Objectives of Staples Players

To encourage and develop greater support and respect for the theatre in a supervised learning environment.

To give to each student participating in the program an opportunity to learn and be involved in every aspect of producing a play.

To offer students extensive experiences that will not only help them in theatre but promote an attitude of support and cooperation in any future endeavor.

To use knowledge, talent and hard work to present productions of the highest quality.

Membership

In order to perform in any production, students should be enrolled in Introduction to Theatre, Advanced Theatre, Directing or an approved independent study theatre program. We recognize that it may not always be possible to schedule a class, therefore at the discretion of the Director, exceptions may be made. Involvement and good standing in school are the only requirement in addition to enrollment.

Students who are not enrolled in theatre classes may participate in technical work, but those working in the technical area are also encouraged to enroll in a class.

All members of Players will be required to put in a total of 15 tech hours each semester. These hours do not need to be for one specific crew and will be tabulated and reported by the senior managers of each crew. The goal here is to form a community and to gain respect for all work involved in putting a show together. Collaboration and cooperation between on stage and off stage workers is paramount to our success. Not contributing to the success of the whole may be grounds for dismissal from Players.

Grades

A grade point average of C- will place a student in jeopardy of membership. The person will be allowed involvement but will be given no position of authority or responsibility. Anything lower than this standard calls for immediate action. Recognizing that each situation is different, the student may be put on probation or removed from involvement until grades are improved.

Click here for more information on grades

Rules and Regulations for ALL Players

ALL MEMBERS OF PLAYERS MUST ATTEND AND BE ON TIME TO ALL REQUIRED MEETINGS AND REHEARSALS. ANY TWO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES OR TARDIES MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM A PRODUCTION.

* There will be complete silence back stage from all! Everyone backstage should refrain from anything that could remotely be determined distracting. (This includes: talking, dancing, mooning etc.

* When we vacate for the night there should be no trace of Players in the Teachers Cafeteria, the Choral Room, the bathrooms, the hallway or any classrooms we've used.

* When we close up, the following areas must be clean: stage, ticket booth, lobby, lighting booth, between the seats in the auditorium (this includes programs left behind by members of the audience).

* All involved should accept notes from the Director, Tech Director and officers as constructive criticism. It's difficult not to take some things personally, but you must remember that we are all in pursuit of excellence and our audience deserves the best that we can be.

* There is no such thing as "senior privilege" although when all is equal seniority will be considered.

* Members of Players are expected to keep up in their studies, not use rehearsal as an excuse for poor classroom performance, and in general behave responsibly. Know how much you can handle. If you have to cut back, we'll try to help you do that, but in some cases you may have to give up participation in Players or another activity in order to maintain sanity. Discipline and responsibility are essential in the arts. Hopefully your work in Players will promote success in other areas. Players cannot become an excuse for not following through in the rest of your life.

* All members of Players must sign a copy of our CREED and abide by the standards it establishes

* Be helpful. Be kind. Be prepared. Be spirited. Work hard. Follow through. Excellence will follow!

A Matter of Respect

* All fire and health codes must be respected.

* Remember to be polite to all security people (police and fire personnel) and the custodial staff. They are here to help.

* Treat each other with respect as well as those who have responsible positions in the organization: Ms Roth, Mr. Ziegahn, Mr. Deedon, Mrs. Kahn, music staff, senior managers and officers.

* There is no eating or drinking in the auditorium, the lighting booth or the Black Box Theatre. The exception is water. Techies are not to be eating or drinking while at their posts during a show. We must all be vigilant in enforcing this to protect our performing spaces.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals will be posted no later than Friday for the following week. Whenever possible two weeks at a time will be posted. Any conflicts should be resolved immediately. We will try to be accommodating whenever possible, but keep in mind we generally have very large casts and very complex productions. The closer we get to performance, the less flexible we can be.

Rehearsals will generally run from 2:30 until 5:30. This time will be broken down further so that actors and techies will know more precisely when they will be needed. Most rehearsals will be held in the afternoon but there may be some evening rehearsals on Tuesdays because of Orphenian rehearsals in the afternoon. When we near opening night just plan on living here. We will try to use your time wisely. Evening rehearsals will generally end by 9:30 and never later than 10:00.

