Cue3Go!

A Weekly DIGEST for teachers and staff who want to level-up support and funding for MANAGEMENT OF their SCHOOL theatre. 

Issue 42

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Come backstage, and you'll see:

  • Techie Tip of the Week (editorial)
  • Leveling-Up (essential online courses)
  • Dear Techie (advice column)
  • Techie Travesties (funnies)

Join in the conversation

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Techie Tip of the Week


FORM VS FUNCTION

Are you involved in the process of a remodel or new-build – then a word about form and function.  When you are working with architects,  I know the artistic side of them want everything to look “warm” or “attractive” or “inviting” or “pretty” or “dazzling” and so on.  As a Lighting Designer, I completely get that.  But, it’s going to be up to you to not let form rule at the expense of function in a high school theatre facility.  Remember, techies wear black and skulk around in the dark backstage.  If they haven’t been seen or noticed then they have done their job.  Techies have that same mentality about their theatre building too.  It’s ok to make the lobby and house attractive for the audience, but not at the expense of taking away from the thing the audience came to look at – the show.  

Some functionalities to make sure your architect takes into consideration include:

• Traffic patterns, doors, locks, room configurations

• Efficacy and practicality of the equipment - is the equipment obsolete, overkill or just right? 

• Placement of equipment

• Optimal amount and quality of equipment needed in order to efficiently run a production 

• The layout of the backstage area for optimal functionality 

• Optimized communication system to fulfill the needs for the operation of a production

• The function of auto lighting and sound controls

• Headset positions

• Scene shop location

• Storage needs for sets, props, costumes and people

• Counterweight system or winch system, or a combination

• Drapes, their purposes and placement

• What equipment should go in the booth, what should go backstage

• Placement of air-conditioning units so that drapes don’t ripple during shows

• An office space for the theatre management and staff  - a window please!

Form should stop at the proscenium and function should take over.  We don’t care how pretty things look backstage; we only care if they serve to make the show work.  At one high school theatre I worked at, there was a door in the backstage wall that had the lock the wrong way round, such that it was possible for students to enter the stage from the rest of the school. The purpose of the lock should have been to keep students off the stage during the school day. We had to make sure to gaff tape the latch open all the time during performances so that actors and crew members could exit the stage.  I had a work order submitted for months and months to fix this functionality problem, to no avail.  Within that time period, one day the same backstage wall of the theatre was scraped by someone carelessly moving some orchestra shells.  The scrape was so deep that it took the black paint off of the wall and exposed the white plaster beneath.  I put in a work order.  That work order was taken care of within the week!  Why?!  That wall is never seen by the audience - for every single performance in that theatre, either the cyc or the black curtain is down.  No one would ever leave the wall exposed (unless it was a very special design choice of the set designer for some reason, and that would be rare), so that work order had a very low priority.  Yet, a decision-making administrator only saw the form of one issue, not the priority of malfunction that we were experiencing.  As you can see, as the theatre professional, it’s up to you to help architects, and administrators, understand the form versus function needs of your theatre design.

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

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Leveling-Up

Online courses for school theatre teachers and staff

Courses that leave you empowered with actionable strategies to level-up support and funding for your theatre operations and educating your students.

Check with your admin - many districts will pay for Professional Development!

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Dear Techie

Dear Techie,

I am trying to find out the fall protection requirements for a two story stage set. We can’t put handrails on due to the fact the audience needs to see the upper story of the set.  Also, obviously, the actors can’t wear harnesses. 

Is there any way to provide fall protection for the actors while on this second floor set?

Falling! in IL


Dear Falling!,

Safety standards mostly recognize the nature of theatre.  Actors and technicians (and/or their parents, in the case of minors) usually have to accept that a theatre is not an inherently safe place and take precautions accordingly.  It’s usually ok to have no handrails during performances – it’s generally accepted that if the actors and techs have been practicing on the set during rehearsals, then they are spatially aware of edges and fall hazards during performances.  However, for rehearsals, and other use of the stage while the set is up (painting for example), rail holders, removable rails and cover plates as applicable should be built into the set.  They must still meet weight bearing requirements and also height requirements.

That said, always find out what is the Fall Protection standards for your state, and for your specific school district.)

Every school theatre should have a written Fall Protection Plan.  If you contact me here​, I can send you a sample Fall Protection Plan that I have used in high school theatres before.  Of course, every theatre is different, and state and district requirements may differ, so while anyone is welcome to use this as a template, they should be sure to adapt it to their facility and consider having their district attorney or risk management officer approve it.

Submit your Dear Techie questions to [email protected].  

-CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE '8 ACTION STEPS' TO LEVEL-UP SUPPORT AND FUNDING

Techie Travesties


All good techies know:

Stage lefty tighty
Stage righty loosey

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

And finally, always remember....

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Visit Our Site

Why the name Cue3Go?  Because often times (not always, of course) in a show, Cue 1 is house-to-half, Cue 2 is blackout, and Cue 3 is lights up!  We hope this newsletter will light you up each week with ideas and actions for managing your high school theatre.

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.

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