James Madison University, School of Theatre and Dance Is an Accredited
Member of the National Association of
Schools of Theatre and the National
Association of Schools of Dance
 
 

 James Madison University,
 School of Theatre and Dance
 Theatre II, MSC 5601
 Harrisonburg, VA 22807
  540.568.6342
 theatredance@jmu.edu.

Page Last Updated: 05/20/2009

Policies for the Use of the Experimental Theatre in the
Theatre II Building

Revised Fall, 2004
NAME: 
The theatre in the Theatre II Building is known as the Experimental Theatre.
SCHEDULING PRIORITIES: 
  1. Experimental theatre class rehearsals and performances
  2. Rehearsals and performances for directing class projects
  3. Rehearsals and performances of Director's Workshop and next show to be performed in the Experimental Theatre
  4. All others
PROCEDURES:

Those wishing to propose projects for the Experimental Theatre will submit proposals to a committee made up of theatre faculty, staff, and two students not submitting proposals who have been selected by Stratford Players.

Proposals will be submitted during the semester prior to the semester in which the proposed project will be mounted. The deadline for proposals will be determined and publicized by the theatre faculty. No proposals submitted after the deadline will be considered.

The committee of theatre faculty, staff, and two students will consider the proposals and decide which ones merit space in the Experimental Theatre. Proposals accepted by the committee may use the space and acceptance is presumed to be a recommendation that Stratford Players fund them. Projects may, however, be staged without Stratford funding. The proposers who have been allotted time in the theatre will meet with the Experimental Theatre Coordinator as an ad hoc committee to determine how the time will be scheduled. Surety bonds must be posted so that they can be deposited by Thursday at 5:00 p.m. in the first week of classes.

Proposals should specify budget, technical staff, faculty supervisor, and production plans and how the plans are to be executed. These are the minimum requirements of a proposal.

Stratford Players and every member of the theatre faculty and staff should be provided with a copy of the proposal by the proposer. Two extra copies should be deposited with the theatre secretary for the student members of the committee. When the production schedule for the semester has been determined, Rooms 10 and 11 are available for rehearsal according to the scheduling priority in the theatre. Shows with an earlier production date will have priority over shows with a later one. Space may not be scheduled more than three weeks in advance and no more than one room may be scheduled by a project except in the case of directing class auditions. Both rooms may be used if no other activity has scheduled the second room at the time of use. Time is scheduled by writing times on the calendar posted in the hallway west of room ten. 

From 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM classroom and departmental meeting activities have priority.

Projects that are not performed may forfeit some or all of the surety bond according to whether or not cancellation was because of special and extenuating circumstances. This determination will be made by theatre faculty and staff in consultation with Stratford Players.

Any performance slots that become available after the schedule has been posted will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

If the time is to be divided among shows already scheduled the decision will be made by the scheduling committee which includes the Experimental Theatre coordinator and proposers who have been allotted time in the theatre.

If a new project is to be scheduled in the time, the theatre faculty will solicit proposals and decide which if any may use the vacant time.

In all cases the faculty will determine whether the proposal meets the educational goals of the department and university and may decide that the space may not be used for some proposals.

 

ENFORCEMENT OF POLICIES: SURETY BOND

Each director of an Experimental Theatre show must put up a $200.00 surety bond which will be deposited in the Stratford Players checking account. When the completed surety bond release form is returned to the theatre business manager, a check for the amount of the bond will be requested and issued.

Each individual in a program involving several directors must put up a surety bond of $25.00.

If the major portion of strike is not completed within 24 hours and any detail of strike is not completed within 72 hours after the final performance, the director will forfeit the surety bond.

The bond may be forfeited if any of the policies governing the use of the theatre are violated. Violations of policies and procedures may also result in denial of future use of the space.

It is understood that these penalties also may be exacted for violation of any University or department policy, regulation, or procedure if the violation is connected with production in the Experimental Theatre. Penalties beyond the forfeiture of the surety bond may be exacted in cases where university policy or the law of Virginia is violated. In such cases regulations and the law often require that offenders be reported to authorities outside the department. For example, the consumption of alcoholic beverages in Theatre II and The Experimental Theatre is against the law and according to university regulations must be reported and may be subject to police action.

