Denver School of the Arts Production Contract Dramaturg ALL SCHOOL MUSICAL

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Denver School of the Arts Production Contract Dramaturg ALL SCHOOL MUSICAL

Dramaturg Application --Audition Sheet

(please print or type)

Name:______

Home Phone:______Cell phone: ______

Email: ______

Parent's name/phone: ______

Why are you auditioning for the production team?

What qualities do you feel you posses that will make you a good leader to your peers?

Create a calendar of all the duties of the Dramaturg. Do this on a separate piece of paper.

List activities you are in outside of school--include jobs-- and the times that you are required to be there.

Do you have your own transportation to and from school? ______

List any special skills you have that you think could be applied to this show:

What is a Dramaturg?

A Dramaturg is a very important aspect to a production—the academia behind the creative side of a show. Their primary job is to ask questions—and in turn have the answers to the world of the play.

• Research the time the play was written and when it is set. Intellectualize the play for the actors and the director.
• Research the life of the playwright and make connections from their life to the world of the play.
• Research the economic, politics, religion, geography, climate, and previous action of a play.
• Research a production’s history—look for threads or ways into a show. What can we learn from reviews of the original Broadway cast, or even community theatres?
• Create outreach with audience—including presentations to outside groups to increase ticket sales, to creating lobby displays to educate the audience about the world of the play, and to writing parts of the program to supplement a production.

Jobs of the Dramaturg-

1. Interpersonal communication

2. Promote information to those who WANT it

3. Answer only questions that are asked

4. No EGO in dramaturgy

5. You are a sounding board and resource

Dramaturgs will attend rehearsals to ask questions. Where are you confused? Are you looking at the right place—is the focus good? Dramaturgs gives their notes to the Director not the actors. Once you receive the position of Dramaturg you will split the duties of the dramaturg with your partner.

Production Contract –Dramaturg

In this ensemble it is imperative that all actors are committed and responsible, hence this contract. This is what we expect from all the actors and crew involved in the show. Being a leader in a process like this means you have the respect of your peers and can handle advising and managing your peers. If you are awarded a position, use this contract and make yourself a checklist of all your duties. It is your responsibility to KNOW the duties on this contract and follow through with them.

Please read the following carefully and sign the bottom of this contract.

The position of Dramaturg is one that takes a self-motivated person to read the requirements, plan a schedule of due dates, and follow through with the responsibilities outlined in this contract.

1. I will attend ALL rehearsals and performances. If I miss final dress rehearsals, teasers, or a performance, I may be replaced from within the cast. I will accept consequences for my actions that the Directors feel are necessary. I understand that there is an entire ensemble of people depending on me and I will make smart choices during the production process

2. Create a production book before the first rehearsal including my script, notebook, and a pencil and bring it to EVERY rehearsal (even final dress). I will read the play several times. Follow the process sheet in terms of questions to answer in the initial reading.

3. Come to every rehearsal. Use your time in rehearsal to complete the projects and serve as a resource for all actors, technicians, and the directors. Your job is to ask questions in your production book. Sit with the director and pose questions as the process goes on. You are the eyes of historical context and through-line. If something isn’t coming across onstage in rehearsal, make a note of it and speak to Ms. Hann.

4. Watch rehearsals for historical accuracy. Give written notes to the actors on specific ideas about the period, society, politics, and art that you have found in research that may help an actor shape their character. You have a unique point of view and can truly help the production grow.

5. RESPECT ALL. Remember we are a team and must work together. Listen to your director and fellow actors. If you have a problem, talk to your director or the person in which you are having a problem. Techies are our friends and deserve our respect-- you are the person creating the relationship between actors and stagecraft. Take this responsibility to heart. If other actors have a problem and come to you try to handle the situation maturely and confidentially. Listen to problems with courtesy and patience. Try to solve problems before you bring them to the director. Inform the director of problems that you have creatively “solved” at the end of rehearsals when actors are gone. Model the respect you wish to receive by giving a “thank you” to acknowledge someone giving you a note or direction.

6. Be present at all production meetings with all your research. Bring your photos/images to help the designers. Discuss your findings with the design team.

7. Be on task at all times in rehearsal. Don't goof off onstage or offstage. Help maintain and train younger actors to be quiet backstage. Leave personal problems outside the rehearsals so your problems do not distract from the creative work being done onstage.

8. Read/listen to at least two other works by the playwrights. Find ideas that can help us in this production. Take notes about the similarities and differences and report back to Ms. Hann and potentially to the cast.

