Showcase Production Support

The Theatre/Dance Division has some limited ability to support production elements for each semester’s dance showcase. Production elements can include, but are not limited to: scenery, props, costumes,  and projections.

Access to Departmental Stock Inventory:

The Theatre/Dance Division has stock inventories of scenery, props/furniture, and costumes. Choreographers may access these stocks and use found items in their dance pieces by emailing the appropriate faculty member:

Scenery and Props/Furniture: MJ Sedlock mary.j.sedlock@maine.edu

Costumes: Alexis Foster alexis.foster@maine.edu

There are also some stock pieces that have been made/purchased specifically for dance use-- roll-up tap floors, plywood boxes, square platforms, etc. These have been primarily utilized by Tap and Celtic pieces, but are available for use in any dance piece.

Custom-Built Items:

With advance notice, the Scene Shop and Costume Shop can assist in creating custom items for use in dance pieces. Some examples of items that have been custom-built in the past include free-standing doors, stylized beds, a stylized bathtub, capes, and skirts. If the scene/costume shop have enough time to construct the items, and they can be constructed from scrap materials, there is no cost for custom-built pieces. If materials must be purchased, the costs will have to be considered within the allocation of funds from the Showcase budget (see below) or covered by the club/individual choreographer.

Choreographers who would like to work with the Scene Shop or Costume Shop to create a custom-built item for their piece are encouraged to contact MJ (scenery, props, furniture) or Alexis (costumes) as early in the semester as possible. If the interest in a custom-built item can be indicated on the Intent-to-Choreograph form, even better.

Purchased Items:

Each Showcase has a small budget to allocate for production purposes (amount varies year to year). The budget must cover some items that are used in the production of the overall budget, such as light bulbs and tape for the marley flooring. The remaining funds may be allocated for purchase of production elements (scenery, props, costumes) or materials for the creation of custom-built items.

A Production Purchase Request Form must be submitted by the day of auditions for any items that a choreographer would like to have purchased by the department for their piece. The Production Manager (MJ) will work to distribute available funds as equitably as possible across the pieces which are selected for inclusion in the showcase.

Ownership:

All items that are purchased or created using University resources become the property of the Theatre/Dance Division. Choreographers and dancers may want to consider this before requesting that an item be purchased or created by the department. For example, if dancers would like to keep a unique costume or prop piece as a souvenir of performing in the dance, they will need to purchase those items individually.

It is also important to note that the University cannot and will not process reimbursements. If choreographers and/or dancers purchase an item with personal or club funds that is later approved for departmental funding, the departmental funds cannot be used to reimburse clubs or individuals. The items will remain the property of the individual or club.

Special Circumstances:

Occasionally a prop or costume piece may be so integrated into the choreography of a piece that it is not practical to wait until after auditions to determine funding and/or feasibility of purchase. In other cases, a custom-built item may need materials purchased at an earlier date. In these (or similar) instances, choreographers are encouraged to reach out to the Production Manager (MJ) to discuss how to best meet their needs on a case-by-base basis.