PLAYMAKER STUDIO PRODUCTIONS

Fully Produced Student Directing Projects
POLICY & APPLICATION

Purpose of the Playmaker Studio Production Policy

The purpose of this policy is to provide theatre students with the opportunity to create fully staged laboratory theatre productions and to assure fair distribution of departmental resources among projects that are not part of the main stage production program of the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film. In addition, this policy is designed to ensure that conflicts in the use of facilities are avoided, and that all studio productions operate within the boundaries defined within the annual departmental production schedule.

What types of creative projects are considered Playmaker Studio Productions and who is eligible to apply?

Playmaker Studio Productions consist of full-length student directed plays (or combinations of one act plays) that supplement the TDF main stage production series. Approved projects will become part of the annual series of public performances offered by TDF.

Selected projects will receive departmental support in the form of: priority access to rehearsal space, use of existing departmental scenery, costume, lighting equipment, professional staff assistance, funding for licensing and modest budgetary support.

All theatre majors and minors are eligible to submit applications to direct a Playmaker Studio Production. However, preference will be given to those students who have completed or plan to enroll in TDF 308, Principles of Directing, prior to the semester in which their project will be produced.

Playmaker Studio Productions include but are not limited to:

• Fully staged directing projects undertaken for academic credit as an independent study project.
• Fully staged studio productions undertaken to fulfill for the TDF capstone obligation required of all majors. Please note: students who wish to direct a fully produced studio project as a capstone must submit a separate capstone proposal to the Chair of the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film.
• Non-credit directing projects.

Proposal for Playmaker Studio Productions

Any student directed production that will require departmental support in the form of performance or rehearsal space, prop, costume and scenery loans, professional staff assistance or funding must present a written project proposal to the TDF faculty by March 15 of the academic year prior to the year in which the play will be produced. In special circumstances applications may be accepted in the fall semester for a production to be staged in the spring. Proposals should be submitted directly to the Managing Director of the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film.

Proposals should consist of:

• Thorough and thoughtful replies to all questions on the Playmaker Studio Production application form (See questions below.)
• The resume of the student director.
• A copy of the play to be produced.

No students other than the student submitting the application will be considered committed to a potential studio project at the time that the application is submitted. Student stage managers, designers, crews, and casts of studio productions will not be selected until the staffing of main stage productions has been determined.

Faculty Review and Response

All members of the TDF faculty will review proposals.

In order to gain approval, proposals must earn the support of a majority of the TDF faculty in a vote to be conducted at a regularly scheduled departmental meeting.

The student director will be informed of the status of the proposal no later than one week after the proposal has been reviewed and a determination made by members of the TDF faculty.

Approved projects will be:

• Assigned a faculty advisor by the Chair of the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film.
• Provided with specific information concerning scheduling and the use of rehearsal and performance facilities for the project.
• Provided with information concerning the availability of existing department resources for use on the project, and the procedures and timetables for their acquisition and return.
• Provided with specific information related to departmental funding for the project.

PLAYMAKER STUDIO PRODUCTION APPLICATION FORM

Applicants should submit thorough responses to the seven questions below along with one copy of the play.

1. State the title of the play and the name of the playwright.

2. Why did you select this particular play?

3. Vision statement: What is the conceptual approach you plan for the production of this play? What is your idea for this production?

4. What specific ideas do you have for realizing the visual/physical elements of the production and what challenges with regard to these elements do you anticipate?

5. What are the numbers of male and female roles as indicated in the script? Is it possible to gender flip any of the roles and, if so, provide the names of the characters for which this might be feasible?

6. Identify the semester in which you would prefer the project be produced and give the reasons why this is important.

7. Justification: Why do you consider yourself ready to direct and lead a fully staged theatre production?

Approved 2-20-19 printable download here.