Goals
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To create a laboratory for students and faculty to test theories, skills, and insights derived from the department's academic curriculum and current work in the field.
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To enhance the cultural and social life of Bates and Lewiston/Auburn by presenting theatre and dance which address issues of common concern and reinforce a sense of both community and wonder.
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To provide theatre students, during the course of four years, with practical experience in a wide range of dramatic and choreographic literatures from a diversity of historical periods, cultural traditions, theatrical forms, and dramatic artists and choreographers.
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To encourage and produce new plays, performance events, and dance pieces.
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To maintain and rejuvenate the repertoire of classical plays by exploring fresh and experimental means of producing traditional works.
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To produce plays and dance in a multiplicity of formats -- fully-mounted, minimally-mounted, workshop, and staged reading.
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To bring guest artists to our stages and rehearsal halls
Casting Policy
The director of the semester's Type 1: Mainstage Production will schedule the dates for the auditions for all of that semester's productions. The unified auditions will occur as early in the semester as possible.
Each director or stage manager will furnish the Technical Director the following information:
* a precis of the day
* the dates of production
* a cast breakdown
* the probable rehearsal schedule
The Director will make this information available to those auditioning for roles during the unified auditions.
In each semester there will be one audition for all that semester's productions, including the Type I Mainstage show. The dates for these auditions will be scheduled by the director of the Mainstage Production as early in the semester as possible. Following the collaborative auditions and callbacks, the faculty will arbitrate casting decisions at a meeting of all the semester's directors. A director who elects to hold a different audition may not prohibit or otherwise restrict cast members from auditioning for other productions.
Participation in Dance Performances
There are many ways to participate in dance performances at Bates though usually performances are cast through participation in the various dance courses. Dance Composition is a prerequisite for presenting choreography in the mainstage concerts. Participating in student choreography projects is an excellent performing opportunity. Dance Repertory Performance leads directly to a concert of works of invited guest artists. Short Term s29 and s25 also have a performance component. Student choreography is encouraged and supported both by the Department and the College. Technical assistance is available for any work being made as part of a thesis project and will be offered whenever possible for non thesis performances.
Production Types
TYPE 1: FULLY MOUNTED MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Past Examples: The Three Sisters, The House of Blue Leaves
Venue: Schaeffer, Gannett, or other as per TD
Script Selection: Director
Budget: Large
Rights: Paid from production budget (arranged by director and TD)
Staffing
Director: Faculty/Staff or Visiting Artist
Scenic Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student as 360 project
Costume Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student as 360 project
Lighting Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student as 360 project
Sound Design: Faculty/Staff or Visiting Artist or student as prod. Credit
Technical Director: Faculty/Staff Resident Technical Director
Technical Parameters:
Setting: Build with new materials, pull from stock with major modifications as per TD. Full access to paint and props.
Costumes: Build and/or rent all costumes and pull from stock with major modifications as per Costume Shop Supervisor.
Lighting: Full access to equipment inventory and limited rental budget as per TD. Purchase new color and templates.
Sound: Full access to equipment inventory. Limited equipment rental as per TD. Budget available to purchase new sound recordings. Copyright releases must be secured in writing by Sound Designer and/or Director/Artistic Director and submitted to the TD or chair prior to the opening performance.
Technical Direction: Full access to workstudy staff and design/stagecraft class students with top shop priority.
House Management:
Ticketing: The event will be fully ticketed by the Schaeffer Theatre Box Office and reservations will be accepted as per standard box office operating procedures.
Ticket Prices: $6/$3/Free
Publicity: Poster design will be done by the Office of College Relations and distributed by the box office staff. Additional publicity must be arranged through the Office of College Relations and the House Manager must be notified. The House Manager will also place notices in the Bates Daily two weeks prior to the opening performance.
Programs: Program material will be collected by the Stage Manager according to the Office of College Relations schedule. All program copy must be approved by the director and TD. Finished programs will be picked up by box office personnel. Ushers will distribute programs at each performance.
FOH Support: Full Box Office policy applies to this tier. Please review policy regarding photo calls, talk-backs, and complimentary tickets.
