Cue3Go!

Issue 21, 2023

Techie Tip of the Week

LAWS AND CODES

I start this with a disclaimer.  What I say here is not enough, I’ve left a lot out, and what I have included may possibly not be accurate, so you should not believe a word I say about codes and regulations – I may be wrong.  I am not a theatre safety expert, I can only provide you with a basic overview. 

There are federal, state, local, and school district laws and codes that must be followed, and writing about them would fill a book. Therefore, it is essential that you familiarize yourself with all the federal and state codes that affect the operations of your high school theatre.

You should familiarize yourself with at least the following code requirements as they pertain to high school theatres from:

ADA                           Americans with Disabilities Act

ANSI                           American National Standards Institution

EPA                             Environmental Protection Agency

L&I                              Department of Labor and Industries

NEC                            National Electrical Code

NFPA, IFC                  National Fire Protection Association

OSHA                         Occupational Safety and Health Administration

WISHA                        Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (check your state specifically)

In some cases these codes are only the minimum that is expected of you.  On the other hand some of these codes apply to the school’s employees, but not to the students.  OSHA is one example of this. OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  Note the word “occupational”.  OSHA only applies to paid employees, not students or volunteers.  Therefore a teacher may not stand within 6” of an open orchestra pit, but students and volunteers may, right?  Perhaps technically, but the best and safest thing to do is for everyone to do everything in your high school theatre as if everyone were under OSHA’s jurisdiction. 

It’s important to check to see what requirements pertain to your high school theatre.  OSHA is a federal regulator.  Some states have their own, such as WISHA in Washington State.  Any states who do not have their own fall under OSHA.

This editorial is the express opinion of Beth Rand, and is not intended for substitution for professional advice regarding your specific situation or circumstances.

Leveling-Up

Online courses for school theatre teachers and staff

to find out more about the courses please visit:

Theatre Management Training Course

Theatre Management Tutorials

Lighting and Safety Courses

Safety Webinar for Students

Dear Techie,

One of my best students who was my Stage Manager this year and is graduating to go off to study Stage Management. She is questioning what would potentially happen if she decided she didn't want to stage mange once she has professional training. Any advice?

Proud Teacher in NJ

Dear Proud Teacher,

A former student of mine once asked me what advice I had for someone who wanted to be able to practice their craft as a lighting designer and who also wanted to eat(!). My response – go into education or management.

Or – combine the two. High School Theatre Management is an emergent profession. Please encourage your student to consider High School Theatre Management as a career (that actually makes money…). 

There are over 26,000 high schools in the US, and these days many junior and senior high schools are being built or re-modeled with a state-of-the-art performing arts center on campus.

More and more high schools are finding out that - with everyone in the school, the district, and sometimes the community wanting to use the theatre - their school theatre is starting to operate as a "road house". Highly qualified management is needed in order to set up the operating systems, create a safety program, maximize student learning, and determine building performance and academic outcomes.  The job of a High School Theatre Manager is a rare hybrid job that combines three primary disciplines: education, management and a tech theatre background. They have to be organized and self-motivated. They have to be good at maintaining stacks of paperwork. They also have to have a good grasp of how a theater operates and what policies and procedures will make it operate more smoothly.  Perfectly suited to a Stage Manager type personality and skill set!

A High School Theatre Manager does not necessarily have to be a specialist in every technical aspect of the theatre, but they do have to know enough in order to hire and manage people who do. A Theatre Manager does not always actually run tech for the shows - just as in a hospital, the administrator does not perform the surgeries - but they must have enough specialized knowledge to manage the facility.

And, because this theatre is on a high school campus, and a High School Theatre Manager will be working with students, so they should also have some sort of background and experience in education.

Unfortunately, there are no known universities which have a degree in High School Theatre Management, despite the market for these specialists. Which is why I developed the Theatre Management Training course.  Most people who take this course are theatre teachers who have been charged with having to manage all of the events that come into their theatre, and some are people who are technicians or existing Theatre Managers at high schools, but anyone with an interest in becoming a high school Theatre Manager is most welcome.

Best of luck to your student! 

Submit your Dear Techie questions to [email protected].  

Why did the Lord of the Rings author get kicked out of the audience.

He was Tolkien all the way through.

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Submit your Bad Theatre Joke or Funnies to [email protected].

It is PRESETT's mission to provide information to assist in endeavors for safe and functional operations of school theatres. However, PRESETT is not a safety consultant or professional, and any information provided or advocated is not intended to supplement, not supersede, industry safety training. Always consult a theatre safety specialist about your specific situation or circumstances.