehearsals will be held Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings from 7pm – 9pm. Locations will be announced at auditions.
2. Rehearsals will begin on May 29th and run until July 12th
3. “Hang-in” or set construction day will be held Saturday July 8th. There may be additional off-site construction days announced, however these will not be mandatory to attend.
4. Monday July 10th and run through Wednesday July 12th. We will take Wednesday before opening night as a day of rest. Call time will be 5pm, unless otherwise announced. On these evenings, the cast is expected to stay at the theatre until the show has been completed, regardless of how late it runs. Exceptions can be made only with prior authorization by the directorial staff.
5. Show dates are July 13th, 14th, and 15th.
i. July 13th call time is 5pm unless otherwise anno
ii. July 14th call time is 5pm unless otherwise announced
iii. July 15th matinee call time is 12pm. Evening show call time is 5pm. Cast members must acquire permission in order to leave between shows. Please bring a meal or money to purchase a meal from the theatre.
b. Punctuality
1.All rehearsals and crew calls begin on the time indicated on the schedule.
2.A call of "places" means that all performers and crew involved in a particular scene must be ready to perform. They should be "in their places."
3.It is best to arrive at the rehearsal hall AT LEAST ten minutes prior to a call. It is important that you are ready to work on time.
c. On Call for Performances
1. Be at the theatre promptly at the designated time or you will be considered "absent" from the call, unless you have contacted the Director/Assistant director and informed them ahead of time that you will be arriving late. The Director has the prerogative to not count your absent depending on the reason given
2. There will be a sign-in sheet on the callboard. You must sign yourself in. No one should sign in for you and you should not sign in for someone else.
IV. Relationship to Directors, Crew and Other Company Members
1. Always show respect for others. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU. Show encouragement to your fellow cast members at every opportunity. Constructive critique will come from the Directors, not from fellow cast members.
2. Do not talk backstage during rehearsal and/or performance unless it is mandatory and
concerns the integrity of the production.
3. Be ready for your entrance. This is your responsibility during rehearsals and
performances.
4. Any suspected drinking of alcoholic beverages by a minor or using of illegal substances of any kind on or off campus before a rehearsal or a performance will result in disciplinary action. The company member will be dismissed from the production.
5. No smoking at anytime on the church property. No exceptions. Disciplinary action will be taken.
6. After rehearsal, clean up everything on the stage and in the rehearsal hall…even if it is
not your mess.
7. No picture-taking and no posting pictures on social networking without the written permission of all parties involved and/or their parents. THIS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
8. Absolutely NO “SEXTING”.
9. Absolutely NO PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION will be tolerated.
10. Any inappropriate behavior, (deemed inappropriate by the Director or other adult staff), will not be tolerated and may be subject to dismissal from the production.
11. At the same time, the crew must not distract the actors and is expected to pay attention for set changes and lighting changes.
V. Dress Code
To promote modesty and to avoid confusion on appropriate dress for theatre rehearsals, activities and shows, the following dress code will be followed:
All: Shoes will be worn at all times in the theatre.
Girls: Shorts must be mid-thigh or longer. No spaghetti-strap tank tops will be permitted. Thick strapped tank tops are allowed, (two-finger width). No midriff (tummy) should be showing.
Boys: Shirts should be worn at all times. Shorts must also be mid-thigh or longer
PLEASE, CARRY AN EXTRA SET OF APPROPRIATE CLOTHES WITH YOU IN YOUR THEATRE BAG.
If you are asked by a theatre board member to change your clothes, please, do so quietly and without an argument. Our intent is to promote modesty, not to measure clothes.
VI. Relationship with the Equipment
1. During a scene shift, an actor should completely clear off the stage space unless he/she
is involved in the change or about to make an immediate entrance.
2. Never touch a piece of lighting, sound, or stage equipment unless assigned to do so.
VII. Guests at the Theatre
1. Guests may not be in the green room or backstage before, or during a performance.
2. An actor may not be seen in costume by any guest or audience before the show.
3. There will be time after the performance (“Meet and Greet”) to greet your fans. (You may be in costume for this)
4. Guests are allowed to attend the rehearsals with prior permission from the director, provided they are quiet and respectful and the actor is present and paying attention to the rehearsal. If the guest at any point becomes a distraction, they will be asked to leave.
VIII. Rehearsal Costumes
1. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes to rehearsal. Your clothing should not restrict your movement.
2. Wear shoes and clothing to rehearsal that will be similar to that which you will be
wearing in the performance. Character shoes or flats for ladies, tennis shoes or boots for the gentlemen.
3. Your arrival time should include time to put on your rehearsal/ performance costume. If you need time to put a costume on, you should arrive early so that you may start rehearsal on time.
IX. Performance Props
Never touch a prop unless you are the character assigned to use that prop.
Some props may be pre-set in the wings, so don’t pick up a prop unless you are supposed to.
Always return your props to their assigned spot on the prop table or pre-set area as soon as you leave the acting area.
4. Never sit on stage furniture backstage. NEVER!
5. Report broken props to the Props Master immediately. If you don't tell someone, it
won't get fixed.
6. NEVER TOUCH A WEAPON unless assigned to do so. Any weapon prop must be
approved by the Props Mistress, before using onstage.
X. Costume Calls
1. A call for a costume fitting is as important and urgent as a rehearsal call. DO NOT MISS COSTUME FITTINGS.
2. Unless your measurements are taken and fittings are held on schedule, your costume cannot be made and/or ordered.
3. Use the fitting to help you determine what sorts of rehearsal costumes you may need to help you simulate your performance costume. The costume designer may have something you may use until your performance costume is ready.