TYPE 2: MINIMALLY MOUNTED MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
Past Examples: Parents Weekend and Spring Dance Concerts
Venue: Schaeffer, Gannett, or other as per TD
Script Selection: Director/Artistic Director
Budget: Moderate
Rights: Paid from production budget (arranged by director)
Staffing:
Director: Faculty/Staff or Visiting Artist
Scenic Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student as 360 project
Costume Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student as 360 project
Lighting Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student as 360 project
Sound Design: Faculty/Staff or Visiting Artist or student as for prod. Credit
Technical Director: Faculty/Staff Resident Technical Director
Technical Parameters:
Setting: Pull from stock with minor modifications as per TD. Limited access to paint and props as per TD. Dance floor must be used with prior TD approval.
Costumes: Pull from stock with minor modifications as per Costume Shop supervisor. Limited costume construction as per Costumer Shop Supervisor based on complexity, available shop time, and available
Lighting: Limited access to equipment inventory and purchase limited new color and templates as per TD.
Sound: Full access to equipment inventory. No budget for new recordings. Copyright releases must be secured in writing by Sound Designer and/or Director/Artistic Director and submitted to the TD prior to the opening performance.
Technical Direction: Limited access to workstudy staff and design/stagecraft class as per TD.
House Management:
Ticketing: No tickets or reservations.
Ticket Prices: Free and open to the public.
Publicity: Poster design will be done by the Office of College Relations and distributed by the box office staff. Additional publicity must be arranged through the Office of College Relations and the House Manager must be notified. The House Manager will also place notices in the Bates Daily two weeks prior to the opening performance.
Programs: Program material will be collected by the Stage Manager according to the Office of College Relations schedule. All program copy must be approved by the director and TD. Finished programs will be picked up by box office personnel. Ushers will distribute programs at each performance.
FOH Support: Full Box Office policy applies to this tier. Please review policy regarding photo calls, talk-backs, and complimentary tickets.
TYPE 3: FULLY MOUNTED STUDIO PRODUCTION
Past Example: Before It Hits Home
Venue: Gannett Theater, Black Box Theater, or other as per TD.
Budget: Moderate
Rights: Paid from production budget (arranged by director)
Casting: No restrictions
Staffing:
Director: Faculty/Staff or Visiting Artist
Scenic Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student
Costume Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student
Lighting Design: Faculty Designer or Visiting Artist or student
Sound Design: Faculty/Staff or Visiting Artist or student
Technical Director: Faculty/Staff Resident Technical Director or student
Technical Parameters:
Setting: Pull from stock with major modifications as per TD. Limited access to paint and props and limited new construction as per TD.
Costumes: Pull from stock with minor modifications as per Costume Shop Supervisor. Limited costume construction as per Costume Shop Supervisor based on complexity, available shop time, and available budget.
Lighting: Limited access to equipment inventory and purchase limited new color and templates as per TD.
Sound: Full access to equipment inventory subject to availability. No budget for new recordings. Copyright releases must be secured in writing by Sound Designer and/or Director/Artistic Director and submitted to the TD prior to the opening performance.
Technical Direction: Limited access to workstudy staff and design/stagecraft class as per TD.
House Management:
Ticketing: The event will be fully ticketed by the Schaeffer Theater Box Office and reservations will be accepted as per standard box office operating procedures.
Ticket Prices: $6/$3/Free
Publicity: Poster design will be done by the Office of College Relations and distributed by the box office staff. Additional publicity must be arranged through the Office of College Relations and the House Manager must be notified. The House Manager will also place notices in the Bates Daily two weeks prior to the opening performance.
Programs: Program material will be collected by the Stage Manager according to the Office of College Relations schedule. All program copy must be approved by the director and TD. Finished programs will be picked up by box office personnel. Ushers will distribute programs at each performance.
FOH Support: Full Box Office policy applies to this tier. Please review policy regarding photo calls, talk-backs,a nd complimentary tickets.
TYPE 4: SENIOR THESIS PRODUCTION
Past Example: This Is Our Youth
Venue: Gannett Theater, Black Box Theater, or other as per TD.
Script Selection: Director
Budget: Modest
Rights: Paid from production budget (arranged by director)
Staffing:
Director: Faculty advised senior thesis student
Scenic Design: Faculty Designer supervised student
Costume Design: Faculty Designer supervised student
Lighting Design: Faculty/Staff Designer supervised student
Sound Design: TD supervised student
Technical Director: TD supervised student
Technical Parameters:
Setting: Pull from stock with major modifications as per TD. Limited access to paint and props and limited new construction as per TD.
