Theater Policies

Theater Rules		Rehearsal and Performance Attendance
Dressing Room Rules		Actor Rehearsal and Performance Procedures
Auditioning Procedures		Technical Personnel: Crew and Performance Procedures

Theatre Rules:

• Food or drink may not be brought into the auditorium or anywhere in the Theatre areas unless otherwise
  specified by a Director.
• The use of photography is not permissible in the theatre during performances.
• Only Director approved videotaping can take place during the performance.
• Sitting on or crossing over the back of seats, walking or sitting on the arm rests, placing feet on seats, or
  standing on the seats is not permitted.
• Spectators and children from the audience are not allowed to be on the stage at any time before, during, or
  after the production.
• Audience members, including children, should remain in their seats at all times during the performance and
  are not permitted to hang on or ride the handrails, roll down the ramps, or run in the theatre.
• Hats are not appropriate in the theatre.
• Jumping on or off the stage is unacceptable except when blocked to do so in the action of the play.
• The stairs at the sides of the apron in the auditorium are to be used for traveling on or off the stage from the
  pit.
• The fronts of the green and black velour curtains are not to be touched by human skin.

Dressing Room Rules:

• During the period of dress rehearsals and performances, students are not permitted in the dressing room of the
  opposite sex except for approved make-up and costume crew times while performing their duties as specified
  by the Director.
• Dressing rooms are to remain locked at all times, and access is prohibited unless otherwise instructed by a
  Director.
• Only cast members or specified crew members are permitted in the dressing room two hours prior to every
  performance. No visitors are allowed in the dressing room.
• Departmental make-up and hygienic supplies are to be used only by the performers.
• Each actor is assigned his/her own make-up station and is responsible for cleaning it after each rehearsal and
  performance.
• Caps must be placed on their respective containers when finished and makeup applicators should not be
  mixed.
• Dressing room mirrors are to remain clean at all times. Any writing or obstructive decoration on or around
  them is not permitted. They are there to assist in the physical preparation for a production, not for socializing
  with other cast members.
• Once prepared for a performance, all actors may wait only in the dressing rooms or the black box until
  “places” is called.
• All make-up procedures must be carried out through the entire production of the show.
• Costumes WILL BE treated with care. Actors must hang up all costume pieces exactly as they found them.
  Items worn as costumes never leave the theatre building during the dress rehearsal and performance period,
  except when taken for cleaning and/or repairs, and only when approved by the costume foreman or designer.
  The performer never takes any part of their costume home, even if it is their own property, until strike.
• Sitting, standing, or lying on the dressing room counters is prohibited.
• Stage make-up is not to be worn in public and must be removed before leaving the theatre building unless
  going straight home.
• Bathrooms in dressing rooms should be kept sanitary and hygienic. Any maintenance or sanitation issues
  should be brought to a Director’s attention.
• Light bulbs must be free and clear from any and all obstructive items.
• Food or drink, with the exception of water with a push-pull cap, is prohibited in the dressing rooms.
• Personal items should be stored on the shelves above the counter, below the counter, or left at home.
• All personal items must be removed from dressing rooms by the end of strike. After one week, they may
  become departmental property.

Auditioning Procedures:

• Once a student has been cast in a role, they may not turn that part down. If this is done, the student will be
  ineligible for casting in the next GCA STAGE production.
• Students who have failed a drama course in the previous six weeks are ineligible for casting.
• All schedule conflicts should be reported on the audition form.
• A final list of schedule conflicts including specific dates and times must be reported no later than callbacks
  so that the rehearsal schedules can be solidified.
• Once the cast list is posted, it is considered inappropriate and unprofessional to inform others of their parts. It
  is also unprofessional to stand around the callboard once you have already read the cast list.
• If you do not get cast in a role that you desire, learn to accept the loss with grace. Verbal attacks or gossip
  serve no constructive purpose. Instead, ask for a critique from the director, and spend your energies on
  improving your auditioning skills for the next production.

Rehearsal and Performance Attendance:

• Students must be eligible to perform in a production. If somebody is deemed ineligible, they will be replaced,
  and returning to the production will be determined by eligibility rules and Director approval.
• Students should follow any and all attendance procedures that are designated for that production.
• Students should follow the designated attendance policy at the beginning of each rehearsal.
• Students should always arrive at least 10 minutes before the rehearsal is scheduled to begin in order to set
  props, dress in rehearsal attire and warm-up vocally and physically, so that the rehearsal can begin on time.
• Students may not leave rehearsal or performances early without the Director’s permission.
• Students are expected to communicate any attendance issues to Stage Managers once approved by the
  Director.
• Actors must be present at all rehearsals for which they are called.
• Attendance at all mandatory rehearsals is required. Only extremely serious matters that are approved by the
  Director are sufficient excuses to miss mandatory rehearsals, such as technical and dress rehearsals. If such an
  emergency arises, notification should be given to the Director for approval as soon as the student is aware that
  they cannot meet this commitment.
• One unexcused absence from rehearsal can be grounds for replacement, or missing a mandatory
  rehearsal or performance can be grounds for replacement.
• If you are going to be more than 10 minutes late to a rehearsal or a performance call, you must notify
  the Stage Management in advance. This will not excuse tardiness. It is a procedure required as a courtesy
  and for your personal welfare.

