Experience the Magic of Musical Theater & Performing Arts
Port Players Theater Inc. Production Handbook
Congratulations on being cast in a Port Players production. This handbook is a guide to all of our policies and information on joining the cast. Both the student and parent should agree to all policies in the handbook. You will be asked to agree to this handbook when registering.
Port Players is a Non-Profit youth community theater program. As a professional actor with over 20 years of professional experience, I try to instill the same philosophy and expectations as a professional theater. This is an educational program. I will guarantee that the experience your child will receive from this program will prepare them for any outside community theater in the area. With that said, I take this job very seriously. There is plenty of room for fun, however, we do have a job to do.
Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances and to be on time. If a student misses several rehearsals (not due to illness) it will be up to the Director’s discretion to have that student cut from scenes/musical numbers. It’s difficult to re-teach numbers for one student to catch up. We can accommodate up to three conflicts per show, this includes missing a whole rehearsal, coming late or leaving early. Super Sunday and Tech Week are mandatory rehearsals.
Rehearsals are held every Monday and Wednesday night and the schedule is posted on our website. Tech Week including Super Sunday are mandatory rehearsals. Tech week rehearsals are closed unless you are volunteering to help during rehearsal.
If you are going to be absent we require you to let us know. Please text Keira Clemenzi, Production Assistant at 978-412-5456
On occasion, we have had some difficulties with parents picking up their children on time. I know everyone has busy schedules, however, we ask that you take extra care for being on time picking up your child. If it is a consistent problem, we may need to change the policy and potentially charge a late fee.
There is a tuition fee for each student in the cast. This helps with the cost of the copyrights of the show, production materials, rental equipment and costumes. The production fee includes a Port Players drawstring bag and script and/or handouts. You also have the opportunity to purchase a cast tshirt for the production when registering.
Registration is via our website at www.portplayers.com
Payment Info: We accept payment by credit card. All payments must be made through our website.
Registration and tuition are due by the first rehearsal.
If payment is not made by the first rehearsal, we reserve the right to charge a late fee.
Prior to First Rehearsal, cancellations will result in a 15% service charge that will be deducted from the refund. All refund requests must be made prior to the first rehearsal to pam@portplayers.com. Please allow up to 5 business days for your refund to be processed. No refund requests will be accepted after the First Rehearsal.
Port Players does offer a scholarship towards tuition. This fund is from the generous donations of our patrons. Please fill out our online application at https://www.portplayers.com/scholarship , if you have questions, please contact Pam at pam@portplayers.com.
We also offer a $25.00 sibling discount for our main stage productions excluding our summer theater intensive. If interested, please contact Pam at pam@portplayers.com.
Port Players is an enrichment program that involves multiple grade levels. I try to instill the notion that we are a TEAM. Theatre is a team effort. Treat everyone with respect. This includes other students, parents, teachers, theater staff, and volunteers.
Port Players has a zero tolerance for bullying. If anyone hears or sees this happening, please notify someone on the production staff immediately.
Participants are expected to cooperate with Port Players Staff and each other during rehearsals. A positive attitude is a must! We try to schedule rehearsals with very little down time, however, when we are working with other students, there will be times when the students are asked to work independently either on studying their script/music or doing homework. Please utilize your down time at rehearsals.
Scripts should be brought to each rehearsal and treated with care. Please have a pencil and highlighter available to write notes down as well.
Cell phones must remain off during all rehearsals and performances. If it is an emergency, obtain approval from one of the production staff members before using your phone. If we see students on their phones, we will collect ALL cell phones and return them after rehearsal.
Participants are expected to take pride in their rehearsal space by keeping it clean and neat. This means disposing of all bottles, cans, snacks, etc. after each rehearsal.
Participants are expected to keep a neat and appropriate appearance. SHOES MUST BE WORN during all rehearsals – NO Exceptions.
If a child is disrupting a rehearsal and not following the behavioral guidelines, we will call for them to be picked up immediately from rehearsal.
Port Players reserves the right to terminate a cast member from the program based on adherence to guidelines and behavioral policies.
CALLED: This is the list of actors that should attend rehearsal.
CALL TIME: Call time refers to the time an actor is called to rehearsal. If it says Call Time: 5pm, you are expected to arrive at 5pm.
ALL CALL: This means every actor is expected at the rehearsal.
TECH WEEK: The term “Tech” refers to the installation of the technical aspects of the show. This is when we will be using microphones, lighting and the sound system. The actors will be using the stage and running the show with all technical aspects.
OFF BOOK: This term refers to when the script and music must be memorized completely.
BLOCKING: Blocking is the term that refers to where you stand on stage and all your entrances and exits. This term will appear often in the schedule.
COSTUME PLOT: A form that will outline the costume pieces the actor will be wearing.
We rent a good portion of the costumes and we need to keep them in the same condition that we received them. All rented costumes assigned to your student must be returned. They are not yours to keep.
Some costumes will be the responsibility of the child. We will notify you in advance via email and costume plot if you need to provide any part of your child’s costume. Most of the time this is because the costumes are “street” clothes or things the kids should have in their closet like a pair of jeans or solid color tshirt for example. We do not require you to go shopping. This can be a creative process for the kids too. Many have gone “thrifting” or borrowed from friends and family to get the costumes needed.
All students are responsible for their personal undergarments and hosiery/socks and shoes.
The following is a sample list of what the cast members will typically be providing for a performance:
Girls:
Laundry Basket (to hold all of their belongings)
Beige/Nude Colored leotard
Beige/Nude Colored Tights
Shoes (ballet slippers, sneakers, flats or character shoes)
Boys:
Laundry Basket
Gym shorts, white tshirt (in lieu of undergarments)
Shoes: (sneakers or dress shoes etc.)
During Tech Week, when costumes are present, please note all drinks are to be CLEAR liquid (water, gatorade ice, flavored water, seltzers) Please do not send your child to rehearsal with Starbucks colorful drinks. This goes for snacks too, please avoid food that stains, such as cheetos, pasta sauce, doritos etc.