Costumes: Pull from stock with minor modifications as per Costume Shop Supervisor. Limited costume construction as per Costume Shop Supervisor based on complexity, available shop time, and available budget.
Lighting: Limited access to equipment inventory and purchase limited new color and templates as per TD.
Sound: Full access to equipment inventory subject to availability. No budget for new recordings. Copyright releases must be secured in writing by Sound Designer and/or Director/Artistic Director and submitted to the TD prior to the opening performance.
Technical Direction: Limited access to workstudy staff and design/stagecraft class as per TD.
House Management:
Ticketing: The event will be fully ticketed by the Schaeffer Theatre Box Office and reservations will be accepted as per standard box office operating procedures.
Ticket Prices: $6/$3/Free
Publicity: Poster design will be done by the Office of College Relations and distributed by the box office staff. Additional publicity must be arranged through the Office of College Relations and the House Manager must be notified. The House Manager will also place notices in the Bates Daily two weeks prior to the opening performance.
Programs: Program material will be collected by the Stage Manager according to the Office of College Relations schedule. All program copy must be approved by the director and TD. Finished programs will be picked up by box office personnel. Ushers will distribute programs at each performance.
FOH Support: Full Box Office policy applies to this tier. Please review policy regarding photo calls, talk-backs, and complimentary tickets.
TYPE 5: INDEPENDENT STUDY/MINIMALLY MOUNTED STUDIO PRODUCTIONS
Past Examples: Twin Maenechmi
Venue: Gannett Theater, Black box Theater, or other as per TD
Script Selection: Director and Faculty Advisor
Budget: Minimal
Rights: Paid from production budget (arranged by faculty advisor)
Staffing:
Director: Faculty advised student
Scenic Design: Faculty Designer supervised student
Costume Design: Faculty Designer supervised student
Lighting Design: TD supervised student
Sound Design: TD supervised student
Technical Director: TD supervised student
Technical Parameters:
Setting: Pull from stock with minor modifications as per TD. Limited access to paint and props and no new construction.
Costumes: Pull from stock with minor modifications as per Costume Shop Supervisor. Very limited costume construction as per Costume Shop Supervisor based on complexity, available shop time, and available budget.
Lighting: Limited access to equipment inventory. All color and templates must pull from stock.
Sound: Limited access to equipment inventory and subject to availability. No budget for new recordings. Copyright releases must be secured in writing by sound Designer and/or Director/Artistic Director and submitted to the TD or chair prior to the opening performance.
Technical Direction: Limited access to workstudy staff and design/stagecraft class as per TD.
House Management:
Ticketing: The event may be ticketed by the Schaeffer Theatre Box Office and reservations may be accepted as per standard box office operating procedures. Prior approval of TD required for use of Box Office resources.
Ticket Prices: Free and open to the public.
Publicity: Poster design will be done by the Office of College Relations and distributed by the director and production staff.
Programs: Program material will be collected by the Stage Manager according to the Office of College Relations schedule. All program copy must be approved by the director and TD.
FOH Support: Limited support for FOH duties. The director is responsible for coordination all FOH activities unless prior arrangements have been made with the TD.
TYPE 6: DEPARTMENT CLASS PRESENTATION/STAGED READING
Venue: Gannett Theater or Black Box Theater (subject to availability) or other as per director
Script Selection: Instructor or Instructor advised student
Budget: None
Rights: All rights must be fully secured prior to performance. This item must be approved by the Department Chair.
Staffing:
Director: Instructor or Instructor advised student
Scenic Design: None/student
Costume Design: None/student
Lighting Design: None/student
Sound Design: None/student
Technical Director: None/student
Technical Parameters:
Setting: None
Costumes: Very limited access stock costumes with approval of Costume Shop Supervisor. No alterations and no new construction.
Lighting: None
Sound: None
Technical Direction: None
House Management:
Ticketing: These events will not be ticketed and nor reservations will be accepted for the performances.
Ticket Prices: Free and open to the public.
Publicity: Arranged by Instructor.
Programs: Arranged by Instructor.
FOH Support: None. Instructor assumes all responsibilities and liabilities.
COPYRIGHTS, PERMISSIONS, AND ROYALTIES
Permission to use copyrighted recorded music, visual images, or published material must be secured in writing from the copyright holder or the holder's agent and placed in the hands of either the Department Chair or Technical Director before any performance utilizing the copyrighted material may occur in a college space under the supervision of the Department of Theater and Rhetoric.