4/26/2024 12:58:45 PM	THAR 50 Course Outline as of Fall 2012	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  THAR 50	Title:  INTRO THEATRE MGMT
Full Title:  Introduction to Theatre Management
Last Reviewed:5/11/2020

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	2.00		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	35.00
		Contact DHR	1.00			Contact DHR	17.50
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Introduction to the principles of management in the theatre, with an emphasis on practical stage management techniques, responsibilities, methods, tools, ethics and essential skills.Course work includes lectures, hands-on activities, computer-based assignments, and front-of-house management for one or more SRJC Theatre Arts productions.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Course completion or Concurrent Enrollment in THAR 2 (or THAR 301)

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Introduction to the principles of management in the theatre, with an emphasis on practical stage management techniques, responsibilities, methods, tools, ethics and essential skills.Course work includes lectures, hands-on activities, computer-based assignments, and front-of-house management for one or more SRJC Theatre Arts productions.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Course completion or Concurrent Enrollment in THAR 2 (or THAR 301)
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1986	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2020	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

In order to achieve these learning outcomes, during the course the student will:

1. Analyze the importance of theatre hierarchy, management, and organizational

     principles in all areas of theatre management.

2. Identify and distinguish between the stage manager's and assistant stage manager's

    roles and responsibilities throughout the production process.

3. Demonstrate basic proficiency with stage management documentation, script

     notations, calendars and reports.

4. Develop the communication, social, psychological, and ethical skill-set required to

    stage manage or assistant stage manage a Theatre Arts production.

5. Demonstrate practical managerial experience by working front-of-house or assisting in

     production duties for current SRJC productions.

Topics and Scope

I.     Theatre Management Fundamentals

        A.  Overview

                1.  Company structure and hierarchy

               2.  Job definitions and responsibilities

        B.  Areas of theatre management

               1.  Company management

               2.  Production and stage management

               3.  Business management

               4.  Box office and house management

               5.  Promotions, marketing and development

        C.  The managerial basics

               1.  Communications

               2.  Organization

               3.  Scheduling

               4.  Documentation

               5.  Ethics

II.    Mounting a Show: The View from the Booth

         A.  The stage manager's "role"

        B.  Tools of the trade

               1. The stage manager's kit

               2. Office machines and supplies

                3. Computer hardware and software

        C.  Resources

               1.  Professional organizations

               2.  Sites and online resources

               3.  Rulebooks

III.   Pre-Production Preparation

        A.  Script preparation

               1.  French scenes

               2.  Scene breakdowns

                3.  New scripts and script revisions

               4.  Technical requirements

               5.  Special formatting

        B.  Lines of communication

               1.  Contact sheets

               2.  Distribution lists

                3.  Emails, voicemails, and meetings

               4.  Sharing and disseminating information

               5.  Confidentiality

        C.  The show folder

               1.  Production departments

               2.  Official documents

               3.  Production archives

        D.  Paperwork preparation

              1.  Templates (reports, daily call sheets)

              2.  Preliminary lists (props, costumes, preset checklist)

              3.  Schedules (conflict, production and rehearsal calendars)

              4.  Extras (actors' packets, sign-in sheets, waivers, permits)

        E.  The rehearsal space

              1.  Reading ground plans

              2.  Using set renderings and models

              3.  Taping the set

              4.  Rehearsal props and costumes

              5.  Comfort zones (off-set cast, director, management areas)

         F.  The callboard

              1.  Practical and virtual callboards

              2.  Rehearsal/performance hotlines

              3.  Callboard Information

              4.  Keeping callboards up-to-date

IV.   The First Rehearsal

        A.  Equity and non-Equity actors

        B.  The Equity meeting

        C.  Designer presentations

        D.  The first read-through

              1.  Preparing the script for the read

              2.  Using a stopwatch

              3.  Calling breaks

              4.  Rehearsal room protocols

V.    The Stage Management Team

        A.  Stage Manager (SM) and Assistant Stage Manager (ASM)

               relationship - division of labor and teamwork

        B.  ASM: Backstage tracking

               1.  The prop list

               2.  The preset checklist

               3.  The costume plot

               4.  Flows and run-sheets

               5.  Shifts and scene transitions

        C.  SM: On-stage tracking

               1.  The blocking script (prompt book)

               2.  Blocking notation

               3.  Special notation (dance, combat)

               4.  Entrances and exits (the N/X form)

               5.  Sitting on book (giving lines, line notes)

VI.    Beyond The Rehearsal Room

         A.  Production meetings

         B.  Designers and shops

               1.  The tech schedule (builds and deadlines)

               2.  Load-In, hang and focus

               3.  Effective communications (rehearsal reports)

VII.    The Late Rehearsal Period

          A.  Run times

          B.  Spiking the set and spike maps

          C.  Backstage organization (storage, presets, traffic, work stations)

          D.  Dressing rooms

           E.  "Safe and sanitary"

VIII.  Technical Rehearsals

           A.  Tech rehearsal lexicon (sitzprobe, wandelprobe, light rehearsal,

                 dry tech, Q2Q, 10/12, tech-run, dress, preview)

