General New Plays Festival Information

Columbia University has final authority for all decisions related to thesis productions, regardless of any other money contributed to said production. Sharing ideas early in the production planning process allows space for the kind of creative problem solving that allows a Playwright's artistic vision to be fully realized. All production questions should be directed to Production Management – please include Production Management on ALL communication regarding the production.

Columbia University will support the success of all productions by providing:

  • Rehearsal Space(s)
  • Scheduling of rehearsal spaces
  • Performance Venue (equipped with house speakers & rep light plot)
  • Box Office & Front of House Coverage
  • Festival General Manager
  • Festival Scenic Coordinator
  • Festival Props Coordinator
  • Festival Costume Coordinator
  • Festival Sound Coordinator
  • Festival Lighting Coordinator
  • Festival Light Board Programmer
  • 1 Crew Member to run the Light Board for Performances
  • 1 Backstage Run Crew Member, present for tech and performances
  • Photographer to photograph the final full dress run (no staged shots)
  • Supply of approved scenic stock
  • Supply of approved props & furniture
  • Supply of approved costumes
  • Supply of approved lighting instruments
  • Supply of approved sound items
  • Supply of approved projection items
  • Installation of approved technical elements
  • Transportation of approved items from Nash to Lenfest
  • Access to Materials for the Arts (MFTA)
  • $2500 Discretionary Budget
  • $500 Standardized Fee for an outside Director and Producer ($1000 total)
  • Either a Columbia Production Stage Manager or a $500 stipend to hire an outside PSM

Columbia University is unable to provide:

  • Show Specific Producer/General Manager
  • Printed Marketing (posters/postcards)
  • Designer Team
  • An A1 for any live mixing of sound / music.

Items that Require Formal Faculty Approval:

  • Play Length being over 120 minutes (inclusive of a 15-minute intermission). Plays are recommended to be 100 minutes.
  • Playwright also serving as the director, producer, and/or designer of the production
  • Musicals

The process for approval will be a conversation with the Faculty Concentration Head, and eventually the Production Department. All requests for approval must be submitted to the Faculty Concentration Head prior to the Policies & Procedures meeting for your production. Please provide written support of the significance/need for any of the above listed items, as it relates to the play’s specific content.