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  • 1.  High School Theatre Program without On Campus Stage- How To

    Posted 08-10-2016 10:44

    Hello!

    I have recently inherited the Theatre Directors role here and I am in the midst of tireless hours of planning, inventory and creative choices to be made but the biggest obstacle is our physical limitations.  Are there other programs that literally do not have a theater of their own as well?  What do you do / how do you do it? - rent as we have & what are some best practices around this scenario?  I have some answers as far as what I have watched/picked up from observation but I am looking for 1. people who first hand are managing such a scenario and 2. any insight / advice from some of you veterans whether you have dealt with this directly or not.

    Thanks!

    Richard 

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    Richard Reliford
    Director of Student Life, Leadership Development and Theatre Arts
    Culver City CA
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  • 2.  RE: High School Theatre Program without On Campus Stage- How To

    Posted 08-10-2016 11:13

    I don't have a physical stage on campus, so I'm happy to help you in any way I can. It certainly IS a challenge. I have a relatively good-sized classroom, which we have set up in sort of a thrust configuration with open floor in the middle and seating around the sides. This works well for scene rehearsals/performances as well as for discussions during theatre history/dramatic literature lessons. In the past we have rented space in a nearby facility which has an auditorium and a gym, and we had our longer studio acting classes over there, as well as anything like dance, stage combat, etc. For our production, we rent a community theatre, which we get for a couple weeks of rehearsal and a weekend of performances. They give us a good deal, but I do have to pay for that rental out of my box office takings, which makes a decent dent. Other rehearsals (before we move to the stage) usually occur in my classroom, though I have also borrowed space from my church for free. THIS year, that neighboring facility is undergoing a renovation, so we will be using our performance stage one day a week for the more intensive acting classes. That has its own logistical and scheduling challenges, so we'll see how it goes!

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    Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
    Theatre Department Coordinator
    Fishersville VA

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: High School Theatre Program without On Campus Stage- How To

    Posted 08-11-2016 07:55

    When the local high school was being renovated and without a space to perform, the director there solved the problem two ways. For the fall play, he rented a large tent and pitched it on the tennis courts.  It worked - we watched on chilly November nights in our coats and boots when it rained. For the spring musical, West Side Story, he used the gym - which actually worked out quite well for the "Mambo" number.  I have also heard that some high schools have performed in their libraries and gotten creative about the space. When I was in elementary school, we performed in the cafeteria on a raised platform.  I am not sure if that helps - but break a leg!

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    Marla Blasko
    Theatre Arts Director
    Columbia MD

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: High School Theatre Program without On Campus Stage- How To

    Posted 08-11-2016 09:22
    Edited by Jonathan Dorf 08-11-2016 09:22

    Richard,

    I'm not sure where you've been renting, but if you need additional ideas/resources, check this out (if you're not already familiar):
    http://spacefinderla.fracturedatlas.org/

    You have the good fortune to be in a city with lots of spaces.

    Also, I don't know what your campus is like, and obviously you couldn't do this all the time, but what about picking a show every now and again that could be done environmentally (i.e. in a non-traditional space, like around your campus) or outdoors?

    Cheers,
    Jonathan

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    Jonathan Dorf
    Playwright/ Co-founder of YouthPLAYS/ Co-chair of The Alliance Of Los Angeles Playwrights
    Los Angeles CA

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: High School Theatre Program without On Campus Stage- How To

    Posted 08-11-2016 11:01

    Not totally off topic...

    But a good read for an environmental, site specific production...on steroids.

    Playbill.com article on Sernbe's (Atlanta) production of AIDA

    And of course this week there was a mini-concert version of RAGTIME - on Ellis Island.

    Playbill.com article on star-studded RAGTIME on Ellis Island

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    Michael McDonough
    TRWDirector of Amateur Licensing
    New York

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: High School Theatre Program without On Campus Stage- How To

    Posted 08-11-2016 21:20

    Richard,

    I have something vaguely similar. We have no stage, per se. what we came up with is to use the theatre classroom as a blackbox theatre workshop space. I don't know what your classroom dimensions are, but with 28' x 60' with a 10' ceiling we have been able to manage some wonderful productions both small (Almost, Maine, The Diary of Anne Frank ) and large (Little Shop, The Three Musketeers, Romeo and Juliet). With a bit of innovative work and the administration's support, you could be able to house one acts, or scene nights in the classroom to start. It may help with less rental issues. 

    We have also partnered with a local rental house. They use our space some nights for rehearsal and we have the occasional show at their facility. I don't know if that may be an option.

    Feel free to throw any questions my way.

    Yours in Art,

    Jason

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    Jason Robert LeClair, MA
    Artist/Arts Educator
    Director, Thespian Troupe 7444
    Beacon Charter High School for the Arts
    Woonsocket, RI

    Original Message


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