4. Discuss with the fitter costume items that you may need to work with…swords, pockets, purses, handkerchiefs, etc.
XI. Handling a Costume
These rules exist because we care about how you look on stage and because we care about what happens to the costumes. Costumes are expensive and therefore difficult to replace.
Costumes have no life except the life the actor gives them.
Find out how your costume relates to your performance.
Costumes are not the actor's play things. Onstage, they are only to be used as your CHARACTER would use them. Off-stage, however, they are to be handled
with extreme care.
Skirts and capes are to be held so that they do not touch the floor and are hoisted in the rear so that they are not sat upon.. Trains are carried until the very moment before an entrance.
XII. General Costume Reminders
1. Your "look" is an important part of your costume and is not to be altered without prior permission from the Director. Performers may not alter their personal, everyday "look" without the prior permission from the director or costume designer. Altering includes, but is not limited to: piercing or tattooing any part of their body and (depending on your look at the time when you were cast), as well as the shaving, growing, or dyeing your head and/orfacial hair. Please, do not get a different haircut without consulting the Director.
2. Please take a shower at home, before getting into costume.
3. Please use soap, deodorant, and antiperspirant. CARRY EXTRA ANTIPERSPIRANT IN YOUR THEATRE BAG.
4. Do not wear perfume or scented hairspray while in your costume. (Some people are allergic to these substances.)
5. We recommend leaving valuables at home such as precious jewelry that will need to be removed for your character, tablets/laptops, handheld gaming devices, etc. The church and the theatre company will not be responsible for the loss or damage to these items.
6. Have make-up on before putting your costume on.
7. If your costume goes on over your head, ask someone on the costume crew to help you by putting a cloth over your head to protect your make-up and costume.
8. Unless you are required to grow a beard for the production, be sure you shave before reporting for your make-up call.
9. NEVER restyle wigs and/or hair pieces unless trained to do so. This should be done by the costume crew.
10. Please do not eat or drink anything but water in your costume unless otherwise approved by the director in an approved location.
11. Be careful where you sit; be careful what you lean on.
12. Before leaving the dressing/green room, check yourself for any item that your character would not be wearing (i.e. watches, jewelry, wallets, etc.).
13. Please do not touch anyone's costume. This will assist in preventing confusion and loss.
14. Obtain your costume only from the crew member in charge of checking out costumes.
15. Remove your make-up AFTER you have removed your costume.
16. You must check your costume in EVERY NIGHT. You will not be dismissed until you have checked out with the crew member in charge of checking out costumes.
17. Please return costumes neatly hung on the appropriate hangers with your name tag. Be sure to include all items that may be in use as part of your costume. Costumes left on the floor will result in fines for the person who left the costume.
18. Please wait while items are checked in by the costume crew.
19. If your costume needs repair or adjustment, write your needs on the costume repair sheet. You are responsible for reporting issues with your costume. If your issue is not on the costume repair sheet in writing, it may not get fixed.
XIII. Technical Rehearsal, Dress Rehearsal and Performance
Procedures
1.During the technical/dress rehearsal period, it will be necessary to have the complete cooperation of the entire production company.
2.The director and stage manager will conduct the progression of these rehearsals/performances. He/she may cut from scene to scene (cue to cue), depending upon the needs of the designers, directors, and staff.
3.Anyone may stop a rehearsal if he/she feels that he/she is being put into an unsafe position.
4.Pay attention and please be quiet.
5.Actors must help the technicians by remaining in character and following the prescribed "timing" during these rehearsals.
6.During the technical rehearsal, you will be wearing your costume, if available.
XIV. Set Building and Work Calls
a. General Safety Rules
1. Ask the supervisor to approve all your work.
2. Report all injuries, no matter how slight, to the supervisor immediately.
3. Be sure clothes are safe and suitable for scene construction.
4. Remove or tuck in any loose clothing. Roll loose sleeves above the elbow.
5. Keep long and/or loose hair pulled back and away from the face and equipment.
6. Report to the supervisor any equipment that may not be working properly.
7. Keep the floor clear of scraps and litter.
8. Exercise care in handling large, heavy, and/or long pieces of material or equipment (i.e. flats, wagons, set pieces, furniture, etc.).
a. Work Clothing and Shoes
Wear or bring clothes and shoes that are suitable for painting and construction. You will need them while working on the set.
Wear closed-toed shoes such as boots or tennis shoes. Please do not wear sandals or flip-flops.
b. Clean Up
1. Each workday will end with a clean up period.
2. Each participant is expected to pick up after themselves and must help in general clean-up.
3. All paint cans and brushes must be cleaned.
4. The stage area should be cleaned and swept.
5. If working in the light/sound booth, all equipment must be put away properly and covered.
6. The booth should be free of papers, wrappers, and personal items.
c. STRIKE PROCEDURE
Striking the set is the process of removing all set/additional lighting pieces from the facility so that the facility can resume normal operations. Our motto is “Leave it better than you found it.” We ask that no one leave before strike without prior permission, save for an emergency.
XV. Parent Volunteers
Community theatre works best when many talents are combined. All parents of minor participants are expected to volunteer in some capacity. Some of the areas that parents may volunteer include but are not limited to the following:
o Chaperones
o Arts and crafts
o Prop making
o Set building
o Set dressing
o Costume creating. (even if you can’t sew, patterns will need to be cut out, etc.)
o House crew- concessions, ushering
o Programs- ads, printing
o Typing bios
o Make-up
o Sound
o Lights …………………..AND MANY MORE!!