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THEA 4637 / 5637- THEATER MANAGEMENT Spring 2009

11:15am – 12:35pm Tuesdays and Thursdays       Warf-Pickel room 413

 

Instructor: Melissa Shafer                                                       E-mail: shaferm@etsu.edu

Office: 116 Brooks Gym                                                         Office Hours: TBA by Appt.

Phone: 943-5837                                                                     Shop Phone: 943-5831

 

Required Texts:  Theatre Management: Producing and Managing the Performing Arts.  Conte, D/ Langley, S.: Entertainment Pro, 2007.

The Stage Management Handbook.  Ionazzi, Daniel: Betterway Books, F&W Publications Inc., 1992.

Course Description: This course seeks to explore the business needs of the performing arts through specific discussion of the various areas of arts management and management techniques. The course will include discussions and study of arts administration, resource management, accounting practices, box office and front-of-house procedures, marketing and publicity, and stage management.  Additional topics may be included as dictated by class interest and time constraints.

 

Course Objectives: As a result of having taken this course, the student should be able to:

·         Identify the various areas of performing arts management, their purpose and necessity

·         Understand the management needs and variations of management divisions in the various producing organizations: community, educational, professional, commercial and not-for-profit professional theatres.

·         Understand how artists, administrators, and board members relate to one another to accomplish organizational and artistic goals.

·         Determine a mission, set goals, and create long-range plans

·         Plan a season and organize production requirements

·         Create show marketing and publicity, graphics and programs

·         Follow  Front of House/box office procedures

·         Create show budgets and track them through basic accounting procedures

·         Practice effective stage management techniques

·         Locate graduate theatre management programs and professional arts management opportunities

·         Create an effective resume and cover letter

Teaching Methods for this course:  The teaching methods for this course will include lecture, discussion, and hands-on exercises.  This course is web-enhanced.  Students are expected to access the online Desire 2 Learn course site regularly for updates, assignments, and quizzes.  The address for D2L access is: http://elearn.etsu.edu/. If you need further assistance the student help desk can be reached by phone at 439-5648, 3-4648, or by e-mail at shdesk@imail.etsu.edu.

Attendance: The performing arts are, by their very nature, a collective of artists and managers working together to create a theatrical experience (be it theatre, dance, music, or performance art) for an audience. Timely, consistent attendance and timely, thorough, thoughtful preparation are the keys to being a valuable contributor to any creative team.  Therefore, good attendance is an important ethic to develop and poor attendance will be looked upon with disfavor. Three absences (excused and/or unexcused) will be allowed, any that occur after the three will result in the lowering of the final grade one full letter grade. If a student misses a day they are to present material, they will not be given the opportunity to makeup that assignment. Three tardies will be considered one absence. If you are having serious issues that are preventing your good attendance, please make an appointment to speak with me as early as possible. Good communication is an important management skill to develop. 

Class Participation and Discussion:

This course will require your attention and participation. The quality of the course will depend heavily on each student's participation in class discussion and exploration.  Please Note: Cell phones MUST be turned off while in class.  NO TEXTING!  NO CALLS!  First offense:  You will be asked to stop texting and turn off your phone.  Second offense:  You will be asked to leave the classroom and will receive an unexcused absence for the day. 

Class Assignments:

The final project for this class is a proposal and plan for creating your ideal arts organization.   This will be a compilation of several smaller projects assigned throughout the semester: creating a mission statement, staffing your organization, targeting an audience, developing a season’s offerings, a season budget and marketing materials, etc.  Individual assignments will be due throughout the semester and returned, so you can refine them before presenting the completed project during the final exam period. We will discuss the projects in detail in class throughout the semester and updates will be posted on D2L.

