Studio Theater Users Guide

INTRODUCTION

This document cannot address all contingencies that may arise from use of the ST. Such contingencies will be handled jointly by the appointed delegates of the STC. A meeting of the STC may be called at any time, by any unit, to address issues of impact.

POLICIES

• The STC will meet annually in April to determine the ST schedule for the following year.
• Additional ST dates must be scheduled through the School of Drama General Manager for Production. Equipment
  
  • The ST should exist as a separate "standalone" facility to the greatest degree possible.
  • All dedicated ST equipment (both minor and major equipment) should remain in the ST and its associated storage areas.
  • ST equipment should not be used in any other venue.
  • Each user is responsible for repair to minor equipment damaged during their use of the ST.
  • The STC will review and allocate funds for major equipment.
  • It is the producing units' responsibility to provide running lights (equity lights).
  • The use of Meany Theater's music stands, stand lights and chairs must be arranged in consultation with Meany Theater staff.
  • Each user, at the conclusion of their tenancy, will be responsible for leaving the ST in the condition specified in the "Studio Theater Restore Manual " (Attachment 2).
  Shared space
  
  • ST users should respect spaces shared with Meany Theater.
  • The Meany Theater wagon dock is not able to accommodate storage of ST sets, props, etc.
  • Each user is responsible for clean up of the ST both daily and upon strike of a production.
  • The ST has its own assigned dressing room/greenroom area in the basement of Meany Theater. Therefore the Meany Theater main floor green room, artist restrooms, and dressing rooms are not to be used during ST productions.
  Safety and Security
  
  • All technicians, stage managers, and house managers must know the emergency procedures for the ST.
  • Each unit must ensure adequate staffing for the safety and security of the facility and its participants during ST use.

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  PROCEDURES

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  Scheduling
  
  • The STC will meet annually in April to determine the ST schedule for the following year.
    1. At the beginning of each April, STC representatives will meet as a group to review the requests for ST use for the coming year.
    2. It is expected that all units will have their normal requests for use of the ST identified at this time.
    3. The STC will resolve conflicting requests.
    4. A calendar of events (see Attachment 3) taking place in the ST will be available on the ST web page, (http://depts.washington.edu/meanystu/), after the April meeting.
    5. The General Manager (Anne Stewart) and Technical Director (Tom Burke) of the School of Drama are responsible for the creation and maintenance of the web page. (Note: this page is up and running, but still in the "beta" stages. Please direct all comments and suggestions regarding the use and function of this site to Tom Burke.)
  • Additional ST dates must be scheduled through the School of Drama General Manager.
    1. Requests for additions to the ST calendar should be made by e-mail to the General Manager 8 weeks in advance of the event, whenever possible.
    2. Requests will only be accepted from members of the STC or individuals or groups affiliated with faculty advisors of Music, Dance, or Drama.
    3. In general, additional events should not require intensive technical support.
    4. These requests should state date, time, duration, and what materials and resources (rehearsal space, lights, sound, tech support, etc.) are needed for successful completion.
    5. In the case of minor events (e.g., a request for the addition of a one-hour class for one day only) the General Manager will schedule the event, update the web calendar, and e-mail representatives of each unit informing them of the change.
    6. For more complicated events, the General Manager will refer the request to each of the unit representatives for approval.
    7. Multi-day rentals by other campus or community users are not available at this time due to lack of resources.
  Equipment
  
