Production Policies
Opportunities
The Department of Theatre Arts presents 6 productions in 3 venues through the academic year. Great care is taken to provide artistic, diverse and educational experiences. We also support the Lyric Repertory Company, a professional summer company. Auditions and interviews are generally held during the fall semester for the following Summer Season. A limited number of production internships are also available.
The Theatre Student Association (TSA) is theatre social club, TSA holds events for networking, skill enhancement, fun, entertainment, and even some production opportunities. Currently students can become members of TSA for $5.00 payable in the Theatre office. TSA is an independent student club.
Production Responsibilities
The following has been compiled to inform ALL participants of a production, performers, designers, technicians, crew and all others, what is expected during rehearsals, meetings, performances, photo calls, and strikes. Please take the time to read this document. Its purpose is to make the production process run smoothly and safely. We would like to thank you in advance for your help and cooperation in the production process.
General
Calls
- Performers and crew are responsible for all calls. Check the callboard twice daily for rehearsal calls, costume fittings, announcements, etc., Stage managers may email you about these calls, but this is considered a courtesy. Call boards are located in the hall outside the Morgan stage doors.
- Performers: Only the director can excuse you from a call.
- Crews: Only the Stage Manager can excuse you from a call.
- The current parking situation is problematic so plan accordingly. Campus regulations permit all cars to park anywhere only after 5:00pm. DO NOT park in the loading docks or short-term parking spaces. You will be ticketed or towed.
Rehearsal & Perfomance
- Under no circumstances, regardless of assignment, do you go from the stage through the house or vice versa. Actors are not to appear in any public space in costume unless specifically requested by the director.
- A company deputy is elected at the first rehearsal. All cast members may vote in the election. The voting is administered by the Stage Manager, who is not eligible for the position. The Deputy will act as liaison between cast and Management.
- Be sure to sign-in during tech & dress rehearsals, and performances. The sign-in sheet is located on the callboard. Do not sign-in for another person.
- Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear to rehearsals, performances and strike.
- No food or drink in the house, rehearsal spaces, backstage or dressing rooms. The exception is drinks with a twist cap, preferably clear liquid.
- No smoking is allowed inside University buildings
- When off stage, please stay within earshot of a monitor speaker.
- Performers and Crew: Check with the stage manager before leaving, this applies from first rehearsal through strike.
- Cell phones are to be turned OFF. Stage managers are authorized to collect ANY cell phone for the duration of rehearsals, performances, or strike. Stage Managers may have their cell phones on for show-related purposes only, and these will be in silent mode.
- Never walk in front of a director at rehearsals.
- No cast or crew member is allowed in the house during final dress rehearsals.
- Courtesy and consideration to the rehearsal participants will be shown by all who attend:
- Enter and leave only at breaks
- Enter and leave the theatre by the rear doors only.
- Sit where instructed.
- Maintain quiet.
- Remain quiet backstage.
- Guests are not allowed backstage, in the booth, or in the dressing rooms. This includes family members.
- Food is not allowed in costume, or where costumes are being stored, however temporary. Clear liquids in a non-breakable, re-sealable container are permitted
- Please get out of costume, make-up and return your costume before greeting your guests in the lobby
- If you are having a problem with a prop, costume, or scenery, inform the Stage Manager.
- Please leave all rehearsal spaces and dressing rooms neat and clean. If it was a mess before you arrived, inform your stage manager, then clean it anyway.
- Photo call is considered a performance.
- Be sure you know the minimum age requirement for your show before inviting family and friends.
Safety
- Do not bring valuables into the building.
- If you see any unauthorized person backstage, inform the Stage Manager.
- When backstage, please stay in your designated work areas or traffic patterns and do not touch anything unless instructed to do so. At the very least, a prop can be misplaced. At the Worst, you could be seriously injured.
- If something on the set or staging makes you feel unsafe, bring it to the attention of the Stage Manager immediately.
Strike
- Theatre majors and minors are required to attend all production strikes as assigned. Strike crew calls are posted during performance week. Strike crew assignments are made for all students enrolled in practicum, and/or involved in the production based on practicum crews and production needs. Sign in and out with your strike crew chief – do not leave until you have been dismissed by the crew chief and signed the roll sheet. You are required to attend the strikes you are assigned, so be sure to make arrangements early to have the time off from jobs or other commitments to be available.
- If you must miss a strike, permission must be obtained by the time the show opens from the Technical Director. You will not receive credit for the strike assignment if this permission is not obtained
- Make arrangements to complete your hours, fill out a strike makeup sheet, complete the hours and get the form signed. Turn the completed form into the Department Office.
- If a strike is missed, time must be made up during the week following the strike.
- Performers: please change quickly, but safely. Remove all your personal belongings from the dressing rooms before beginning your strike assignment.
- Strike Clothing —Wear appropriate clothing as follows:
- Long pants only
- No skirts or dresses
- Long hair must be pulled bac
- Sneakers or work shoes are required
- Gloves and/or safety glasses should be worn depending on assignment
- Additional rules may be implemented by different production teams, these rules are effective for ALL persons, regardless of assignment or position within the production.
