Responsibilities of the Actor
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ACTOR
Duties
The actor agrees to the following:
· To demonstrate respect for the production by maintaining the integrity of the playwright’s script, the director’s interpretation of the script, the designers’ concepts for costumes and makeup, and by prompt attendance for all calls including (but not limited to) rehearsals, performances, costume fittings, and photo shoots;
· To demonstrate respect for the production company through polite and ethical behavior and through prompt attendance for all calls;
· To demonstrate respect for the physical property of the production and the theatre and to abide by all rules and regulations of the theatre, the production company, and the university including prompt attendance for all calls.
Rehearsals
Professional rehearsal etiquette is expected and required of all students. Guidelines for such etiquette are as follows:
1. Actors must be ready to rehearse at the time called. Actors should plan to arrive no later than 10 minutes prior to their call time. Actors should always have their scripts and a pencil to write with as well as appropriate rehearsal clothes and shoes.
2. If an actor is going to be late or cannot make a rehearsal, he/she must do the following:
a. Call the stage manager or director at least two hours before the rehearsal;
b. Leave a note on the call board as early as possible IF no one can be reached in person or by phone;
c. Have an acceptable reason for tardiness or absence.
3. In order to prevent excessive absences and tardiness, students are reminded that participation is a privilege not a right. Any actor who is disrespectful of the ensemble’s time, whether through absences, tardiness, difficult attitudes, or poor work ethic, may be asked to relinquish their role. The final decision rests with the theatre faculty and the Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts. The following criteria constitute reasonable cause for dismissal:
a. Unexcused absences
b. Repeated failure to show up on time or early
c. Failure to have lines memorized by specified time and date, and
d. Any behavior and/or attitude the director deems inappropriate.
4. If an actor has a known conflict with the rehearsal on a given day, it must be discussed with and approved by the director within the first week of rehearsal.
5. Upon arriving at rehearsal, actors must sign in with the stage manager. If an actor desires to leave the rehearsal facility, he/she must request it of the stage manager.
6. Entrances and exits from the rehearsal space should be limited to emergency situations so as not to distract from the work being done on stage.
7. All calls, including rehearsals, will be posted on the callboard and emailed to students at least twenty-four hours in advance.
8. Changes in the rehearsal schedule will be posted on the callboard and announced at rehearsals. Check the callboard daily.
9. Cancelled rehearsals due to inclement weather or other emergency situations will be communicated by phone, email, and posted on the callboard.
10. Actors must inform the Director and Stage Manager of any changes in contact or conflict information.
11. Depending on the nature and needs of the production, actors may be called to rehearse or warm up prior to the performance, which may require an earlier call.
12. During rehearsals and performances, all directions and requests from the stage manager are to be acknowledged with a polite “thank you,” confirming that the actor has heard and accepted this information.
13. Actors will maintain the integrity of the production by avoiding any changes in the script, character interpretation, blocking, timing, costumes, and makeup once the director and designers have set these.
14. Actors will use the appropriate procedure for registering complaints rather than undermining the production with unethical behavior, gossip, or attitudes.
Program and Biographical Material
Actors shall cooperate with the publicity crew in the preparation of program and other publicity materials. This includes providing requested biographical information as well as participating in promotional activities, photographs, recordings, or commercial shoots.
Actors will have the chance to look over their program information. However, the publicity crew has the final say on all printed material.
The program copy is to be posted on the callboard, with a deadline clearly stated for corrections and changes that will be made and initialed by each actor. Additionally, a copy may be passed around during a rehearsal for proofing.
Regarding the biographical information that actors submit, students must refrain from including inside jokes and any unprofessional material. Biographical information is presented for the audiences’ use only.
Security
Actors are responsible for their own valuables. Neither the stage manager nor the university is legally responsible for lost or stolen items. The SM will make provisions for holding valuables at the actor’s request, but will not be legally responsible for them.
During rehearsals, no one is allowed to be backstage or in the assigned dressing rooms except the actors, assigned crews, and theatre staff.
Make Up and Costumes
For health and safety concerns, actors must provide their own conventional stage make-up for performances. When necessary, the University will provide nontraditional character makeup (i.e. latex, body paint, and special color) required by the costume designer or director. Information for purchasing basic makeup kits will be provided by the theatre faculty.
Costume fittings will be scheduled during non-rehearsal hours. All fittings must be arranged through the stage manager. The stage manager will determine the availability of the Costume Designer and coordinate fittings with the actor.
Actors must not be late to scheduled costume fittings. If a problem arises, calls should be made to notify the stage manager.
All make-up should be applied before costumes are put on.
Actors must wear their complete costumes during all dress rehearsals and performances, including curtain call. No additions or deletions can be made to the design unless approved by the costume designer and director.
Actors should not eat or drink in costume.
It is the Wardrobe Crew’s responsibility to place a complete costume in the actor’s dressing room prior to the scheduled call. It is then the actor’s responsibility to make sure the entire costume is returned the way it was found in the dressing room after rehearsal or performance. A dresser may help an actor change and agree to return the costume to the dressing room, but it is ultimately the actor’s responsibility to make sure that all parts of the costume are returned and hung up.
It is the actor’s responsibility to hang up his/her costume in the dressing room after use. Heavy costumes should be turned inside out to dry.
No part of the costume is allowed to be taken from the theatre without the designer’s or the Wardrobe Head’s approval, including parts of the costume belonging to the actor.
Actors must report in writing (sheets will be provided by the stage manager) to the wardrobe head any repairs, stains, or problems needing attention.
If wigs are used they must be returned to the wig forms.
Props
Each actor is responsible for checking on his/her properties before each rehearsal and performance. All props carried off stage by actors should be returned to the prop table.
Props should not be handled except by the property person or by the actor using them. They are not to be played with, removed from the theatre, or used as tools, etc. No one is to handle weapons except the assigned actor, stage manager, or fight captain.
Each actor is responsible for reporting on repair sheets (provided by the stage manager) any damaged prop. If the damaged prop creates a safety hazard, the actor should not use it again until it has been properly repaired.
Strike
All members of the cast and crews are expected to participate with strike. Absolutely no University-owned props or costumes are to be considered the property of actors and all costumes and props must be accounted for, especially any props or costumes borrowed from other theatre departments, companies, or organizations.