In some cases it may be determined that the violation does not warrant forfeiture of the entire amount of the bond. In these cases, the portion to be forfeited will be determined by the Theatre faculty.
WHO MAY USE THE EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE:

Any member of the James Madison University community may use or perform in the Experimental Theatre subject only to the availability of space and resources. The criterion for judgment is not the nature of the material presented or the people presenting it but the availability of space, equipment, money, and so forth--primarily space, since a producer might have sources outside the department for other needs. People outside the JMU community may use the Experimental Theatre at the invitation of people within the community. This means that shows may be cast outside of the JMU community since casting would be deemed an invitation. People outside the community might also be asked to design, direct, etc.

A number of qualifications must, of course, be made to this broad policy in order to keep the facility for theatre activities. Anyone can use the theatre, but the department must reserve the right to judge that some uses or individuals may be forbidden the use of the space.
PRODUCTION RESOURCES:

Since the Experimental Theatre has no regular production staff, those planning activities in the theatre must serve as their own staff. It is understood that the costume shop and the scene shop have no responsibility to Experimental Theatre productions.

Any equipment, costume, and supply needs derived from what is furnished for Duke can be filled only with the knowledge and approval of the faculty/staff member in charge of the material provided. Procedures established by costumer, technical director, and Experimental Theatre supervisor must be adhered to.

Immediately after a show closes, all props, set pieces, and equipment must be struck and returned to their proper places or the place agreed upon by the faculty/staff in charge of these items. The theatre should also be cleaned. Housekeeping does not clean the room so that people using it must be responsible for keeping it clean.

The velvet curtains which are a part of the Experimental Theatre equipment are to remain hanging at all times. If they are not hanging in the theatre they are to be stored hanging in rooms 10 and 11. Leaving these curtains heaped on the floor will be regarded as a surety bond violation.

Furniture from the greenroom and from the hall in front of the departmental office should never be moved from those locations for rehearsals and performances in the Experimental Theatre. Furniture in the classrooms may be used for rehearsal and performance, but must be replaced each night and available for classes the next morning.
PRODUCTION ROOM:

The production room behind the theatre accompanies the theatre for anyone who has time reserved in the theatre; however, it should be understood that the room needs to be shared with shows that are coming up. The holder of the slot does not have the production room exclusively, and its use needs to be worked out with the shows coming up later. It is assumed that the show following the one currently in the theatre has priority in the production room.

The production room should be understood to be as much a part of the strike as the theatre. This room should be returned to its original state as part of strike. Removal of materials from the theatre to the production room does not constitute an acceptable strike. Materials must be removed from the building and anything that remains must be stowed in an orderly fashion.

Materials that are to be thrown away must be in the dumpster, not near it.

The lane marked with red paint on the floor of the production room must be kept clear at all times - even while working.

The lane marked with yellow paint on the floor of the production room must be kept clear at all times that work is not actually being done in the room.
SLOT SCHEDULE:

A slot in the Experimental Theatre is understood to end at midnight on the last night of the slot. Slots generally run from Monday to Sunday. Directors should allow time in their schedules for strike and set up.
WHAT SORTS OF PROGRAMS MAY BE PRESENTED:

Since the Experimental Theatre has been set up to present alternatives to the often more traditional fare seen in Duke, any program that is not illegal may be presented in it.

Some productions may possibly need restriction because they are contrary to the goals and educational purposes of the department or the university, but in general, the policy is that anything may be presented subject only to the restriction of scheduling and, to a lesser degree, resources. Any plans, however, should be fully described in advance so that those cases in which the material might conflict with department and university goals may be identified.

Some productions containing many sexual references may be restricted for performers and audience members under the age of seventeen. Whether such a restriction will be placed on a production will be decided by the faculty
PUBLICITY:

Most Experimental Theatre productions will receive the degree of publicity deemed necessary by the producer and/or the Department.

