During the Run

Pre-Show Checklist

• Be sure to arrive at least one hour before curtain – earlier is preferred.
• Turn on all lobby & house lights.
• Cast & Crew Parking: Do not park in the parking lot in front of the theater.
  • Park alongside the theater on N Pond Street or behind the theater on Fremont Street.
• Establish a call-time for your cast and crew. It is recommended it be at least one hour before curtain, although some shows may require additional time in hair and make-up.
• Make sure your Stage Manager has a sign-in sheet for all actors and crew every night or is doing a manual headcount. This way you’ll know if someone is missing and can start making phone calls to check on their anticipated arrival.
• Please have your Stage Manager coordinate with the house staff each night so that the start times and intermission times can be confirmed.
• Pre-show music: It is recommended that you prepare at least 75 minutes of music to play throughout the house and lobby.

Show Times

• Lobby and Box Office opens one hour before curtain
• The Stage Manager should open the doors to the auditorium 30 minutes before curtain allowing patrons to find their seats. Make sure the crew has completed setting the stage and the lighting crew has set their pre-show lighting by this time. Actors should be advised that they are not to go out onto the stage at this time.
• Curtain goes up at 7:30pm on Thursday; 8:00pm on Friday and Saturday; and 2:00pm for Saturday and Sunday matinees

Invited/Preview Night:

You should be show-ready on the Thursday before opening night. Consider this your first show with an audience. Feel free to invite, along with the cast and crew, as many people as you wish to. Admission is free, but the tradeoff is that those who come to watch for free become your walking-talking billboards advertising your show. Request that the audience check in on social media and leaves a positive review! Media are invited to attend this night, as well.

Pre-Show Director’s Speech

Each pre-show speech will be used as an opportunity to not only welcome our patrons but to sell and market.  The Director typically delivers the pre-show speech.  If you do not wish to, it can be done by a director’s designee.

This is also an opportunity to consider being creative in delivering your speech. One director delivers the speech in rhyme; another has it pre-recorded and played on a boom-box; another did a parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic silhouette. One even started the show with himself as a “character” at the top of the act to do the speech.

Elements of the pre-show speech:

Required elements:

• Thank sponsors
  • Current Sponsor is Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton in Eagle
• Promote the upcoming show and upcoming auditions
• Thank donors and direct potential donors to our website for current donation campaigns
• If your show is #1-4 in the season – Sell Season Tickets – have a copy of the season brochure with you on stage so audience can see what it looks like and tell them that there are copies in the lobby.
  • If your show is #6-8 in the season, sell for next season

Other Recommended elements:

• Recognize first time patrons and Season Subscribers
• Give special thanks to those who have helped with the show
• Encourage patrons to audition for one of our shows and become a member of the SCT company.
• Promote any special events/fundraisers
• Turn off cell phones, etc.
• Remind audience the bar will be open at Intermission
• Enjoy the show!!!

Intermission

• Duration: 15 minutes
• The Stage Manager (or designee) is responsible for turning on lobby lights and flashing a two-minute warning.
• Check your watch!! The clock starts ticking on 15 minutes as soon as the lights fade on Act 1. Make every effort to resume the show on time.
• As soon as the house lights come up, start the intermission music.
  • It is recommended that Intermission music be 20-25 minutes to allow for an extension of the intermission should it be necessary.
• Actors are not to be in the lobby during intermission.
  • There is now a bathroom backstage, actors are not to use the lobby bathrooms while patrons are in the lobby.
• The Stage Manager will call places when the patrons have cleared the bar and returned to their seats.

Post-Show

• Meet & Greet the Cast
  • Ask the cast to assemble after the show in the lobby to meet friends and thank patrons for attending. Our backstage area is just too crowded and cramped to accommodate visitors backstage.
• Walk-through
  • The Director and/or Stage Manager should be the last person to leave the theater each night. Please walk the space, ensuring that any stray trash is picked up, all doors are closed and locked, lights are turned off, and UV lights are turned on.