  • All dedicated ST equipment (both minor and major equipment) should remain in the ST and its associated storage areas.
    1. The ST has been equipped with its own inventory of production support equipment.
    2. This inventory is listed in the "Studio Theater Renovation Guide." (Copies of this Guide may be found in both the School of Drama and Meany Theater production offices.)
  • Each user is responsible for repair to minor equipment damaged during their use of the ST.
    1. Any damage done to minor ST equipment (lighting instruments, microphones, softgoods, etc.) during a unit's tenancy should be repaired at the earliest possible date.
    2. The user responsible for this damage should immediately notify the School of Drama General Manager and pay for such repairs out of their own departmental budgets.
    3. The School of Drama General Manager should also be notified upon completion of these repairs.
  • The STC will review and allocate funds for major equipment.
    1. The needs for repairs, maintenance, and enhancements to major equipment (dimmers, rolling bridges, lighting consoles and controls, sound mixing boards, speakers, etc.) should be reviewed by the STC to determine a plan and budgeting.
  • Each user, at the conclusion of their tenancy, will be responsible for leaving the ST in the condition specified in the "Studio Theater Restore Manual" (Attachment 2).
    1. These specifications may be altered by mutual agreement with the subsequent user of the ST (e.g. Drama may request that the light booms not be put into storage following a Dance strike).
  • The use of Meany Theater's music stands, stand lights and chairs must be arranged in consultation with Meany Theater staff.
    1. The use of music stands, stand lights, and chairs from Meany Theater must be arranged on a case-by-case basis with Meany Theater Technical Director. Availability will be determined with Meany Theater's needs as first priority.
  Shared space
  • ST users should respect shared spaces with Meany Theater.
    1. Users of both theaters will respect the needs of these spaces and act accordingly.
    2. The common hallway between the ST lobby and wagon dock is an unfortunate architectural feature that can allow for sound bleed into either the ST or Meany Theater and subsequent disruption of performances.
    3. Cast and crews of both theaters should be informed that silence should be maintained in this hallway during rehearsals and performances.
    4. Traffic in this hallway should be kept to a minimum by both theaters.
    5. The ST lobby is common to the Meany Hall administrative offices and the ST. It is not to be used for rehearsals during business hours.
    6. The interior lobby entrance doors to the ST should also be closed during rehearsals that take place during business hours.
  • The Meany Theater wagon dock is not able to accommodate storage of ST sets, props, etc.
    1. Due to the lack of space on the Meany Theater wagon dock, productions should be brought into the ST as completely built as possible.
    2. Every attempt should be made to keep productions within the confines of the ST.
    3. The wagon dock should not be used as a storage or construction space for the ST.
    4. Off-stage storage of props and larger scenic elements in the wagon dock is possible in some instances, but must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with Meany staff. This should be done as early in the production cycle as possible to identify possible conflicts between ST and Meany productions.
    5. In the event the wagon dock is utilized for a ST production, all scenic elements and props must be stored inside the ST after each performance.
  • Each user is responsible for clean up of the ST both daily and upon strike of a production.
    1. A small stock of cleaning tools (brooms, dust pans, etc.) has been dedicated to the ST.
    2. The producing unit will be responsible for all other cleaning tools and supplies.
    3. All garbage generated by the ST must go directly to the dumpster located outside the building by the loading dock.
    4. Food waste from rehearsals and performances must be disposed of on a daily basis to the outside dumpster because the Meany custodial staff does not service the waste and garbage cans located in the Meany wagon dock.
  • The Meany Theater green room, artist restrooms and dressing rooms are not to be used for ST productions.
    1. The Meany Theater green room, artist dressing and restrooms are not to be considered part of the ST backstage and are not to be used by ST cast and crew.
    2. The exception to this is access to water at the janitor's closet at stage level. Use of this closet should be as unobtrusive as possible.
    3. ST dressing rooms and green room are on the west end of the lower level. These areas are to be accessed by the stairway at the west end of the wagon dock, and not by the stairway located off of the Meany Theater greenroom.
  Safety and Security
  • All technicians, stage managers, and house managers must know the emergency procedures for the ST.
    1. The emergency procedures will be prominently posted in both the ST Box Office and ST Control Booth.
  • Each unit must ensure adequate staffing for the safety and security of the facility and its participants during ST use.
    1. With the exception of "worklight" rehearsals and events, a qualified technician or stage manager shall be present at all rehearsals and performances.
    2. All events that have an audience must have a qualified representative of the producing unit to manage Front of House operations.
    3. The Stage Manager, House Manager, or unit appointed designee will be responsible for unlocking doors prior to the arrival of company, crew and/or audiences.
    4. Following each use of the ST, the user shall also be responsible for securing the theater and its access doors.

  Revised: November 18, 2008