Big Student Production Slots (or Big SPS) provides students with a venue and departmental support to put on a production with the support of actors and minimal design elements. A Big SPS is appropriate when the text or content is published or is an otherwise well-established work, or for new works that have received a table or staged reading. Site-specific work can be proposed, as can design-based proposals.
This project category offers students the opportunity to collaborate with a full creative team under the guidance of faculty mentorship.
Projects with a director who has taken THEA 54: Directing, as well as a course in design, are more likely to be approved. Identified collaborators for the full team (directing, design, stage managers) must have approval from the pertinent faculty members.
Project scaffolding is as follows:
- Access to a Department of Theater venue (Wilson 301 or 4 Currier) for tech and performances, as well as a rehearsal hall before that.
- Projects rehearse over 5-6 weeks total, with a maximum of 16 hours per week.
- Up to 16 hours of tech/dress rehearsal in advance of performance (typically 4 hours/night Mon-Thurs).
- A total of 2-3 performances, dependent on schedule and venue.
- Faculty mentorship is provided to the student who has proposed the project as well as all members of the creative team.
- Design team will be determined based on the needs of the project; may include costumes, sets, lights, sound, and/or projections.
- Are allowed some minimal hang and focus time for lighting, typically to incorporate specials. Sound will typically use the rep plot, but this can be negotiable depending on the scale of the sound design.
- Can pull from Dartmouth's costume, props, and scenic stock and purchase items (within budget). Building set or costume pieces is approved on a case-by-case basis.
- Will be supported by stage management (student stage managers and/or stage management faculty).
- Total budget of up to $750.
The full production opportunity is typically available every term except summer; proposals adeadlines are listed above. Proposals are reviewed carefully by the Department of Theater tenure-track faculty, Chair of the Department, and Production staff, who will make the final project selection. A note about spring terms: depending on the educational goals of our senior theater majors, the spring term might be devoted to honors thesis projects or productions.
For more information, please contact Department Administrator, Greg Potter.
