Welcome to the Miller South Theatre Department! We are thrilled to have you as part of our vibrant and creative community. This handbook outlines the expectations for all students participating in our theatre program. By signing this document, students and parents acknowledge and agree to uphold these standards, ensuring a positive and productive environment for everyone.
In the theatre classroom, every individual plays a vital role. We expect students to:
Be Present: Attend all scheduled classes, rehearsals, and performances. If an absence is unavoidable, please notify the instructor/director as soon as possible. Excessive absence or tardies may result in alternate assignments to be given for theatre is a performance based class that requires rehearsal and attendance to succeed.
Engage Actively: Participate fully in all class activities, discussions, exercises, and ensemble work. Theatre is a collaborative art form, and your active involvement is crucial for your growth and the success of the group.
Contribute Positively: Share ideas, offer constructive feedback, and be open to trying new things. Your enthusiasm and willingness to explore are highly valued.
Listen Attentively: Pay close attention to instructions, feedback, and the contributions of your peers. Respectful listening is fundamental to effective collaboration.
Being prepared is essential for maximizing your learning and rehearsal time. Students are expected to:
Arrive On Time: Be in your designated classroom or rehearsal space at the scheduled start time, ready to begin. Tardiness disrupts the entire group.
Come Prepared: Bring all necessary materials (scripts, notebooks, pencils, appropriate attire for movement, etc.) as instructed for each class or rehearsal.
Review Material: Read assigned scripts, review blocking notes, and memorize lines on time.
Physical & Mental Readiness: Come to class with a positive attitude, ready to move, speak, and create.
Maintaining a respectful and safe environment is paramount. Students must:
Show Respect: Treat all faculty, staff, fellow students, and visitors with respect. This includes respecting personal space, opinions, and belongings.
Follow Directions: Adhere to all instructions from instructors, directors, and other adult supervisors.
Maintain Focus: Minimize distractions and remain focused on the task at hand during class and rehearsals.
Safe Environment: Contribute to a physically and emotionally safe environment. Bullying, harassment, or any form of disruptive or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.
Care for Facilities & Equipment: Treat all theatre spaces, costumes, props, and technical equipment with care and respect. Report any damage immediately.
Theatre Leaders: As members of the Miller South Theatre Department, students are expected to be positive ambassadors for proper theatre etiquette. This includes demonstrating respect for the theatre space and all theatre equipment. When in the auditorium at any point, our students will be leaders by exhibiting appropriate behavior, applause, voice level control and physical control. They will demonstrate respect for all performances, regardless of the arts area.
The theatre department thrives on the active involvement of its students. Students are expected to:
Embrace Ensemble: Understand that theatre is a team effort. Your commitment to the ensemble and willingness to support your peers are key to our collective success.
Take Risks: Be willing to step out of your comfort zone, try new roles or techniques, and accept constructive criticism as a tool for growth.
Commit to Roles: Once cast in a production or assigned a role, fully commit to the responsibilities and demands of that role, whether on stage or backstage.
Beyond the Spotlight: Recognize that backstage roles (tech, costumes, props, stage management) are just as vital as acting roles and require equal dedication.
Audition: All Theatre students are REQUIRED to audition for every production as an academic grade but not guaranteed to be cast.
Academic integrity and diligence are expected in all theatre coursework. Students must:
Submit Assignments: Complete and submit all assigned projects, research, written reflections, and other coursework by the given deadlines. A late or missing assignment form is to be filled out, sent home and signed by an adult. Point deductions will be given on most assignments but some assignments such as large accumulative projects and performances will not be accepted late and will be a zero in the grade book. In the instance of an excused absence, the student will have the amount of days missed to turn in the assignment.
Memorization: Meet all script memorization deadlines for classwork and productions.
Quality Work: Strive for excellence in all assignments, demonstrating effort and understanding.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work or ideas without giving them proper credit. This includes copying text from a book, AI/ChatGPT, website, or another student, as well as using their ideas without acknowledgment. In the Miller South Theatre Department, we take plagiarism very seriously. All work you submit must be your own, and any sources you use must be correctly cited. Violations of this policy will result in academic penalties.
The Miller South Theatre Department is a place of creativity and community. We expect students to embody kindness by:
Being Supportive: Encourage and uplift your peers. Celebrate their successes and offer support during challenges.
Practicing Empathy: Try to understand and share the feelings of others.
Resolving Conflict Peacefully: Address disagreements or conflicts respectfully and constructively, seeking solutions rather than escalating problems.
Inclusive Environment: Actively contribute to an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, valued, and safe to express themselves.
Theatre is a journey of self-discovery and skill development. We encourage students to:
Embrace Feedback: Be open to receiving and applying constructive criticism from instructors and peers to improve your craft.
Set Goals: Identify areas for personal and artistic growth and actively work towards them.
Reflect and Learn: Take time to reflect on your experiences, learn from mistakes, and celebrate your progress.
Develop Discipline: Cultivate self-discipline in practice, rehearsal, and performance.
Participation in the theatre department culminates in public or classroom performances. Attendance at all performances is mandatory. Theatre students are required to attend the Department Winter Showcase.
Full Commitment: Once rehearsals begin, students are expected to commit fully to the production schedule, which includes all dress rehearsals and performances. This also applies to classroom showcases.
Absence Policy: In the event of an unavoidable, extreme emergency preventing performance attendance, the student and parent/guardian must notify the director immediately. Such absences will be handled on a case-by-case basis and may impact future casting or participation.
The Miller South Theatre Department believes that strong academic standing is crucial for a student's overall success.
Failing Grades: Any student receiving a failing grade (F) at the end of a grading period in Theatre, will be required to attend a mandatory meeting with their parents/guardians and the theatre department director. During this meeting, an action plan will be collaboratively developed to address academic concerns and support the student's success.
Two Failing Periods: If a student receives a failing grade (F) for two consecutive or non-consecutive grading periods in Theatre, they will be required to repeat that grade level in the theatre department. This means they will not advance to the next level of theatre study (e.g., if a 7th-grade student fails two periods, they will repeat 7th-grade theatre rather than moving to 8th-grade theatre). This policy is in place to ensure students have the foundational knowledge and academic support necessary to thrive in our program.
Academics and Main Stage Productions: Students must maintain C and above in ALL graded classes in order to be eligible for productions. They must also maintain a C and above to remain in the cast. If grades fall during production, the student, parent/guardian and director will create a plan of action. Failure to improve will result in removal from the production.