          B.  Paper tech and the cueing script

          C.  Headset protocols (standbys, the "G" word, chatter)

          D.  God mics (holds and restarts)

          E.  Taking charge (assessing needs, staying on schedule)

          F.  Calling the show

IX.   In Performance

          A.  Openings and pre-show special events

          B.  Post-show events

          C.  Emergencies and disasters

           E.  Maintaining the show  

                1.  Giving notes to actors  

                2.  Mid-run rehearsals

          F.  Performance reports

X.    Front-of-House

         A.  Promotions

               1.  Advance publicity

               2.  Media relations

               3.  Marketing

               4.  Lobby displays

         B.  House management

               1.  The house manager (and assistant house manager)

               2.  Audience relations (dealing with patrons, handling special needs)

      3.  The house manager's report

         C.  Box office management

               1.  Seating charts

               2.  The subscription base

               3.  Advance sales, pre-show sales and will-call

               4.  Counting stubs (box office reports)

         D.  Concessions

XI.    Job Opportunities and Further Education

         A.  Entry-level theatre management positions

         B.  Interviews (dressing the part)

         C.  Résumés and CVs

         D.  Stage management programs

Assignments:

1.  Practice professional standards in theatre management, by participation in

     group activities during the course of study.  Activities may include:

     A.  Discussions of theatre hierarchy, management and organizational principles,

            and managerial roles          

      B.  Participation in collaboration and teamwork activities during class meetings,

            outside rehearsals, and performances (DHR.)

     C.  Role-playing exercises that incorporate problem-solving, typical job-related

            stress issues and ethical practices

      D.  Written and verbal communication exercises

 

2.  20- 25 pages of assigned reading.

 

3.  Analyze, strategize and generate examples of the following management documents:

      A.  Technical requirements

       B.  Scene breakdown

      C.  Pre-set checklist

      D.  Preliminary prop list and  preliminary rehearsal costume plot

      E.  Master run sheet, blocking-script pages, and cueing-script pages

      F.  Production calendar

      

4.  Determine, devise, and develop  methods of communication for a simulated production.

      A.  Contact sheet

      B.  Write a script and record a Hot-line message.

      C.  Daily call

      D.  Email

      E.  Rehearsal and performance reports.

  

5.  Manage front-of-house or specific production duties for a current SRJC production.  (DHR)

 

6.  Create a show folder including, but not limited to the following subfolders:

     Contacts, Schedules, Scenic, Props, Costumes, Lights, Sound, Reports, and

     Miscellaneous

 

7.  Interpret a ground plan, tape out a set, and spike set pieces.

 

8.  Prepare and participate in a simulated Paper Tech and a simulated Tech Rehearsal.

 

9.  Prepare a script for stage management following text, text-page, blocking-tracking

     page and margin specifications.   

 

10.  Complete a final exam including but not limited to the following:  

        A.  job definitions and terminology

       B.  script analysis

       C.  reading ground-plans

        D.  management  process, scheduling, and  notation  

        E.  at least one oral exam question covering ethics

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 15%
Rehearsal/performance reports; Blocking notation
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 40%
Homework problems including all management documents
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 30%
Reading ground plans; Hotline recording; Simulated tech rehearsal; Group actitvites
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 20%
Essay exams involving problem-solving; fill-in-the-blank on terminology and management process; oral exam question(s) on ethics
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 15%
Classroom participation including group assignments; field work participation in front of house or stage management duties for a SRJC Theatre Arts production.

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Stage Management (9th Edition). Stern, Lawrence and O'Grady, Alice.

    Ally & Bacon, Canada:  2009.  

 

Stage Manager:  The Professional Experience.  Fazio, Larry.  Focal Press: 2000. (classic)

 

The Stage Management Handbook. Ionazzi, Daniel A.  Betterways Books: 1992. (classic)

 

Actors' Equity Association Rulebooks: BAT 2010-2014/LORT 2009-2012

  (download)

 

Magazines such as: Theatre Bay Area, American Theatre, Back Stage,

    ACTS Facts: Arts, Crafts and Theatre Safety Newsletter

 

Instructor prepared materials.

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