I don't award points either. If anything, community theater is starting to become a major obstacle and I'm going to have to implement a policy for next year.
When we have auditions, like I'm sure everyone else does, we have a space on the form regarding conflicts and if the students are in any other shows. A trend started in the fall and now effecting our spring production is students having no conflict and once the show is cast, they are quietly auditioning for regional theater parts.
I explained before auditions "if you are currently in a regional theater production, you will not be cast as a lead." So I had one parent upset because I'm "punishing" her daughter. Now we have two of our leads with great parts (but not the parts they wanted) auditioned last week for an outside show. Our show is less than a month away. So I'm kind of stuck with how I deal with them.
In a nutshell, I also feel regional theater is "pay to play." We are a public school. We get no funding. We have a budget of $0 for every production. Hoping to pay for everything after ticket sales. We offer drama so every student can have the experience. Not just the ones who have $350 to be in a show.
As for my angry parent who felt I was punishing her daughter, I suggested in the future her money may be more wisely spent sending her daughter to one of the local conservatories for dance and/or voice since she plans to pursue theater out of high school. One investment is for their talent, the other is for their ego as far as I'm concerned.
Sorry, but this is a touchy subject with me. LOL
So.........no to thespian points if it's not something done involving our troupe.
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Chuck Yarmey
Advisor/Technical Director
Wyoming Area Drama Club
Thespian Troupe 4795
Exeter PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-30-2018 10:07
From: Jodi Disario
Subject: Points awarded for regional theater
I don't award points for outside productions for two reasons. 1) These productions are not led by anyone in our organization. I do not have confidence that the students are getting an educational experience in all cases (I know for sure in some cases they are, but I know for sure in some cases they are not). 2) 99% of the outside productions that our students participate in are "pay for play" situations. They are in "we cast all who audition (as long as you fork over the 200 dollar fee)" companies. Those two combined do not give me confidence enough to really count the experience as educational in nature, so our blanket policy is that the points must come from shows at our school. I will be starting our own summer company here once our fabulous new theatre is opened, and those points won't count either, as I want to be consistent with the ruling.
"There's only us, there's only this:
Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.
No other path, no other way. No day
but today."
-Jonathan Larson
"Rent"
Disario, Jodi
Drama Teacher and Director
Original Message------
I would figure out the points via the ITS guideline of 1pt per 10 hours. That said, EdTA would gladly provide advise if you call them.
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Crit Fisher
Lighting/Sound Designer
New Albany High School
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