Student Roles and Responsibilities - New Plays Festival

Reports to: Playwright

Receives support and guidance from: Director of Production, Thesis Production Manager, Lenfest FOH Staff, CU Marketing Team, Faculty.

Schedule: Required at all production meetings (both with and without Columbia production staff), rehearsals, tech rehearsals, final dress, and opening.

Duties (In addition to typical Directorial Duties):

• Thoroughly reading and understanding the New Plays Festival protocols.
• Ensuring Lenfest Center for the Arts Rules; School of the Arts Rules; Theatre Program/Production Department Guidelines, Rules, and Regulations; & NY Laws are followed.
• Make fundraising decisions with Playwright, Production Management, Producer by given deadlines.
• Creating rehearsal calendar with Production Stage Manager and Playwright.
• Facilitating a recommended 3-4 design meetings prior to the Design Concepts Meeting.
• If sexual content, consensual sexual touching, and/or depicting sexual assault are a part of the production, following the Intimacy Protocols.
• In the case of nudity, completing a Nudity Release Form with the actor(s), prior to nudity in rehearsal.
• Facilitating the audition/casting process with the Playwright and Producer (note: Stage Managers are not required or expected to assist with auditions).
• Attending all Columbia production meetings.
• Returning rehearsal/performance spaces to neutral.
• In the case of using a minor(s) in the production, completing Columbia minor training online course.
• A pre-show announcement is mandatory, per building code and NYC law. It must be audible, and occur within 10 minutes of the start of the performance.
  • Pre-show announcement language example: (The language about exit doors is the only part required)
    • "Hello and welcome to _______________.  Please take a moment to identify the nearest exit.  For the safety of our actors, no photography.  Please use this opportunity to silence your phone. Most importantly–enjoy the show”
    • **Please submit any variance of this language to the Production Manager/Director of Production for approval, before recording.
• At the Invited Dress Rehearsal, communicating to the show photographer about the production/photographic needs. The photographer will shoot during that run.

(If Playwright does not hire a Producer, the Playwright and/or Director are responsible for the following duties) 

Reports to: Thesis Production Manager, Playwright

Receives support and guidance from: Director of Production, New Plays Festival General Manager, Lenfest FOH Staff, CU Marketing Team, Faculty.

Schedule: Required at all production meetings (both with and without Columbia production staff), tech rehearsals, final dress, and opening. Attendance to rehearsals prior to tech and all performances strongly encouraged.

PRODUCER HANDBOOK & WORKFLOW

The Producer Handbook and Workflow Document is downloadable and printable.  This document details all duties, workflows and deliverables for Producers.  This document will be gone over in detail during the Producer Orientation.  Please thoroughly read this document. 

Reports to: Thesis Production Manager, Director

Receives support and guidance from: Director of Production, New Plays Festival General Manager, Lenfest FOH Staff, Faculty.

Schedule: Required at production meetings (both with and without Columbia production staff, classes take priority), all rehearsals, final dress, and all performances. 

General Duties

• Thoroughly reading and understanding the thesis handbook.
• Ensuring Lenfest Center for the Arts Rules; School of the Arts Rules; Theatre Program/Production Department Guidelines, Rules, and Regulations; & NY Laws are followed.
• Collaborating with the director, all creative team members, and Columbia production staff to help successfully achieve the production vision.
• Reviewing scripts and/or monitor devised text in order to develop standard production paperwork.
• Facilitating communication between all departments.
• Identifying and troubleshooting potential production issues.
• Acting as executive-in-charge of all pre-production deliverables (see below), rehearsals, and performances.
• Maintaining artistic integrity of performances to ensure quality control over the course of the run.
• Conducting themselves as leaders in accordance with generally accepted professional standards of conduct.
• Demonstrating ability to accept and incorporate constructive criticism from the Columbia production staff and concentration advisors at various times through the process in an effort to assess progress.
• As facilitator for all protocols, stage managers who are meet with any resistance from any member of the production team (students, staff, faculty, administration, and any outside colleagues hired for the production), should immediately report such instances to their Concentration Head, the Director of Production, and the Director of Academic Administration for further counsel.

STAGE MANAGER WORKFLOW HANDBOOK

The Stage Manager Workflow Handbook is downloadable and printable.  This document details all duties, workflows and deliverables for Stage Managers.  This document will be gone over in detail during the Stage Manager Orientation.  Please thoroughly read this document. 

Reports to: Thesis Production Manager, Production Stage Manager, Director

Receives support and guidance from: Director of Production, New Plays Festival General Manager, Lenfest FOH Staff, Faculty.

Schedule: Required at production meetings (both with and without Columbia production staff, classes take priority), tech rehearsals, final dress, and all performances. 

General Duties:

• Thoroughly reading and understanding the thesis handbook.
• Attending all Columbia production meetings (classes permitting).
• Ensuring Lenfest Center for the Arts Rules; School of the Arts Rules; Theatre Program/Production Department Guidelines, Rules, and Regulations; & NY Laws are followed.
• Work with the Costume Shop to coordinate the fitting schedule for the cast. The Costume Shop manager will provide a sign-up sheet that includes shop and designer availability.
• The Stage Manager(s) shall attend all required rehearsals, perform all tasks designated by the Production Stage Manager, and maintain accurate records of necessary information.
• Assisting in returning rehearsal/performance spaces to neutral when rehearsing in Nash or Riverside.  BG2 does not need to be returned to neutral each day.
• Performing other tasks as assigned by the Production Stage Manager.
• Running backstage for all technical rehearsals.
• Managing 1st year student production crew.
• In the case of using a minor(s) in the production, completing Columbia Protection of Minors Training.

STAGE MANAGER WORKFLOW HANDBOOK

The Stage Manager Workflow Handbook is downloadable and printable.  It is also copied above within the PSM section for your connivence.  Please access it in whatever way is most supportive to you.  The information above and the downloadable handbook are 100% identical. 

These roles are assigned for 1st Year Crew Assignment, a graduation requirement. Upon assignment, the crew gets their roles & responsibilities from the Thesis Production Manager.

Reports to: Production Stage Manager

Receives support and guidance from: Director of Production, Thesis Production Manager, Faculty.

Schedule: Required at all tech rehearsals (as scheduled by Production Manager), final dress, all performances, and all changeovers.

Duties include: 

• There will be 1 Light Board Operator and 1 Backstage run crew available to each show, from tech through performances.
• Be present at all Tech Rehearsals & Performances to act as Run Crew and Changeover Help, if needed.
• Specific duties will be decided on a show-by-show basis to meet the needs of each specific production.