Graphic Design, Marketing, and Programs - Acting Thesis

For Acting Theses, Columbia provides a graphic designer for generation of key imagery, and a digital marketing campaign run by the SOA Communications Office.

The SOA Communications Office handles:

  • The creation of key art for each show.
  • The creation and distribution of email marketing based on the marketing copy provided by the show.
  • The creation of the Lenfest ticketing website page for the show.

The program for each theatre production is created in-house by the Theatre Admin Office, based on the information provided by the show.

The key art for the Acting Theses is created through a collaboration between the Acting Faculty, Production Management, and the SOA Communications Office.

Each production will be given access to show-specific documents called Marketing Copy and Playbill Copy. The Company Manager, supported by Production Management and the Director, will collect and submit all the information in these documents:

1. Marketing Copy Document
The basic marketing information will have the earliest due date, as it is used to generate the website and marketing emails. Basic Marketing Information Includes:

  • Title of the Show
  • Marketing Blurb
  • The Performance Schedule
  • Approximate Run Time
  • Cast
  • Creative Team and Crew
  • The bio for the director
  • Any requirements for billing, advertising, etc. that are part of the rights/licensing agreement

2. Playbill Information Document:
Due later than the Basic Marketing Information, the Playbill Information includes:

  • Bios for the Cast and Creative Teams
  • Headshots (both physical and digital) for the cast
  • Note(s) from the Director and/or Dramaturg(s)
  • Special Thanks

Once the SOA Communications Office receives the final key art and the Basic Marketing information, they will build the ticketing website and eblasts for the show.

The Theatre Admin Office will create programs for each production based on the information in the Marketing and Program Copy. There is a standard template for all Columbia Theatre thesis programs.

After the program is created, it is the responsibility of the Company Manager to verify with the cast and creative team that all their information is correct. This is typically easiest done either just before or during one of the first tech rehearsals. 

A full-color digital copy of the program will be linked to a QR code printed on each ticket for the show. By default, 25 black and white programs will be printed at Dodge for the run. It is the Company Manager's responsibility to coordinate bringing and folding those programs from Dodge to Lenfest before opening night.

If a production wishes to have more programs printed, that can certainly be done. Black and white programs can be printed at Dodge at no additional cost to the show. Color programs will need to be ordered from an outside printer, and any associated costs would come from the production’s discretionary budget. 

A small number of large-print programs will be printed for any patrons who request one. These can be printed at either Dodge or Lenfest.

The approved Theatre Program billing order for the title page is:

For Plays:

  • Playwright
  • Director
  • Dramaturg
  • Producer
  • PSM
  • ASMs
  • Company Manager
  • Composer
  • Music Director
  • Choreographer
  • Assistant/Associate Director
  • Scenic
  • Costumes
  • Props
  • Lighting
  • Sound
  • Projection
  • Fight Choreographer
  • Intimacy Director
  • Dance Captain
  • Graphic Designer
  • Thesis Operations Manager(s)

For Musicals:

  • Composer
  • Playwright / Book
  • Lyrics
  • Director
  • Dramaturg
  • Producer
  • PSM
  • ASMs
  • Company Manager
  • Arrangements and Orchestrations
  • Music Director
  • Choreographer
  • Assistant/Associate Director
  • Scenic
  • Costumes
  • Props
  • Lighting
  • Sound
  • Projection
  • Fight Choreographer
  • Intimacy Director
  • Dance Captain
  • Graphic Designer
  • Thesis Operations Manager(s)

The approved Theatre Program order for Bios is:

  • Cast, in alphabetical order
  • Director (if a directing thesis) / Playwright (if a show in the New Plays Festival) followed by Creative Team, in alphabetical order

Credits listed in bios should follow the following formatting:

  • Italics for titles of longer works (books, titles, TV shows, films)
  • Double quotation marks for shorter works (single poems, essays, episodes of a show, etc.)
  • While it's typical in the theatre and film industries to use ALL CAPS for titles, we do not use that format at SOA, and stick with italics instead.

You can find the most up to date style guide on our Communications webpage (also linking it directly here for ease). 

Per the acting faculty, reviews of Acting Theses are not allowed.