Rehearsal, Load In, Tech & Performance Procedures

Scheduling

  • Production Management will approve rehearsal schedules.
  • All rehearsals will be booked through EMS.
  • All Columbia University holidays are observed during the rehearsal and performance process. Please plan accordingly around these dates. (inclusive, but not limited to: Labor Day, Election Day, Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, July 4th)
  • Rehearsal Processes must be paused for the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend (Wednesday-Sunday)
  • Schapiro is also closed for all activities between Christmas Day and New Years Eve.
  • The SM and Director will collaborate to create the rehearsal schedule.
  • Please pre-schedule the designer runs into the production calendar (even if tentative).
  • Please reference the SOA Primary Calendar for official rehearsal start date.
  • For Studio Collab, Materials, Shakespeare, and Chekhov Projects-
    • The maximum weekly rehearsal time is 28 hours/week and 128 hours total (inclusive of tech & dress rehearsals). A day-off must be given after 6 consecutive days of rehearsal
  • For Acting Projects-
    • The maximum weekly rehearsal time is 28 hours/week and 153 hours total (inclusive of tech & dress rehearsals). A day-off must be given after 6 consecutive days of rehearsal
  • Pre-tech rehearsals may not exceed 5 hours.
  • Tech Rehearsals lasting more than 5 hours require a 1-hour meal break.
  • Please refer to the EMS scheduling guidelines for any Theatre Program protocols, based on the production's placement in the season.
  • Rehearsals must adhere to the break schedule (5 min for 55 min or 10 for 80 min).
  • There must be a 12-hour rest period between rehearsals.
  • Production Management will send the Production Stage Manager available times for rehearsal once the production has moved into their Schapiro space.

 

Rehearsals spaces are located at: 

Nash Building - 3280 Broadway, 5th floor 

  • A company list must be provided to Public Safety everyday prior to rehearsals.
  • Everyone will need to check in with Public Safety with proper ID in the main lobby.
  • No cleaning solutions may be used on the marley dance floors. Water only.
  • There is a water fountain,vending machines, fridge and microwave on the 5th floor, South Lobby. Another microwave in the North Lobby.
  • There are restrooms on the 5th floor, South Lobby and end of corridor next to freight elevator.
  • There are First Aid supplies located in the South Lobby, outside Academic Resources.
  • There is rehearsal furniture that can be used in both North and South Lobbies.
  • Rehearsals must end at  9:45p for restoration and clean up. 

Riverside Church - 81 Claremont Ave, 12th,13th or 15th floors (12T, 13T, & 15T)  

  • Everyone will need to check in with Public Safety with proper ID in the main lobby.
  • The Tower elevators are passed the security desk then to the right.
  • There is a water fountain and a men's restroom in the main lobby on the Street Level, just past the security desk. Women’s restrooms are on this level as well - follow signs.
  • There are also restrooms on the rehearsal room floors
  • The rehearsal rooms close at 12a. 

Schapiro Residence Hall- 605 W.115th Street, Lower Level 

  • There is a water fountain and vending machines in the building's main lobby on the Street Level.
  • There are restrooms on the Lower Level, as well as individual restrooms on Street Level.
  • There is a fridge and microwave located in the room between dressing rooms in The Theatre.
  • There is a fridge and microwave located in The Studio dressing rooms (B20)
  • There are First Aid kits in The Theatre, The Studio, and outside the Stage Management office (B17).
  • There is rehearsal furniture that can be used in storage rooms attached to both spaces.
  • The rehearsal room will be locked promptly at 11p. Rehearsals must end at 10:45p for restoration and clean up. 

At First Rehearsal 

Note for Performances

  1. Charging a ticket price for any curricular production is strictly prohibited. The Theatre Program reserves the right to close a production if the sale of tickets is discovered. There is no exception to this rule.
  2. There can be no concessions/souvenirs sold.
  3. Prior permission from the PM is required to record a performance. Such recording can only be used for archival purposes only and every cast member must sign a waiver acknowledging footage is for archival purposes only and will not be distributed on the internet or through any other means. Note: The use of Equity actors absolutely prohibits the recording of a performance, regardless of its purpose.

Directing Projects Load In & Tech Week

On the Sunday before opening
  • Schapiro strike team will strike the previous show and begin load-in in the morning
  • The strike team normally works about 5 hours on Sundays (until 4pm) to load-in as much as possible before rehearsal
  • The tech table will be set up and taken down for you. It will include: 4 beltpacks and headsets, 3 LittleLites, and a powerstrip
  • Sunday night - designer run in the space
Monday 
  • Items checked out from PR will be delivered to Schapiro on the morning truck between 10a-1p
  • If available (1p-7p), Schapiro welcomes the presence of the Scenic Designer, Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, and Projection Designer before the first technical rehearsal to help direct the Crew @ Schapiro on load-in
  • Our goal, if achievable will be to have all scenic elements, light and speaker adds installed by tech at 7p
  • First tech rehearsal at 7p-10:45p
Tuesday
  • Load-In continues, Designers welcome (12p-6p)
  • Designer time (6p-9p)
  • Cast, SM & Director night off
Wednesday
  • Tech notes, Designers welcome (1p-6p)
  • Tech rehearsal (6p-10:45p)
Thursday
  • Tech notes, strike tech tables, and add audience seating. Designers welcome (1p-6p)
  • Tech and Invited Dress Rehearsal (6p-10:45p)
Friday
  • The Crew @ Schapiro will prep the space to be show ready
  • Box Office opens 1h before curtain
  • Opening Night!
  • Space closed 30 minutes after show is concluded
Saturday
  • Space will be opened 2h before curtain by The Crew @ Schapiro Rep
  • Box Office opens 1h before curtain
  • Space may be locked between matinee and evening performance
  • Performance Strike list must be completed before The Crew Rep releases the company

