Cast Parties

Dear Staples Players, Parents and Guardians,

As most of you are aware, cast parties are a tradition after the final performance of main stage and studio theatre productions. They celebrate a job well done with food, friends and laughter. What you may not be aware of is that Staples Players does NOT sponsor these activities and therefore Staples High School is not connected to them. We do not participate in the organizing or the supervising of these parties. As concerned parents and guardians you must understand that all the pitfalls that could accompany such activities could happen at a cast party. While the celebration of the culmination of a production is understandable students and chaperones should remember that underage drinking and the taking of drugs is illegal and could result in arrest.

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.