College of Fine Arts School of Dance Undergraduate Handbook

Technical Rehearsal/Performance Etiquette

General Guidelines

  1. Stay relaxed and focused on what is happening around you.
  1. If you must leave the rehearsal space, first obtain the permission of the stage manager or assistant stage manager(s).
  1. Remain quiet and attentive offstage.
  1. During technical rehearsals, be prepared to stop, start, and redo cues repeatedly. Have patience and follow the stage manager’s directions.
  1. Please be considerate of those who share this space. Keep noise levels down in the dressing rooms, hallways, and Green Room.
  1. If firearms, weaponry or pyrotechnics are used in a production, you must follow guidelines established by the fight director, director, and/or Producer.
  1. If you unclear about something, ask.

For Actors

  1.  Once you have signed-in you should not leave the dressing room/green room area (or house, in the case of technical rehearsals) without the stage manager’s permission.
  1. b.   When you first enter the performance space, walk the set and become familiar with your entrances and exits.
  2.  
  3. c.   Check where you pickup and leave your props. You should check your props, scenic pieces, and spike marks before each rehearsal/performance.
  1. d.   Costumes:
    1. No eating, drinking or smoking in costume, unless you are covered with a robe, dressing gown, or overcoat of your own.
    3. Keep dressing rooms and the Green Room clean.
    5. Hang up your costumes and put clothing to be washed in the laundry baskets. Clothing improperly put away will not be cleaned.
  3. e.   Please refer to Section II.B.2.a. for additional information.

For Technicians

  1. Arrive early for call, and sign in when you report to work.
  1. Using your checklists, begin your backstage duties.
  1. When finished, help other departments prepare.
  1. When your duties are finished, check with your Stage Manager, and then wait in the Green Room for your show call.
  1. Do not touch or move scenery or props tables, unless directed. Do not sit on scenery or prop tables. Do not “play” with properties.
  1. Follow your run book to know when your cues are.  Make notes if needed.
  1. Do not use the headset as a “chat room”. The headset system is for the Stage Manager to communicate cues. Please refer to Appendix L, “Headset Etiquette.”
  1. You will receive crew guidelines and a copy of the evaluation rubric at your first crew meeting, normally the “crew view” rehearsal.  Please refer to the information given.

4.  About the Dressing Room Area

The dressing room area, located in the basement of the Fine Arts Center, houses the costume shop, crafts shop and dressing rooms for the School of Drama. Please remember the following courtesies when in these areas:

  1. It is impolite to disturb someone preparing for a performance. Do not enter a dressing room that isn’t yours. No radio, cassette, CD or MP3 players are allowed in the dressing rooms unless used with personal headphones. They compete with the monitor system and cues and calls can be missed.
  1. Remember that costume shop personnel and the dressers are not there to clean up your personal items. You are responsible for the cleanliness of your area of the dressing rooms.
  1. Do not remove anything from the costume shop, craft shop or wardrobe area without obtaining permission from the Costume Shop Coordinator.
  1. The Green Room is provided as an area where actors and crew may relax prior to, and during, a performance. Students should work to keep the Green Room as clean as possible. The Green Room is not a dressing area. Keep costume pieces and personal items in the dressing rooms.