This is to say that some productions may have a narrow appeal and be publicized only on campus; others, such as a children's show, have a broader appeal and will undoubtedly be publicized more widely. In the case of material deemed controversial, publicity will be restricted to the campus. All publicity for performances with controversial material or methods must contain the statement "For mature audiences." It is departmental policy that all material for publication (including program copy) go through the Business Manager, who will see that it goes through required approval procedures before printing.
TICKETS:

Ticket sales are to be limited to four per person.

A small number of house seats need to be retained until just before curtain for emergencies and for faculty who need to see the show.

The total number of tickets available for a show, less three or four house seats, should be available for sale when ticket sales begin. Cast members who want tickets for friends and family must stand in line or have a representative stand in line. They are not to buy advance tickets before tickets go on sale to the public.

Any exceptions to these or other rules on ticket sales will be made only in consultation with the Experimental Theatre Coordinator.

There are no reserved seats in the Experimental Theatre. Cast and crew members especially must not reserve seats for themselves and their friends so that no good seats are left for paying clientele who may have had a long wait in line.

Ticket price is determined by the producer of the show and/or Stratford and the Theatre faculty. Shows advertised and sold as part of the regular season ticket package and performed in the Experimental Theatre are exceptions to the ticket and reserved seat policies.

Experimental Theatre directors will make arrangements for tickets to be printed using desktop publishing with a different color of ticket for each day. Each ticket will bear the date of the performance, the price, and the words, "no refunds or exchanges." Advanced tickets will be on sale from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the Monday before a show opens. Each customer is permitted to buy two tickets for each of the scheduled performances. No more than two tickets per scheduled performance is permitted during the Monday advance sales period. The limit of four tickets per customer for tickets bought on the day of performances remains in effect for day-of-performance purchases. Directors will need to identify box office staff to sell advance tickets. This will be the only time advance sales will be available. Unsold tickets will be sold at the door on the date of performance. Alpha Psi Omega members will serve as ushers and house staff and will tear tickets as audience members enter the theatre.

Complimentary tickets are available regularly only for members of the Department--any exceptions will be made only at the discretion of the producer. It is assumed that caution and responsibility will be exercised in giving out complimentary tickets.

Directors should consult with the theatre business manager at least two days before the show opens in order to get materials for the box office and learn required procedures for tickets and bank deposits.

FINANCING:

Generally, financing is up to the producer. There is no budget for Experimental Theatre productions. Money may be obtained from Stratford, if it agrees, or the Department, or any other source.

If some source other than Stratford is used for financing, any profits from a performance must go to the treasury of a recognized campus organization and cannot be used to enrich any private individual. It is understood, however, that expenses paid out of an individual's pocket may be recovered from receipts but not in an amount in excess of receipts. The individual must follow regular spending procedures in order to be repaid.

Within thirty days of the final performance, of a play funded by a source other than Stratford, a financial report must be submitted to the theatre faculty with a copy of the receipts from the campus organization that received any profits.
SAFETY: 

Please note that additional resources on Theatre II operations and policies may be found in the Policies and Manuals Page

Safe operation of the Experimental Theatre is governed by the following regulations:

  1. The existing emergency exits limit the maximum occupancy load to 150 persons. Tickets must be counted and no more that 150 sold for any performance.
     
  2. A 44" aisle clearance must be maintained from the stage area to double-door emergency exit. Audience members must not be seated in aisles or on stairways.
     
  3. A 22" aisle clearance must be maintained from the center of the room to the single door exit.
     
  4. The exit signs must be illuminated and visible to the audience at all times.
     
  5. No toxic substances may be used or stored in the space without prior approval by the technical director. This includes, but is not limited to, oil based paints, lacquers, and solvents.
  6. All other safety regulations as required by law or by the JMU Theatre technical director must be followed. (see Experimental Theatre Safety Policy JMU Theatre Safety Handbook)

The technical director for the JMU Theatre will enforce these regulations and close any production that is not in compliance.