You must be on time and prepared for rehearsals. There will be little tolerance for anything but an emergency. Attendance will be taken at each rehearsal. Consistent tardiness and/or unexcused absence from rehearsal is cause for dismissal.

Casting

Casting is not easy. It involves the most crucial decisions a director makes during the process of putting a production together. Although the director often consults with the assistant director or in the case of a musical, the choreographer, and the vocal director, casting is at the sole discretion of the director. Main stage productions must represent the best that we can do, therefore, the student who possesses the most potential for a given role will be given the par. While the audition is essential a student's work in class can also be taken into consideration.

The following areas are used during the process of evaluation: performance qualities, attitude, willingness to take direction, ability to work with others, and desire to commit to the project. Seniority is only a consideration when all other areas are equal. While being a senior in good standing can give a student an edge, there are no guarantees. Staples Players has always enjoyed an enormous talent pool which includes gifted freshmen and sophomores. Those seemingly best suited for the roles will be given the parts. This often leads to disgruntled students and at times even disgruntled parents, but everyone must understand that casting is the job of the director. Any disagreement or anger will not serve the process of production. Once begun, all work must serve the demands of the play and ensure a quality production worthy of Players reputation of excellence.

Note: There are a number of students who drop out once a cast list is posted or within the first week or two of rehearsal. While we appreciate that sometimes students find themselves over-committed and need to adjust their schedules, we need to set the record straight regarding "small" parts. There are none. Everyone on stage is intimately connected to the whole. The the applause is for the show: actors, technicians, musicians, business and finance, designers, directors - everyone connected with the production. WE ARE A COMMUNITY. A play is a collaborative effort representing hours of important work on and off stage. We all must look beyond our individual concerns to the total production values of the piece we are presenting. Please avoid feeling sorry for yourself and having a negative attitude and instead focus on the production as a whole. If yo can do this, you'll feel better about what you do and Players will be graced by your presence.

Note: All of the information found in this section also applies to both Major and studio theatre productions.

Cast Parties

If you are hosting a cast party, here are some suggestions:

Be an active chaperone. This doesn't mean you sit on the couch next to your son or daughter but that the kids know that you are present and that you care. In the past some parents have found it enjoyable to invite another couple or a few friends over to play cards or socialize while they looked in on the party throughout the evening.

All of the students are underage therefore drinking is inappropriate. Drugs are illegal. As you know alcohol and drugs can lead to disaster, even arrest for students and/ or chaperones. In addition, while as a school we take a stand against smoking, we're in no position to enforce our rules in your home nor do we want to. What we'd like to insure is a safe environment for kids to celebrate their hard work.

Students and parents alike should try to make sure that only those associated with the production are allowed to come to the party. Such visitors interfere with the community that has been formed by the production and often can lead to the party becoming disruptive.

If any student is behaving inappropriately, you should feel free to call his or her home, no matter what the hour, and request the student be picked up.

If you have any house rules, be sure you make them clear and let students know what areas of your home are off limits.

The Officers of Players work hard to ensure success on and off stage and will try to make sure the party is running responsibly but they can't do it alone. We must help. The purpose of this letter is to support their efforts and to provide you with needed information. Let's make them safe parties and joyful events.

Directors and Staff Positions are hired by the Board of Education and are bound by BOE policy.

Director of Players (David Roth): The Director of Staples Players is the head of the entire organization. Decisions or actions cannot be taken without a conference with and approval from the Director. The Director has the authority to do what s/he feels necessary in order to better the organization. Dismissals, appointments, cancellations and any other actions concerning the organization fall under his jurisdiction, except those responsibilities delegated by the Director. The Director is responsible to the Arts Coordinator, Adele Valovich and the Principal, Gloria Rakovic.

Technical Director of Players (Joseph Ziegahn): The Technical Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of technical production: sound, lighting, scenic design and construction, costumes and running the shows. All senior managers and the production assistant report to the Technical Director and the Technical Director works in collaboration with the director of Players. S/He is responsible for the general maintenance of the auditorium and equipment. S/He tries to coordinate work with the custodial staff at Staples. The Technical Director is responsible to the Arts Coordinator, Adele Valovich and the Principal, Gloria Rakovic.

