GUIDELINES FOR
OFF CENTER: DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE STUDENT PRODUCTIONS

I. Philosophical Issues and Pedagogical Objectives

  • Philosophical objectives include:
    1. Encouraging production of plays that are connected to the intellectual objectives of the university.
    2. Providing students with opportunities to work in "laboratory" situations which have limited rehearsal time and limited production values, placing the focus squarely on the actor-director relationship--but allowing a complete directorial experience on a small scale.
    3. Work in a environment that has minimal professional requirements and simultaneously allows informal supervision and instructional guidance through the Socratic method.
  • Pedagogical goals include:
    1. Giving directors opportunities to:
      • select interesting, challenging, producible material
      • develop a working analysis of the script
      • stage and rehearse a full-length production
      • supervise and assume responsibility for all aspects of a production
      • plan and realize a directorial concept
    2. Giving designers and technicians opportunities to:
      • have "hands on" design/tech experiences
      • realize creative, aesthetically satisfying productions within the structure of limited budgets and resources
      • explore and expand communication skills through director-designer collaborations
    3. Giving all students opportunities to:
      • expand their knowledge of dramatic literature
      • expand their knowledge of performance theory and the relationship between theory and practice
      • better understand drama and performance conventions of other periods and places by encouraging them to go beyond the intellectually familiar and safe
      • learn the collaborative process of theatre

  • Among the kinds of proposals best suited for Off Center are:

    -- One-act or other short plays that have minimal technical requirements are strongly encouraged as submissions for full productions. Full-length productions are strongly suggested as staged readings and will be chosen as full productions under special considerations.
    -- Plays that embrace experimental and/or non-traditional approaches and forms
    -- Plays that explore, discuss, or confront ideological and/or multicultural issues (defined by the University as race, ethnicity, gender, age, creed, disability, religion, and sexual orientation, among others)
    -- P    lays that have not yet been produced, adaptations, or plays which have a limited recent production history
    -- Plays that address or incorporate specific areas of research
    -- Plays that explore historical performance styles and genres
    -- P    lays whose length, number of required actors and technicians, and production values do not place an undue burden on the Department's resources
Remember Off Center is about the actor-director relationship. Design and technical elements should be utilized on a limited basis.
 

Directors can submit their plays for either a full production or staged reading. The committee may also recommend a proposal for one or the other. A staged reading is an opportunity for a director and/or playwright to hear their work out loud without set and lighting and with minimal props and costume pieces.

II. Proposal Procedures

  • Each semester an informational meeting will be held by the Director of the Off Center Committee and the Production Manager for the Department of Theatre that will be open to all interested in submitting to Off Center. Attendance at this meeting will be your opportunity to meet with select committee members in order to learn more about the Off Center process and to have your questions answered. This opportunity will likely increase your chances of a successful project.
  • Proposal forms will be made available to interested students, staff, and faculty before the end of each semester.

  • Completed proposals will be distributed to members of the committee by the Off Center Coordinator. Committee members have one week to read the proposals. The committee will then meet, discuss the merits of each proposal, and select the most desirable of them for production during the following semester.

  • The number of productions selected will be determined by the quality of submissions and the availability of departmental resources in any given semester.

  • The Off Center Coordinator will notify all who submitted proposals of the committee's decision.
  • For undergraduate students: While a submission to Off-Center need not come from the person wishing to direct, it must have a director attached to the project. A director in Off-Center should have a minimum of one full semester training or course work specifically in directing either from this Department or another equivalent source.

  • For graduate students: Those interested in an Off-Center project will be considered who have either had some previous course work or production experience or else have been given consideration by the PhD faculty in this regard, and will be evaluated at the discretion of the Off-Center Selection Committee.

III. General Guidelines & Information for Directors

  • As soon as a director's proposal is approved, s/he must meet with the Off Center Coordinator to go over the guidelines in this document. Any questions about these guidelines that may arise before or during the production process should be presented solely to the Off Center Coordinator

  • All productions must have open casting. Off Center directors will hold auditions after the Department of Theatre season has been cast. The Off Center Committee must approve any exception to the open casting policy.

