Handbook

McNeese Bayou Player Productions

The McNeese Bayou Players began staging theatrical productions on the McNeese campus in the early 1950’s. A time-honored tradition of providing the university and regional communities with provocative, quality theatre is the mission of the program. Theatre Majors become members of and contributors to this group of theatre artists through their required on stage or back stage participation in all productions each semester.  Theatre Minors are required to work on one production each semester that the minor is pursued. Each year, students have the opportunity to participate in the state and regional Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival and additionally, if desired, to stage a laboratory production on the McNeese campus of an original or published script.  Involvement in the McNeese Bayou Players prepares a theatre major for professional work as a creative artist.

 

 

AUDITION AND CASTING POLICIES

Any student officially enrolled at the University who has a 2.0 GPA is eligible to audition for a Theatre Production. Theatre majors and scholarship recipients are required to audition for all productions. If not cast, majors and scholars are required to work on the show crew. It is the policy at McNeese State University and of McNeese Theatre not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or political affiliation in its educational programs, activities, and employment policies. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that artistic needs sometimes require casting decisions to be based in part on physical characteristics of the auditionees.

 

1. Students attending auditions, should consider themselves available for casting in any production. Special conditions or circumstances regarding availability for casting should be noted on the audition sheets at the time of the auditions. Please note any and all rehearsal conflicts that might occur.

 

2. Scripts will be available in the director’s or the Department office for those students who would like to read the play before auditions.

 

3. Any callbacks following auditions will be posted on the callboard or emailed. Directors will post the obligation of those cast in the production: the general period of rehearsal, performance dates, both locally and on tour (when applicable), and any other matters that may affect a student’s availability.

 

4. If your name should appear on one or more callback list, that means the director(s) are considering you for a role or roles. Initial beside your name on the list to acknowledge that you have read the notice.

 

5. You will rehearse about 90-120 hours for a production. In general, persons cast in leading roles will be expected to rehearse at least 5 nights a week. Persons cast in supporting roles will be expected to rehearse at least 3--4 nights a week. Rehearsals after the first two weeks will be 5 evenings a week.

 

6. Everyone must plan on attending technical and dress rehearsals every night for a week before opening and, of course, for the run of the show. A person should have no conflicts during these critical times to be seriously considered for any role in the show.

 

7. All individuals cast in the production are required to attend strike immediately after the final performance or as scheduled by the Technical Director. You will also be required to attend all Saturday workdays and an informal production critique after the final performance.

 

8. At the first callback, if you know that there is some reason you do not wish to be considered further for a role in that production, you have the right to see the director and ask to have your name removed from the list or you may write a note to the director. ONCE AN ACTOR APPEARS AT A CALLBACK HE/SHE ACKNOWLEDGES WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT ANY ROLE IN THAT PRODUCTION.

 

9. It is strictly against the spirit of our production program for any director to pre-cast actors or to urge actors to attend one callback to the exclusion of others. If you intend to read at callbacks for a specific director, but are not able to appear at the specified time because of other callbacks, please let that director know of the problem and a later time for reading will be arranged.

 

10. Faculty and staff members, guest artists, and community members are called upon to perform in designated productions as circumstances warrant. Such participation should be seen as an important educational and artistic dimension of the production program.

 

11. A posted cast list represents a commitment to the production. It is unethical for a student to proceed through auditions harboring any reservations about the size or kind or role he/she will accept. Withdrawal from a posted cast list without the director’s approval carries with it the penalty of being ineligible for casting the remainder of that year.

 

12. Students may be cast in productions for which they were not called back. Directors contemplating such casting will refer to the audition sheet for notations about your expressed conflicts and will normally assume you are available unless it is otherwise stated on the sheet. It is imperative that all who audition watch the callboard during the casting period.

 

 

MCNEESE THEATRE REHEARSAL PROTOCOL AND EXPECTATIONS

Actors and Technical Crew:

Arrive not later than 15 minutes before a scheduled rehearsal. (if rehearsal is at 7p.m., arrive not later than 6:45p.m.)

1^st late arrival – reminder

2^nd late arrival – warning

3^rd late arrival – dismissal from production

You must contact your director or stage manager by telephone, person, or e-mail, if you have an emergency that will delay you.

 

Your time at rehearsal should be spent ON THE PLAY, not AT PLAY. Idle time is your time to memorize lines, work on a scene or your character, or quietly observe the work of others. Failure to do this will result in:

1^st notice – reminder

2^nd notice – warning

3^rd notice – dismissal from production

 

ALL scheduling conflicts MUST be reported, in writing, to the director AT THE AUDITION. Missing a rehearsal due to an unreported conflict during the rehearsal process will result in your immediate dismissal from the production Conflicts that arise during the rehearsal process must be reported to your director as soon as you are aware of them. The director will decide if the conflict warrants an excused absence.

Unprofessional behavior toward anyone involved in the production:

1^st incident – warning

2^nd incident – dismissal from production

Anyone who arrives at a rehearsal or performance under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be immediately released from the production. McNeese State University is a drug free environment.

You must check YOUR EMAIL AND THE CALL BOARD each day.

 

Director and Designers

The director will organize rehearsals to use cast and crew time efficiently.

The director will begin and end rehearsal on time.

The director and designers will post rehearsal schedules and special calls on email and The Call Board before 10a.m.

 

Actors and Crew

Missing a special call will be handled as if you were late for rehearsal.

You are responsible for reading and following all production procedures in the

Theatre Handbook.  Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. If you have a question, ask

a faculty member. DO NOT RELY ON RUMOR, GOSSIP, OR GUESS!!!

 

 

REQUIRED PARTICIPATION IN PRODUCTION WORKDAYS

Prior to the opening of every production at McNeese, the Technical Director will call for a production Workday. Unless there are mitigating circumstances, workday is normally from 10a.m. till 5p.m. on the Saturday before the first technical rehearsal. All students receiving scholarships through the department, all theatre arts majors, all members of the production cast and crew who are receiving course credit, and all shop assistants are required to attend. If someone is unable to attend at this time, they should contact the Technical Director to set up a time when they can complete their 7 hours before the regular workday.                                                                                                      

This day is usually the first that the stage is reserved by the Theatre. On this day the set is assembled on stage for the first time and will remain there until the close of the show. Setting up the stage, continuing to add elements to the set, working on props or costumes, hanging and focusing the lighting instruments, and completing a great many other aspects related to the show are created or developed at this time. There will be work available to individuals of all skill levels.

Come prepared to work! Wear clothes that can get paint splattered, bring gloves, keep long hair pulled back, do not wear open-toed shoes or shorts, and don’t wander off thinking there’s nothing left to be done. The Technical Director can always find something for you to do in the shop, on stage, in costuming, promotion and publicity.

 

STRIKE POLICY

It is the responsibility of the Technical Director to coordinate the Strike for each production. The Director and Designers also attend their respective strikes. The Stage Manager will be certain that all cast and crew are familiar with strike activity and procedures. No one will be excused from the strike unless arrangements have been made ahead of time with the Technical Director to continue enrolling in theatre courses as a major. Those not excused from strike and who are absent or leave early will place their future opportunities for casting in serious jeopardy.

Actors and crew are expected to report to strike immediately following the final performance allowing a brief period of time for the actors to remove their costumes and make-up and to ensure that the house and backstage area are clear of audience members.

When one area of Strike is completed (e.g. costumes) individuals assigned to that area are to report to the Technical Director for other assignments. Everyone participating in the Strike Call must remain until released by the Technical Director and Production Stage Manager.

 

FINAL CONCLUSIONS All production cast, crew, designers, and creators should be part of the production “company party” and the evaluation of the process and product.