Theatre and Dance

Student Works Policies and Procedures Johnson Studio Theatre

The Department of Theatre and Dance encourages and promotes student-initiated and produced projects. The following policies and procedures have been developed to clarify the degree of department support available for student projects.  These policies are reviewed annually and subject to change.  Each spring theatre proposals should be submitted to the faculty by the designated deadline for inclusion in the next academic season. Proposals are awarded to students based on faculty review of project proposals. 

All students who participate in the theatre and dance program should recognize that it is a significant privilege to be granted an opportunity to produce in the Student Works program.  That privilege demands responsible, ethical action.  Failure to follow the policies outlined here may result in individuals and/or groups being denied future privileges to produce or participate in student works and may result in disciplinary action. 

Student Works may be produced in the Studio Theatre and/or the Johnson Dance Studios.  There are separate policies for each space.  For use of Johnson Studio Theatre, see below.  Also, please refer to Johnson Dance Studios.

General Policies on Student Works

The production company is responsible for adhering to standard production procedures in the department, including:

• food, drink, and smoking policies
• security policies
• procedures in case of accident or injury

The director/choreographer and stage manager will all read and sign a statement that they have read and are familiar with the Safety and Security Manual of Winthrop's Department of Theatre and Dance.

The members of the production company are also expected to behave in a professional and collegial way.  This includes, but is not limited, to:

• respecting and caring for the space and equipment
• respecting the students, staff, and faculty in the department
• being flexible, willing to negotiate and work with others when problems arise
• adhering to the policies as stated in the Student Conduct Code

Johnson Studio Theatre

1. Scheduling. The Studio Theatre Season is divided into six production slots.   Each semester the first and second slots are available for Student Works, while the third slot is reserved for the THRA 431 One-Act Play Festival.  The faculty has the option to reserve one of these slots for a faculty directed production.  This production would be bound by the same policies as the student productions outlined below.  The three remaining slots are available for Student Works proposals.

A slot for Student Works is a three-week block of time in the studio theatre for that production company to hold rehearsals culminating in five public performances.  Rehearsals may begin sooner than three weeks prior to opening.  However, the production company may have to find alternative rehearsal space, as the studio theatre will be available only for the approved three-week period.  All Student Works proposals must include a calendar showing at least six weeks of rehearsal prior to opening.

Auditions for all Student Works must be held in conjunction with the Department's main stage auditions.  This will minimize scheduling conflicts within the various aspects of the department's academic and production calendars.

2. Funding. The department will bear the expense for scripts, royalties, and copying of programs and 50 promotional flyers (see details in next section). The department will provide house and box office management as well as poster design, printing and circulation.  The department will also provide $250 for production expenses for each Student Work. All tangible items purchased with these funds will become the property of the department   Admission will be charged, with revenues returning to the department.

3. Production Company. The Production Company for each Student Work will consist of the director/choreographer, stage manager, assistant stage manager (optional), cast and designers. The director/choreographer must be enrolled in Advanced Practicum (THRT 470) or Independent Study in Dance (DANT 471-73) and receive a grade from the faculty advisor for managing the project.  The director/choreographer must have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and only the director/choreographer may earn course credit for producing the Student Work.  Student directors must have successfully completed Directing II or have permission of the Department Chair and Theatre and Dance Faculty before they can be approved to direct a Student Works production.

When the student director submits the production proposal, the proposal will NOT include a list of the students who will serve on the production team.  After the proposal is approved for the season, the department faculty will solicit student applications for the positions of stage manager, assistant stage manager, scenic designer, lighting designer, etc. and then appoint students to the production team after consulting with the student director.   

The Production Company will be responsible for all aspects of the production including:

• conducting at least 2 design concept meetings before rehearsals begin;
• conducting the auditions and rehearsing the production;
• conducting weekly production meetings;
• preparation of prop, costume and scenic elements;
• preparation of any music or sound effects;
• acquiring running crew either through THRA 180 (if available) or from approved volunteers.
• cue-setting and run of lights and sound;
• preparation of publicity materials including: press release and program where ""Preparation" includes
  • the writing of materials
  • getting department and university approval
  • adhering to department deadlines for all publicity materials
    • Programs are limited to one page (81/2 X 11) Xerox copied in black and white
    • Posters are limited to one color and printed on 11 X 17 paper. 
    • The stage manager will collect and deliver head shots, bios, and other publicity information to the department administrative specialist.
• a complete and thorough strike after the Sunday final performance;
• Keeping the space clear of all trash, including food or drink. All trash must be removed at the end of every rehearsal or meeting in the space. If this policy is not adhered to, then food and drink privileges will be denied.
• security of the space throughout the rehearsal and performance period (Note: the stage manager will be issued keys at the beginning of the three-week period and will return the keys on the first business day after the production closes)
• Scheduling a post-show discussion by the stage manager in collaboration with the faculty advisors.

4. Supervision. Each Student Works production will have two faculty advisors from the Department of Theatre and Dance. The advisors' job is to serve as consultants to the director and production company.  The advisors shall:

• Approve the rehearsal and tech schedule;
• Inform the student director/production company of guidelines and good practice for producing a student work;
• Observe auditions, rehearsals and performances and provide constructive feedback;
• Serve as a advocates for the student director/production company;
• Attend production meetings;
• Serve as official instructors of the Advanced Practicum course 
  • (THRA 470) for the student director     
  • (DANT 471-73) for the student choreographers
  • (THRT/DANT 395) for the student designers, stage manager, and ASM
• Serve as liaisons between the department and the production company.

5. Staging Parameters.

• Adhere to the approved configuration: three-sided (north side open) and approved number of seats (91);
• Chairs, seating platforms and classroom equipment may not be removed from the studio space for rehearsals or performances;
• Only necessary technical staff are allowed on the tech deck;
• No fire exits may be blocked by scenery (see ground plan for "scenery free' zones)
• No open flames may be used.
• No smoking allowed
• Limited use of lighting equipment to include
  • ETC Element 24/48 lighting console
  • 24  6" fresnels
  • 3  Chauvet Colordash Quad LED wash fixtures
  • 12 S4 ColorSource PARS
  • 2 Elation Vizi 300 Hybrid moving lights
  • 4  ETC S4 Jr 36 ERS
  • Any Altman 6x9 as available
  • Any Altman 1KL ERS as available
• Lobby and hallway furniture may not be used on stage or for rehearsals;
• Limited use of the furniture and prop collection subject to approval of faculty advisor.
• Limited use of the costume collection — subject to approval of faculty advisor
• A complete strike is required after the close of the production after the Sunday matinee:  all items borrowed from the department collections must be returned clean and in proper condition; if stock elements, walls, or floor has been painted, they must be repainted basic black; specials must be removed; the Studio Theatre must be swept clean.  All strike requirements must be confirmed with the Technical Director.

View, download and print-out the student works proposal form for Johnson Studio Theatre (pdf - 40 KB).

Download and print out the calendar template for all student works proposals (pdf - 7 KB).

Download and print out a groundplan of the studio theatre (pdf - 44.9 KB).

Download and print out a light plot plan for the studio theatre (pdf - 180 KB).