General Production Info

The Policies and Procedures listed below keep the Program in compliance with New York City laws and Columbia University rules, as they are frequently and closely inspected by NYC Fire Marshals and Columbia Public Safety. They exist to create a safe space for students, faculty, staff, and guests.

General Policies

• All Collaborators must thoroughly read and understand the Schapiro Handbook
• All students are responsible for ensuring School of the Arts Rules, Theatre Program/Production Department Policies, Procedures, and Regulations & NY Laws are followed
• The operating hours are 10:00 am-11:00 pm 7 days a week, except on scheduled closures
• All Schapiro spaces will be locked at 11 pm promptly each night. Rehearsals will end at 10:45 pm to allow for cleaning up, gathering your belongings and exiting the space.
• No food or drink is allowed, except bottled water. Alcohol is NOT permitted.
• Please keep the spaces free of debris and trash. Pick up all trash after each use and remove or store all personal belongings.
• No flame, water features, fake snow, sand, dirt, glitter, confetti, or other small particles are permitted (venue & NYC law restrictions).
• No painting, chalk or markers can be used on any part of the space’s permanent structure, i.e. the floor, the walls of the Theatre/Studio, the doors of the Theatre/Studio, etc.
• The main seating structure in The Theatre cannot be moved. The main seating structure in The Theatre holds 51 chairs without a row on the floor.
• Prop furniture from Schapiro or PR stock may not be used for audience seating.
• 42” of unobstructed egress must be available at all times during the course of the production to both Emergency Exits.
• No audience members are allowed to sit in an aisle or fire egress.
• Lobby furniture may not be removed from the lobby.
• No rehearsal in the lobby. It has public access to Offices, Classrooms, the Music Practice Rooms and the Restrooms.
• The lockers, located on the Lower Level, are assigned by the Program. They are not for production use.
• Use of AEA members (Actors and Stage Managers) is NOT permitted.
• 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.
• In the case of using a minor(s) in the production, completing Columbia minor training online course.
• Cast Parties and post show receptions, at Schapiro, are not allowed without permission granted by the department (requests must be submitted to PM, DP, & DAA). ALCOHOL IS NOT PERMITTED.
• Columbia University has final authority for all decisions related to Schapiro productions.
• Failure to abide by these policies may result in loss of scheduled use. 

General Procedures

• Securing all designers and production support staff before the Policies & Procedures Meeting
• Required positions include: Director, Stage Manager, Non-AEA Actors, Producer/General Manager, Scenic/Props, Lighting, Sound & Costume Designers.
• If a Columbia student intends to take on a role in a production that is outside of their concentration, they must have written approval from their concentration head before signing onto the project.
• Suggested positions include: Dramaturg, ASM, Music Director, Choreographer, Intimacy Director, Fight Coordinators, Composer, Assistant Director, Video Designer.
• Maximum capacity for The Theatre (including cast, crew, audience) is 74.
• The main seating structure in The Theatre cannot be moved. The main seating structure in The Theatre holds 51 chairs without a row on the floor, 65 with a row.
• Maximum capacity for The Studio (including cast, crew, audience) is 74.
• Handrails must be used on all audience risers 8” or higher.
• Audience chairs and the seating risers are limited in resources. In your preliminary meeting with Production Management, please prepare the number of risers and seats you will need for your production.
• 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 Production Management for approval, before recording.
• Anyone using the light or sound boards must be approved by, and meet with Production Management before gaining access to the booth.
• Immediately following the last performance you must complete a strike list provided by Production Management.  A copy will be provided to the Production Stage Manager,  General Manager/Producer and the Schapiro Site Supervisor on call.  This list must be completed and verified by the Schapiro Site Supervisor before company dismissal.
• Inclement Weather Policy- If inclement weather occurs during/prior to a rehearsal or performance, please stay in close communication with the Schapiro PM, APM and/or Director of Production about the status of any building or campus closures.
• The policy for rehearsals and performance is that they will continue as planned, unless the building is closed by the University and/or NYC Public Transit is shut down.
• Final decision for any alteration of schedule is with Production Management/Director of Production with guidance from Public Safety.
• Failure to abide by these procedures may result in loss of scheduled use.

Morris A. Schapiro Hall, an undergraduate dormitory, is located at 605 West 115^th Street. Directions are HERE. These Program-run spaces, on the lower level, are the most active for our student presentations. As such, we take their use – and misuse – extremely seriously. 

The Theatre @ Schapiro

A 1,836 square foot (36’ x51’) black box with black Masonite floor, full grid, lighting and sound packages. The maximum capacity for the Theatre (including cast, crew, and audience) is 74. The center section of seating is fixed in the space and holds 51 chairs. Additional seating must be approved by Production Management. No audience members are allowed to sit in an aisle or fire egress. There are strict NY State Laws regarding venue capacity and seating arrangements that must be followed. Ask Production Management about any ideas as early as possible and understand that some ideas cannot be accommodated. 

The Studio @ Schapiro

A 1,170 square foot (26’ x 45’) space with Linen White walls, black Masonite floor, full surround of black curtains, partial grid, modest lighting and sound packages and flexible seating. The maximum capacity (including cast, crew, and audience) is 74 persons. There are strict NY State Laws regarding venue capacity and seating arrangements that must be followed. Ask Production Management about any ideas as early as possible and understand that some ideas cannot be accommodated. 

• If you decide to use ‘seating risers’ for the audience, you have a guarantee of 6- 3’3” x 6’6” risers. More may be available, please check with the Production Manager early on in the process. If you use the end stage configuration, a row of chairs on the floor, 2 risers legged at (+8”), and 3 legged at (+16”), your house will be a maximum of 29. No riser can be higher than +16”.

B20 - Rehearsal Space

This 270 square foot (15’ x 18’) room can be used for rehearsals or auditions. They serve as Dressing Rooms for The Studio projects.  The maximum capacity (including cast, crew, and audience) is 10 persons. The use of B20 must be reserved through EMS.

B22 - Rehearsal Space

This 210 square foot (14’ x 15’) room can be used for rehearsals or auditions. They serve as Dressing Rooms for The Studio projects.The maximum capacity (including cast, crew, and audience) is 10 persons. The use of B22 must be reserved through EMS.