Communication Director (Matt Deedon): While the duties may fluctuate according to the personnel, current expectations include: sale of ads, gathering information for the program, arranging for printin _øg of the program, development of sound, work in all promotional areas (including contact with other organizations and the local press) and aid in supervision of studio theatre rehearsals and performances. S/He must possess the ability to work cooperatively with the officers and the directors.

Production Assistant: The production assistant should have a sense of design and . S/He is responsible for costuming the main stage productions and supervising all work in the costume room. S/He is also responsible for maintaining the costume room and its inventory. It may also be necessary to aid in the supervision of the studio theatre productions.

Adjunct Staff: Depending on the needs of the show in production, a choreographer, musical director and pit conductor may be hired. They are to be accorded the same respect as other staff positions. Their specialized contributions are highly valued.

Elected Officers

Officers are elected by their peers based on leadershipqualities and dedication to the organization. Elections occur at the end of the year before their terms begin. While most officers serve during their senior year, exceptions are possible when necessary. As members of the Board of Directors, these officers participate at all levels of decision making: setting goals, solving problems, determining studio theatre productions, planning events and serving as role models.

President and Vice President of Acting: The responsibility of these officers is to work closely with the directors of the organization. Keeping lines of communication open is a major part of their responsibility. They often act as liaison between the director and technical director and student members. Supervision and direction of all activities involving the Players organization are important. They do not have the authority to take actions affecting the organization, without first conferring with the director. They will at all times keep in close contact with the other officers and senior managers. They must promote a good attitude and set a positive example for the students. They should maintain an active role throughout the studio theatre season by offering directors support and help.

Vice-President of Technical Coordination: Supervision of the senior managers and insuring deadlines are met are the primary responsibilities of these officers. They are in regular communication with the director and the technical Director of Players. They concern themselves with all technical areas of production: design, construction, lighting, sound, publicity, arts and graphics, business, make-up, costumes and other areas. They act as consultants for all studio theatre productions. They may also appoint people to take on special tasks or oversee a project on a given show. Any technical problem should be brought to the attention of these officers immediately. They, along with the Technical Director and the persons involved, will attempt to solve the difficulty. A secure knowledge of tech, a responsible nature and a good attitude are the requirements one must meet in order to fill these positions.

Ethics in Theatre

There are things we need to keep in mind as we work together to present plays that reach for excellence. This is not a complete listing of ways to govern our behavior but it is a clear start. Please pay attention to everything that follows.

1. Do not touch any prop that has not been assigned to you or your character. Always return props from whence they came or to a spot assigned by the props master.

2. Remember that any noise off stage right or left can be heard by people on stage and often by the audience as well. This disturbs concentration and spoils the illusion. So, DON'T TALK.

3. DonÕt try to peek through the curtains to take a look at the audience. You will see them during the curtain call. If they catch you doing this, we again spoil the illusion and we look like a bunch of amateurs who don't know what they are doing.

4. Do not bother actors who are trying to get into character, especially just prior to an entrance. You risk breaking their concentration and throwing them off.

5. Do not eat anything once you are in costume and make-up. Be sure your costume remains in good shape. At the end of each performance, return your costume neatly to the proper rack, otherwise it will not be in the condition you need it to be at the next performance. After the last performance, return your costume to the costume room unless you have provided your own costume. In that case, take it home.

6. Listen to the needs of others and be supportive.

7. Be sure you are in place and ready for your cues. Others depend on you and being out of place can and may do irreparable harm.

8. Treat one another as a family. Respect differences and work for the total effect of the show.

9. Remember to create the moment before and be in the moment on stage.

10. Be on time and ready to begin every rehearsal and follow through on every obligation.

Performance Spaces

Main Stage

The Staples Auditorium is a large traditional proscenium theatre with a seating capacity of 922. In addition to a Main Curtain there are two travelers and several masking curtains. It serves the music and theatre programs as well as the community quite well.

Albert Pia Studio Theatre / Black Box

This space also servers as the theatre classroom where acting classes are taught. While we refer to it as a black box, it doesnÕt quite qualify for that designation. There are masking curtains and a back curtain but no travelers or act curtain. While there is no proscenium arch, it functions primarily as an intimate proscenium space with a seating capacity of 69.

Workroom Theatre

Our newest space is the workroom off stage right. It is the space that most closely functions as a black box theatre. It can be arranged in several configurations accommodating audiences up to 150.