  • Directors may not recruit actors, designers, or technicians by offering to pay them.

  • Student directors are allowed to register for credit under THET 499 (undergraduates) or THET 669 (graduates). Staged reading directors may be allowed to register for one credit. Directors of full productions may register for up to two credits.

  • There will be no eating, drinking, or smoking in any rehearsal and performance spaces.

  • Directors and their casts are responsible for cleaning up their rehearsal or performance space after each use. Move all flats, boxes or set pieces into their designated area and return all props, set dressings, etc. to their proper place. Flats, boxes, or other set pieces in the Lab Theatre may not be altered in any manner (i.e., painted, things attached, etc.). Failure to comply with these regulations will result in: 1) First violation? verbal warning; 2) Second violation?otal loss of access to the space. If you have any questions about what is or is not permissible, talk to the Off-Center Coordinator.

  • Each production may create up to 30 flyers to post on campus. Do not post flyers off campus. For a detailed statement of publicity policy, see "Publicity Guidelines for Student Productions."

  • Off Center performance dates are Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m., Sunday at 7:30 p.m., and Monday at 7:00 p.m.

  • Seating for all productions is on a first-come, first-served basis. This should be printed on all posters and flyers. Directors may not keep reservation lists. Faculty, staff and graduate students may make individual arrangements with directors, but shows will not be held for those who arrive late. Directors may release any seats promised to faculty and staff 5 minutes before curtain.

  • Members of the production (cast, crew, etc.) are responsible for the set-up and strike of the risers and chairs. A member of the production must receive instruction in setting up the risers, which can be arranged through the Off Center Coordinator. The handrails must always be used on the risers. The risers and chairs must be removed from the preformance space on days that the space is used for classes unless the director has received permission from all instructors who teach in the space on that day.

  • The director, cast, and crew will strike the show following the final performance. No one will be excused from this responsibility without permission from the Lab Theatre Manager.

  • During strike, the Lab Theatre Manager has ultimate authority. They are responsible for supervising strikes and making certain that the performance spaces are restored within 24 hours of the final performance. They are not responsible for doing the strikes alone.

  • Present all practical or artistic problems, questions, or issues to the Off Center Coordinator.

IV. Rehearsal Guidelines

  • Lab theatre productions share rehearsal and performance space with the acting and directing courses. Therefore, there is limited time available for all involved.
    1. Full Productions may reserve the Lab Theatre for no more than eight hours per week (no more than two hours at a time) until four days before opening. Four days before the first performance, four hours may be reserved to load in the production and focus specials; this time should not involve the actors. On the three days before opening, four hours may be reserved each day (for a total of twelve hours). Before the tech process, the director must endeavor not to reserve the same prime time hours (7:00 - 10:00 PM) each day.
    2. Staged readings may rehearse for no more than ten hours total without permission from the Off Center Coordinator.

  • Students will not be excused from class assignments because of production commitments.

  • Classes will not be canceled because of production demands.

  • No student will be required to rehearse or construct more than six days per week or twenty hours per week.

  • Rehearsals will end by 10:30 p.m. with everyone out of the space by 11:00 p.m.

  • Rehearsals for full productions should begin no earlier than four weeks before the opening performance date. Total rehearsal time should not exceed 75 hours, including tech. Rehearsals for staged readings should begin no earlier than one week before the opening performance date. Total rehearsal time should not exceed ten hours.

  • While a full production may request space for up to twenty hours of rehersal time per week, that does NOT guarantee them space. Each full production is only guaranteed rehearsal space in the Lab Theatre, 3730, 3732, or 3736 for two hours, four days a week.
 
  • There will be no exceptions to the guidelines unless the theatre faculty, meeting together, authorizes such exception.
V. Finances  

A reasonable budget (maximum available budgets are determined for each semester--currently not to exceed $250 for a Full Production) will be determined by the director of the production and the Off Center Coordinator and approved by the Faculty Manager.

In addition, within reason, the Department will pay royalties and provide scripts for Off Center productions and will provide each production with $20.00 (included in the $250 maximum for a Full Production) for photocopying posters, flyers, and programs.

