Lower Merion High School
PLAYERS
Student Rehearsal & Participation Contract
Fall 2015
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Students and Parents: Please review this rehearsal and participation information carefully. The explanations
and policies of PLAYERS fit within the larger goals of all LMHS activities- a safe, enjoyable and artistic
environment to pursue- in words from the Student Handbook- “the highest level of creativity” through
participation in theatre. (pg. vi)
Explanation of this Contract. LM’s Student Handbook introduces on pg. 1 some excellent ways to think about
the structure of PLAYERS as a student-run organization. It means the establishment of a true collaborative
culture among students and coaches. It requires the participation of students in decision-making, and that
student opinions must be considered as PLAYERS strives to teach and produce great theatre. Since its founding
in 1965, PLAYERS exists as a student-run theatre organization: committed to teaching every member how to
perform every theatre activity, and to coaching every member to achieve a personal best in pursuit of the larger,
common goal of excellent theatre, three times each year.
At the same time, with student participation comes student accountability. The guidelines below attempt to
ensure that all students in PLAYERS enjoy the artistry of a PLAYERS production safely.
There are three different parts to this PLAYERS contract.
Part 1 explains necessary participation guidelines for all students who are members of the cast of a production
Part 2 explains necessary participation guidelines for all student members of the production and design staff.
Part 3 outlines broader guidelines for members who join the costumes, publicity, lighting, and scenery crews.
Instruction. Please read and review the following sections, and sign the appropriate set of guidelines.
Thanks very much!
Geena Shaw Taylor Feld
Players Board, 2016
Maura Hess
Emily Harnett
John Grace
Faculty Coordinator, Lower Merion PLAYERS Head Coach
Alex Stern
PLAYERS Student Rehearsal and Participation Contract
Part 1. Rehearsal and Participation Guidelines for Actors.
Note. Please review and sign if you are a member of the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Explanation. Unlike many other student activities, it is not possible to substitute for a lead or featured actor missing from
a rehearsal. Therefore, it is necessary- beginning with the audition process- for a student interested to belong to the cast of
a PLAYERS production to pay regular attention to all of the obligations of a personal calendar and to how they fit with a
published production calendar.
This production calendar will be available beginning with the audition process. Any changes to it will happen only after
consulting with all members of the acting crew of a production.
At the same time, all students who are cast in a production need to understand, and accept the responsibility of attendance
at every scheduled rehearsal.
Rehearsal Attendance Policy.
1. An actor accepts responsibility to attend every rehearsal, unless an excused absence from school prevents this from
happening. A list of excused absences, published in the Student Handbook (pg. 14), includes the following:
~ illness ~ death of a family member ~ medical or dental appointments ~ authorized school activities
~ required court attendance ~ urgent reasons as deemed appropriate by school administration ~ educational travel with
prior approval.
2. Regular communication between an actor and PLAYERS is the key to succeeding in this commitment. Actors are
required to review their calendars weekly with the stage manager and production manager and to report updates to their
personal calendars as soon as possible directly to the production manager. For an absence to be considered excused, an
actor must inform the production manager of the conflict at least one week in advance.
3. If an actor’s absence from rehearsal is considered unexcused- not part of the list above and not explained by a note
from a parent or guardian- the following criteria may apply:
1st absence. 1st warning. Discussion with acting coach and head coach about attendance and this policy.
2nd absence. Final warning. Designated understudy alerted to prepare as possible replacement.
3rd absence. Actor replaced with understudy.
4. PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WHEN ABSENT It is school policy that students
may participate in school activities including practices, games, performances or clubs, only if the students have been in
attendance since 9:00 a.m. Students must remain in school for the duration of the school day. The only exception to
this policy is certain absences receiving prior approval from the appropriate Administrator. Students suspended from
school are prohibited from participating or attending extra curricular activities of any kind. Failure to follow this
procedure will result in additional discipline. (LMHS Student Handbook, pg. 18)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------______I read and understand these rehearsal guidelines and the commitment necessary to succeed as an actor in
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Signatures __________________________
Actor.
______________________________
Guardian or Parent
Parent / Guardian Contact Information: PLEASE PROVIDE THE BEST phone and email contacts for us to use,
if we need to reach you during PLAYERS usual rehearsal times, 2:50 – 5:40.
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ______________________________
PLAYERS Student Rehearsal and Participation Contract
Part 2. Participation Guidelines. Production and Design Staff.
Note. Please review and sign if you are a member of the production and design staff of The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee.
Explanation. Unlike many other student activities, it is not possible to substitute for vital production positions when
someone is absent from a production meeting, work call, or rehearsal. Therefore, it is necessary- beginning with the
interview process- for a student interested in being a part of a PLAYERS production and design staff to pay regular
attention to all of the obligations of a personal calendar and to how they fit with a published production calendar.