9. Be at least five minutes early to every rehearsal to help set up the space. Create a tongue twister of period words for warm-ups.

10. You cannot miss a rehearsal unless you list it on your conflict sheet deemed as excused by the Director. If you reach THREE unexcused, you will be replaced. WE WILL DO THIS! Also, three tardies equal an unexcused absence. You are a very important part of this team and we NEED you present.

11. I will maintain a 2.3 GPA in your classes to be eligible to perform. I will bring Ms. Hann my progress report at 6 weeks. If I am suspended from school, I will NOT be allowed to rehearse or perform; suspensions will be treated as unexcused absences. If a suspension lands in the last two weeks of a rehearsal, I may be replaced. I MUST attend school on the day of a performance (two classes) in order to perform. I will make smart choices during the run of this production

12. Pay attention to the rehearsal schedule and when things are due. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for yourself…not your other cast members, not your directors, not your crew. If something is DUE-- check it YOURSELF. Your Actor’s Packet and CD of period music are due in the first week of rehearsal. Your program notes including information on the playwright, time period, and style/show itself are due in the summer – as soon as you have them. The display cases in the lobby should be up in the first week of school. Your Outreach plan should be discussed with the cast in the first week of rehearsal—I would like to bring kids in from other middle schools for dress rehearsals. Then you need to set this up with Administration and see it through. Your teaser script and display case is due in the 2nd week of rehearsal. Your lobby display plan should also be shared with the director in the 4th week of rehearsal. On show dates you will be present to set up the lobby displays and work in the ticket office or as information person at the displays. On opening day, decorate the dressing rooms with items to help actors get into character—you could individually create a mirror for each actor/character. Make these deadline dates and turn it in to Ms Hann after auditions.

13. I will assist in the first two weeks of rehearsal with all table work. I will be prepared to discuss the text analysis of the show. I will be there to take notes and find the answers to the cast/crews questions. Before rehearsals begin I will do the bulk of my research and be prepared to be a resource of table work. I will create a display of images for the cast for first day of rehearsal, I will create a CD of period music for the ensemble, and I will organize the cast shirts and design shirts.

14. I will never use alcohol or drugs before a rehearsal or performance. I will keep my mind and body at peak performance. A clear brain is essential for the creative process. If my SM/AD or Director even suspect drug/alcohol use at rehearsals they have an obligation to ME, the cast, and to the school to report it—even if it is opening night it is a lead. I WILL MAKEWISE CHOICES. Disregarding this is a disservice to your cast and shows clear disrespect for the role you have been assigned. As a leader in this show, you have a duty to report suspicions of drug/alcohol use to the director in a timely manner. We have a duty to the person using, the entire cast, and the integrity of our program to not let actors behave in a destructive manner. Even if it is opening night, Ms. Hann will follow up on your suspicions and report behaviors to the DSA Administration.

15. Enforce the “no food or drink (other than water) in costume” rule. There is NO food or drink allowed in the Theatre. If things are consumed at rehearsal in the lobby, you are responsible for trash. If the director has to clean up after actors once-- there will be nothing allowed at rehearsal. If you want to “save” your fellow actors, you can have them pick it up before I do, or choose to pick it up and not inform the director—if you enjoy eating! At rehearsal dinners,I will clean up after myself and the table I eat at and make sure that I am the last one in the lunchroom so I can ensure actors clean up after themselves. Help actors care for the costumes and props they use in the production. Costumes found disregarded and disrespected (i.e. on the floor) will cost actors $1 per item found to reclaim it. Lost props will not be replaced.

16. My BIO and headshot for the program should already be turned in/taken. I will type/organize the cast’s bios to be ready for the program. Dramaturg Program notes: I will write background information about our production/challenges/uniqueness for the program. If I use research to support my information, I will document resources.

17. All cast and crew are part of the publicity crew-- I am all required to spread the word about the show. Each cast member must hang TWO posters in local areas/businesses. I am also responsible for the press release. I will write witty, clever advertisements for our show. I can recruit actors to sing/speak to all classes the week before we open. I will line this up well ahead of time. I will also write the announcements for Ms. Odom advertising our play. I will email them to Ms. Hann on Mondays.