Staged Readings will receive minimal financial support (aside from royalty, script, and photocopying costs) determined by the director of the production and the Off Center Coordinator and approved by the Faculty Production Manager.

NO ADDITIONAL MONIES ARE TO BE SOLICITED BY THE DIRECTOR FROM THE CAST OR CREW OF ANY PRODUCTION.

VI. Levels of Departmental Support

The Department will provide basic technical support, but every director who proposes to direct in either program must understand that all such productions will be accomplished with minimal technical support. Off Center theatre productions should emphasize the director/actor relationship and include only essential design elements; they are not intended to be technical extravaganzas. For those reasons the selection committee will look most favorably on proposals that have minimal technical requirements.

Do not contact the shops directly. All technical requests must be directed to the Faculty Production Manager. All specific questions or issues on production should be directed to the Faculty Production Manager or the Off Center Coordinator.

  • Sets
    1. Directors may recruit their own scenic designers, subject to the approval of the faculty scene designer.
    2. All sets must pass fire and safety regulations.
    3. Designers have access to departmental prop and set stock under the supervision of the Faculty Production Manager and the Resident Properties Manager. Properties stock is available four hours per week (at a time to be determined at the beginning of each semester). Students must sign up for an appointment with the Resident Properties Manager during that time.
    4. Sets must be struck following each rehearsal or performance preparatory to classes on the following day.
    5. Seating capacity shall not exceed the space's capacity, shall meet accessibility requirements, and, depending on the nature of the set, may be subject to reduction by the Faculty Production Manager. Seating in the Lab Theatre may not exceed the maximum allowed in the space (126, which includes actors and technicians), and the seating configuration should be approved two weeks prior to the first performance.
    6. The Faculty Production Manager must approve all set plans and prop lists.
  • Lighting: General Guidelines
    1. Directors may recruit their own lighting designers, subject to the approval of the faculty lighting designer.
    2. Designers will use existing Lab Theatre Repertory Light Plot with up to six specials that may be hung in any configuration as approved by the Faculty Lighting Designer.
    3. An information packet regarding use of lighting equipment (i.e. light board control, instrumental inventory, hookups, light plot) is available through the Lab Theatre Lighting Coordinator.
    4. At least one week prior to a production's scheduled access to the Lab Theatre, arrangements should be made with the Lab Theatre Lighting Coordinator for basic walk through of space and intended use of lighting equipment.
    5. At least one other person must be present at all times in the Lab Theatre when use of personnel lifts or ladders is required.
    6. Arrangements should be made with the Center Electrics Staff regarding the use and delivery of lifts and ladders.
    7. By permission of the Center Electrics Staff, designers may have access to any pre-cut color. Any cuts of full sheets of gel will be billed to the Off Center production and require the approval of the director and Faculty Manager.
    8. Access to lighting templates (gobos or patterns) from the Light Lab inventory should be arranged with the Lab Theatre Lighting Coordinator.
    9. Limited additional equipment may be available with the approval of the Lab Theatre Lighting Coordinator and Faculty Lighting Designer.
  • Repertory Light Plot Guidelines
    1. All productions and events in the Lab Theatre must work out of the repertory plot. The purpose of the rep plot is to provide maximum flexibility in lighting the space for a variety of functions including student shows and classroom activities. There will be no exceptions to this guideline without the approval of the Lab Theatre Lighting Coordinator and faculty lighting designer.
    2. All units in rep plots may be refocused with the understanding that the plot must be returned to its original focus upon the completion of the production's strike.
    3. Six (6) additional lighting instruments are available to supplement the existing rep plot at the discretion of the student lighting designer. These units must be struck and returned to their storage position or point of origin upon the completion of strike.
    4. No food or drink is allowed in the Lab Theatre or Lab Theatre control booth at any time.
    5. The production lighting designer is ultimately responsible for maintaining the integrity of the rep plot from load-in through strike. Student designers must arrange a final walk through of the venue with the Lab Theatre Lighting Coordinator to confirm the completed restoration of the rep plot, booth, and related equipment to full working order.
  • Costumes
    1. Directors may recruit their own costume designers, subject to the approval of the faculty costume designer.
    2. Costume stock is available Thursdays from 2-5 PM. Students may sign up for an appointment with the Costume Shop Manager during that time. The deadline to sign up is the preceding Wednesday. The time spent in stock is not included in the twenty hours of technical support. Dry cleaning costs of stock items will come from the production budget.
    3. Terms of technical support must be arranged with the Costume Shop Manager five weeks in advance of the "1st dress" for the production. Shop space and equipment will be available for one half working week or the equivalent (20 hours). This time includes fittings and alterations. The shop time must be during these hours: Monday through Thursday, 1 PM-6 PM, and Friday, 9 AM-12 PM. They will not be available on weekends, holidays, or evenings. During this time, the staff will be available for advice and giving source and supply information. If the Main Stage workload permits, the staff can help with alterations. They are not responsible for building Off-Center productions. If the five week deadline cannot be met, costumes can still be pulled but technical support cannot be accommodated.
  • Sound
    1. Directors may recruit their own sound designers, subject to the approval of the Faculty Production Manager.
    2. Designers may fully utilize the sound equipment in the space. Additional equipment or changes to the repertory plot may be available with the approval of the Faculty Production Manager.
    3. Under the supervision of the Faculty Production Manager, designers may have limited access to departmental sound production facilities.
  • Stage Management
    1. Directors may recruit their own stage managers, subject to the approval of the Faculty Production Manager.