Rehearsal & Casting Policies
All BFA Acting students are required to audition and be available for every UST production. It is the policy of the department to maintain open auditions.
All audition information is posted on the board just outside the Morgan stage entrance and on the Department website. If directors have special requirements for auditioning, that information is included in the postings. Casting is at the discretion of the director in conjunction with the Artistic Director. The following priorities are used in cast selection:
- The needs of the Play
- BFA Acting students
- Department Students
- University Students
- Community members
- Professional Actors
- Faculty
Auditions follow a professional model which includes proper dress, thorough preparation, resumes and headshots. A typical audition consists of two contrasting monologues, not to exceed 3 minutes. Callbacks may be scheduled for a different day. As with any audition, all those wishing parts are expected to have read the play, in its entirety, before auditioning. Musicals being the exception. Scripts are generally available on reserve in the department office two weeks before the audition for a 3-hour check-out. All scripts are performed as written.
Rehearsals run 5 – 6 days a week, Monday through Friday, and, as needed, either Saturday or Sunday. Standard rehearsal blocks are 3 hours between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm M-F, weekend rehearsals TBD. Shows with shortened rehearsal periods (usually the first show of each semester) may run 4-hour rehearsal blocks. The director may choose to cancel any rehearsal at their discretion but cast and crew should plan for every rehearsal scheduled. Most shows have an 8 out of 10 tech/dress rehearsal on the Saturday before the show opens. Tech & Dress rehearsals may run longer than 10:00pm but will not go past midnight (including notes).
After accepting a role or design assignment, a student may only withdraw, in writing, with consent of the artistic director and their program area head.
Designer/Run Crew Selection & Requirements
All BFA Design students are expected to be available for production assignments & run crews. All theatre arts students are expected to be available for run crew assignments. Run Crew assignments typically last for two weeks, the week prior to and the week of actual performance. Occasionally, run crew may be called to a scene change rehearsal prior to this, at least one-week notice will be given in such a situation.
As the Design process typically takes a longer period of time, and is different in timing for each production, credit is given for design and production assignments (THEA 3555 and THEA 4555) and requires a project sheet that is filled out and returned to the department office. The credit is usually taken in the semester that the production performs, though contract due dates will often be long before you can even register. Descriptions and general responsibilities for different design assignments can also be found in Appendix J.
To be considered for a design or production assignment, application must be made in the spring semester for the following year. The due date for these applications is generally the end of February. The design/tech faculty will consider each applicant and make assignments according to the following priorities:
- The needs of the Production
- Graduate Students
- BFA Design Students
- Departmental Students
- University Student
- Community members
- Professional Designers
- Faculty
Costume Fittings
Fittings are considered part of the required rehearsal process. Once a time has been agreed upon by the individuals involved, it is counted in your attendance record.
Intimacy and Nudity/Partial Nudity in Production
Scenes with sexual content are those in which either the plain meaning of the text or the director/company’s interpretation of the text make reference to sexual attitudes, actions, or language. These references can present as either graphic or suggestive and can include nudity and partial nudity. In consultation with the director of any production, the department will determine whether scenes that require sexual content and/or sexual acts require the presence of a named intimacy coach/choreographer.
Utah State University Department of Theatre Arts recognizes an individual’s right to consent and understands that during a rehearsal or performance period, a student retains the right to revoke said consent.
Pre-Production
- A member of the production team (director or stage manager) will identify ALL scenes that they believe require intimacy/nudity of ANY sort.
- Each actor will receive timely notification of which roles require intimacy/nudity/partial nudity and the extent of said requirements. Each actor will be afforded the allowance to opt out of auditioning for said roles.
- Each actor (age 18+) will sign a waiver stating their understanding and notification of ALL intimacy/nudity/partial nudity.
Rehearsal
- The stage manager and/or director will develop a plan for handling all nudity/partial nudity and intimacy in a timely manner, and every member of the cast and crew will be notified of these procedures.
- If the director feels it necessary, an intimacy director will be chosen to perform intimacy calls and check-ins throughout the rehearsal/performance period.
- Each member of the cast and crew will be mindful that ALL sexual content is to be treated with the utmost professionalism. This means that careless jokes and references to the bodies of their fellow actors will not be tolerated. This is also true of the transmission of photos or videos of actors performing any nudity/partial nudity or intimacy. Each of the aforementioned acts will be considered harassment and subject to discipline as specified in USU Policy 2102.
- Actors should communicate their boundaries clearly with one another, so as to provide or revoke consent clearly to all parties. Consent is necessary for each actor to start/continue work.
Performances
- Actors should check-in with their intimacy partners to re-establish consent before each performance.
- Any actor performing nude or partially nude will have access to clothing as soon as possible after performing the assigned scene.
- No choreography involving intimacy or nudity/partial nudity will be changed without timely notification to all actors involved.
- No nudity will be filmed/photographed. Partial nudity will only be filmed/photographed with the consent of the actor.