 

 

2nd Year Presentations Load In & Tech Week

Sunday
  • Schapiro strike team will strike the previous show and begin load-in in the morning
  • The strike team normally works about 5 hours on Sundays (until 4pm) to load-in as much as possible before rehearsal
  • The tech table will be set up and taken down for you. It will include: 4 beltpacks and headsets, 3 LittleLites, and a powerstrip
Monday 
  • Items checked out from PR will be delivered to Schapiro on the morning truck between 10a-1p
  • If available (1p-6p), Schapiro welcomes the presence of the Scenic Designer, Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, and Projection Designer before the first technical rehearsal to help direct the Crew @ Schapiro on load-in
  • Our goal, if achievable will be to have all scenic elements, light and speaker adds installed by rehearsal at 6p
  • Spacing Rehearsal/Designer Run (6p-10p)
Tuesday
  • Load-In continues, Designers welcome (2p-9p)
  • Designer time (5p-9p)
  • Cast, SM & Director night off
Wednesday
  • Tech notes, Designers welcome (1p-6p)
  • Rehearsal (6p-10p)
  • Designers OFF
Thursday
  • Load In, Designers welcome (1p-6p)
  • Rehearsal (6p-10p)
Friday
  • Load In, Designers welcome (1p-6p)
  • Tech Rehearsal (6p-10:45p)
Saturday
  • Space Open (9a)
  • Tech Notes (10a-11a)
  • Tech Rehearsal (11a-2:30p)
  • Company Lunch/Production Notes (2:30p-3:30p)
  • Tech Rehearsal (3:30p-7p)
Sunday
  • Space Open (9a)
  • Tech Notes (10a-12p)
  • Tech Rehearsal/Run Thru (12p-6p)
Monday
  • DARK
Tuesday
  • DARK
Wednesday
  • Tech notes, Designers welcome (1p-6p)
  • Brush Up Tech (6p-8p)
  • Run Thru (8p-10:45p)
Thursday
  • Tech notes, strike tech tables, and add audience seating. Designers welcome (1p-6p)
  • Invited Dress Rehearsal (6p-10p) Optional - Opening Night 
Friday
  • The Crew @ Schapiro will prep the space to be show ready
  • Box Office opens 1h before curtain
  • Prep for Show (1p-6p)
  • Performance (6p-10:45p)
  • Space closed 30 minutes after show is concluded
Saturday
  • Space will be opened 2h before curtain by The Crew @ Schapiro Rep
  • Box Office opens 1h before curtain
  • Space may be locked between matinee and evening performance
  • Performance Strike list must be completed before The Crew Rep releases the company

General Strike Info

  1. Please refer to this strike checklist
  2. All Non-CU items must be removed from the venue after the closing performance.
  3. Columbia will not be responsible for transportations of personal or borrowed items.
  4. All lights (i.e., house, work, dressing room, back room), except the ghost light, should be turned off before leaving.
  5. Strikes are not complete until The Crew Rep on duty signs off on all requirements being met.
  6. Costumes and Props signed out from Nash will be stored in Room 106 at the end of strike. PR Furniture items will be stored in Room 107.

The Theatre

  • all furniture returned to B11 (back room)
    • please check for item number on the bottom and return to shelves as labeled
  • all props and costumes pulled from PR should be moved to Room 106. PR Furniture items will be stored in Room 107.
  • first 2 rows of chairs get stacked at the end of their row
  • clear any garbage in house
  • make sure all personal items and any trash are removed from booth
  • Remove all spike tape from the floor

Strike must be completed by 11pm on Saturday

 

Dressing Rooms

  • Remove all personal items Saturday after performances
  • Wipe down chairs, countertops and mirrors in dressing rooms with disinfectant wipes
  • Sweep dressing rooms
  • White tubular hangers stay in dressing rooms
  • All CU costumes, (from PR or purchased) get packed up and moved to Room 107

The Studio

  • All furniture returned to B11 (theatre’s back room) or B15C (back room of Studio)
    • please return to shelves as labeled
  • All props and costumes pulled from PR should be moved to Room 106. PR Furniture items will be stored in Room 107.
  • All chairs stacked
  • Clear any garbage in house
  • Make sure all personal items removed from booth including trash
  • Remove all spike tape from the floor
  • Return keys to The Crew Rep.

Strike must be completed by 11pm on Saturday.

 

Dressing Rooms

  • Remove all personal items Saturday after performances
  • Wipe down chairs, countertops and mirrors in dressing rooms with disinfectant wipes
  • Sweep dressing rooms
  • White tubular hangers stay in dressing rooms
  • All CU costumes, (from PR or purchased) get packed up and moved to Room 107