VII. Publicity Guidelines for Student Productions

  • Flyers
    1. One week before the first performance, each production may post up to 30 flyers on campus. Do not post flyers off campus or solicit coverage by off-campus media.
    2. The flyer must be 8 1/2" x 11" on white or colored paper. Work with the Department's Director of Business Operations to send the program to Media Express for copying after approval by the Off Center Coordinator. Allow at least three full days for copying.
    3. The flyer must contain this copy:
      • "A student production of the Department of Theatre" (without quotations)
      • Title of Play
      • Author(s) of Play
      • Name of Director(s) of Play
      • Optional: a brief line to describe the play
      • Place of Performances
      • Dates and Times of Performances
      • FREE
      • "Limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis" (without quotations)
      • Any contractual requirement(s), such as "presented by permission of Samuel French, Inc."
    4. The flyer cannot contain this copy:
      • Names of Other Members of the Conceptual Team (designers, etc.) or actors' names
    5. Do not incorporate copyrighted artwork without written permission of the copyright's owner.
    6. Post the flyers no earlier than one week before the first performance. Do not post flyers on walls, doors or trees. All flyers hung in the Center must be posted using blue painters tape.

  • Programs
    1. Each production may create enough programs to equal the theatre's legal capacity x 50% x the number of performances. We furnish programs on a share and re-use basis; we ask two people to share one program and return it for use by others. Please ensure a box for recycled programs is prominently displayed when the audience exits.
    2. The program must be one 8 1/2" x 11" sheet on white paper. The program can be two-sided. Work with the Department's Director of Business Operations to send the program to Media Express for copying after approval by the Off Center Coordinator. Allow at least three full days for copying.
    3. Programs must include this information:
      • Title of Play
      • Author(s) of Play
      • "A student production of the Department of Theatre"(without quotations)
      • Place of Performances
      • Dates and Times of Performances
      • Any contractual requirement(s)
      • Titles and Names of Conceptual Team (Directors, Designers, etc.)
      • Names of Characters and Actors
      • The Setting or Synopsis of Scenes and Intermission Information (as appropriate)
      • Production Staff (Names of Positions and Crew Members)
      • Acknowledgments
      • Optional: Biographies of Production Participants (if included, these biographies must follow the same guidelines as biographies for Department of Theatre productions)
    4. Do not incorporate copyrighted artwork without written permission of the copyright's owner.
    Please note: Neither flyers nor programs may be reproduced on the Department of Theatre copy machine.

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    Department of Theatre, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-1610