Actor Rehearsal and Performance Procedures:

• Silence MUST be maintained backstage during rehearsals and performances at all times.
• Actors must follow all instructions by the Directors and Stage Managers, and cooperate with other actors,
  technicians, and participants in the production.
• At least an hour and a half before a dress rehearsal or performance should be set aside for focusing and quiet
  preparation.
• Actors should dress appropriately and modestly for rehearsal. Clothing and shoes should not impede
  movement. Appropriate shoes approved by director must be worn to every rehearsal. Rehearsal clothing
  may be neatly stored in the dressing rooms.
• Costume repairs should be documented on a grief sheet.
• Actors are responsible for scripts (and scores if applicable) at all times and must have these and pencils with
  them at every rehearsal. Failure to return a script or score when necessary may result in fines.
• All company members must maintain a quiet, professional attitude at all times.
• Props are to be used only in the given action of a play. Actors pick up all props from the assigned prop areas
  and return them as directed. No props are to be played with or removed from the stage area.
• Set pieces should not be moved, played with, touched, or sat upon except in the given action of the play.
• The actor must cooperate with the Director in the overall “look” of the character. Hairstyles will be dictated
  by the character, period of the play, and design concept.
• Personal issues should be dealt with outside of the performing and rehearsing times.
• Actors should be in designated areas at all times at all rehearsals and performances.
• Actors should keep their personal items with them in designated areas in plain view of the Stage Manager.

Technical Personnel: Crew and Performance Procedures:

• All technical crew members must attend technical orientation before they may attend a technical crew.
• The technical crew is responsible for the same rehearsal and performance procedures and expectations as the
  actors for all rehearsals and crew for which they are called.
• Crew members must follow all orders by the Directors and Stage Managers and cooperate with the actors,
  other technicians, and participants in the production.
• Assistant Technical Director, Stage Managers, Foreman and Crew Heads should be treated with the same
  respect as a Director.
• All schedule conflicts, including specific dates and times, should be reported on the technical contract.
• Technical members selected for a technical crew are required to attend all appropriate crew calls; crew
  members will only get points for the crew calls for which they attend.
• Backstage behavior MUST be professional and silent at all times.
• The traveler lines are the curtains that open and close left and right across the stage by pulling of a rope.
  These curtains should only be operated after the curtain is clear of obstructions. They should be pulled at an
  even and consistent speed with a hand over hand method, and should not be jerked.
• The walk-along curtain lines (black curtains on the sides and across the stage that are to be pulled into position
  by hand) should only be handled by the back of the curtain and must be checked for obstructions at the stage
  level and at the track level. These curtains can only be moved by technical personnel with approval from a
  director.
• The curtains may not be roped off to get them further off stage.
• Nothing can be pinned or clamped to the front of the curtains.
• ll furniture and scenery must be carried or rolled on the painted stage floor; no dragging or sliding. All
  furniture must be put in the proper place at the end of rehearsal or performance.
• Only technical personnel approved by a Director are permitted in the control booth, in the light lab, on the
  catwalk, or the costume shop.
• Only trained and approved personnel are permitted to operate the light and sound boards.
• Only technical personnel approved by a Director may be on headset. The conversation must be professional
  and limited to things directly pertaining to the technical aspects of the performance.
• All microphones and headsets must be properly put up in the designated area at the end of each rehearsal and
  performance.
• Make-up and costume crews are the only crew members permitted in the dressing rooms during the dress
  rehearsal and performance process. They must be performing official make-up and costume duties during
  specific crew times as specified by a Director or crew foreman.
• Student technicians are responsible for the proper use of all equipment.
• Horseplay or improper use of tools is not permitted.
• Only trained and approved personnel are permitted to use power tools.
• Dismantling or playing with broomsticks or paint sticks is not permitted.
• All tools are only to be used for the purpose for which they were designed.
• Wasting of supplies is not permitted.
• Any tool/utensil used must be properly cleaned and put back in its proper place.
• Crew will not be dismissed until all tools and equipment have been accounted for and returned to their homes,
  and the work area is clean.