18. My “costume” for the performances will be all black attire (unless you want to dress in period). Please make your blacks nice—like dress pants with a nice black shirt tucked in. Shoes need to be solid black dress shoes with rubber or soft soles that will not make noise backstage when you walk. I will be dressed in blacks for dress rehearsals. During the performance I will assist wherever I am needed, whether it is backstage shift crew or selling concessions.

19. I understand that I am an advocate for the cast and crew. I want everyone to succeed. I will do my best to help actors meet deadlines and give the best performance they can.

20. Keeping with professional etiquette, rehearsals are closed to everyone except cast and crew.

I will assist the AD/SM with if I notice someone in rehearsal that is not cast/crew, I will approach them and explain this policy. If the person does not leave, I will inform the director.

21. Learn to accept criticism with grace and gratitude. Learn to be your own best critic. Help the actors learn this lesson as well. RESPECT ALL.

22. I will organize an advertising plan for the cast—ie. t-shirts. I will coordinate the design/style.

( has a great selection) I will present ideas to the cast/crew, take ordersand checks, and place our order in the first week of rehearsal.

23. I understand how difficult it is to cast a show for the directors who take in all sorts of factorswhen piecing a cast together. If I accept my part and drop this show for any reason, I will notbe eligible to audition for future productions at DSA. I understand that it is extremelyunprofessional to drop a role because of its size. And it is extremely bad form andunprofessional to complain about who received which roles. I am building bridges with theprofessionals in this building and understand work ethic and what it means to be a part of awhole. There are no small parts; only small actors and I realize how fortunate I am to havebeen cast at all in this production. I will do my best to make this show a successful processfrom day one. Be on the watch for this type of behavior in the cast—try to handle it withgrace and tact. Try to stop rumors and hurtful, negative talk immediately. You are anADVOCATE and a LEADER of this production. To let students go on and on about the partthey didn’t receive takes the moral of the entire show down. This is part of your jobdramaturg.

As you can see from the above 23 points, being a leader of this production is a lot of hard work, dedication,time, and coaching your peers. It is not for the faint at heart, but for the go-getters in this school. It is a hugechallenge and one that should be taken seriously. If you have this time and truly want to dedicate yourself to athree-month commitment, then fill out the contract on the following page and turn it in with your application.

My role in this show is as involved as I choose to make it.

Your parents also must sign that they understand the nature of your job. Thank you for your interest.

Remember you are a leader of this department and represent your department at all crew meetings and whenyou interact with Ms. Hann, Mr. Becker, Mr. Durfee, Mr. Billings, Ms. Kirksey, Mr. Howard, Mr, Rice, the Production Manager, the tech stagemanager and all crew, and all adults. You will behave in the utmost respectful manner at all times.

KEEP THE CONTRACT FOR YOUR OWN USE, PLEASE PUT IT IN YOUR PRODUCTION NOTEBOOK ASPAGE ONE.RETURN THE NEXT PAGE TO Ms. Hann.

Dramaturg Contract -- TURN IN THIS PAGE WITH APPLICATION

I have read the contract for the production. I understand each of the23 points on the contract and I will discipline myself to follow this contract to the letter. Iunderstand if the ensemble and crew cast in the show follow these rules, then our production will berun professionally. I also understand that if everyone does not abide by these “rules”, deadlineswill not be met, people’s feelings could be hurt if everyone is not treated with respect, and we willnot grow as performers unless we follow these simple guidelines.

I accept the judgment of my directing team and know if I am not living up to my part of this processI can and will be replaced. I know that being a part of this show is a privilege, not a right. I am hereto learn to be a part of a team and grow as much as possible.

I will refer to this contract throughout the process to remind myself of my duties.

I hereby agree to the terms of this contract.

Please print name here: X ______

Sign here: X ______

Parents/Guardians

I have read the contract for the production and will help support the production. I understand thatrehearsals will be after school, possibly some early evenings, and possibly a few Saturdays.

Students will be responsible for their own transportation home. I have also looked over mystudent’s conflicts on the schedule and agree that there are no existing conflicts that have not beenlisted. I am aware of the large amount of time this show will consume and that my student will berequired to be at every rehearsal. I also understand that if my student is chosen it is a position ofleadership and an honor to be selected as this position.

I hereby give my permission for my son/daughter to audition for this production and I agree to the terms of this contract.

X ______

I understand that if my student is a part of this production, I must volunteer to run either Concessions, Box Office, or Tech Week Meals at least one day during the week before the show and the week of the show (more information will be forthcoming).

I prefer to work:On these specific dates:

_____ Concessions______

_____ Box Office______