Dress Code and Conflict Policies
Dresscode
The Bible clearly requires modest dress. However, the definition of modesty is an area of Christian freedom. HPA is not intending to define modesty for your family. Rather, we are seeking to establish a common ground in order to respect the variety of families we serve. Therefore, we have set a standard so that everyone knows what to expect while at any HPA activity (including rehearsals, cast parties, etc).
Prior to auditioning, HPA cast members and parents commit to abide by this standard. We also ask class students, crew, orchestra, committee members, and volunteers to abide by this standard when serving HPA. HPA is committed to upholding this standard and will address participants not adhering to the standard, possibly asking them to change clothes. Cast members who consistently attend out of dress code may be asked to leave rehearsal, resulting in an unexcused absence.
Current cast members must wear an HPA shirt or sweatshirt as their outermost layer to all rehearsals.
We trust and believe that you desire to abide by your commitment. The following criteria is not meant to be legalistic but to help you be confident you are meeting the standard, avoiding uncomfortable or frustrating situations.
1. Keep your midriff area covered. How do you know if this standard is met?
a. Raise your arms as high as you can. No skin or underwear should show.
b. Make sure your pants will stay high enough to keep your skin, boxers, and underwear from showing, whether you are squatting, bending over to touch your toes, or doing jumping jacks.
c. Since a cast member may be asked to do a cartwheel or handstand, the only way to keep your midriff area covered is to have something tucked in at all times. This may be done in a single layer by keeping the HPA shirt tucked in (assuming it's long enough to stay tucked) or by wearing a long under layer which is tucked in.
d. Make sure you cannot see through any of your clothes allowing your stomach, back, boxers or underwear to be visible.
2. Keep your shoulders and chest covered. How do you know if this standard is met?
a. Use the width of your four fingers (together) to measure from your neck in all directions. No skin beyond your fingers should show at any time, including when you bow at the waist or do a pushup.
b. Your bra or camisole (including straps) should not show, even when you bow at the waist or do a pushup.
c. Make sure your shirts have at least a small sleeve.
d. Make sure you cannot see through any of your clothes allowing your shoulder, chest, back, or straps to show.
3. Wear clothing that is not form fitting. How do you know if this standard is met?
a. If the fabric of your pants is NOT denim and IS form fitting, cast members must wear shorts which meet the standards of #4 over the top. While form fitting denim does not meet this standard, we will not enforce form fitting with denim, but will with all other fabrics.
b. The lines of your underclothes should not show through your clothes when you are standing up.
c. Spandex, Leggings, and “jeggings” are not acceptable pants to wear to rehearsal unless covered by a skirt or shorts which meet the standards of #4.
d. You should not have sideways wrinkles on your shirt caused by the pulling or stretching of the fabric.
e. Shirts and pants should hang loosely from the larger parts of each covered area. A tight-fitted shirt, gather, empire waist, seam, ribbon, etc. should not cause the material to cling to the body just below the chest. Pants should not cling below the buttocks. In other words, there should be loose fabric which hangs freely, not touching the skin below those areas (hang not cling).
4. Wear shorts and skirts that keep the upper thigh covered. How do you know if this standard is met?
a. When standing, your shorts should be clearly below the mid-thigh. The mid-thigh is half way between your hip joint and knee.
b. If pants have holes, the holes must be clearly below the mid-thigh.
c. Girls’ skirts should touch the bottom your kneecap when you are standing up straight. This insures that the skirt will continue to cover the upper thigh when you sit, bend, spin, or whatever else may be required in choreography. When kneeling on the floor, your skirt should touch the floor.
d. Girls must wear shorts, leggings, or pants under skirts due to choreography and blocking. Even with pants or leggings underneath, the skirt must still touch the bottom of your kneecap.
5. Any language or graphics on clothing must be appropriate for all ages.
Conflict Policy
1. Cast members are expected to be available the entire time listed, although they may not be called the entire time each date. Regular attendance is an important issue. In order to produce a quality production all actors are required to attend all rehearsals when called.
2. Only conflicts listed on the audition form are guaranteed excused absences. Conflicts are considered during the difficult process of casting. The only way to be sure that an absence will be excused is to list it on the audition form. You should list all conflicts which you are not willing to give up.
3. Requests for additional conflicts should be submitted as far in advance as possible. These must be approved in order to be excused. Requesting a conflict early allows more potential for it to be excused. The directors desire to be gracious in granting additional conflicts. They will consider the request as well as the challenges which occur for other actors, staff, and the overall show. Unexcused absences may result in dismissal from the show.
4. Emergency situations and illnesses should be communicated to the production manager as early as possible. Sometimes we will ask if an ill student can come to rehearsal to watch, but not participate. Other times we will require that an ill student not attend at all.
When entering conflicts on an audition form, we understand that not all dates will be published or available. Please get as many specific dates as possible. When you can't get specific dates and times, please give us the best parameters you can. Here are examples of wording you could use:
- Soccer - exact schedule unknown, but will not affect more than 2 rehearsals per month September through November requiring me to leave as early as 2:30pm on those dates.
- Vacation - exact date unknown, but will miss 1 rehearsal in February or March.
- Choir National Festival - if my choir makes it to nationals, I would need to miss 1 rehearsal in March.
These types of conflicts do not become excused until specific dates and details have been given to the attendance coordinator. The attendance coordinator needs to receive these details as soon as they become available. If dates and details are given to the attendance coordinator too close to the actual conflict date, the directors may not grant the excused absence.