Program Credits
Program information is due from the Stage Manager before designer run-thru rehearsal. Names will generally appear in the program as they appear on the audition form or design contract. Participants should notify the Stage Manager of the correct spelling and listing desired.
Publicity
Each department production is supported by advance mailings of news releases, media alerts, calendar listings, public service announcements, brochures, open invitations to the professional arts community, and flyers. All are encouraged to invite fellow students, friends & family to attend performances. If you would like to work toward more grass roots publicity and word-of-mouth support for the work of the Department, please contact the current Student Union Arts Senator.
Tickets
Most tickets are free for students, with ID. All cast and crew members receive 1 complimentary ticket for their family or friends to attend the production. Comp tickets must be obtained at the box office by the cast or crew member no later than 24 hours before the performance or placed under the proper name in will call. Tickets will not be free if purchased the day of the performance. Tickets for some musical productions have a small ticket fee for students.
Front of House Support
Theatre students are required to usher for each department production they are not involved in as an actor, designer or run crew member. Usher slots will be posted at the beginning of each semester, students must sign up at least two weeks before the first performance of the production. Tardiness or Absences are not tolerated. If you are unable to fulfill your usher commitment, you are responsible for finding a replacement & notifying the Ticket Office Manager & Theatre office. Fill out an usher completion slip (available from the House Manager), and have it signed and return to the Department Office by the Monday following strike.
An usher handbook outlining basic duties and required attire is posted on the department website or may be found on USU Box.
If all the available slots are full, or an assignment is missed, students spend 3 hours in either the scene or costume shop to assist with the production. Hours should be completed before the show opens. If you cannot complete all the hours prior to show opening, they must be completed within 1 week of the show closing. Fill out an usher substitution slip (found at the link above) have it signed by the shop manager and return it to the Theatre office for their file by the Monday following strike or the completion of hours.
Note: All theatre students are required to complete yearly fire training as part of the front of house requirement.
Image Release
All students are required to sign an image release form. This form indicates that all visual or audio recordings of you made by the department are fully owned by the department. The form indicates whether you will allow these recordings to be made. You have no obligation to accept, only to indicate whether or not you do so. If you do decline, we will not record any media beyond for purposes of identification. Students will still be expected to attend all events of record keeping regardless.
Photo Call
The primary purpose of photo call is to provide photographic records of the directorial and design highlights of all productions. They are generally scheduled during final dress. If an additional set photo call is required, it should run no longer than 1 hour for single set productions, and 1.5 hours for multiple set productions. It is the Stage Managers responsibility to run photo call and to adhere to the time limit. Designers wishing additional shots may do so during Final Dress rehearsal, the show will not stop for them. Designers may also take their own shots during the actual photo call as long as it doesn’t interfere with the professional who has been hired. Arrangements can also be made with individuals outside of rehearsal or performance times.
Set photo calls generally consist of 10-20 ‘stop points’ agreed upon at the last production meeting. The Stage Manager will arrange these points so that the fastest possible order will be used. The hired photographer has priority in all photo calls, followed by designers. Stage Managers will move to the next stop point to stay within the time limit, regardless of who is taking photos.
Consistent with the contractual agreement the department has with the licensing agents for each of the plays not in public domain, production photos are taken for department archival reasons and not for general distribution. As these photos are the only visual record the department has of its productions, they need to be preserved and protected. Understanding that directors, designers, and actors may want to include several of the images in their portfolios, ultimately protection of this visual record is of top priority and, if used, proper credit must be given to the department and the photographer. The posting of images on the web poses a particular challenge which is one of the reasons why designers should be taking their own production photos. Actors should not be posting full stage shots on the web in order to protect the creative work of the designers; all posted photos should be close-ups with limited exposure of design elements.
Access to archival photos will be limited. Photographers hired to shoot archival photos are responsible for documenting the production with particular attention paid to the potential use of images for departmental publicity and promotion. They understand that the photos are the property of the department. If photo images are needed for portfolios, student access to the images will be given only for a brief period of time after the production has closed, and credit must be given to the photographer. One they have been received by the department; images will be placed in box with a link provided to all students. Only current shows will be available on box, so students should get the photos they need in a timely manner. Starting in 2014, student requests for access to photos already archived will require approval from the department head and requests should be based upon extraordinary circumstances.
Social Media and Production Images
To date, the department has not regularly made video documentation of productions. Directors may choose to document their work for archival reasons but may not distribute any video capture. Recently, licensing agents have required extra payment for archival filming, but even with payment, general distribution and access is prohibited. Please remind your family and friends that filming of any kind is strictly prohibited as stated in both the production programs and pre-show announcement. If a violation is reported or discovered, you will be asked to remove the video immediately. If a second notification is given and not acted upon, you will be placed departmental probation.
Respect for the work of all of the artists connected with every UST production needs to be maintained with protection of the creative work a high priority. While we understand the need for students and faculty to have access to documentation of their work, it has become necessary to place some limitations on that access due to the number, nature, and timing of requests we’ve received. Your cooperation is, as always, appreciated.