Course Evaluation:

Class Participation in class discussions and activities                  10%

Periodic assignments, exercises and quizzes                                   30%

Stage Management Project                                                                10%

Final Examination                                                                                 15%

Final Presentation                                                                                35%

 

·         Additional Research for Graduate Level Study:  In addition to other work, graduate students are required to complete a research project during the course of the semester to further develop an understanding of specific issues related to the topics. Graduate students are expected to present their topic of interest to the class at the end of the semester.

 

 

Grade Scale:

A             100-94                                     A-            93-90                      

B+           89-87                                       B             86-84                                       B-            83-80

C+           79-77                                       C             76-74                                       C-            73-70

D+           69-67                                       D             66-60                                       F              59 or below

Please note: 

·         This course adheres to the tenets of Academic Honesty.  Any infractions will be dealt with appropriately.

 

·         Any student who may need an accommodation based on disability: please make an appointment to see Karen Brewster or Melissa Shafer during office hours or after class.  A Faculty Accommodation Form from Disability Services authorizing your accommodations is required.

 

·         Additional information can be found at http://www.etsu.edu/reg/academics/syllabus.aspx

 

CLASS SCHEDULE                                                                                     

WEEK 1 - Jan 15th            Introduction - Syllabus

 

WEEK 2 - Jan 20th & Jan 22nd

Theatre Management and the Performing Arts              Theatre Management Chapter 1

 

WEEK 3- Jan 27th & Jan 29th

Community Theatre                                                     Theatre Management Chapter 6

Stock and Dinner Theatre                                            Theatre Management Chapter 8

College Theatre                                                           Theatre Management Chapter 7

 

WEEK 4 - Feb 3rd & Feb 5th 

Commercial Theatre                                                    Theatre Management Chapter 4     

Not-for-Profit Professional Theatre                              Theatre Management Chapter 5

Presenters and Presenting Organizations                       Theatre Management Chapter 9

 

WEEK 5 - Feb 10th & Feb 12th  

Budget Planning                                                           Theatre Management Chapter 10

Cost Control Strategies                                                 Theatre Management Chapter 11

 

WEEK 6 - Feb 17th & Feb 19th

Box Office, Ticketing Systems, & Other Earned Income         Theatre Management Chapter 12

Fundraising and Contributed Income                              Theatre Management Chapter 13

 

WEEK 7 - Feb 24th & Feb 26th

Marketing                                                                    Theatre Management Chapter 14

Publicity and Media Relations                                       Theatre Management Chapter 15

 

WEEK 8 - Mar 3rd & Mar 5th              No Classes – Southeastern Theatre Conference

WEEK 9 - Mar 10th & Mar 12th            No Classes – Spring Break

 

WEEK 10- Mar 17th

Advertising and the Sales Campaign                            Theatre Management Chapter 16

Facility and Audience Management                             Theatre Management Chapter 17

Mar 19th             No Class – United States Institute for Theatre Technology

 

WEEK 11 - Mar 24th & Mar 26th  

Place of Performance                                                  Theatre Management Chapter 2

Personnel for the Theatre                                             Theatre Management Chapter 3

 

WEEK 12 - Mar 31st & Apr 2nd                               Stage Management - Pre-Production

 

WEEK 13 - Apr 7th &Apr 9th                                   Stage Management - Rehearsals

 

WEEK 14 - Apr 14th &Apr 16th                               Stage Management - Performance

WEEK 15 - Apr 21st & Apr 23rd                              Catch up (Possible Hamlet Matinees)

 

WEEK 16 - Apr 28th                                                  Graduate Project Presentations

 Apr 30th -                                                                   Exam              

 

Final Exam Date: Tuesday, May 5th - 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

 

A nation that does not support and encourage its theater is -- if not dead -- dying; just as a theater that does not capture with laughter and tears the social and historical pulse, the drama of its people, the genuine color of the spiritual and natural landscape, has no right to call itself theater; but only a place for amusement.  The theater has to impose itself on the public, and not the public on the theater... The word "Art" should be written everywhere, in the auditorium and in the dressing rooms, before the word "Business" gets written there.

-- Federico Garcia Lorca