This production calendar will be available soon after the selection of a production manager, early in a production process,
prior to the beginning of the design phase. Any changes to it will happen only after consulting with all members of the
acting crew and the production and design staff.
At the same time, all students who are members of the production and design staff, the leaders of our company, need to
understand, and accept the responsibility of attendance at every scheduled production meeting, rehearsal, and work call.
PLAYERS Attendance Policy.
1. A PDS member accepts responsibility to attend every production event, unless an excused absence from school
prevents this from happening. A list of excused absences, published in the Student Handbook (pg. 14), includes the
following:
~ illness ~ death of a family member ~ medical or dental appointments ~ authorized school activities
~ required court attendance ~ urgent reasons as deemed appropriate by school administration ~ educational travel with
prior approval.
2. Regular communication between a PDS member and PLAYERS is the key to succeeding in this commitment. PDS
members must review their calendars with the production manager periodically throughout the process and are required to
report updates to their personal calendars as soon as possible directly to the production manager. For an absence to be
considered excused, a production design staff member must inform the production manager of the conflict at least one
week in advance.
3. If a PDS member’s absence from a scheduled event is considered unexcused- not part of the list above and not
explained by a note from a parent or guardian- the following criteria may apply:
1st absence. 1st warning. Discussion with production manager about attendance and this policy.
2nd absence. Final warning. Discussion with head coach, crew coach, and production manager. The Board is
notified and will prepare an alternate plan for completing production responsibilities.
3rd absence. PDS member has a final meeting with the Board and the head coach, and the course of action
outlined in the constitution for replacing a PDS member will be initiated.
4. PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WHEN ABSENT It is school policy that students
may participate in school activities including practices, games, performances or clubs, only if the students have been in
attendance since 9:00 a.m. Students must remain in school for the duration of the school day. The only exception to
this policy is certain absences receiving prior approval from the appropriate Administrator. Students suspended from
school are prohibited from participating or attending extra curricular activities of any kind. Failure to follow this
procedure will result in additional discipline. (LMHS Student Handbook, pg. 18)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------______I read and understand these participation guidelines and the commitment necessary to succeed as a member
of the production and design staff of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Signatures __________________________
______________________________
PDS Member.
Guardian or Parent
Parent / Guardian Contact Information: PLEASE PROVIDE THE BEST phone and email contacts for us to use,
if we need to reach you during PLAYERS usual rehearsal times, 2:50 – 5:40.
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ______________________________
PLAYERS Student Rehearsal and Participation Contract
Part 3. Participation Guidelines. Costumes, Lighting, Publicity, Scenery.
Note. Please review and sign if you are a member of the Costumes, Lighting, Publicity, or Scenery crew.
Explanation. PLAYERS exists as a student-run organization. This includes learning the safe use of sewing machines,
power tools, hand tools, working with lighting instruments, and work in the catwalk–all under the supervision of LMHS
PLAYERS coaches. It means wearing proper attire to work every day. To function safely and artistically, it is necessary
for every member of a PLAYERS production to understand and accept several guidelines for participation.
Participation Policy.
1. PLAYERS meets every school day, Monday to Friday, from 2:50 to 5:40. Crews are called everyday, with few
exceptions. There may be scheduled rehearsal and workdays on some Saturdays during a production. These days are
selected since they coincide with other types of extracurricular activity at LM and in the township generally. The use of a
full calendar of work hours is vital to the success and quality of work produced by each crew.
2. A production calendar will be available at the beginning of a procsss outlining the production time commitment. This
production calendar will be reviewed weekly at a PDS meeting, and communicated daily in each crew. It is always
available for inspection at the PLAYERS web page: www.lmplayers.com/current-show/production-calendar/.
3. Regular, daily attendance in a crew demonstrates commitment to the learning, artistry and safety that are necessary to
enjoy PLAYERS.
4. Crewheads are instructed to maintain attendance records. If irregular attendance jeopardizes a student’s commitment
to PLAYERS, the following criteria may apply:
~ discussion of commitment with the production manager.
~ discussion of commitment with specific crew coach and head coach.
~ possible demotion in, or dismissal from, specific crew for duration of a production.
5. PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WHEN ABSENT It is school policy that students
may participate in school activities including practices, games, performances or clubs, only if the students have been in
attendance since 9:00 a.m. Students must remain in school for the duration of the school day. The only exception to
this policy is certain absences receiving prior approval from the appropriate Administrator. Students suspended from
school are prohibited from participating or attending extra curricular activities of any kind. Failure to follow this
procedure will result in additional discipline. (LMHS Student Handbook, pg. 18)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------______I read and understand these rehearsal guidelines and the commitment necessary to succeed as a crew
member in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Signatures __________________________
Crew Member.
______________________________
Guardian or Parent
Parent / Guardian Contact Information: PLEASE PROVIDE THE BEST phone and email contacts for us to use,
if we need to reach you during PLAYERS usual rehearsal times, 2:40 – 5:30.
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ______________________________