SOLVENT:

  1. There is no appropriate place to store solvent based material in Theatre II.
     
  2. There are no safe solvents. All are toxic. They are hazardous in their liquid and vapor states.
     
  3. Solvents bear specific warnings which are to be followed:
     
    1. Keep away from heat.
    2. Vapors may ignite explosively.
    3. Rubbing friction may cause electric sparks.
    4. DO NOT SMOKE.
    5. Provide plenty of fresh ventilation.
    6. Extinguish all flames and pilot lights. Turn off stoves, heaters, electric motors, and other sources of ignition during use and until all vapors are gone.
    7. Avoid contact with eyes or skin.
    8. Avoid breathing vapors or spray mists.
    9. Reports have associated solvent exposure with permanent brain damage and nervous system damage.
       
  4. Except in small amounts of spray paint, all solvent-based materials are restricted from the Experimental Theatre without prior discussion with the Director of Technical Production. Solvent-based spray paints must be used outside the building and cannot be stored anywhere in the building. Care should be taken to avoid spraying paint in inappropriate places on pavements and building surfaces. Stratford funds will not be allotted for the purchase of such materials without clearance.
     
  5. All solvent materials deemed inappropriate will be removed from the building.
     

The Director of Technical Production for the JMU Theatre will enforce these regulations and close any production that is not in compliance.

SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES:

1. Surety bond of $200.00 must be posted prior to being permitted to use the space. Keys will be administered only after bond has been posted and bond will not be returned until keys have been returned.

2. Major portions of strike must be completed within 24 hours after closing and the remainder within 72 hours to the satisfaction of supervisors concerned. This includes making arrangements to clean costumes and return them to stock. The director or person signing up for the time in the theatre and no other is responsible for strike.
Failure to comply will result in loss of surety bond.

3. Surety bond release forms must be returned with all signatures within thirty days of closing or bond will be forfeited.

4. In the event that a check used for surety bond is returned for insufficient funds, the matter will be turned over to the University administration and a "hold" put on records.

5. Violation of any policies or procedures established by this document, the faculty, or the University may result in forfeiture of surety bond and/or access to the theatre.

6. All publicity (including program copy) must be shown to the Business Manager before publication. It is advisable to show material to the Business Manager at least two days before printing to allow time for corrections.

7. Box office, deposit, and reporting procedures must be followed as determined by the Business Manager.

8. Shows not financed by Stratford must submit a financial report within 30 days of closing with a receipt from the campus organization that received any profits.

9. For Stratford-financed shows, vendors' invoices and receipts must be turned into the business manager ON THE DAY OF PURCHASE. The name of the show, person purchasing and use should be written on the receipt or invoice.
EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE PROPOSAL FORM:  

Play:_____________________________________________________

Author:___________________________________________________

Director:__________________________________________________

Faculty Supervisor:__________________________________________

Performance Dates:_________________________________________

Production Staff:___________________________________________

Budget:___________________________________________________

Explain and justify some of your major production choices. For example, elaborate tech. vs. minimal tech.; realistic vs. stylized; audience-performer relationship; presentation vs. representational.

Give consideration to the prop, costume and scenic elements these choices will require. Include factors that would influence rating such as nudity, offensive language, and controversial language. Use extra pages as necessary.

Copies to: Stratford Players (if Stratford financed); Theatre Staff; Theatre Secretary.
SURETY BOND RELEASE FORM    

The following is approval for release of the surety bond held by Stratford in case of violation of policies governing The Experimental Theatre.

We certify that__________________________________________________
(Director or Bond Holder's full name)

has complied with Experimental Theatre policies for

______________________________ _________________________
(name of production) (performance dates)

as defined in the costume, lighting and props checkout policies and the Experimental Theatre policy.

______________________________ _________________________
(Experimental Theatre Mgr.) (date)

______________________________ _________________________
(Costume Shop Supervisor) (date)

______________________________ _________________________
(Scene Shop Supervisor) (date)

______________________________ _________________________
(Props Master) (date)

______________________________ _________________________
(Theatre Business Mgr.) (date)




James Madison University
School of Theatre and Dance